We demonstrate the application of fluorescence optical fiber coupled to a telecom grade fiber as a sensor for alpha particles using alpha-specific ZnS(Ag) scintillation materials whose wavelength is down-shifted into a low-loss region of the telecom grade fiber transmission band. Telecom-grade fiber optics offer a solution for sensing alpha radiation in deep repositories and cask storage for radioactive materials due to the stability of SiO2 under normal environmental conditions and its relative radiation hardness at low radiation doses. Long-term nuclear waste storage facilities require sensors for the detection of leakage of radioactive materials that are maintenance-free, do not require power and can survive with no 'wear out' mechanisms for decades. By accomplishing the wavelength transformation, we maximize efficiencies in the detection of α-particles and signal transport and can detect alpha scintillation at distances on the order of >1 km with a sensor that is ~3% efficient and can be easily scaled as a sensor array. This paper describes the construction and testing of the sensor including manufacture of the controlled thickness films, verification of the wavelength shift from 450 to 620 nm and optimization of the sensitivity as a function of thickness. We also model the relative sensitivity of the film as a function of film thickness, and we demonstrate a signal-to-noise ratio of 10 at a range of greater than 1 km.

中文翻译：

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使用光纤开发本地无电源远程 α 粒子探测。

我们演示了将荧光光纤耦合到电信级光纤作为阿尔法粒子传感器的应用，该传感器使用阿尔法特定的 ZnS(Ag) 闪烁材料，其波长下移到电信级光纤传输频带的低损耗区域。由于 SiO2 在正常环境条件下的稳定性及其在低辐射剂量下的相对辐射硬度，电信级光纤为放射性材料深层储存库和桶储存中的 α 辐射传感提供了解决方案。长期核废料储存设施需要传感器来检测放射性材料的泄漏，这些传感器免维护、不需要电力并且可以在没有“磨损”机制的情况下运行数十年。通过完成波长转换，我们最大限度地提高了 α 粒子的检测和信号传输的效率，并且可以使用效率约为 3% 且可以轻松扩展为传感器的传感器来检测距离 >1 公里左右的 α 闪烁大批。本文介绍了传感器的构造和测试，包括受控厚度薄膜的制造、波长从 450 nm 到 620 nm 的偏移验证以及灵敏度随厚度变化的优化。我们还对薄膜的相对灵敏度与薄膜厚度的关系进行了建模，并证明了在大于 1 公里的范围内信噪比为 10。