High-temperature laser induced spectroscopy in nuclear steam generators

An apparatus for conducting optical spectroscopy in a hostile environment, comprising:

• a source of high intensity light;
• an optical fiber connected to the source of high intensity light for transmitting light therefrom, the optical fiber having an end for discharging light onto a material to be spectroscopically analyzed;
• a sheath defining a space around at least a part of the optical fiber carrying the end of the optical fiber for shielding the optical fiber from the hostile environment;
• a window in the sheath for closing the space and for passing light transmitted through the end of the optical fiber out of the sheath;
• light detector means for detecting and spectroscopically analyzing emitted light from the material;
• an optical fiber means for transmitting the emitted light from the material to the light detector means;
• a standardization module for containing a sample having a known composition and being exposed to known temperature and pressure conditions;
• an additional optical fiber connected to said module for transmitting light to the sample in said module;
• multiplexer means connected to said first-mentioned and additional optical fibers for switching sequentially between said optical fibers, said source of high intensity light being connected to said multiplexer means for supplying light for said optical fibers to said multiplexer means and said detector means being connected to said multiplexer means for receiving light from said multiplexer means;
• and
• additional optical fiber means for returning light from said module to said detector through said multiplexer means.