title: Glow curve analysis applied to the discrimination of X ray versus proton irradiation.
abstract: Three types of thermoluminescence dosemeters (TLDs): LiF:Mg,Ti (TLD-100), CaF2:Tm (TLD-300), and alpha-Al2O3:C (TLD-500), were investigated for their glow curve response to separate X ray and proton irradiations. The glow curve structure for each individual TLD's exposure to the X ray and proton irradiations was analysed and compared. Distinguishable differences between the glow curve structure characteristic of each type of radiation were observed. The proton TLD-100 glow curve has revealed a complex high-temperature peak structure that was used for the proton/X ray discrimination algorithm. Proton irradiation of TLD-300 resulted in an apparent switch in the relative heights of peaks 3 and 5 as compared to X ray. In TLD-500, proton irradiation produced a more subtle difference in the glow curve with an increase in the ratio between high- and low-temperature peaks. Results demonstrate promising differences in glow curve structure present allowing for discrimination between X ray and proton radiation field exposures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. marskopec@yahoo.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Skopec
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Guardala
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loew
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moscovitch
mesh_terms: D002124:Calcium Fluoride; D005459:Fluorides; D018020:Lithium Compounds; D008274:Magnesium; D011522:Protons; D013816:Thermodynamics; D013819:Thermoluminescent Dosimetry / Q000379:methods*; D014025:Titanium; D014965:X-Rays
chemical_list: D018020:Lithium Compounds; D011522:Protons; C027651:lithium fluoride; D014025:Titanium; D008274:Magnesium; D002124:Calcium Fluoride; D005459:Fluorides