Bone equivalent calcium-containing phosphate glass for radiation dosimetry using optical absorption

Abstract EN

A newly developed Ca-Al-Na-phosphate glass dosimeter was studied for its spectral sensitivity to ionizing photons in the range 0.1 MeV to lOMeV.

The dosimeter is colorless before exposure to ionizing radiation and then takes on an reddish color upon increasing irradiation with 60Co gamma rays.

Three radiation-induced bands are observed in the spectra of irradiated glasses.

The first is in the UV region (180-300 mm) and the other two bands are in the visible region (450-600 nm).

The change in absorbance is linear up to 2 kGy and then tends to saturate from 2 to 8 kGy, when measured at its 496 nm absorption band maximum.

The new glass dosimeter simulates compact bone in terms of gamma-ray absorption properties over broad radiation spectra.

It has a relatively small energy-dependence and can also be used for food irradiation dosimetry.

The stability of color centers formed upon irradiation was studied at normal laboratory storage conditions and the spontaneous deexcitation of the glass is about 37% in 25 days.