Technical Note: ID-card-size dosimeter based on radiochromic films for continuous personnel monitoring

This paper is aimed at investigating the feasibility of developing a personal dosimeter of cumulative radiation dose which would incorporate the following features: 1) a small size compared to that of a proximity ID card; 2) instant dose readout; 3) no power source; 4) moderate cost. The dosimeter is proposed as a potential replacement for TLD and OSL dosimeters used by nuclear industry workers and some medical staff groups.

An original detector design is developed containing a two-color LED, two photodetectors located in one plane covered with a mirror coating. The power necessary for the operation comes from an RFID reader. A small (5x5 mm) piece of Gafchromic EBT3 photochromic film sensitive to both X-ray and gamma radiation is used as a sensor. Irradiation of samples under X-ray and gamma radiation is carried out in the dose range of 0.1 cGy-1 Gy. The transmittance spectra are measured in the 300 nm-1100 nm spectral range.

Several prototypes of the dosimeter are presented, the distinctive features of which are the absence of the power source, easy transmitting of the dosimetric data via a RF channel, and a slim form factor. Several sources of dose uncertainties are analyzed and ways to eliminate them are outlined. The average dose confidence interval (α = 0.05) calculated from the response curve is shown to equal 0.02 cGy. This makes it possible to reliably measure doses as low as 0.1 cGy, which corresponds to the minimum value claimed for Gafchromic EBT3.

The proposed idea of an ID-card-size dosimeter is feasible and has a number of advantages over TLD and OSL dosimeters, in particular, instant reading of the dose data using RFID/NFC readers, and a possibility of integrating into ERP systems.