Optically stimulated luminescent fiber optic radiation dosimeter

A method of monitoring, from a remote location, a source of ionizing radiation, said method comprising the steps of:

• exposing to ionizing radiation a radiation-sensitive optically-stimulated luminescent dosimeter for storing energy from ionizing radiation when exposed thereto and for releasing the stored energy in the form of optically-stimulated luminescence light at a first wavelength when stimulated by exposure to light energy at a stimulating second wavelength, said optically stimulated luminescent dosimeter including an optically stimulable glass matrix material that stores energy in the form of trapped electrons when exposed to ionizing radiation, said optically stimulable glass including luminescence centers that upon exposure to light at said second wavelength, recombine with said trapped electrons, resulting in the release of said stored energy at said first wavelength;
• said glass being transparent to its optically stimulated emissions;
• an optical source for providing stimulating light energy at the stimulating second wavelength;
• a photodetector for measuring optically-stimulated luminescent emissions at the first wavelength;
• and
• passing said stimulating light energy from said optical source to said optically stimulated luminescent dosimeter through an optical fiber fused to the optically-stimulated luminescent dosimeter, thereby stimulating said optically-stimulated luminescent dosimeter to produce optically-stimulated luminescence light from stored energy
• conveying said optically-stimulated luminescence light to said photodetector, through an optical fiber, to enable said photodetector to measure any optically-stimulated luminescent emissions occurring when the optically-stimulated luminescent dosimeter is stimulated by the light energy at the stimulating second wavelength, said photodetector providing, at said location remote from said source of ionizing radiation, a signal indicative of the amount of ionizing radiation at the location of said source of ionizing radiation.