Ionizing radiation response effects on optical fibers in radiation therapy dosimetry applications

Radiation effects on optical fibers result in two different bffects: accumulated radiation damage resulting in a substantial loss of transmission and transient radiation response in which light is generated in the fiber material itself during exposure to radiation. In various medical applications, optical fibers are often exposed to radiation during certain clinical procedures which makes their radiation response an effect of concern to the medical community. Thus, this effect needs to be studied and quantified in that kind of environment. This study involves radiation-resistant fibers and the quantification of their light emission response as a function of dose rate and irradiation field size for photon and electron beams at the various energises used in radiation therapy.