Sensitivity of LiF thermoluminescent dosemeters to 6-18 keV photons

The sensitivity of thermoluminescent dosemeters (TLD) to 6-18 keV photons at six different effective energies was determined using an extrapolation chamber as a dosimetric standard. Photons having effective energies of 8.1, 9.2, 13.5, 13.8 and 18.0 keV were generated from an x-ray machine using appropriate kilovoltages and aluminium filters. Photons from an 55Fe source (6 keV) were also used to broaden the range of energies investigated. Observed sensitivities relative to 137Cs were found not to differ from unity with the possible exception of 6.0 keV photons. At 6.0 keV the sensitivity was found to be 0.83 +/- 0.5.