| Hey there, my name is Antonino and I come from Sicily, Italy. I started my research in Wroclaw (Poland), at the Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research and soon I’ll be moving to the Côte d’Azur University in Nice (France). |
| These pictures show some of my deepest passions. Travelling has always been one of my life goals, to discover new cultures and traditions. I have a passion also for books (as you can notice from this bookshelf in Edinburgh!) I love reading and I’ve always been reading since I was a kid. I am pretty much into old stuff and vintage objects. I love cooking, any kind of cuisine, from italian to japanese. I am also fond of cinema and music from the 70s. |
| My research is focused on developing new optical fiber sensors for radiation detection, with potential applications in cancer treatment. The idea is to create special types of glass and optical fibers that emit light when exposed to ionizing radiation such as X-rays or proton beams. This light emission acts as a signal, allowing radiation to be detected and measured with high precision. To achieve this, small amounts of cerium ions (Ce3+), known for their strong and fast light response to radiation, are introduced into silicate and phosphate glasses. Using an advanced fabrication technique called MCVD, these materials are turned into optical fibers that can act as tiny, flexible radiation sensors. Why does this matter? In oncology, precise radiation dose delivery is critical. These fiber sensors could help monitor radiation in real time, improving accuracy and safety in radiotherapy treatments. By the end of the project, the goal is to demonstrate that these new fibers are reliable tools for sensing X-rays and proton radiation, opening the door to safer and more precise medical applications. |
Antonino Zarcone for Functiglass