A Simple Program that Collects TL Data from a Toledo 654E Reader

Full text: The development of simple program dedicated to the collection of thermoluminescence (TL) glow curves obtained with a Toledo 654E reader is presented. The main advantage of this program is the storage of the glow curve and of the temperature profile data on an ascii file for further analysis with a simplified (area determination) or complex (glow curve deconvolution) software. At DPRSN the Toledo reader and a computer are connected by a RS-232 serial interface and all the readout parameters are selected on the reader. The computer does not control the heating cycle and is dedicated to the storage of the glow curves. Prior to the start of the reading of a dosimeter, the user is prompted for a filename and for the acquisition time. After the reading, the glow curve (TL) collected and the temperature profile (T) data are simultaneously sent to the computer as a set of (T,TL) pairs. A file is then created and the glow curve and its respective heating profile are printed on the screen. Both linear and non-linear heating cycles (with pre-heat, read out and anneal steps) can be used. Previously stored curves can be displayed. A maximum of five glow curves can be viewed at the same time normalised to the highest intensity. On a separate box the heating cycles used are also shown, along with an evaluation of the reproducibility of the heating. In the case of linear cycles a list of the heating rates are presented and in the case of non-linear profiles the areas measured in each step are shown. (author)