Optically Stimulated Luminescence in Fluoride–Phosphate Glass for Radiation Dosimetry

Abstract

Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) was studied in undoped and rare‐earth doped fluoride–phosphate glass. Following exposure to 90Sr/90Y β‐radiation, the samples demonstrated strong OSL in the 350–600 nm wavelength range. Here, we explore the effects of fabrication conditions and rare‐earth dopants on the OSL. We found that the OSL intensity increases linearly with radiation dosage, indicating the suitability of fluoride–phosphate glass as a dosimeter material.

Radiation dosimetry using optically stimulated luminescence in fluoride phosphate optical fibres

“…A linear relationship is observed between 0.016 and 2 Gy, after which the intensity no longer follows this trend. Previous measurements on this glass show saturation of the material at approximately 2 Gy [13], this saturation was attributed to complete filling of available traps, such that there was a limit on the population of excited charge. The saturation of the OSL signal observed from fibres may be attributed to this effect, but it may also be attributed to the short life-time of trapped charge.…”

“…Fluoride phosphate glass was previously identified as a suitable material for sensing ionising radiation by the mechanism of optically stimulated luminescence [13]. A commercially manufactured fluoride phosphate glass, Schott N-FK51A [16], was also identified as having a similar glass composition.…”

“…described a glass capable of producing optically stimulated luminescence [12], however it was not used in an optical fibre configuration, but instead was spliced to the end of non-active commercial fibre for the purposes of point measurements. This paper builds upon previous work whereby fluoride phosphate glasses were developed as strongly OSL-active materials [13]. Here we briefly describe the fabrication of this material into optical fibres.…”

Enhanced radiation dosimetry of fluoride phosphate glass optical fibres by terbium (III) doping

“…Cu + -doped silica glass [1], BeO [2] and Al 2 O 3 :C [3][4][5][6][7][8][9] are examples of phosphors spliced to the end of commercial silica and polymer fibres. The use of an intrinsic method, where the optical fibre itself produces the OSL effect, has been demonstrated using fluoride phosphate (FP) glass optical fibres [10,11]. Although the concept of this type of dosimeter was demonstrated, the low sensitivity of the material limits the practical usage of these fibres as dosimeter devices.…”

Spatially resolved measurement of high doses in microbeam radiation therapy using samarium doped fluorophosphate glasses

“…4 Various papers have demonstrated the possibility of valence conversion of different rare earth ions in a variety of host materials under different forms of excitation such as x-rays, c-, and b-irradiation as well as near-infrared (NIR) optical excitation. [5][6][7][8][9][10] Among the rare earth ions, Sm 3þ to Sm 2þ conversion is of particular interest because the dominant emission bands of Sm 3þ and Sm 2þ ions are very easy to distinguish, all dominant bands are situated in a red region of the spectrum and make a good match to silicon based detectors used in optical measurement. It should be stressed immediately that Sm 3þ !…”