Thermoluminescence induced by heavy charged particles

Area of Science:

• Solid State Physics
• Radiation Detection and Measurement
• Materials Science

Background:

• Thermoluminescence (TL) is a phenomenon where materials emit light upon heating after exposure to ionizing radiation.
• Heavy charged particles exhibit unique interaction patterns with matter, leading to complex TL responses.
• Understanding these responses is crucial for accurate dosimetry and material characterization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the complex thermoluminescent (TL) response of TLD-100 to low-energy heavy charged particles.
• To evaluate a Monte Carlo track interaction model's ability to reproduce observed supralinearity and saturation effects.
• To analyze the energy dependence of model parameters and the efficiency of TL detectors.

Main Methods:

• Experimental measurements of TL response using low-energy ions incident on TLD-100.
• Application of a Monte Carlo track interaction model incorporating saturation effects.
• Analysis of glow curve shapes, supralinearity, and efficiency as a function of particle fluence and velocity.

Main Results:

• Observed linear-supralinear-saturation dependence of TL response on ion fluence.
• Successful reproduction of supralinearity using the Monte Carlo model, but with unexpected lack of energy dependence in ion radii parameters.
• Efficiency data support matching secondary electron spectra between reference radiation and heavy charged particles.

Conclusions:

• The Monte Carlo model provides a framework for understanding TL supralinearity with heavy ions, but requires refinement regarding ion-matter interaction parameters.
• The efficiency of TL detectors is strongly dependent on the secondary electron spectrum, guiding the selection of appropriate reference radiation.
• Glow curve systematics unify findings for different radiation types (ions, photons) based on secondary electron spectra characteristics.