title: Application of glow curve analysis methods to improve TLD-100 dose reassessment performance.
abstract: This paper presents a method of improving the TLD-100 dose reassessment performance. This method consists of applying numerical analysis techniques for evaluating the TLD-100 phototransferred thermoluminescence (PTTL) glow curve. From this analysis, a simple procedure for estimating the ultraviolet background components usually present in phototransferred thermoluminescence (TL) signals has been established. This procedure has been implemented in a computer program which performs the automatic evaluation of the glow curves and extracts the dose information contained in the PTTL curves. The use of this computer-aided evaluational method has enabled the extension of the working range of estimated absorbed dose down to 0.2-0.5 mGy with very adequate operational quality for doses even below the conventionally admitted lower reestimation limit (approximately 2 mGy). Because TL readout is a destructive process, the ability to reestimate doses can be important in any kind of dosimetric activity, such as operational dosimetry programs. The other commonly used dosimeter, film, uses a nondestructive readout and, therefore, presents some advantages over TLD when dose reassessment is necessary. With the reported improvements in the TLD-100 dose reassessment performance, the full range of absorbed doses covered by film dosimetry can now be reliably reassessed using TLD-100 dosimeters.
authors.affiliation: Div. Fisica de Radiaciones, CIEMAT, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gómez Roz
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Muñiz
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Portillo
mesh_terms: D005720:Gamma Rays; D008432:Mathematical Computing; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012984:Software; D013819:Thermoluminescent Dosimetry; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays