Radioluminescence (RL) behaviour of Al2O3:C-potential for dosimetric applications

The radioluminescence (RL) of carbon doped aluminium oxide (Al2O3:C) TL dosimeter material (TLD-500) was investigated using a 137Cs conversion electron source (which also emits β and γ) for simultaneous irradiation and luminescence excitation. Furthermore, RL dosimetry characteristics of this material were studied. The main RL emission occurs at 420 nm. That matches the known main TL and OSL emissions for this material as well as an emission that was investigated in earlier RL studies, excited at higher energies (4 MeV electrons) and very high pulse delivered doses (∼800 kGy·s-1). Furthermore, the saturation dose for the main peak is reached at the dose level of ∼80 Gy as known from TL and earlier RL investigations. Other peaks at 700 and 790 nm and broad emission bands at photon energies higher than 3.00 eV and others between 2.00 and 2.50 eV were observed. The 700 nm emission shows growth also at higher dose levels, and saturates at an estimated dose of ∼800 Gy. The 790 nm emission reaches its maximum intensity at ∼10 Gy absorbed dose. The reported results give an outlook to the usability and the potential of Al2O3:C combined with RL measurements for radiation dosimetry as well as for beta source calibration, using radioluminescence