Optimal light collection from diffuse sources: application to optical fibre-coupled luminescence dosimetry

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Materials Science
• Radiation Detection

Background:

• Accurate light collection is crucial for fiber-coupled luminescence dosimeter probes.
• Optimizing probe design is essential for enhancing sensitivity and minimizing material usage.
• Existing designs like butt-coupled and reflective wall probes have limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a model for evaluating light collection efficiency in fiber-optic luminescence dosimeters.
• To compare the performance of novel dosimeter probe designs against established ones.
• To explore the use of new materials like Beryllium Oxide (BeO) ceramic.

Main Methods:

• Development of a computational model incorporating meridional and skew rays.
• Consideration of optically attenuating scintillator properties within the model.
• Experimental validation of the developed light collection model.
• Simulation and analysis of four distinct dosimeter probe architectures, including two novel designs.

Main Results:

• The developed model accurately predicts light collection efficiency.
• Novel probe designs combining scintillators with transparent media demonstrate superior light collection.
• The model accounts for light collection from optically attenuating scintillators.
• Simulations confirm enhanced efficiency in novel probes when scintillator volume is minimized.

Conclusions:

• The validated model provides a tool for optimizing fiber-coupled luminescence dosimeter probe designs.
• Novel probe architectures offer significant improvements in light collection efficiency.
• These findings are particularly relevant for applications requiring minimized scintillator volumes, such as with BeO ceramic.