Thermoluminescence (TL) characteristics of PbO-Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 : Ho 3+ glass system mixed with different concentrations of Al 2 O 3 were studied in the temperature range 0-300°C. The samples were exposed to c-rays in the dose range of 0-5 kGy. The glow curves of the samples exposed >1.0 kGy, exhibited a dosimetric peak at about 209°C. With the increase of the dose up to 5 kGy, the TL light output increased considerably, and the peak was shifted towards higher temperature. A linear dose-dependent enhancement of the TL emission was also found for the glasses mixed with 5 and 8 mol% Al 2 O 3 . However, the glass mixed with 10 mol% Al 2 O 3 exhibited supralinearity beyond 3 kGy. The mechanisms responsible for TL emission and enhancement of TL output were discussed in view of the results obtained from optical absorption, IR, and Raman spectral studies. The results suggested that both e À and h + trapped centers were generated at the deeper trap levels and gave TL emission at higher temperatures. In the dose range of 2-5 kGy, the dose-response was found to be linear and could be useful for dosimetry in commercial radiation processing of perishable food commodities.
The proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) technique was applied to the identification and analysis of gunshot residues. Studies were made of the type of bullet and bullet hole identification, firearm discharge element profiles, the effect of various target backings, and hand swabbings. The discussion of the results reviews the sensitivity of the PIXE technique, its nondestructive nature, and its role in determining the distance from the gun to the victim and identifying the type of bullet used and whether a wound was made by a bullet or not. The high sensitivity of the PIXE technique, which is able to analyze samples as small as 0.1 to 1 ng, and its usefulness for detecting a variety of elements should make it particularly useful in firearms residue investigations.
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