Thermoluminescent materials for high-energy dosimetry

A review of the characteristics of the high energy thermoluminescence dosimetry (TLD) materials and their uses in monitoring the environment and for personal dosimetry were done. The TLD materials investigated were CaSO4:Dy (TLD-900), Al2O3:C (TLD-500), 6LiF:Mg,Ti (TLD-600), LiF:Mg,Ti (TLD-100), 7LiF:Mg,Ti (TLD-700), and CaF2:Dy (TLD-200). Thermoluminescence is used for the assessment of the absorbed radiation dose in materials. This technique can find importance in the medical field in areas that are associated with heavy charged particles and high-energy radiation. Astronauts working in space are expected to be exposed to radiation that is about a hundred times higher than that on Earth. The health and safety of personnel working at high-energy radiation zones is therefore of great concern. The estimation of damage to the components used in various subsystems of space crafts caused by such high energy radiation is equally important. It is therefore very essential to monitor the dose/fluency of such radiation and those affected are to be diagnosed with great precision and accuracy. High energy TLDs are very useful for such a purpose.