Development and Characterization of the Integrated Fiber-optic Sensor for Remote Detection of Alpha Radiation

In this study, we developed and characterized an integrated fiber-optic sensor for the remote detection of alpha radiation emitted from radioactive contamination in areas relatively inaccessible by radiation workers. The fiber-optic sensor consisted of an epoxy-resin supporter and a sensing probe attached to it. The epoxy-resin supporter to hold the optical fiber tightly was fabricated by using epoxy-resin and a small amount of hardener. The sensing probe was fabricated by mixing epoxy-resin with inorganic scintillator ZnS(Ag) powder and solidifying the mixture. Then, the sensing probe was attached to the epoxy-resin supporter. As a light guide, an optical fiber, which was also compatible with the epoxy-resin, was used. The optical fiber was submerged in the epoxy-resin supporter before solidification to make it in an integral form to minimize the loss of scintillation light due to incomplete connections between them. The four assembled fiber-optic sensors with sensing probes whose density thicknesses of ZnS(Ag) were 10, 15, 20 and 25 mg/cm(2), respectively, were evaluated in terms of the total counts of alpha radiation to determine the optimum density thickness of ZnS(Ag). From the evaluation, a density thickness of 15 mg/cm(2) was found to be the best for detecting alpha radiation.