Nanoscale TiO_2-coated LPGs as radiation-tolerant humidity sensors for high-energy physics applications

This contribution deals with a feasibility analysis for the development of fiber optic humidity sensors to be applied in high-energy physics (HEP) experiments currently running at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN).In particular, due to the wide investigations carried out in the last years aimed to assess the radiation hardness capability of fiber optic technology in HEP environments, our multidisciplinary research group has been recently engaged in the development of high-sensitivity TiO2-coated Long Period Fiber Gratings (LPGs) sensors for relative humidity (RH) monitoring at temperatures below 0°C as well as in presence of strong ionizing radiation