title: Novel Al2O3:C,Mg fluorescent nuclear track detectors for passive neutron dosimetry.
abstract: The latest advances in the development of a fluorescent nuclear track detector (FNTD) for neutron and heavy charged particle dosimetry are described and compared with CR-39 plastic nuclear etched track detectors (PNTDs). The technique combines a new luminescent aluminium oxide single crystal detector (Al(2)O(3):C,Mg) with an imaging technique based on laser scanning and confocal fluorescence detection. Detection efficiency was obtained after irradiations with monoenergetic neutron and proton beams. Dose dependences were measured for different configurations of the detectors exposed in fast- and thermal-neutron fields. A specially developed image processing technique allows for fast fluorescent track identification and counting. The readout method is non-destructive, and detectors can be reused after thermal annealing.
authors.affiliation: Landauer, Inc., Stillwater Crystal Growth Division, Stillwater, OK 74074, USA.
authors.forename: G Jeff
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Sykora
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Akselrod
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salasky
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Marino
mesh_terms: D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D018499:Linear Energy Transfer; D009502:Neutrons; D055095:Optics and Photonics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D013819:Thermoluminescent Dosimetry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000537:Aluminum Oxide