title: Characterisation of OSL and OSLN droplets for dosimetry.
abstract: In spite of considerable progress in neutron dosimetry, there is no dosemeter that is capable of measuring neutron doses independently of the neutron spectrum with good accuracy. Carbon-doped aluminium oxide (Al2O3:C) is a sensitive material for ionising radiation (beta-ray, X ray and electron) and has been used for applications in personal and medical dosimetry as an optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dosemeter. Al2O3:C has a low sensitivity to neutron radiation; this prevents its application to neutron fields, representing a disadvantage of Al2O3:C-OSL when compared with LiF, which is used as a thermoluminescent detector. Recently an improvement for neutron dosimetry (Passmore and Kirr. Neutron response characterisation of an OSL neutron dosemeter. Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 2011; 144: 155-60) uses Al2O3:C coated with (6)Li2CO3 (OSLN),which gives the high-sensitive response as known for Al2O3:C with the advantage of being also sensitive to thermal neutrons. In this article, the authors compare small-size detectors (droplets) of Al2O3:C (OSL) and of Al2O3:C+(6)Li2CO3 (OSLN) and discuss the advantages and drawbacks of both materials, regarding size vs. response.
authors.affiliation: SCK•CEN Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, Boeretang 200, Mol, Belgium Radiotherapy Department, Gent University, De Pintelaan, 185, Gent 9000, Belgium ldfnasci@sckcen.be.
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.affiliation: SCK•CEN Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, Boeretang 200, Mol, Belgium.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: D'Agostino
authors.affiliation: SCK•CEN Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, Boeretang 200, Mol, Belgium.
authors.forename: A C S
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Vaniqui
authors.affiliation: SCK•CEN Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, Boeretang 200, Mol, Belgium.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Saldarriaga
authors.affiliation: SCK•CEN Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, Boeretang 200, Mol, Belgium.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vanhavere
authors.affiliation: Radiotherapy Department, Gent University, De Pintelaan, 185, Gent 9000, Belgium Institute of Medical Physics, School of Physics, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: De Deene
mesh_terms: D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry; D001610:Beta Particles; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D004583:Electrons; D005459:Fluorides / Q000737:chemistry; D005720:Gamma Rays; D007477:Ions; D016651:Lithium Carbonate / Q000737:chemistry*; D018020:Lithium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D049449:Luminescence; D009502:Neutrons; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D011874:Radiometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D014965:X-Rays
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; D018020:Lithium Compounds; D011108:Polymers; C027651:lithium fluoride; D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D002244:Carbon; D000537:Aluminum Oxide; D005459:Fluorides