Radiation dosimetry by optically-stimulated luminescence of BeO

A radiation dosimeter utilizing the optically-stimulated luminescence of BeO permits repeated readings on a single sample. The response as a function of exposure is supralinear and saturates at 3 × 105 R. The lower useable limit is determined by an inherent background signal. The lower limit for BeO powder is 1 R and for BeO disks is 10 R. A phosphorescence is present following irradiation; however, the error which it produces is negligible if the samples are kept in the dark overnight. The optically-stimulated luminescence decreases exponentially with repeated readouts. With the experimental conditions in this investigation, the luminescence was reduced to one-half after 39 readouts.