The effect of plastic deformation on the thermoluminescence of LiF (TLD-100) single crystals

The thermoluminescent properties of LiF (TLD-100) have been investigated as a function of plastic deformation. Without exposure to ionizing radiation, plastic deformation up to fracture does not induce a thermoluminescent response. After subsequent exposure to ionizing radiation, the intensity of the thermoluminescent glow peaks decreases with the amount of plastic deformation. This is explained in terms of a relative decrease in the concentration of free dipoles and low-order dipole complexes which act as trapping centres for peaks 2 and 5. This decrease is a result of an interaction of these defect structures with the dislocations introduced during deformation.