The effect of Mg, Cu and P impurities on dose response of LiF:Mg,Cu,P phosphors: simulation versus experiments

In this research, the effect of magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu) and phosphorus (P) impurities on dosimetry response of LiF:Mg,Cu,P phosphors is studied experimentally and by the simulation procedure. In the experimental procedure, LiF:Mg,Cu,P phosphors in the powder form were synthesised by chemical co-precipitation method. After annealing at 250 deg. C for 10 min, known amounts of powder were exposed to gamma doses from 0.2 to 1 Gy. The activation energy of the electronic traps for the dosimetric peak at 150 deg. C in LiF:Mg,Cu,P crystalline lattice obtained was 0.69 eV. In the simulation study, the role of stated dopants on electronic and structural properties of LiF crystalline lattice is investigated with the WIEN2 K Code. The activation energies of the electronic and hole traps for the dosimetric peak at the same temperature in LiF:Mg,Cu,P crystalline lattice obtained are 0.75 and 3.1 eV, respectively. It is shown that the experimental results are in agreement with simulation results. (authors)