An automated system for the analysis of variable temperature radioluminescence

Radioluminescence (RL, i.e. prompt luminescence emitted during exposure to ionizing radiation) is used for analysing luminescence emission processes a nd has been proposed as a method for determining received radiation doses i n both natural and synthetic radiation dosimeters, We describe here an auto mated system capable of both multi-sample RL analysis and comparative studi es using traditional thermoluminescence (TL) and optically stimulated lumin escence (OSL) methods. The radioluminescence unit is intended as an attachm ent for the existing automated Riso TL-OSL systems; it delivers a dose rate of 4.5 Gy/min to materials such as quartz, using an 80 mCi Sr-90/Y-90 beta -source. The unit enables the measurement of RL in the temperature range 2 5-500 degreesC using both continuous and pulsed radiation exposures. Measur ements are fully automated, allowing up to 48 samples to be measured in any one experimental run. Results from several experiments are presented for t wo representative dosimeters; natural quartz and artificial Al2O3:C. These experiments include investigation of the dose and temperature dependence of RL, pulsed RL, and spectrally resolved RL; comparisons with TL are also ma de. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.