An intrinsic fiber optic dosimeter (FOD) targeted to nuclear applications is presented. The proposed real-time dosimeter provides dose information based on the historic record over time of the effects of ionizing radiation on single- and multimode pure silica fibers, and also on PMMA plastic fibers. The effect of 60Co gamma irradiation on optical links based on silica and plastic fibers were assessed, considering thermal environment effects over a wide range of variation of the operating parameters. Cerenkov radiation and radiation-induced absorption effects were in focus. The corresponding distortion and spectral transmission degradation were evaluated over wide range of the operating parameters. Radiation induced attenuation (RIA) has shown a spectral band dependent behaviour up to 840 Gy dose levels. The performance of different fibers was assessed against the performance of non-irradiated fibers. From the measurements of dose rate and total dose imparted by ionizing radiation in the fibers we verified that fibers with radiation resistance issues showed wavelength-dependent radiation sensitivity increasing with dose rate. Upon evaluation of correlations between the total dose, the induced loss at various dose rates and different wavelengths, it was concluded that intrinsic fiber dosimeters can be used for dose rates in the range 4 - 28 Gy/min., typical of severe radiation environments.
Organic scintillators have been promoted and widely used in scintillating fiber-optic dosimeters (SFOD) due to their tissue-equivalent characteristics, small sensitive volume combined with high spatial resolution, and emission of visible light proportional to the absorbed electron and gamma dose rate. In this paper we will present the validation of Monte Carlo simulations of dose measurements assisted by scintillating fiber optic dosimeters operating in the visible spectral range, in the context of the development of fiber optic dosimeters targeted to Brachytherapy. The Monte Carlo simulation results are compared to measurements performed with SFOD test probes, assembled with BCF-60 (Saint Gobain) samples of 1 mm diameter and 0.35 to 1.5 cm length, coupled to PMMA optical fiber. The optical signal resulting from scintillation and Cherenkov light is transmitted through an additional optical fiber link to a remote measuring device. For SFOD probes irradiation a dedicated PMMA phantom was used. The results were validated against measurements obtained with a properly calibrated pinpoint ionization chamber (PTW). The probes were positioned in a radial arrangement, with a radioactive source at its center point. The γ-rays source is a Nucletron Microselectron-V2 192Ir. The dose curves are obtained according to the different positions in the phantom with the SFOD dosimeters. The system is able to use a Fiber Optic Multiplexer (FOM) controlled with Labview software.
High-precision dosimeters are needed in brachytherapy treatments to ensure safe operation and adequate working conditions, to assess the correspondence between treatment planning and dose delivery, as well as to monitor the radiation dose received by patients. In this paper we present the development of a multi-sensor dosimeter platform targeted for brachytherapy environments. The performance of different scintillating materials response is assessed. The emission bands of most common scintillator materials used in ionizing radiation detection are typically below 550 nm, thus they may be prone to stem effect response. To avoid this effect we propose the use of scintillators with longer wavelength emission. Samples of neodymium doped glasses are evaluated as new infrared radioluminescent scintillators for real-time dosimeters, namely lithium lead boron silver (LLB4Ag) and lithium bismuth boron silver (LBiB4Ag) glasses. Their response is compared with the response of organic scintillator BCF-60 with a 530nm response.
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