THE DETECTION OF SOLAR ULTRAVIOLET-C RADIATION USING KCL-EU2+ THERMOLUMINESCENCE DOSIMETERS

The thermoluminescence excitation spectrum of single crystals of KCl:E u2+ was measured and its convolution with solar spectral irradiances r eaching the ground was estimated from a radiation-transfer model. The same crystals were used to register direct solar ultraviolet-C radiati on reaching the ground at Madrid (40 degrees N, 3 degrees W, 700 m ASL ) on clear-sky days. By comparing the KCl:Eu2+ ultraviolet dose thermo luminescence sensitivity with the measured dose of solar irradiation, we concluded that, although UV-C irradiation at ground level is six or ders of magnitude smaller than the UV-B, the solar UV-C radiation at g round level is nonetheless detectable and can be measured using KCl:Eu 2+ dosemeters.