Dosimetry of X-Rays and Gamma-Rays by Radiophotoluminescence

Abstract

The effects of high energy radiation on the luminescence properties of solids are surveyed. Of the four effects considered—radiophotoluminescence, radiophotostimulation, radiothermoluminescence, and the ``killing'' of luminescence by x-rays or gamma-rays—the first effect is shown to have advantages in principle over the others as a basis for dosimetry. The absorption, excitation, emission, sensitivity, energy dependence, and stability characteristics of a radiophotoluminescent Ag-activated phosphate glass are described. It is shown that dosage measurements can be made with this material, employing a simple fluorophotometer, from 10 roentgens to a few thousand roentgens of gamma-rays. By proper shielding, such a dosimeter element can be made reasonably independent of energy. The dosage indication obtained is quite stable with time and is not seriously affected by exposure of the glass to visible or ultraviolet light or to temperatures in the range of −70° to +100°C. Because of its sensitivity range and its stability over a wide range of ambient conditions, the dosimeter appears to be particularly suited for monitoring personnel that may be exposed to rather high doses of gamma-rays, such as may be encountered in A-bomb explosions.

Assignments and optical properties of X-ray-induced colour centres in blue and orange radiophotoluminescent silver-activated glasses

“…In particular, radiation-induced colour centres have been extensively studied in silver-activated glasses by means of optical spectroscopy [1,4] and the electron spin resonance (ESR) method [2][3][4]. Later, the nucleation and growth kinetics of silver nanoparticles in glass were investigated in detail [5].…”

“…Radiophotoluminescence (RPL) in various glasses containing silver impurities has long been examined [1][2][3][4] for applications in personal solid-state dosimetry and radiation measurements. In particular, radiation-induced colour centres have been extensively studied in silver-activated glasses by means of optical spectroscopy [1,4] and the electron spin resonance (ESR) method [2][3][4].…”

Photoluminescence of silver in glassy matrices

“…It is interesting to note that PL emissions from Ag + ions in glassy matrices can shift from UV to the VIS-green region of the spectrum depending on the composition of the matrix. 12,[15][16][17][18][19][20] This work addresses the kinetics of Ag ions in glassy matrices and the interaction between these ions and their environment, determining the parameters that control diffusion, oxidation/reduction, and aggregation processes and therefore the optical response of the system. For this purpose, Ag-doped silica coatings were prepared via sol-gel on pure silica and soda-lime substrates and subjected to different annealing processes.…”

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] For instance, the incorporation of isolated metal ions (mainly Ag + and Cu + ) in glass gives rise to an intense photoluminescence (PL) emission, which is potentially useful for optoelectronic applications, and a concurrent change in the refraction index with the consequent formation of light waveguides. [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] On the other hand, the metal ions may be reduced, causing them to aggregate and form metal nanoparticles that exhibit other interesting optical properties such as high nonlinear susceptibility, optical absorption ascribed to plasmon resonances, and so on. 1,9,[21][22][23][24][25] In both cases the matrix plays a crucial role in controlling the metal oxidation/reduction processes and, thus, the final properties of the system.…”

Optical Storage Phosphors and Materials for Ionizing Radiation

“…The phenomenon was reported as early as 1912 by Goldstein (Goldstein, 1912) but it was only in the 1950s that it was realized that the effect could be used for dosimetry Schulman, 1950;Schulman & Etzel, 1953;Schulman et al, 1951). Schulman's system comprised of a silver-activated aluminophosphate glass.…”