Radiation Measurements 56 (2013) 389e392

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Radiation Measurements
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/radmeas

Dose reassessment by using PTTL method in MTS-N (LiF:Mg, Ti)

thermoluminescent detectors
M. Budzanowski, A. Sas-Bieniarz*, P. Bilski, A. Bubak, R. Kope
c
Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences (IFJ PAN), ul. Radzikowskiego 152, PL 31-342 Kraków, Poland

h i g h l i g h t s

< PTTL method applied in individual dosimetry.

< The optimal wavelength was found.
< Dose reassessment in emergency situations.

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: The thermoluminescent (TLD) method is one of the most commonly used in dose measurements in
Received 12 October 2012 radiation protection dosimetry. Due to its many advantages this method is widely spread. However, TLD
Accepted 15 December 2012 has especially one disadvantage which is very inconvenient: the dose information in already read de-
tectors is erased and in routine standard way the dose can not be reassessed. The positive is that this
Keywords: shortcoming can be eliminated by applying UV radiation. After first readout the same detector can be
Thermoluminescent dosimetry
subjected to UV exposure and then read once again to reassess the dose.
Dose reassessing
This method for reassessment of dose is based on phototransferred thermoluminescence (PTTL). In an
Phototransferred thermoluminescence
(PTTL)
irradiated TL detector deep traps are not emptied during the first readout. During exposure to UV,
electrons are transferred from deep traps to shallower dosimetric traps. This TL signal emerging during
the second readout following UV illumination is called phototransferred thermoluminescence.
A method for reassessment of dose in a previously readout TLD is presented in this work. Experiments
show that the method works well within region of doses between 5 and 50 mGy, but could be applied for
higher doses as well. The efficiency of dose reassessment reaches about 17 percent of the first readout.
The method could be a noticeable improvement in TLD dosimetry, giving more opportunities for better
control and reliability of measurements.
Ó 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction radiation to already read TL pellets causes relocation of electrons

The dosimetry service Laboratory of Individual and Environ-
mental Dosimetry (Polish acronym: LADIS) at the Institute of Nu-
clear Physics Polish Academy of Science, Kraków applies
thermoluminescent (TL) detectors for individual dosimetry for
photon radiation fields, within the range from 0.1 mSv to 1 Sv.
Nowadays one of the disadvantages of TLD’s method is that after
readout of TLD it is not possible to read it again.
In some cases it is necessary to reassess dose and check meas-
urement correctness. This is especially required in personal dos-
imetry to ensure reliable and accurate results. Applying UV
* Corresponding author. þ48 126628073.
E-mail address: Anna.Bieniarz@ifj.edu.pl (A. Sas-Bieniarz).
from deep traps to the dosimetry traps, which effect is called the
phototransferred thermoluminescence (PTTL) (Alexander and
McKeever, 1998). The aim of this work was to elaborate a simple
and reliable method based on PTTL phenomenon, which can be
introduced into routine practice of a dosimetric service.
It is known that using PTTL method it is possible to reassess
doses (Delgado et al., 1996). Several trials has been carried out to
elaborate and reconfirm PTTL method. MTS-N (LiF:Mg, Ti) pellets
were irradiated to several doses in photon radiation fields and read
in a manual ohmic heated TL reader. After the first readout pellets
were subjected to UV exposure and then read once again. The
dependence of response on dose level, UV wavelength, different UV
exposure time and correlation between PTTL intensity and tem-
perature during UV exposure has been checked.

1350-4487/$ e see front matter Ó 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.radmeas.2012.12.019
390 M. Budzanowski et al. / Radiation Measurements 56 (2013) 389e392

2. Materials and methods 254 nm

70 302 nm
In experiments standard MTS-N (LiF:Mg, Ti) sintered detectors 365 nm
(4.5 mm diameter and 0.9 mm thickness) have been applied. The 60
tested detectors originated from two batches. Experiments were

TL intensity (counts)
performed using in total 390 MTS-N detectors. In all cycles de- 50
tectors were divided into 2 groups: designed to dose irradiations
and to background measurements. Each detector was read twice. 40
Before measurement cycles all pellets were annealed in an oven
at 400  C for 1 h and after that quenched on metal pad, then held 30
for 2 h at temperature 100  C and again quenched on metal pad.
MTS-N pellets were irradiated using 137Cs source at the Labo- 20
ratory for Calibration of Radiation Protection Instruments in Insti-
tute of Nuclear Physics. 10
PTTL dependence has been checked at several dose levels:
50 mGy, 30 mGy, 20 mGy, 10 mGy and 5 mGy. 0
Detectors were read in RA’94 (Microlab) manual ohmic heated
TL reader with hot argon and linear heating. Heating rate was 5  C/ 0 50 100 150 200 250 300
s, measurement were done in analyzer mode. Before reading de- Temperature ( C)
o

tectors were kept in oven for 10 min at 100  C.

UV irradiations were performed using UV lamp UVP Model Fig. 2. PTTL response of 20 mGy irradiated MTS-N detectors after irradiated different
UVLMS-38 8 W appointed in three wavelengths (l ¼ 254 nm, UV wavelengths for 2 h at room temperature.

l ¼ 302 nm, l ¼ 365 nm).

Dependence of time and temperature during UV irradiation has
3. Results and discussion
been checked.
Simple CAT H3 heater (H 3 Ceran hotplate unit, 600 Watt,
Fig. 1 shows an example of two typical glow curves obtained for
160  160 mm) has been used with the heating platform made of
MTS-N detectors. Solid line corresponds to standard readout fol-
CERANÒ‘ (Schott & Gen.).
lowed by 20 mGy irradiation of MTS-N detector and dashed line
TL detectors were irradiated on the special aluminum plate with
refers to readout of the same detector after UV irradiation for 1 h at
slots to ensure the same position during all irradiations.
80  C (PTTL curve). As it can be seen amplitude of the PTTL curve is
The whole measurement cycle consisted from the following
over five times lower than for the standard one. Calculated effi-
steps:
ciency of PTTL method (i.e. ratio between second and first readouts)
reaches 17%, which is a good prediction for future use especially in
- proper detectors preparation (annealing in air for 1 h at 400  C,
low dose regions. The amplitudes of the both glow-curves are
then quenching on metal pad and then holding for 2 h at
located at the same temperature. It can be observed that PTTL glow-
100  C);
curve has simple one-peak shape, dominated by peak V and with
- irradiation to different doses in the mGy range in, using 137Cs
the absent peak IV (Delgado et al., 1992).
source;
In Fig. 2 examples of MTS-N glow curves corresponding to dif-
- post irradiating annealing for 10 min at 100  C;
ferent UV wavelengths are shown. It can be noticed that UV
- readout with 5  C/s heating rate up to 300  C;
wavelength of 254 nm is optimal for dose reassessment. After UV
- UV irradiation (with increased temperature);
irradiation with 302 nm and 365 nm wavelengths the signal was
- post irradiating annealing for 10 min at 100  C
not observed.
- the second readout with 5  C/s heating rate up to 300  C.

300
600 Standard readout 50 mGy
PTTL readout 30 mGy
250 20 mGy
500
10 mGy
TL intensity (counts)
TL intensity (counts)

5 mGy
200
400

300 150

200 100

100
50

0
0
50 100 150 200 250 300
o 50 100 150 200 250 300
Temperature ( C)
o
Temperature ( C)
Fig. 1. Examples of MTS-N glow curves received by the standard readout of 20 mGy
irradiated TL detector and the PTTL readout of the same detector after 2 h UV exposure Fig. 3. Typical for MTS-N detectors PTTL glow curves corresponding to different doses
at room temperature. after 2 h UV exposure at 80  C.
 M. Budzanowski et al. / Radiation Measurements 56 (2013) 389e392 391

260
250 240

220

200
200
180
TL intensity (counts)

TL intensity (counts)
160
150
140

120

100 100

80

60
50
40

20
0 0
0 10 20 30 40 50 0 2 4 6 8 10
Dose (mGy) UV exposure time (h)

Fig. 4. Relation between PTTL signal of MTS-N detectors and absorbed dose in dose Fig. 6. Relation between PTTL signal of 40 mGy irradiated MTS-N detectors and UV
range: 5 mGye50 mGy after 2 h UV exposure at 80  C. irradiation time at 80  C.

High background after UV irradiation was observed. It is

Next Fig. 3 presents typical MTS-N PTTL glow-curves for de-
tectors irradiated to different doses ranging from 5 to 50 mGy.
Fig. 4 shows relation between PTTL signal of mean value of 10
readouts with error bars and absorbed dose in dose range: 5 mGye
50 mGy. It can be observed that all points follow a linear trend. It
can be expected that for higher doses the relationship will be the
same.
In Fig. 5 an average value of 10 PTTL signals in function of
temperature during UV irradiation is shown. First UV illuminations
were performed at room temperature. Based on the previously
reported paper (Delgado et al., 1996) increasing temperature during
UV exposure should cause increase of PTTL signal. The optimum
temperature for UV irradiation was found as 80  C.
Fig. 6 presents relation between an average value of 10 PTTL
signal and UV irradiation time. It can be seen that the optimum
time is 1 h.
130
120
110
100
90
TL intensity (counts)
necessary to subtract high background before dose reassessing
(Abraham et al., 2007). The problem is not reproducible con-
tribution of background in PTTL signal as well as background curves
shapes (Bhasin et al., 1987).
4. Conclusions
Experimental results shows that applying UV radiation with
wavelength: l ¼ 254 nm causes emergent of TL signal which is
enough to calculate the dose of the previously read detectors.
Optimal temperature of heating during UV irradiation was
assign as 80  C.
The PTTL signal versus dose was found to be linear in region of
5e50 mGy, which is useful in radiation protection dosimetry. The
efficiency of dose reassessment reaches about 17 percent of the first
readout.
In some cases high background after UV irradiation is notice-
able. Not reproducible background curves shapes as well as dif-
ferent contribution of background in PTTL curves pose a problem in
evaluation of small doses.
The results shows that the developed method could be useful for
reassessment of doses and introduced in routine, however it should
be improved to enable reassessing small doses. The method can be
a significant improvement in individual dosimetry and good method
to validate the accuracy of measurement (Muñiz et al., 1999).

80

70 Acknowledgment

60
Work performed within the strategic research project “Tech-
50 nologies supporting the development of safe nuclear power”
40 financed by the National Centre for Research and Development
(NCBiR). Research Task “Development of methods to assure nuclear
30
safety and radiation protection for current and future needs of
20 nuclear power plants”, contract No. SP/J/6/143339.
10

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