Identification of radiation treatment of wheat （Triticum aestivum. L）and rice （Oryza sativa. L） samples using thermoluminescence of contaminating minerals

Food irradiation is gaining popularity worldwide and this technology is important to improve quality and reduce the post harvest losses of food. Because of the rapid commercialization of irradiated foods throughout the world, compliance of different regulations relating to use of technology in different countries and demand of consumers for clear labelling of irradiated foods, there is need for the development of analytical methods to detect radiation treatment of food. Among several methods studied so far, thermoluminescence （TL） is an important method that can be used to find out the irradiation history of food that contain even a very minute amount of dust particles. In this study, the irradiated and unirradiated wheat and rice samples were analyzed using the TL method. The samples were purchased from the local market of Peshawar and irradiated to radiation doses of 0.5 and 1.0 kGy using Co-60 gamma irradiator at the Nuclear Institute for Food and Agriculture （NIFA）, Peshawar. The mineral contaminants were isolated by jet water, ultrasonic treatment, and density gradient. TL glow curves of the isolated minerals from irradiated and unirradiated samples were recorded between the temperature ranges of 50-500℃ using a TL reader. Generally, the glow curves for irradiated samples showed much higher TL intensities （TL1） than the unirradiated samples. The results were normalized by rerradiation of mineral samples to gamma-ray dose of 1.0 kGy followed by determination of the second glow curves （TL2）. The ratio of the area of first glow curve to that of second glow curve （TL1/TL2） was calculated for selected temperature intervals and compared with the recommended values for unirradiated and irradiated samples. Finally, the shapes of the glow curves for irradiated and unirradiated samples were also analyzed. On the basis of these results （comparison of TL-intensities, TL1/TL2 ratios and shapes of the glow curves）, all the irradiated and unirradiated samples of wheat and rice were unequivocally identified.     

Thermoluminescence properties of irradiated chickpea and corn

A study was carried out to establish a detection method for irradiated chickpea and corn by thermoluminescence (TL) method. The leguminous were packed in polyethylene bags and then the packets were irradiated at room temperature at different doses by ⁶⁰Co gamma source at 1, 4, 8 and 10 kGy. Minerals extracted from the leguminous were deposited onto a clean aluminum disc and TL intensities of the minerals were measured by TL. It was observed that the extracted samples from both leguminous exhibit good TL Intensity and the TL intensity of glow curves of them increased proportionally to irradiation doses. The TL glow curve of both irradiated leguminous presents a single broad peak below 400 °C. The TL trapping parameters glow peaks were estimated by the additive dose (AD), T_m(E_a)-T_stop and computerized glow curve deconvolution (CGCD) methods. The fading characteristics of glow curves were also recorded up to 6 months.     

Thermoluminescence properties of isostructural K2YF5 and K2GdF5 crystals doped with Tb in response to α, β and X-ray irradiation

The thermoluminescence (TL) properties of isostructural fluoride K₂YF₅ and K₂GdF₅ crystals doped with Tb³⁺ of different concentrations have been studied in the temperature range from 30 to 500 °C after α, β and X-ray irradiation. Strongly different structures of TL glow curves following α or β irradiation have been found for Tb³⁺ doped K₂YF₅ for all studied concentrations of Tb³⁺ whereas for K₂GdF₅ crystals the different TL curves after α or β irradiation are detected only for heavily doped samples. On the other hand, all the studied materials show similar TL glow curves after β or X-ray irradiation. It has been discovered that K₂YF₅ doped with 1 at.% Tb³⁺ has TL radiation sensitivity to β irradiation of the same order as that of the well known TLD-100 (LiF:Mg,Ti) phosphor and much higher sensitivity to α irradiation. The TL mechanism in K₂YF₅ and K₂GdF₅ doped with Tb³⁺ is discussed by taking into account the TL emission spectra from irradiated samples, which are identical to the emission spectra of the Tb³⁺ ions in these hosts under photo-excitation, and the kinetics parameters obtained with the method of various heating rates.     

纳米多孔氧化铝薄膜的热释光特性

利用阳极氧化法制备的氧化铝薄膜是非晶态的并且表面呈高度有序的多孔结构.经过太阳光照射后氧化铝薄膜具有明显的热释光现象,发光峰值出现在190℃,表明其对太阳光敏感.经过电子束辐照后薄膜的热释光特性与制备时电解液浓度和退火处理的时间有关,其中制备过程中电解液浓度为0.4mol/L热释光现象最明显,退火时间为5小时的热释光现象最明显.     

Effect of annealing in thermostimulated luminescence (TSL) on natural blue colour calcite crystals

The thermostimulated luminescence (TSL) glow curve characteristics of 10 blue coloured calcite crystals of Southern Tamilnadu are analysed. The natural thermoluminescence (NTL) measurements were carried out for all the samples and annealed in air at the temperatures ranging from 200 to 700 °C, at an interval of 50 °C, for 1 h duration. The glow curves of annealed and unannealed samples irradiated with a gamma dose of 500 Gy show three peaks at 145, 255 and 345 °C, respectively, when recorded with a linear heating rate of 10 °C/s. Annealing treatment above 400 °C increases the sensitivity of all TSL peaks except 345 °C. On the other hand, annealing at 700 °C caused a collapse in the TSL sensitivity. The enhancement in TSL sensitivity was found to depend on the annealing temperature and time. Annealing treatment at 600 °C for 5 h followed by quenching in air is the optimum conditions for TSL sensitization. The response to gamma irradiation is linear in the range from 1 to 10⁴ Gy. The emission spectra of all the samples show an emission at around 610 nm but with different intensities for each sample. With reference to earlier work, it may be assumed that the recombination site always involves Mn²⁺ ions.     

The thermoluminescent properties of lithium triborate (LiB3O5) activated by aluminium

In this paper, the thermoluminescence (TL) dosimetric characteristics of Al-doped LiB₃O₅ compounds are presented. The powder samples were prepared by the solid-state reaction method and the formation of the compounds were confirmed by an X-ray diffraction study. The TL studies of undoped and Al-doped LiB₃O₅ samples showed similar glow curve structures. They have three TL glow peaks at about 60, 130 and 200 °C after heating at a constant heating rate of 1 °C/s. Their comparative TL studies indicated that 5 wt% Al-doped LiB₃O₅ compound was approximately 240 times more sensitive than undoped compound. The TL emission spectra of Al-doped LiB₃O₅ showed a maximum band at around 520 nm. The main dosimetric characteristics, which are namely the TL dose response, TL sensitivity, fading, minimum detectable dose, reproducibility, precision of dose measurement and annealing procedure, indicated that Al-doped LiB₃O₅ sample, can be used in dosimetric applications. The trap parameters namely order of kinetics (b), activation energy (E) and frequency factor (s) associated with the glow peaks in beta irradiated undoped and Al-doped LiB₃O₅ samples were obtained by glow curve deconvolution (GCD) program.     

On the use of MWCVD diamond as thermoluminescent gamma dosimeter

The thermoluminescence (TL) characterization of microwave plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition diamond (MWCVD) films of 6 and 12 μm thickness grown on (1 0 0) silicon substrates was performed. The films exhibited a single well-resolved TL peak around 580 K at doses lower than 40 Gy. As the irradiation dose increased the TL peak broaden and shifted towards the low temperature side of the glow curve. The diamond samples exposed to 0.67 Gy/min ⁶⁰Co gamma radiation displayed a linear dose behavior up to 100 Gy being non-linear for higher doses. The 12 μm film showed lower TL efficiency as compared to the 6 μm specimen. The discrepancy was attributed to the non-uniform distribution of nucleated sp³ diamond and sp² bonded carbon on the substrate as revealed by SEM micrograph and Raman spectroscopy of the samples. The integrated TL glow curve of the samples exhibited low room temperature thermal fading and 3% reproducibility. The results show that MWCVD diamond films possess promising properties for radiation dosimetry applications.     

Thermoluminescent characteristics of topaz from Sabser mine near Sakardu in northern Pakistan

Topaz, a naturally occurring aluminium fluorosilicate mineral, shows thermo-luminescence (TL) after irradiation to gamma rays. The TL characteristics (glow curve, dose response/intensity, sensitivity, energy response, fading, reusability and mechanical stability) of topaz collected from the Sabser mine in the vicinity of Sakardu in northern Pakistan were studied. The purpose of this study was to design and develop a TLD (thermoluminescence dosimeter) based on topaz. The samples of topaz from this mine were cut into square chips of dimensions 3.2 × 3.2 mm with thickness 0.9 mm, which are suitable for the TLD reader. Gamma dose was given to the chips from ⁶⁰Co and/or ¹³⁷Cs gamma irradiators. The TL glow curves of the chips revealed stable peak at about 260 °C. The height of this peak rose linearly with increase of dose levels. The TL response versus dose (calibration curve) showed the linear behaviour between 10⁻² and 10² Gy without saturation. Dose response was independent of gamma energies of ⁶⁰Co and ¹³⁷Cs. The response of standard sized chips of topaz remained constant within ±11% deviation from initial value after 30 cycles of reuse. The rate of fading of topaz chips of this mine were studied up to four months, which was fast for initial few hours and slowed after a few days. The chips remained mechanically stable during handling in all types of experiments. Standard sized topaz chips of Sabser mine can effectively and efficiently be used as a TLD.     

Track interaction in gamma- and charged-particle-irradiatedthermoluminescence dosimeters

The growth of thermoluminescence (TL) and optical absorption (OA) with absorbed dose was examined in LiF doped with Mg, as functions of both the linear energy transfer (LET) of the incident radiation and the impurity content of the samples. In addition, the TL growth curves were examined as a function of the heating rate during readout. The growth of TL as a function of dose is basically linear-supralinear-sublinear, but the precise character of the dose response function varies with the LET of irradiation, the Mg impurity content of the sample, and the heating rate during TL readout. the OA dose response is always linear-sublinear over the same dose ranges, even for those defect centers that are known to be involved in the TL process. The data indicate that the mechanisms responsible for the supralinear nature of the TL growth are operative during the TL readout phase rather than the absorption phase. A mathematical model is presented that qualitatively describes the results. The model is conceptually the same as the so-called track interaction model for high-LET irradiation, but the extension presented here makes it applicable to gamma-irradiated samples also     

Thermoluminescence kinetic parameters of Bi4Ge3O12 single crystals

In this work, we present a detailed kinetic study of the thermoluminescence of Bi₄Ge₃O₁₂ (BGO) single crystals grown by the Czochralski technique. A single crystalline phase was confirmed through X-ray diffraction pattern analysis based on the Rietveld profile refinement method. The thermoluminescent (TL) glow curves were induced by UV or beta radiation and measured between 20 °C and 200 °C. The glow curves of BGO crystal presented two peaks at 61 °C and 90 °C for both kinds of radiation. The kinetic parameters, kinetic order (b), activation energy (E) and frequency factor (s), of the TL glow curves have been determined by four different methods. The lifetime of the peaks at room temperature was also determined and used to discuss the stability of the TL peaks at room temperature.     

辐射诱导冷却肉脂肪氧化机理与抑制方法研究

探讨了辐照剂量、贮藏效应、氧气含量和抗氧化剂等因素对辐照冷却肉脂肪氧化的影响，提出了抑制辐照冷却肉脂肪氧化的技术方法。结果表明，辐照冷却肉的过氧化值与辐照剂量存在极显著的正相关关系（p〈0．01），随着贮藏时间的延长表现为先升后降；在包装实验中，真空包装和无氧包装（N2＋CO2）可以咀显降低贮藏期间辐照冷却肉的过氧化值和TBARS值（硫代巴比妥酸反应物）；添加抗氧化剂后，辐照冷却肉的脂肪氧化明显降低，其过氧化值和TBARS值在贮藏期间不超过3meq／kg和0．4mgMDA／kg，而对照达到29meq／kg和1．13mgMDA／kg，其中抗氧化剂茶多酚和维生素E起主导作用。     

Luminescence studies on gamma irradiated RbCl:Sm and RbBr:Smcrystals

This paper presents and discusses the results obtained on the thermoluminescence (TL) and other optical studies of gamma irradiated RbCl:Sm³⁺ and RbBr:Sm³⁺ crystals. Samarium when doped into the RbCl and RbBr is found to enter the host lattice in its trivalent state and act as electron trap during gamma irradiation, there by partially converting itself to Sm²⁺. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra of both RbCl and RbBr crystals doped with Sm exhibit the strong red/orange emissions of Sm corresponding to ⁴G_5/2 → ⁶H_9/2 (red) and ⁴G_5/2 → ⁶H_7/2 (orange) transitions. Z₃ centers are observed in RbBr on F bleaching subsequent to gamma irradiation and a TL glow peak attributable to the same has been identified. The thermoluminescence (TL) glow curve explains the defect annihilation process to be due to the mobilization of two different kinds of traps created as a result of exposure to high energy irradiation in both the cases. Spectral distribution under the thermoluminescence emission (TLE) and optically stimulated emission(OSL), support the idea that defect annihilation process to be due to thermal release of F electron in RbCl:Sm³⁺ and in RbBr:Sm³⁺ crystals. Both Sm³⁺ and Sm²⁺ emissions were observed in the thermoluminescence emission of the crystals.     

Study of a neutron irradiated reactor pressure vessel steel by X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Reactor pressure vessel (RPV) reference steel samples submitted to neutron irradiations followed by thermal annealing were investigated by X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy. Several studies revealed that Cu and Ni impurities can form nanoclusters. In the unirradiated sample and in the only-irradiated sample no significant clustering is detected. In all irradiated and subsequently annealed samples increases of Cu and Ni atom densities are recorded around the absorber. Furthermore, the density of Cu and Ni atoms determined in the first and second shells around the absorber is found to be affected by the irradiation and annealing treatment. The comparison of the XAFS data at Cu and Ni K-edges shows that these elements reside in arrangements similar to bcc Fe. However, the local irradiation damage yields vacancy fractions which were determined from the analysis of XAFS data with a precision of ∼5%.     

电子自旋共振技术鉴别辐照茶叶

研究黄山毛峰和祁门红茶经Co-60γ射线辐照诱导的电子自旋共振(Electron spin resonance,ESR)波谱特征,以及吸收剂量、贮藏时间与茶叶中自由基ESR信号强度的关系,考察利用ESR技术鉴别辐照茶叶的可行性。结果显示,低吸收剂量能显著增加茶叶中ESR信号强度(p0.01);茶叶中自由基的信号强度随吸收剂量呈多项式关系增长,与贮藏时间呈乘幂函数关系下降;在常温贮藏70 d后,信号强度逐渐稳定,但依然显著高于未辐照样品的信号强度(p0.01),据此表明,使用ESR法可以鉴别辐照与非辐照的茶叶。     

热释光缺陷模型的探讨

热释光物理机制的描述及相关理论模型的建立依赖于所采用的缺陷模型.热释光动力学模型基于固体能带理论和孤立点缺陷的假设,完全不涉及介质中的缺陷结构和空间分布.实际应用中,动力学模型参数并不能给出确切的意义,对许多热释光物理现象也无法解释.本文基于掺入稀土的碱土硫酸盐磷光体的系统实验研究,分析了热释光三维发光谱和剂量响应非线性特性,结果显示,大多数热释光磷光体中缺陷是以缺陷复合体的形式存在,本征缺陷和掺入杂质构成的缺陷复合体是热释光多阶段随机过程的基本作用单元,表明热释光磷光体的发光特性和剂量响应非线性特性与缺陷复合体的结构密切相关.     

Preliminary results on the identification of ultraviolet and beta radiation exposure in KCl:Eu single crystals by thermoluminescence

The thermoluminescence (TL) sensitivity to ionising (beta source) and non-ionising (UV) radiation on KCl:Eu²⁺ single crystals has been investigated. The different shapes of the TL glow curves allow us to detect specific peaks (over 220–250 °C) due to UV exposure that exhibit a negligible contribution associated with ionising radiation. The UV-induced TL emission could be deconvoluted into five groups of components peaked at about 120, 150, 210, 250 and 330 °C assuming first order kinetic processes. Dose saturation and linearity region have been determined for a wavelength of 254.7 nm. The effect of several cycles of UV irradiation processes on the linearity of the high energy ultraviolet KCl:Eu²⁺ dosimeter has been also studied to determine the potential reusability.     

Investigation of the stability of the radiation sensitivity of TL peaks of quartz extracted from tiles

One of the most important mineral in dosimetric investigation is quartz, which is found abundantly in archaeological and geological materials. Although there are many studies about its thermoluminescence (TL) properties in the literature, it may exhibit different properties for each quartz mineral extracted from the different region of the world. In the present work, the stabilities and dose responses of glow peaks of quartz obtained from the tiles of Kubad Abad Palace in central Turkey were investigated after annealing at 500 and 600 °C for 1 h. The variation of radiation sensitivity of TL peaks of the quartz grains extracted from tiles are found to be more stable after annealing at 600 °C than 500 °C for 1 h. The TL dose responses of glow peaks of annealed and unannealed quartz samples were also studied up to approximately 3 kGy. It was observed that the pre-irradiation heat treatments affect the dose response behaviors of glow peaks.     

Thermoluminescence, photoluminescence, photo-stimulated luminescence and optical studies on X-ray irradiated KBr:Ce crystals

This paper reports thermoluminescence (TL) glow and emission, optical absorption and optically stimulated emission studies made on Ce³⁺ doped KBr single crystals irradiated at room temperature. Optical absorption and photoluminescence studies confirm the presence of cerium ions in the trivalent state. A broad and intense blue emission around at 290 and 390 nm, attributable to the transition from 5d excited state to the 4f¹ ground state of Ce³⁺ ions could be observed in the photoluminescence emission. Two TL glow peaks were observed at 374 and 422 K. Presence of characteristic emission due to Ce³⁺ ions in the optically stimulated emission at the F-band confirms the participations of the Ce³⁺ ions in the defect production and recombination processes.     

Optical absorption and thermoluminescence studies in 100 MeV swift heavy ion irradiated CaF2 crystals

Pure and Ytterbium (Yb) doped Calcium fluoride (CaF₂) single crystals were irradiated with 100 MeV Ni⁷⁺ ions for fluences in the range 5 × 10¹¹-2.5 × 10¹³ ions cm⁻². The irradiated crystals were characterized by Optical absorption (OA) and Thermoluminescence (TL) techniques. The OA spectra of ion irradiated pure CaF₂ crystals showed a broad absorption with peak at ∼556 nm and a weak one at ∼220 nm, whereas the Yb doped crystals showed two strong absorption bands at ∼300 and 550 nm. From the study of OA spectra, the defect centers responsible for the absorption were identified. TL measurements of Ni⁷⁺ ion irradiated pure CaF₂ samples indicated a strong TL glow with peak at ∼510 K. However, the Yb doped crystals showed two TL glows at ∼406 and 496 K. The OA and TL intensity were found to increase with increase of ion fluence upto 1 × 10¹³ ions cm⁻² and thereafter it decreased with further increase of fluence. The results obtained are discussed in detail.