An optical fiber sensor based on cladding photoluminescence for high power microwave plasma ultraviolet lamps used in water treatment

Low-pressure mercury lamps are commonly used for germicidal applications such as water and wastewater sterilisation. The germicidal effect is due to the emission of light at 254 nm, which leads to the destruction of most waterborne bacteria. The Microwave plasma ultraviolet lamp (MPUVL) is a new technology for generating a high intensity ultraviolet (UV) light. A Fluorescent optical fiber based sensor is presented which is used for monitoring the output of a high power microwave UV light source and its control. This sensor is a fiber which has had its cladding removed and been coated with a phosphor doped polymer. This paper was originally presented at the 2001 International Conference (2nd Joint OSJ-SPIE Conference) on Optical Engineering for Sensing and Nanotechnology, ICOSN 2001 which was held June 6–8, 2001 at the Pacifico-Yokohama Conference Center, Yokohama, Japan.