Fiber optic measuring device with monolithic phosphor composite

An optical device for measuring a parameter of an object comprising:

• a. a fiber optic probe comprising a light guide;
• b. a light source operatively coupled to the light guide to transmit excitation light to a tip of the probe and an emitted light;
• c. a monolithic ceramic metal oxide phosphor composite adjacent to the object, the ceramic metal oxide phosphor composite comprising:
• i. a thermographic phosphor;
• and
• ii. a metal oxide material,
• wherein the thermographic phosphor is mixed with the metal oxide material to form a metal oxide phosphor composite material which is subsequently dried and calcined to form a ceramic metal oxide phosphor composite;
• d. a sensor operatively coupled to the fiber optic probe to detect the light emitted from the monolithic ceramic metal oxide phosphor composite;
• and
• e. a processing unit functionally coupled to the sensor to process the light emitted from the monolithic ceramic metal oxide phosphor composite,
• wherein the fiber optic probe is brought into close proximity to the monolithic ceramic phosphor composite during measurements, such that when the monolithic ceramic metal oxide phosphor composite is illuminated with the excitation light it emits light in a wavelength different from the excitation light and a change in emission intensity at a single wavelength or the change in intensity ratio of two or more wavelengths, a lifetime decay or a shift in emission wavelength peak is a function of the measuring parameter.