RARE-EARTH PHOSPHOR LASER-INDUCED FLUORESCENCE THERMAL IMAGING-SYSTEM

This article examines the measurement capabilities of a novel, two-dimensional thermal imaging system based on the fluorescence properties of an europium-doped lanthanum oxysulfide (La2O2S:Eu+3) thermographic phosphor. The foundation of the technique (i.e., the fluorescence properties of La2O2S:Eu+3) , as well as the design of the thermal imaging system, are also described. The technique that is employed in the design of the system utilizes the tripled output of a pulsed Nd:YAG laser to excite the thin phosphor coating applied to a test surface. The resulting fluorescent emission of the temperature sensitive 512-nm radiative transition, along with that of the relatively temperature independent 620-nm transition, is acquired using an image-intensified charge coupled device camera. The ratio of the intensities of these two emissions, integrated during their decay, is then correlated with temperature. Phospho calibration data that is presented demonstrate the efficacy of the technique, while results evaluations to assess the spatial resolution and measurement accuracy provide a quantitative measure of system capabilities.