Study on the reusability of fluorescent nuclear track detectors using optical bleaching. (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Muneem, Abdul; Yoshida, Junya; Ekawa, Hiroyuki; Hino, Masahiro; Hirota, Katsuya; Ichikawa, Go; Kasagi, Ayumi; Kitaguchi, Masaaki; Kodaira, Satoshi; Mishima, Kenji; Nabi, Jameel-Un; Nakagawa, Manami; Sakashita, Michio; Saito, Norihito; Saito, Takehiko R.; Wada, Satoshi; Yasuda, Nakahiro
• Is Part Of: Radiation measurements. Volume 158(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: Fluorescent nuclear track detectors -- Optical bleaching; 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.2022.106863
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1350-4487

Abstract

Abstract: Fluorescent nuclear track detectors (FNTDs) based on Al2 O3 :C, Mg crystals are luminescent detectors that can be used for dosimetry and detection of charged particles and neutrons. These detectors can be utilized for imaging applications where a reasonably high track density, approximately of the order of 1 × 1 0 4 tracks in an area of 100 × 100 μ m 2, is required. To investigate the reusability of FNTDs for imaging applications, we present an approach to perform optical bleaching under the required track density conditions. The reusability was assessed through seven irradiation-bleaching cycles. For the irradiation, the studied FNTD was exposed to alpha-particles from an 241 Am radioactive source. The optical bleaching was performed by means of ultraviolet laser light with a wavelength of 355 nm. Three dedicated regions on a single FNTD with different accumulated track densities and bleaching conditions were investigated. After every irradiation-bleaching cycle, signal-to-noise ratio was calculated to evaluate FNTD performance. It is concluded that FNTDs can be reused at least seven times for applications where accumulation of a high track density is required. Highlights: FNTDs can be used for the micrometer scale neutron imaging applications under high accumulated track density condition. The optical bleaching of the FNTDs was investigated using a UV laser light of 355 nm. The re-usability of the FNTDs was investigated through seven repeated iterations of the irradiation of alpha particles. FNTDs can be re-used at least seven times for the applications where accumulation of high track density is required.