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 thermalneutron 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.

Properties of novel fluorescent nuclear track detectors for use in passive neutron dosimetry

“…The sensitivity of FNTD to thermal neutrons with 6 LiF (TLD-600) as a converter (Fig. 4b) is 6500 tracks mm −2 mSv −1 , which is also consistent with the sensitivity reported previously (Akselrod et al, 2006b andSykora et al, 2007a). The track density per 1 mSv of dose for the thermal component of FNTD obtained using TLD-600 is 300 times higher than the HDPE component, making the thermal component almost insensitive to fast neutrons.…”

“…The sensitivity S to fast neutrons obtained from the FNTD-HDPE detector configuration is 21.5 tracks mm −2 mSv −1 and is consistent with preliminary results (Akselrod et al, 2006b andSykora et al, 2007a). In comparison, the sensitivity of CR-39 to fast neutrons is 12.1 tracks mm −2 mSv −1 .…”

“…Landauer Inc. has recently developed novel fluorescent nuclear track detectors (FNTDs) as a technology suitable for replacing PNTD in neutron dosimetry and dosimetry of heavy charged particles (Akselrod et al, 2006a, b). The technology is a combination of a new luminescent aluminum oxide crystal, doped with carbon and magnesium (Al 2 O 3 :C,Mg) (Akselrod et al, 2003;Sanyal and Akselrod, 2005), with a technique based on laser scanning confocal fluorescence microscopy (Diaspro, 2002). Al 2 O 3 :C,Mg crystals have green coloration ( Fig.…”

Novel fluorescent nuclear track detector technology for mixed neutron-gamma fields

“…FNTD response to neutrons in track counting mode has been investigated in detail in our recent works (Sykora et al, 2007 andSykora et al, 2008). The dose response was shown to be linear in the range from 0.1 mSv to 300 mSv (personal dose equivalent H p (10)).…”

The track nanotechnology

“…There have been numerous recent developments in various fields, two such examples are: new fluorescent nuclear track detectors based on Al 2 O 3 :C, Mg single crystals were tested and calibrated in parallel with CR-39 plastic nuclear etched track detectors (PNTDs) in different neutron fields and with monoenergetic protons (Sykora et al, 2007). Good fast to thermal neutron discrimination was demonstrated.…”