News & Updates
Selected updates from Nusenics on fiber-optic sensing technology development, prototype systems, DOE SBIR-supported R&D, and applications in demanding measurement environments.
Latest highlights
Nusenics joined the DIII-D program to support development and testing of fiber-optic bolometer technology for fusion plasma diagnostics. The work supports continued advancement of compact, optically interrogated diagnostic concepts for fusion-relevant environments.
External update from DIII-D.
Nusenics delivered a two-channel fiber-optic bolometer prototype system to an external fusion research organization for testing and evaluation, supporting continued assessment of fiber-optic bolometer technology for fusion-relevant plasma radiation measurement.
Nusenics hosted a delegation from a fusion energy company for technical discussions on fiber-optic sensing technologies and potential collaboration opportunities in fusion diagnostics and harsh-environment measurement.
Technology testing
Nusenics is conducting staged testing to evaluate fiber-optic bolometer survivability and optical signal stability under fusion-relevant radiation exposure conditions.
Nusenics completed two irradiation test campaigns on fiber-optic bolometer sensors at a university nuclear reactor facility. Across the campaigns, the tested FOBs survived the irradiation exposures, and no significant degradation of the optical interference signal was observed.
The first campaign tested four FOBs during approximately 40 hours of irradiation. A second campaign tested six FOBs, including four sensors from the first campaign and two newly packaged sensors. For the four sensors tested in both campaigns, the accumulated exposure reached approximately 3.2 × 1018 n/cm2 neutron fluence and 30.4 MGy gamma dose.
Further evaluation is continuing. Observed optical power changes are being assessed in relation to connector and optical-switch drift rather than degradation of the silicon Fabry-Perot sensing cavity.
DOE SBIR-supported development
Nusenics' fiber-optic sensing technology development has been supported through multiple DOE SBIR awards focused on fusion diagnostics and harsh-environment sensor systems.
Continued DOE SBIR support for fiber-optic bolometer technology development, including engineering work toward prototype testing and evaluation for fusion plasma diagnostics.
View SBIR award recordDOE SBIR Phase II support to advance fiber-optic bolometer fabrication, packaging, signal processing, calibration, irradiation testing, and prototype evaluation.
View SBIR award recordDOE SBIR Phase I support for a fiber-optic sensor system targeting multi-point pressure and temperature measurement in nuclear energy environments.
View SBIR award recordInitial DOE SBIR Phase I support for development of fiber-optic bolometers for fusion plasma diagnostics.
View SBIR award recordContact
Contact Nusenics to discuss fiber-optic sensing technologies, prototype evaluation, or application-specific development for demanding measurement environments.