The response of LiF:Mg,Ti thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) as a function of photon energy was determined using irradiations with moderately filtered x-ray beams in the energy range of 20-250 kVp relative to the response to irradiations with 60Co photons. To determine if the relative light output from LiF:Mg,Ti TLDs per unit air kerma as a function of photon energy can be predicted using calculations such as Monte Carlo (MC) simulations, measurements from the x-ray beam irradiations were compared with MC calculated results, similar to the methodology used by Davis et al. [Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 106, 33-43 (2003)]. TLDs were irradiated in photon beams with well-known air kerma rates using the National Institute of Standards and Technology traceable M-series x-ray beams in the range of 20-250 kVp. For each x-ray beam, several sets of TLDs were irradiated for times corresponding to different air kerma levels to take into account any dose nonlinearity. TLD light output was then compared to that from several sets of TLDs irradiated at similar corresponding air kerma levels using a 60Co irradiator. The MC code MCNP5 was used to account for photon scatter and attenuation in the holder and TLDs and was used to calculate the predicted relative TLD light output per unit air kerma for irradiations with each of the experimentally used photon beams. The measured relative TLD response as a function of photon energy differed by up to 13% from the MC calculations. We conclude that MC calculations do not accurately predict the relative response of TLDs as a function of photon energy, consistent with the conclusions of Davis et al. [Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 106, 33-43 (2003)]. This is likely due to complications in the solid state physics of the thermoluminescence process that are not incorporated into the simulation.

Purpose: To use experimental methods to determine the response of LiF:Mg,Ti thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) irradiated using moderately filtered (M‐series) x‐ray spectra in the energy range of 20 to 250 kV relative to the response to 60Co photons. Also, to determine if LiF:Mg,Ti TLDs are intrinsically linear detectors (i.e. the response is proportional to energy imparted). Method and Materials: TLDs were irradiated to a known air kerma using the NIST traceable M‐series x‐ray beams, which were located at an Accredited Dosimetry Calibration Laboratory (ADCL), in the range of 20 to 250 kV. Using each x‐ray beam, several sets of TLDs were irradiated to different air kerma levels to take into account any dose non‐linearity. TLD response was then compared to that from several sets of TLDs irradiated at corresponding air kerma levels using 60Co. The Monte Carlo code MCNP5 was used to correct for scatter from the holder and to determine the predicted/expected TLD response to the experimentally used x‐ray beams. Results: The measured TLD energy response compared to the response to 60Co shows a rapid decrease toward very low photon energies. This response dropped to approximately 0.90 at the lowest effective energy of 11.5 keV. The highest response was found to be 1.37 at an effective energy of 28.5 keV. The results showed poor agreement between measured energy response and calculations using the mass‐energy absorption coefficients of pure LiF. A significant increase in measured response compared to calculated response was seen at effective energies higher then 25 keV. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that the measured energy response differs by up to 14% from Monte Carlo calculations and is highly dependent on the energy of the source. The results also suggest that LiF:Mg,Ti TLDs are not intrinsically linear with energy imparted.