Dose response of visible color center radiophotoluminescence in lithium fluoride crystals irradiated with a reference 60Co gamma beam in the 1–20 Gy dose range. (February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Piccinini, M.; Nichelatti, E.; Pimpinella, M.; De Coste, V.; Montereali, R.M.
• Is Part Of: Radiation measurements. Volume 151(2021)
• Publication Date: 2022-02
• Subjects: Lithium fluoride -- Color centers -- Dosimetry -- Radiophotoluminescence; Nuclear emulsions -- Periodicals; Particle tracks (Nuclear physics) -- Periodicals; Thermoluminescence -- Periodicals; Cosmic rays -- Periodicals; Radiation -- Measurement -- Periodicals; Radiometry -- Periodicals; Radiation Monitoring -- Periodicals; Émulsions nucléaires -- Périodiques; Particules (Physique nucléaire) -- Traces -- Périodiques; Thermoluminescence -- Périodiques; Rayonnement cosmique -- Périodiques; Radiométrie -- Périodiques; 539.77
• DOI: 10.1016/j.radmeas.2022.106705
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1350-4487

Abstract

Abstract: The visible radiophotoluminescence response of radiation-induced stable F2 and F3 + color centers in nominally pure lithium fluoride crystals, irradiated with a reference 60 Co gamma beam in the 1–20 Gy dose range, was carefully investigated. After irradiation, the Stokes-shifted emission spectra of the colored crystals were measured as a function of time under continuous laser excitation at 445 nm and in stationary conditions. The F2 radiophotoluminescence intensity remains constant; the signal, spectrally integrated in a 50 nm-wide interval centered on the F2 emission peak at 670 nm, exhibited a linear dependence on the absorbed dose with a good signal-to-noise ratio, stability for multiple readout and long storage times. Combined with our previous investigations after irradiation at similar doses with low-energy protons and clinical X-ray beams, these experimental results confirm the feasibility of passive solid-state dosimeters for radiotherapy based on color center radiophotoluminescence in nominally pure lithium fluoride crystals. Highlights: Time evolution of F2 and F3 + color-center RPL under CW laser excitation is reported. F2 color-center RPL in laser-excited γ-treated LiF is linear with dose up to 20 Gy. The RPL signal shows no significant fading within a time interval of 39 months. The signal-to-noise ratio on the RPL peak of F2 color centers is 9.4 at 1 Gy dose.