Optical fibre X-ray radiation dosimeter sensor for low dose applications

An investigation into a novel extrinsic PMMA (poly methyl methacrylate) plastic optical fibre sensor to monitor low doses of ionising radiation, in real time, for radiotherapy applications is presented. The concept of the optical fibre sensor is that it measures the ionising radiation energy from a radiation source and converts that measured energy into an optical signal, which travels through the fibre optic cable to a distal fluorescent mini spectrometer, where the intensity of the peak wavelength of the fluorescent light is monitored. This newly developed sensor shows excellent response and repeatability of measurement upon excitation from a calibrated X-ray source. The work reported here is through collaboration between the University of Limerick and the National Institute for Lasers, Plasma and Radiation Physics, Magurele in Romania.