Applications of fiber optic pulsed photothermal radiometry

Pulsed photothermal radiometry is a nondestructive technique for measurements of surface and subsurface thermal parameters of a wide variety of materials. A fiber optic pulsed photothermal radiometric system is constructed and its feasibility is demonstrated. The radiometric system includes a pulsed CO₂ laser, an IR detector, and two IR transmitting silver halide optical fibers for delivering IR radiation to and from the sample. A weak laser pulse, absorbed by the sample, initially heats the sample surface. The time evolution of the transient emitted IR radiation is measured and analyzed. The results establish the feasibility of using the fiber optic pulsed photothermal radiometric system to measure coating thickness, to detect flaws, and to diagnose thermal damage in tissue. This fiber optic method would be useful for industrial and medical applications.