Development of software for OSL Badge Reader System for personnel monitoring applications in India

Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dosimetry is finding increasing applications in dosimetry because of i) faster and multiple readout, ii) very high sensitivity, iii) no infra-red/black body radiation, iv) absence (no role) of thermal quenching and v) possible use of phosphor in plastic binders. In Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, four element based OSL badge have been developed for personnel monitoring applications using ultra thin alumina based disc dosimeters. The OSL is recorded using badge reader systems operated in reflection mode and use blue light stimulation having intensity from (0.2 -100) mW/cm². Since the doses in personnel monitoring are unknown, the OSLD badge readers should be calibrated to record OSL from sub mGy-few Gy. In addition, reader calibration factor, disc calibration factors, EHT control, various stimulation modes, user selectable variable light intensity, background/control subtraction and automatic dose estimation etc, are required to be entered, to operate the OSL Badge Reader. A detailed software is written, to incorporate various parameters of the OSLO badge readers like entry of different OSL modes, power of stimulation, cycle time, EHT, background, sensitivity, dose evaluation, automatic switching of power of stimulation for three different levels to cover a wide range from 0.2 mGy to >25 Gy, termination of the readout cycle on high dose, calculation of LED power, and current etc