Aluminium nitrate ceramics: a potential UV dosemeter material

The ceramic material AlN-Y2O3 is proposed as a potential ultraviolet radiation (UVR) dosemeter using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and thermally stimulated luminescence (TL). Experimental studies have shown that AIN ceramics exhibit attractive characteristics suitable for practical UV dosimetry applications. The features are: (1) the spectral sensitivity covers the 200-350 nm range, in the UV-B region it is similar to that of human skin; (2) the angular dependence of the incident radiation follows the cosine law; (3) high yields of both UVR-induced OSL and TL signals compared to those of Al2O3:C; and (4) a large dynamic range TL signal (5 orders of magnitude). Although there is relatively high fading, it is demonstrated that AIN is a feasible material for UVR dosimetry using short integration times.     

A radioluminescence study of spectral and dose characteristics of common luminophors

Many synthetic materials are used as thermoluminescence dosemeters for the measurement of the absorbed dose from ionising radiation sources. A part of the absorbed energy leads to a prompt luminescence (radioluminescence, abbreviated RL) which dose behaviour mainly corresponds with the densitity of charge carriers in the respective traps or recombination sites. The RL reported in this study was stimulated using two 137Cs sources with activities of 3.7 MBq (spectral measurements) or 5 MBq (dosimetry studies), respectively, and was recorded steadily during stimulation. This presentation gives a comprehensive survey of the spectral and dose dependent RL properties of a number of luminescent materials like LiF:Mg,Ti, Al2O3:C, CaSO4:Dy, CaF2:Mn, Li2B4O7:Mn, BeO and ZnS:Ag. The spectral and dose dependent results were compared with thermoluminescence as well as other RL studies.     

The applicability of the PTTL dose re-analysis method to the Harshaw LiF:Mg,Cu,P material

The phototransferred thermoluminescence (PTTL) technique is applied to the Harshaw LiF:Mg,Cu,P material. It is demonstrated that using 254-nm UV light, dose levels as low as 0.2 mGy can be re-estimated. The PTTL efficiency was found to be ～ 6 % in the dose range of 0.2 mGy-1 Gy, and it appears to be dose-independent. This implies that a simple calibration factor could be applied to the PTTL data for the re-estimation of dose levels. It was demonstrated that with a proper choice of the TL readout parameters, and the UV-light irradiation conditions, dose levels that are relevant to personal or environmental dosimetry can be re-estimated.     

Technical performance of the Luxel Al(2)O(3):C optically stimulated luminescence dosemeter element at radiation oncology and nuclear accident dose levels

The dose ranges typical for radiation oncology and nuclear accident dosimetry are on the order of 2-70 Gy and 0.1-5 Gy, respectively. In terms of solid-state passive dosimetry, thermoluminescent (TL) materials historically have been used extensively for these two applications, with silver-halide, leuco-dye and BaFBr:Eu-based films being used on a more limited basis than TL for radiation oncology. This present work provides results on the performance of a film based on an aluminum oxide, Al(2)O(3):C, for these dosimetry applications, using the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) readout method. There have been few investigations of Al(2)O(3):C performance at radiation oncology and nuclear accident dose levels, and these have included minimal dosimetric and environmental effects information. Based on investigations already published, the authors of this present study determined that overall improvements over film and TLDs for this Al(2)O(3):C OSL technology at radiation oncology and nuclear accident dose levels may include (1) a more tissue-equivalent response to photons compared to X-ray film, (2) higher sensitivity, (3) ability to reread dosemeters and (4) diagnostic capability using small-area imaging. The results of the present investigation indicate that additional favourable performance characteristics for the Al(2)O(3):C dosemeter are a wide dynamic range (0.001-100 Gy), a response insensitive to temperature and moisture over a wide range, negligible dose rate dependence, and minimal change in post-irradiation response. As a radiation detection medium, this OSL phosphor offers an assortment of dosimetry properties that will permit it to compete with current radiation detection technologies such as silver-halide, leuco-dye and photostimulable-phosphor-based films, as well as TLDs.     

真空硅浴熔融还原白云石炼镁的实验研究

通过往煅烧白云石中添加适量的Al2O3和SiO2,使其在1500～1600℃之间形成熔融炉渣,并在真空下采用硅铁还原液态渣中的MgO。研究了造渣剂对MgO还原率的影响,结果表明,在能够获得熔融炉渣的情况下,增大Al2O3/SiO2比能够极大地提高渣中MgO的还原率,理想的炉渣成分为32.0%CaO-23.0%MgO-35.0%Al2O3-10%SiO2。同时,对该炉渣进行了正交实验,通过分析得出影响MgO还原率因素的顺序依次是:反应温度、还原剂硅铁添加量、反应时间、催化剂CaF2添加量。在熔融还原工艺参数为:反应温度1600℃,还原剂硅铁添加量n(Si)/n(2MgO)=1.2,反应2h,催化剂CaF2添加量3%条件下,渣中的MgO还原率高达97.3%。     

CaF2在真空铝热还原炼镁过程中的行为研究

对CaF2在以白云石和菱镁石为原料的铝热还原过程中的行为进行了研究,通过X射线衍射对还原渣和结晶产物的物相进行了分析,对CaF2在铝热还原过程的反应过程以及加速还原反应的机理进行了探讨。实验研究结果表明,在还原过程中加入CaF2可降低还原反应的活化能,加快还原反应速率,可使还原过程中的氧化镁还原率提高3%以上,但添加CaF2的效果随还原温度的升高而降低。加入CaF2后一部分CaF2参与还原反应生成了11CaO.7Al2O3.CaF2,另外一部分CaF2被铝还原在结晶器上生成了一种主要成分为MgF2和Al的结晶物。CaF2对铝热还原反应的促进作用是化学反应促进和提高煅白表面活性共同作用的结果。     

新法真空铝热还原炼镁的研究

对以煅后白云石和煅后菱镁石为原料,以铝粉为还原剂的新法炼镁技术的热力学进行了分析,并进行了真空热还原实验。通过X射线衍射和扫描电子显微镜对还原渣的主要物相与物质形态进行了分析。实验结果表明:以煅后白云石和煅后菱镁石为原料,以铝粉为还原剂的新法真空热还原炼镁技术是可行的,在还原温度1200℃,还原时间2 h,铝粉过量5%和无氟盐添加剂的条件下,氧化镁的还原率可达90%,CaF2或MgF2的添加可大幅度地提高还原过程中氧化镁的还原率,降低还原温度。还原后还原渣主要物相为CaO.2Al2O3,还原渣中氧化铝的含量在65%以上,氧化硅含量低于2%,是一种非常适合生产氢氧化铝的原料。     

Optically and thermally stimulated luminescence characteristics of MgO:Tb3+

In this paper main optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and thermoluminescence (TL) characteristics are presented of a newly synthesised material MgO doped with terbium (Tb) developed at the Institute of Nuclear Science, Vinca. A thermally stimulated emission spectrum showed the characteristic lines of Tb3+ in a wide range of wavelengths. The TL sensitivity of the main TL glow peak at 315 degrees C is 1.7 times higher than the TL of Al2O3:C. The highest OSL sensitivity was obtained under green lamp (500-570 nm) stimulation. The fast component in the OSL decay curve is 2.4 times faster than Al2O3:C. The OSL signal is linear with dose up to 10 Gy. The lower limit of detection was found to be 100 microGy. These first results show that the newly synthesised material has some promising properties for the application in radiation dosimetry.     

A real-time,fibre optic dosimetry system using Al2O3 fibres

Al2O3:C optical fibres were examined for potential use as real-time luminescence dosemeters for use in radiotherapy applications. The dosimetric properties of the fibres were studied in order to determine their usefulness as luminescence dosemeters. The measurements were performed by connecting the Al2O3:C fibres to a standard fused silica optical fibre and the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and radioluminescence (RL) were measured through the fibre. The OSL and RL responses of the Al2O3 fibre probes were measured during irradiation to determine the potential of the Al2O3:C fibres in a real-time fibre optic dosimetry system.     

Preparation and thermoluminescence properties of aluminium oxide doped with europium

There is little information concerning the use of rare earths as dopants of Al2O3. This paper presents the preparation method and the results of studying the thermoluminescence characteristics of Al2O3:Eu exposed to ultraviolet light. Phosphor powder was obtained by the evaporation method. Optimum dopant concentration was 10% at an evaporation temperature of 700 degrees C. The powder obtained was submitted to thermal treatments at high temperatures in order to stabilise the traps. Diffraction patterns showed amorphous powder up to 500 degrees C; as the temperature was raised crystalline phases of Al2O3 appeared. The photoluminescence spectrum induced by 250 nm UV light exhibited four well defined peaks characteristic of the Eu3+ ion. The glow curve exhibited two peaks at 180 and 350 degrees C. The sensitivity of Al2O3:Eu was 10 times lower than Al2O3:C. The thermoluminescence response was linear from 2.4 to 3000 microJ.cm(-2) of spectral irradiance, and the fading 2% in a month. From these results it can be concluded that Al2O3:Eu has potential as an UV dosemeter.     

Recent advances in dosimetry using the optically stimulated luminescence of Al2O3:C

This paper presents an overview of some very recent developments in optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dosimetry using aluminium oxide (Al(2)O(3):C), with special emphasis given to the work of the research group at Oklahoma State University. Some of the advances are: (i) the development of a real-time optical fibre system for in vivo dosimetry applied to radiotherapy; (ii) the development of a fibre dosimetry system for remote detection of radiological contaminants in soil; (iii) the characterisation of Al(2)O(3):C in heavy charged particle fields and the study of ionisation density dependence of the OSL from Al(2)O(3):C; and (iv) fast and separate assessment of beta and gamma components of the natural dose rate in natural sediments. These achievements highlight the versatility of the OSL technique associated with the high-sensitivity of Al(2)O(3):C for the development of new dosimetry applications.     

Solid state compatibilities in CaO–CaO.Al2O3–CaSO4–CaF2 system

The determination of the phases assemblages in equilibrium in the CaO–CaO.Al2O3–CaSO4–CaF2 system at 1100°C has been performed. Four assemblages are found and one more is deduced. 3CA.CaSO4 appears in all compatibility tetrahedra in solid state or in melt presence. It is compatible with C3A, C12A7ss, CA, C11A7.CaF2 and the aluminate formed depends on Al2O3 and CaF2 proportion, (cement chemistry abbreviations: C=CaO, A=Al2O3). © 1998 Kluwer Academic Publishers     

添加固体润滑剂的Al2O3/TiC陶瓷材料力学性能和显微结构

采用热压工艺制备了添加固体润滑剂MoS2、BN、CaF2的Al2O3/TiC陶瓷材料,测量了其力学性能和分析了其显微结构.结果表明,添加固体润滑剂的Al2O3/TiC陶瓷比未添加时的力学性能有大幅下降,其中Al2O3/TiC/CaF2陶瓷材料的力学性能最好,当CaF2含量为10%时,Al2O3/TiC/CaF2陶瓷材料的强度和硬度最高,分别达到了589MPa和HV1537;而添加BN的Al2O3/TiC陶瓷材料的力学性能最差.XRD衍射结果和微观结构显示,添加MoS2的Al2O3/TiC材料中的MoS2发生分解,基体中存在较多的气孔;添加BN的Al2O3/TiC材料中的BN与Al2O,反应生成AlN,造成大量裂纹的产生,致使材料的强度和硬度都大幅下降;Al2O3/TiC/CaF2陶瓷材料中的CaF2在烧结过程中没发生化学反应,复合材料晶粒大小均匀,基体组织成网状结构,有利于提高材料的强度.     

The application of LiF:Mg,Cu,P to large scale personnel dosimetry: current status and future directions

LiF:Mg,Cu,P is starting to replace LiF:Mg,Ti in a variety of personnel dosimetry applications. LiF:Mg,Cu,P has superior characteristics as compared to LiF:Mg,Ti including, higher sensitivity, improved energy response for photons, lack of supralinearity and insignificant fading. The use of LiF:Mg,Cu,P in large scale dosimetry programs is of particular interest due to the extreme sensitivity of this material to the maximum readout temperature, and the variety of different dosimetry aspects and details that must be considered for a successful implementation in routine dosimetry. Here we discuss and explain the various aspects of large scale LiF:Mg,Cu,P based dosimetry programs including the properties of the TL material, new generation of TLD readers, calibration methodologies, a new generation of dose calculation algorithms based on the use of artificial neural networks and the overall uncertainty of the dose measurement. The United States Navy (USN) will be the first US dosimetry processor who will use this new material for routine applications. Until June 2002, the Navy used two types of thermoluminescent materials for personnel dosimetry, CaF2:Mn and LiF:Mg,Ti. A program to upgrade the system and to implement LiF:Mg,Cu,P, started in the mid 1990s and was recently concluded. In 2002, the new system replaced the LiF:Mg,Ti and is scheduled to start replacing the CaF2:Mn system in 2006. A pilot study to determine the dosimetric performance of the new LiF:Mg,Cu,P based dosimetry system was recently completed, and the results show the new system to be as good or better than the current system in all areas tested. As a result, LiF:Mg,Cu,P is scheduled to become the primary personnel dosimeter for the entire US Navy in 2006.     

Effect of heating rate on the responses of CaF2:Cu,CaF2:Tm,CaF2:Dy and CaF2:Mn

Recent development of CaF2:Cu (the most sensitive material for radiation dosimetry) exhibiting a TL glow peak around 270 degrees C similar to that of CaF2:Mn has made it attractive to study the influence of heating rate on the response of CaF2 based TLDs. Influence of heating rate on CaF2:Mn (known to reduce the response with increasing heating rate) was confirmed in view of the reported controversy about other TLDs. Responses of TL glow peaks around 270 degrees C in CaF2:Cu, CaF2:Tm, CaF2:Dy and CaF2:Mn were studied. Except CaF2:Mn, no other CaF2 based TLD exhibited a reduction in response with increasing heating rate. On the contrary, in some cases a small increase (10-15%) was noted with increasing heating rate from 1 degrees Cs(-1) to 50 degrees Cs(-1). The shape and the position of the glow peak and the parameters derived from the shape of the glow curve appear to have no relation to reduction of TL efficiency at higher heating rates. Apart from the increased probability of non-radiative transitions at higher temperatures, the observed effects have been assigned to the effect of heating rate on the migration of charge carriers released during the TL readout.     

Radiation damage effects in far-ultraviolet filters, thin films, and substrates

Advances in vacuum ultraviolet thin-film filter technology have been made through the use of filter designs with multilayers of materials such as Al(2)O(3), BaF(2), CaF(2), HfO(2), LaF(3), MgF(2), and SiO(2). Our immediate application for these filters will be in an imaging system to be flown on a satellite where a 2 × 9 R(E) orbit will expose the instrument to approximately 250 krad of radiation. Because to our knowledge no previous studies have been made on the potential radiation damage of these materials in the thin-film format, we report on such an assessment here. Transmittances and reflectances of BaF(2), CaF(2), HfO(2), MgF(2), and SiO(2) thin films on MgF(2) substrates, Al(2)O(3) thin films on fused-silica substrates, uncoated fused silica and MgF(2), and four multilayer filters made from these materials were measured from 120 to 180 nm beforeand after irradiation by 250 krad from a (60)Co gamma radiation source. No radiation-induced losses in transmittance or reflectance occurred in this wavelength range. Additional postradiation measurements from 160 to 300 nm indicates 2-5% radiation-induced absorption near 260 nm in some of the samples with MgF(2) substrates. From these measurements we conclude that far-ultraviolet filters made from the materials tested should experience less than 5% change from exposure to up to 250 krad of high-energy radiation in space applications.     

Charge-trapping characteristics of Al2O3/Cu/Al2O3 nanolaminate structures prepared through atomic layer deposition

The nanolaminate Al2O3/Cu/Al2O3 structures were constructed on p-type Si (001) substrates using atomic layer deposition (ALD) process with the aim to fabricating nonvolatile charge-trap memories. Low temperature Cu thin layers were deposited through plasma-enhanced atomic layre depositon of Cu aminoalkoxide (Cu(dmamb)2) combined with hydrogen plasma and Al2O3 layers were prepared by thermal atomic layer deposition of trimethylaluminum (TMA) combined with H2O. Nonvolatile features were confirmed using capacitance-voltage (C-V) measurements. The copper film functions as a charge-trapping layer and the Al2O3 thin layers were employed as tunneling and control oxide layers. Line shapes and binding energies of Cu metal and the thin layer of 6 nm Cu in nanolaminate structures were observed in the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image. The V(FB) shift width of the Al2O3 (28 nm)/Cu (6 nm)/Al2O3 (4.2 nm)/Si laminate structure is found to be 4.75 V in voltage sweeping between -10 and +10 V, leading to the trap density of 1.68 x 10(18) cm(-3).     

Ultraviolet antireflection coatings for use in silicon detector design

We report on the development of coatings for a charged-coupled device (CCD) detector optimized for use in a fixed dispersion UV spectrograph. Because of the rapidly changing index of refraction of Si, single layer broadband antireflection (AR) coatings are not suitable to increase quantum efficiency at all wavelengths of interest. Instead, we describe a creative solution that provides excellent performance over UV wavelengths. We describe progress in the development of a coated CCD detector with theoretical quantum efficiencies (QEs) of greater than 60% at wavelengths from 120 to 300 nm. This high efficiency may be reached by coating a backside-illuminated, thinned, delta-doped CCD with a series of thin film AR coatings. The materials tested include MgF(2) (optimized for highest performance from 120-150 nm), SiO(2) (150-180 nm), Al(2)O(3) (180-240 nm), MgO (200-250 nm), and HfO(2) (240-300 nm). A variety of deposition techniques were tested and a selection of coatings that minimized reflectance on a Si test wafer were applied to functional devices. We also discuss future uses and improvements, including graded and multilayer coatings.     

Microdosimetric modelling of the response of thermoluminescence detectors to low- and high-LET ionising radiation

The microdosimetric one hit detector model was applied to calculate the dose response, energy response and relative thermoluminescence (TL) efficiency, eta, of high sensitive LiF:Mg,Cu,P and Al(2)O(3):C detectors after their irradiations by X rays, gamma rays, beta electrons and heavy charged particles (HCP). Microdosimetric distributions in 60 nm targets for photons and beta rays were calculated using the TRION MC track structure code, for HCP using the analytical model of Xapsos with modified transport of secondary electrons and the model of Olko & Booz. The calculated values of eta compare favourably with a broad spectrum of experimental data, including ICHIBAN experiments with HCP. The model offers a method for calculating the thermoluminescence response of TL foils applied to 2-D dosimetry of radiotherapeutic proton beams.     

超音气体雾化Al-Si合金粉末表面氧化和吸附特性

利用超音速气体雾化法制备Al-17Si-6Fe-4.5Cu-0.5Mg合金粉末，借助X射线光电子能谱（XPS）对粉要态合金表面氧化和吸附特性进行了研究，并对粉末表面层结构进行了分析。结果表明：粉末表面氧化主要以Al和Mg元素的氧化为主，氧化层成分主要为Al2O3，Al(OH)3和MgO，而合金中的Si,Fe及Cu元素很少氧化。除此之外，在粉末表面化还吸附一层含Cl元素的碳氢有机化合物污染层，测定表明粉末表面氧化层和吸附层总厚度约为2nm。