Stimulation of visible luminescence by irradiation of a novel phosphor screen with an infrared beam

Robert Withnall; Jack Silver; Nicola Wilstead; Terry G. Ireland; George Robert Fern; David Klein; Stephen Bishton; Robert J. Rhodes

doi:10.1117/1.2172171

1 February 2006 Stimulation of visible luminescence by irradiation of a novel phosphor screen with an infrared beam

Robert Withnall, Jack Silver, Nicola Wilstead, Terry G. Ireland, George Robert Fern, David Klein, Stephen Bishton, Robert J. Rhodes

Author Affiliations +

Optical Engineering, Vol. 45, Issue 2, 024001 (February 2006). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.2172171

Abstract

A handheld gas detector is being developed that consists of a laser diode emitting light of wavelength equal to 1651 nm and an extended InGaAs detector. The IR laser beam is double-passed through a column of air via a folding mirror to a detector. The air column is in contact with the outside atmosphere so that low-relative-molecular-mass hydrocarbon gases, which diffuse into the air column, can be detected by the absorption of some of the IR light. The absorption at around 1651 nm is due to the overtones of C—H stretching vibrations and the limit of detection of the technique is at the parts per million level. One of the problems of using such a device in the field is that the operator cannot visualize the IR beam directly. Consequently, if the gas detection device fails to give a reading, the operator cannot be sure whether the laser is emitting light and the beam is correctly aligned. We describe the use of a novel phosphor screen to visualize the beam by converting the IR radiation into visible light. The properties of a number of phosphors that were developed and tested for the visualization of the beam are described. The merits of storage phosphors are compared to those of upconversion phosphors for use at this wavelength, which is longer than wavelengths previously visualized using upconversion phosphors.

©(2006) Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)

Citation Download Citation

Robert Withnall, Jack Silver, Nicola Wilstead, Terry G. Ireland, George Robert Fern, David Klein, Stephen Bishton, and Robert J. Rhodes "Stimulation of visible luminescence by irradiation of a novel phosphor screen with an infrared beam," Optical Engineering 45(2), 024001 (1 February 2006). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.2172171

Published: 1 February 2006

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available