TL and OSL of SrSO4 phosphors doped with Eu

The thermoluminescence (TL) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) of SrSO4:Eu (0.1 mol%) powder sample were studied. The TL and OSL emission spectrum are measured after irradiation (absorbed dose 100 Gy) of 90Sr source; both of them showed that the emission wavelength is at approximately 375 nm, which indicates that TL and OSL have the same luminescence centres, and the luminescence comes from transitions between the energy levels of Eu2+. The TL glow curves and OSL decay curves illustrate that there is only one main TL peak but two main components in OSL curves. By a comparative study of TL and OSL it is concluded that OSL traps are different from TL traps. The TL and OSL dose responses of SrSO4:Eu phosphor were measured, and it showed that phosphor has similar dose responses for OSL and TL.     

Ultraviolet thermoluminscent dosimetry using high temperature peaks in KCl:Eu2+ crystals

The thermoluminescence (TL) characteristics of KCl:Eu2+ irradiated with solar and monochromatic ultraviolet (UV) light have been investigated. The glow curves exhibit at least five TL peaks between room temperature and 673 K. The low temperature peaks (<500 K) are very sensitive to the UV radiation, but their intensities practically do not depend on the duration of solar irradiation and are determined by the ratio between the creation rate by UV and the bleaching rate by visible light. The high temperature 650 K peak is not so sensitive, but it is more stable under optical bleaching and its intensity increases supralinearly as exposure time increases. The creation spectrum of the 650 K peak presents a broad band with a maximum at 230 nm that extends in the long wavelength range at least up to 360 nm. The results obtained are discussed in relation to the development of a UV dosemeter with wavelength sensitivity dependence close to the action spectra of UV-related biological effects.     

Thermoluminescence properties of KCl(1-X)KBrX:Pb2+ mixed crystals

A study is presented of the thermoluminescence (TL) of phosphors based on potassium halides doped with divalent lead, such as KCl:Pb2+, KBr:Pb2+ and the crystalline series KCl(1-X)Br(X):Pb2+. The defects in the crystals generated by irradiation have been investigated as well as the trapping and room temperature recombination mechanisms. The samples were gamma irradiated to a dose of 10 kGy. The TL spectral response during the recombination stage was obtained through simultaneous measurements of temperature, emitted light intensity and emission wavelength by using an automated thermoluminescence system with optical fibre couplings and a diode array as a detection device. The TL emission is a broad band in the 350-600 nm range with a maximum strongly dependent upon the mixed composition.     

Thermoluminescence of MgSO4 doped with Eu and P impurities

CaSO4:Eu, MgSO4:Eu and MgSO4:Eu,P phosphors have been prepared and their thermoluminescence (TL) characteristics were studied. A main glow peak due to Eu2+ ions is seen at approximately 146 degrees C and 440 nm and glow peaks at approximately 145 degrees C, approximately 190 degrees C, approximately 260 degrees C and approximately 360 degrees C for 590 nm and 625 nm wavelengths are identified as Eu3+ ion emissions in MgSO4:Eu. Emission spectra in MgSO4:Eu and the MgSO4:Eu,P show that the MgSO4:Eu3+ glow peak at 260 degrees C for 590 nm and 625 nm shifts to 280 degrees C with enhanced intensity while the Eu2+ ion glow peak at 146 degrees C remains but with reduced intensity. The main glow peak at approximately 146 degrees C and 440 nm from Eu2+ ions shows significant difference from the characteristic glow peaks of Eu3+ ions. It is observed that the wavelength of the Eu2+ ion glow peak is inversely proportional to the radius of the cation of the host sulphate in alkaline-earth sulphate phosphors. By contrast the wavelengths of the Eu3+ ion glow peaks remain unchanged in different sulphates. Besides, the glow curve at approximately 146 degrees C obtained using a conventional blue sensitive reader shows simply the first order kinetics. It is concluded that the luminescence centres and distribution of traps related to Eu2+ ions are different from that of Eu3+ ions in MgSO4:Eu and MgSO4:Eu,P phosphors.     

Thermoluminescence centres created selectively in MgO crystals by fast neutrons

A possibility of using the thermoluminescent detection of collision-created interstitial centres in MgO by the TL peak at 700 K, arising at the radiative recombination of anion interstitials with F+ centres, for the selective detection of fast neutrons in mixed neutron-gamma fields, is examined. Selectivity and sensitivity of such a detector are discussed. For the present time, the sensitivity of the thermoluminescent detection of anion interstitials created by neutron irradiation is comparable to that of the EPR detection of F+ centres, the main limitations of the thermoluminescence method being connected with the background thermoluminescence and absence of suitable luminescence centres in this temperature region, when undoped and untreated MgO crystals are used. Possible ways to overcome these shortcomings are discussed.     

Glow curves and the emission of flux-grown BaFCl:Na crystals

The thermoluminescence glow curves and the emission spectra of flux-grown BaFCl:Na crystals were recorded. An additional TL peak at 320 K, an optical absorption band at 570 nm and an emission peak at 490 nm have been seen in X/-irradiated crystals. Bleaching, room-temperature annealing and high-temperature emission results led us to conclude that the sodium impurity is responsible for the additional glow peak, optical absorption band and emission peak.     

Synthesis and characterisation of BaSo4:Eu thermoluminescence phosphor

Polycrystalline powder samples of BaSO(4) doped with Eu(2+) were prepared by solid-state reaction in different reducing atmospheres. Photoluminescence (PL), thermoluminescence (TL), TL kinetic and dosimetric studies have been carried out in this phosphor. The TL glow curve of BaSO(4):Eu(2+) showed only a single peak at 513 K unlike other phosphors and the TL intensity is about three to four times higher than that of CaSO(4):Dy, which is currently used as the radiation dosemeter for personnel monitoring in India. The TL dose response of the phosphor was found to be linear up to the dose range of 10(3) Gy beyond which saturation sets in. PL and TL spectra showed the characteristic emission of Eu(2+) ion. The TL parameters such as trap depth (E) or the energy required to release the electron or hole from the trap, frequency factor (s) and the order of kinetics (b) are determined by different methods such as isothermal decay, initial rise and variable heating rate.     

Optical and dosimetric properties of zircon

Irradiation effects were investigated in zircon crystals by methods of optical absorption and luminescence. Special attention was given to the effects of vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation. The same main thermoluminescence (TL) peaks with the same thermal activation energies appeared after VUV as after X- or beta irradiation, indicating that the same traps were induced by the different irradiations. TL excitation spectra in the VUV showed an increase <220 nm and maxima near 190 and 140 nm. Excitation spectra of phototransferred TL (PTTL) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) were also measured. Most TL emission bands also appeared in the X-luminescence, PTTL and OSL. Dosimetric properties such as the TL radiation sensitivity, thermal stability of radiation-induced defects and TL dose dependence were also investigated. The radiation sensitivity of zircon was by an order of magnitude lower than that of TLD-100. The 355 K TL peak showed linear dose dependence only up to approximately 500 Gy and the 520 K peak up to approximately 1800 Gy.     

Luminescence characteristics of dental ceramics for retrospective dosimetry: a preliminary study

Ceramic materials that are widely employed in dental prosthetics and repairs exhibit luminescent properties. Because of their use in the body, these materials are potentially of interest in situations where retrospective dosimetry for individuals is required but where monitoring was not planned. The luminescent properties of dental ceramics obtained from Germany, Spain and the UK were examined. Linear dose-response characteristics were obtained in the range < 100 mGy to 10 Gy using thermoluminescence (TL), optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and infrared-stimulated luminescence (IRSL) measurement techniques. Measurements of time-resolved luminescence were also performed to examine the nature of the luminescence recombination under visible (470 nm) and IR (855 nm) stimulation. The results obtained by TL and optically stimulated techniques suggest that there may be deeper traps than previously observed in certain types of dental ceramic. Such traps may be less susceptible to optical and athermal fading than was reported in earlier studies.     

Analysis of the glow curves obtained from LiF:Mg,Cu,Na,Si TL material using the general order kinetics model

Three-dimensional thermoluminescence (TL) spectra based on temperature, wavelength and intensity for newly developed LiF:Mg,Cu,Na,Si TL material at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) were measured and analysed. The glow curves were obtained by integration of luminescence intensity over all wavelengths at each temperature, and various trapping parameters related to the traps were determined by analysing these curves. A computerised glow curve deconvolution (CGCD) method which was based on the general order kinetics (GOK) model was used for the glow curve analysis. The glow curves of LiF:Mg,Cu,Na,Si TL material were deconvoluted to six isolated glow curves which have peak temperatures at 333, 374, 426, 466, 483 and 516 K. The main glow peak of peak temperature at 466 K had activation energy of 2.06 eV and a kinetic order of 1.05. This TL material was also found to have three recombination centres, 1.80 eV, 2.88 eV and 3.27 eV by analysis of the TL spectra.     

Properties of the 4.45 eV optical absorption band in LiF:Mg,Ti

The optical absorption (OA) and thermoluminescence (TL) of dosimetric LiF:Mg,Ti (TLD-100) as well as nominally pure LiF single crystal have been studied as a function of irradiation dose, thermal and optical bleaching in order to investigate the role of the 4.45 eV OA band in low temperature TL. Computerised deconvolution was used to resolve the absorption spectrum into individual gaussian bands and the TL glow curve into glow peaks. Although the 4.45 eV OA band shows thermal decay characteristics similar to the 4.0 eV band its dose filling constant and optical bleaching properties suggest that it cannot be associated with the TL of composite peaks 4 or 5. Its presence in optical grade single crystal LiF further suggests that it is an intrinsic defect or possibly associated with chance impurities other than Mg, Ti.     

Thermoluminescence response of new KCl(X)Br(1-X):EuCl3 sintered phosphors exposed to beta and gamma radiation

Alkali halides crystals have been the subject of intense research for an understanding of their radiation-induced defects and luminescence properties. They exhibit noteworthy thermoluminescence (TL) properties when exposed to ionising radiation. Currently, these materials are grown employing expensive and rather complicated techniques. In this work, the results on the TL properties of new alkali halides phosphors fabricated by a simple and inexpensive procedure are presented. The samples were made by mixing KCl, KBr and EuCl3 salts, and compressing them at a pressure of 3.2 x 10(7) Pa during 3 min, followed by sintering at 700 degrees C during 24 h under air atmosphere. The dosimetric response of the samples showed an increase with radiation dose in the 1.5-20.0 Gy dose range for beta and gamma radiation. The TL glow curves in sintered samples presented significant differences in their peak structures compared with monocrystalline samples, indicating that the nature of the trapping states and the recombination mechanisms may be different.     

Thermoluminescence in fluorapatite doped with Eu2O3 and PbO

Thermoluminescence (TL) of fluorapatite Ca5(PO4)3F doped with Eu2O3 has been investigated for UV and X ray irradiation. Two TL glow peaks for the Eu2O3 doped sample appeared in the temperature regions about (1) 353 to 380 K and (2) 508 to 510 K, when heated at rate of 20 K.min(-1) after UV or X ray irradiation at room temperature. It has been found that the peak 2 (508 to 510 K) intensity of the samples doubly doped with Eu2O3 and PbO became strong compared with that doped with only Eu or Pb ions. From the TL spectra for the Ca5(PO4)3F doped activators, it is concluded that the TL of Eu2+ ions is sensitised by the existence of Pb2+ ions. On the other hand, the TL of Eu3+ ions is not intensified by addition of PbO. The TL emission may be due to the recombination reaction: Eu3+ + e-->Eu2+*-->Eu2+ + hv. EU2+ + hole --> Eu3+* --> Eu3+ + hv. The 510 K TL peak may be also being suitable for use as a dosemeter.     

Thermoluminescence response of K2YF5:Tb3+ crystals to photon radiation fields

This investigation has been performed to test the feasibility of using K2YF5:Tb3+ crystals as thermoluminescence dosemeters (TLD). K2YF5 single crystals doped with 0.2, 10.0 and 50.0 at.% of trivalent optically active Tb3+ ions as well as K2TbF5 and undoped K2YF5 crystals have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. Polished crystal platelets with thickness of about 1 mm have been irradiated with X and gamma rays in order to study thermoluminescent (TL) sensitivity as well as dose and energy response in terms of the Tb3+ concentration in K2YF5. Within this concentration series, K2YF5 crystals doped with 10.0 at.% Tb3+ have been found to have maximum TL response due to a broad asymmetric TL glow peak at 269 degrees C with good linearity of dose response and reproducibility of dose measurements. After deconvolution, the main dosimetric peak has been revealed to be composed of two individual peaks, both with linear TL response behaviour, centered at 210 and 269 degrees C. As it has been proved, the linear TL signal coefficient for K2Y0.9Tb0.1F5 is almost 10 times greater than that for commercial TLD-100 (LiF:Mg,Ti), irradiated with a 137Cs gamma radiation source at the same conditions. The reported results indicate that K2YF5 crystals doped with Tb3+ have potential as promising materials for radiation dosemeters.     

Colour centres and thermally stimulated luminescence of Na2ZnCl4

Thermally stimulated luminescence (TSL) of Na₂ZnCl₄ single crystals showed three glow peaks having their peak maxima at 343, 425 and 475 K. Optical absorption (OA) data of unirradiated samples revealed an absorption band at 272 nm while X-irradiation caused additional bands at 462 and 723 nm. Growth and room temperature annealing studies of TSL and OA supported the idea of attribution of 425 K glow peak and 462 nm absorption band to F-centres. The 272 nm OA band is due to Zn²⁺ centres whereas the 723 nm absorption band and 475 K glow peak have been assigned to Zn⁺ centres.     

Thermoluminescence in CVD diamond films: application to actinometric dosimetry

Diamond is considered a tissue-equivalent material since its atomic number (Z =6) is close to the effective atomic number of biological tissue (Z =7.42). Such a situation makes it suitable for radiation detection purposes in medical applications. In the present work the analysis is reported of the thermoluminescence (TL) and dosimetric features of chemically vapour deposited (CVD) diamond film samples subjected to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation in the actinometric region. The TL glow curve shows peaks at 120, 220), 320 and 370 degrees C. The 120 and 370 degrees C peaks are too weak and the first one fades away in a few seconds after exposure. The overall room temperature fading shows a 50% TL decay 30 min after exposure. The 320 degrees C glow peak is considered to be the most adequate for dosimetric applications due to its low fading and linear TL behaviour as a function of UV dose in the 180-260 nm range. The TL excitation spectrum presents a broad band with at least two overlapped components around 205 and 220 nm. The results indicate that the TL behaviour of CVD diamond film can be a good alternative to the currently available dosemeter and detector in the actinometric region as well as in clinical and medical applications.     

Optical absorption, TL and IRSL of basic plagioclase megacrysts from the pinacate (Sonora, Mexico) quaternary alkalic volcanics

The paper presents the first results of an investigation on optical absorption (OA), thermally and infrared stimulated luminescence (TL and IRSL) of the Pinacate plagioclase (labradorite). The OA spectra reveal two bands with maxima at 1.0 and 3.2 eV connected with absorption of the Fe3+ and Fe2+ and IR absorption at wavelengths longer than 2700 nm. The ultraviolet absorption varies exponentially with the photon energy following the 'vitreous' empirical Urbach rule indicating exponential distribution of localised states in the forbidden band. The natural TL is peaked at 700 K. Laboratory beta irradiation creates a very broad TL peak with maximum at 430 K. The change of the 430 K TL peak shape under the thermal cleaning procedure and dark storage after irradiation reveals a monotonous increasing of the activation energy that can be explained by the exponential distribution of traps. The IRSL response is weak and exhibits a typical decay behaviour.     

Spectrally resolved luminescence of undoped and Dy3+ doped Na2SO4

Structural phase transitions influence the luminescence characteristics by modifying the spectra, sensitivity and luminescence efficiency in each phase. This has implications for dosimetric materials both for sensitivity and reproducibility. Previous work with dosemeter materials has not documented effects of different phases on thermoluminescence but Na2SO4 exists in several phases in the temperature range of interest for thermoluminescence dosimetry. Therefore spectrally resolved TL and radiothermoluminescence analyses of undoped and Dy3+ doped Na2SO4 have been performed. Dramatic differences between TL of slow cooled and quenched Na2SO4:Dy are explained in terms of the initial phase of the samples at room temperature. For undoped material the effect of phase conversions during heating shift the wavelengths of the emission bands. A model of Dy in small precipitate phases is considered.     

Influence of the irradiation temperature on the dosimetric and high temperature TL peaks of Al2O3:C

The TL glow curves of Al2O3:C crystals have been investigated as a function of the irradiation temperature. The nature of the observed TL peaks has been studied by optical annealing. The filling of traps was found strongly dependent on the irradiation temperature in the case of UV exposure, which has been explained by the temperature dependence of the photoionisation of F centres. This latter phenomenon could have a part in the luminescence quenching and UV bleaching of F centres.     

Study on luminescence behavior of BaAl12O19:Tb, Eu

BaAl12O19:Tb, Eu phosphors were prepared by sol-gel technique. The luminescence properties and the energy transfer between Eu2+ and Tb3+ were investigated. For BaAll2O19:Tb phosphor, the strongest excitation peak and emission peak produced from Tb3+ transition of 5D4-7F5 were at 240 nm and at 550 nm respectively, while the peak shape was narrow and peak intensity was large. The Eu2+ added in the BaAl12O19:Tb induced energy transfer to Tb3+ and different color luminescence from blue (400 nm) to green (570 nm) was obtained by changing the ratio of Tb3+/Eu2+ with excitation at 240 nm.