Termoluminenssimittarit

Termoluminenssimittarit, often referred to as TL dosimeters, are passive devices used to measure ionizing radiation doses. They work by utilizing materials that, when exposed to radiation, store energy within their crystal lattice. This stored energy is then released as light when the material is heated. The intensity of the emitted light is proportional to the amount of radiation absorbed by the material.

The basic components of a TL dosimeter system include the sensitive material, typically a crystalline solid like lithium fluoride (LiF) or calcium fluoride (CaF2), and a reader instrument. The reader heats the dosimeter material to a specific temperature, causing it to luminesce. A photomultiplier tube or similar photodetector measures the light output, and this signal is then converted into a dose reading.

TL dosimetry offers several advantages, including its ability to measure cumulative dose over extended periods, its wide dynamic range for dose measurement, and its relatively low cost. It is widely used in various applications such as personnel dosimetry for radiation workers, environmental monitoring, and in medical physics for radiation therapy quality assurance. The sensitivity and spectral response of TL dosimeters can be tailored by selecting different phosphors. Calibration is crucial for accurate dose assessment, involving exposing known amounts of radiation to the dosimeters and establishing a dose-response curve.