Optically stimulated luminescence in doped NaF

Area of Science:

• Solid State Physics
• Materials Science
• Radiation Detection

Background:

• Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) is a sensitive method for radiation dosimetry.
• Developing novel phosphors with high sensitivity and stability is crucial for advancing dosimetry techniques.
• Sodium fluoride (NaF) doped with specific impurities offers potential for OSL applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the OSL properties of NaF doped with Mg, Cu, and P.
• To evaluate the sensitivity, linearity, and fading characteristics of the developed phosphor.
• To compare the performance of the new phosphor with commercially available dosimetry materials.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and characterization of NaF:Mg,Cu,P phosphor.
• Measurement of OSL response across a range of radiation doses (10 mGy to 1 Gy).
• Thermoluminescence (TL) measurements to assess trap depletion after OSL readout.

Main Results:

• The NaF:Mg,Cu,P phosphor exhibits OSL sensitivity comparable to commercial Al2O3:C.
• OSL signal is 37% of Al2O3:C for a 3s integration time.
• The phosphor shows good linearity, negligible fading, and a stable TL peak at 350°C, indicating deep trap involvement.

Conclusions:

• The optimized NaF:Mg,Cu,P phosphor possesses excellent OSL properties for radiation dosimetry.
• Its comparable sensitivity, linearity, and stability make it a promising alternative to existing dosimetry materials.
• Ease of preparation further enhances its suitability for practical OSL dosimetry applications.