A SIMPLE, HIGHLY STABLE SCINTILLATOR LIGHT-SOURCE FOR ULTRAVIOLET ABSORPTION-BASED SENSORS

A light source consisting of radioactive and scintillating materials i s evaluated for use in absorption measurements in the ultraviolet (UV) spectral region. The UV light source demonstrates the qualities neces sary for chemical sensors. It is inexpensive, simple, reliable, compac t, and does not require an external power supply. Since the light sour ce is based upon radionuclear events that are completely random in tim e, its output is extremely stable if averaged over even moderate time periods. This stability allows simple, single-beam optical arrangement s to be used as demonstrated by detection of gaseous ozone and the ane sthetic gas halothane. Detection limits, using a prototype instrument, are 1.7 and 160 ppm for the two gases, respectively. (C) 1998 Elsevie r Science B.V. All rights reserved.