Easily fabricated, robust fiber-optic probe for weak fluorescence detection: modeling and initial experimental evaluation

Detection of fluorescence from a low quantum yield fluorophore is challenging for a fiber-optic probe, especially when an inexpensive and robust construction is desired. We propose a conceptually straightforward theoretical model to optimize the factors affecting the fluorescence-capture capability of a bifurcated/coaxial fiber-optic probe. Experimentally we verify that such a probe, if optimized, can detect the fluorescence of a polymer fluorophore with a low quantum yield of 0.0065. (C) 2012 Optical Society of America