PHOTON DOSE MEASUREMENTS IN THE ENVIRONMENT WITH LiF:Mg, Cu, P-DOSEMETERS - ADVANTAGES AND PROBLEMS

K. Prokert, G. Mann

Dresden University of Technology, Institute of Radiation Protection Physics, 13, Mommenstrasse, D-01062 Dresden, Germany


LiF:Mg,Cu,P combines the advantages of TLD-100 (low gamma-energy dependence) and CaSO4:Dy (high sensitivity). A problem is that its TL-sensitivity can decrease under heat treatment higher than 260°C and that short-term annealing below 240°C is not satisfactory for total removing the residual TL-signal. Special procedures for reading and annealing permit use re-use of sintered LiF:Mg,Cu,P pellets for low dose measurements. Using a standard TL-reader, a single detector calibration and an exposure period of appr. 10 days it is possible to obtain dose values in fields of natural radiation with an accuracy of appr. ±10%. This high sensitivity permits also dosimetry in scattered photon fields at equipments of medical radiation applications.