Effect of proton radiation on the change in optical properties of quartz glass

Studied are the changes in the optical properties of the gas-fused quartz glass of the KB type under the influence of the proton radiation. The aim of the study is to use the change in the induced optical density at 215 nm for the dosimetry of the proton beam. Sample exposure has been done on the cyclotron at the Institute of Nuclear Physics, Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic Academy of Sciences. A proton beam put into the atmosphere has been used for the exposure with the starting proton energy of 17.5 MeV and the flux intensity of 6x109 -6x1010 part/cm2 x sec. Optical density has been recorded on the ''Hitachi'' spectrophotometer, model EPS-3T. The kinetics of the colour centres formation has been compared with gamma- and proton exposure. A qualitative congruence of the absorption spectra, induced by gamma-radiation and protons has been pointed out. The results of the research have indicated that the KB quartz glass may be used in order to determine the absorbed dose of both the gamma- and proton radiation. In case of proton radiation, the proton run in the material should be taken into account. In order to measure the dosage the indicated values of the optical density must be used