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Title: Surface preparation and coupling in plastic scintillator dosimetry

Abstract

One way to improve the performance of scintillation dosimeters is to increase the light-collection efficiency at the coupling interfaces of the detector system. We performed a detailed study of surface preparation of scintillating fibers and their coupling with clear optical fibers to minimize light loss and increase the amount of light collected. We analyzed fiber-surface polishing with aluminum oxide sheets, coating fibers with magnesium oxide, and the use of eight different coupling agents (air, three optical gels, an optical curing agent, ultraviolet light, cyanoacrylate glue, and acetone). We prepared 10 scintillating fiber and clear optical fiber light guide samples to test different coupling methods. To test the coupling, we first cut both the scintillating fiber and the clear optical fiber. Then, we cleaned and polished both ends of both fibers. Finally, we coupled the scintillating fiber with the clear optical fiber in either a polyethylene jacket or a V-grooved support depending on the coupling agent used. To produce more light, we used an ultraviolet lamp to stimulate scintillation. A typical series of similar couplings showed a standard deviation in light-collection efficiency of 10%. This can be explained by differences in the surface preparation quality and alignment of the scintillating fibermore » with the clear optical fiber. Absence of surface polishing reduced the light collection by approximately 40%, and application of magnesium oxide on the proximal end of the scintillating fiber increased the amount of light collected from the optical fiber by approximately 39%. Of the coupling agents, we obtained the best results using one of the optical gels. Because a large amount of the light produced inside a scintillator is usually lost, better light-collection efficiency will result in improved sensitivity.« less

Authors:
; ; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Departement de physique, de genie physique et d'optique, Universite Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, G1K7P4 (Canada) and Departement de Radio-Oncologie, Hotel Dieu de Quebec, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Quebec, Quebec City, Quebec, G1R2J6 (Canada)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
20853470
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Medical Physics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 33; Journal Issue: 9; Other Information: DOI: 10.1118/1.2256300; (c) 2006 American Association of Physicists in Medicine; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0094-2405
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY; COUPLING; DOSEMETERS; DOSIMETRY; EFFICIENCY; FABRICATION; GELS; MAGNESIUM OXIDES; OPTICAL FIBERS; PLASTIC SCINTILLATORS; PLASTICS; POLYETHYLENES; SCINTILLATIONS; SOLID SCINTILLATION DETECTORS

Citation Formats

Ayotte, Guylaine, Archambault, Louis, Gingras, Luc, Lacroix, Frederic, Beddar, A Sam, Beaulieu, Luc, Departement de physique, de genie physique et d'optique, Universite Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, G1K7P4, Department de physique, de genie physique et d'optique, Universite Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, G1K7P4, Department of Radiation Physics, Division of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, and Department de physique, de genie physique et d'optique, Universite Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, G1K7P4. Surface preparation and coupling in plastic scintillator dosimetry. United States: N. p., 2006. Web. doi:10.1118/1.2256300.
Ayotte, Guylaine, Archambault, Louis, Gingras, Luc, Lacroix, Frederic, Beddar, A Sam, Beaulieu, Luc, Departement de physique, de genie physique et d'optique, Universite Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, G1K7P4, Department de physique, de genie physique et d'optique, Universite Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, G1K7P4, Department of Radiation Physics, Division of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, & Department de physique, de genie physique et d'optique, Universite Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, G1K7P4. Surface preparation and coupling in plastic scintillator dosimetry. United States. https://doi.org/10.1118/1.2256300
Ayotte, Guylaine, Archambault, Louis, Gingras, Luc, Lacroix, Frederic, Beddar, A Sam, Beaulieu, Luc, Departement de physique, de genie physique et d'optique, Universite Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, G1K7P4, Department de physique, de genie physique et d'optique, Universite Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, G1K7P4, Department of Radiation Physics, Division of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, and Department de physique, de genie physique et d'optique, Universite Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, G1K7P4. 2006. "Surface preparation and coupling in plastic scintillator dosimetry". United States. https://doi.org/10.1118/1.2256300.
@article{osti_20853470,
title = {Surface preparation and coupling in plastic scintillator dosimetry},
author = {Ayotte, Guylaine and Archambault, Louis and Gingras, Luc and Lacroix, Frederic and Beddar, A Sam and Beaulieu, Luc and Departement de physique, de genie physique et d'optique, Universite Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, G1K7P4 and Department de physique, de genie physique et d'optique, Universite Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, G1K7P4 and Department of Radiation Physics, Division of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030 and Department de physique, de genie physique et d'optique, Universite Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, G1K7P4},
abstractNote = {One way to improve the performance of scintillation dosimeters is to increase the light-collection efficiency at the coupling interfaces of the detector system. We performed a detailed study of surface preparation of scintillating fibers and their coupling with clear optical fibers to minimize light loss and increase the amount of light collected. We analyzed fiber-surface polishing with aluminum oxide sheets, coating fibers with magnesium oxide, and the use of eight different coupling agents (air, three optical gels, an optical curing agent, ultraviolet light, cyanoacrylate glue, and acetone). We prepared 10 scintillating fiber and clear optical fiber light guide samples to test different coupling methods. To test the coupling, we first cut both the scintillating fiber and the clear optical fiber. Then, we cleaned and polished both ends of both fibers. Finally, we coupled the scintillating fiber with the clear optical fiber in either a polyethylene jacket or a V-grooved support depending on the coupling agent used. To produce more light, we used an ultraviolet lamp to stimulate scintillation. A typical series of similar couplings showed a standard deviation in light-collection efficiency of 10%. This can be explained by differences in the surface preparation quality and alignment of the scintillating fiber with the clear optical fiber. Absence of surface polishing reduced the light collection by approximately 40%, and application of magnesium oxide on the proximal end of the scintillating fiber increased the amount of light collected from the optical fiber by approximately 39%. Of the coupling agents, we obtained the best results using one of the optical gels. Because a large amount of the light produced inside a scintillator is usually lost, better light-collection efficiency will result in improved sensitivity.},
doi = {10.1118/1.2256300},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/20853470}, journal = {Medical Physics},
issn = {0094-2405},
number = 9,
volume = 33,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Sep 15 00:00:00 EDT 2006},
month = {Fri Sep 15 00:00:00 EDT 2006}
}