Investigation of neutron converters for production of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) neutron dosimeters using Al2O3:C

This paper presents the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) properties of neutron dosimeters in powder and in the form of pellets prepared with a mixture of Al₂O₃:C and neutron converters. The neutron converters investigated were high density polyethylene (HDPE), lithium fluoride (LiF), lithium fluoride 95% enriched with ⁶Li (⁶LiF), lithium carbonate 95% enriched with ⁶Li (⁶Li₂CO₃), boric acid enriched with 99% of ¹⁰B and gadolinium oxide (Gd₂O₃). The proportion of Al₂O₃:C and neutron converter in the mixture was varied to optimize the total OSL signal and neutron sensitivity. The neutron sensitivity and dose-response were determined for the OSL dosimeters using a bare ²⁵²Cf source and compared to the response of Harshaw TLD-600 and TLD-700 dosimeters (⁶LiF:Mg,Ti and ⁷LiF:Mg,Ti). The results demonstrate the possibility of developing an OSL dosimeter made of Al₂O₃:C powder and neutron converter with a neutron sensitivity (defined as the ratio between the ⁶⁰Co equivalent gamma dose and the reference neutron absorbed dose) and neutron–gamma discrimination comparable to the TLD-600/TLD-700 combination. It was shown that the shape of the OSL decay curves varied with the type of the neutron converter, demonstrating the influence of the energy deposition mechanism and ionization density on the OSL process in Al₂O₃:C.