Study of optically stimulated luminescence in BeO and CaF2

• Grant number: 12/13534-0
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): June 01, 2013
• Effective date (End): May 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics
• Principal researcher: Elisabeth Mateus Yoshimura
• Grantee: Felisberto Alves Ferreira Junior
• Home Institution: Instituto de Física (IF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 10/16437-0 - Characterization and applications of dosimetric materials using optically stimulated luminescence and complementary techniques, AP.TEM

Abstract

Radiations are increasingly being employed in various human activities, but ionizing radiation is carcinogen and its use should be associated with radiological protection. The use of passive luminescent dosimeters to determine absorbed dose over a period of exposure to radiation is a common practice around the world and in various Brazilian institutions. One of the shortcomings in dosimetry by optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) is the lack of variety of materials and methods of reading. This project aims to expand current knowledge of some interesting materials for OSL technique, but which have a limited bibliography. We will study beryllium oxide (BeO) and natural Brazilian fluorite (CaF2 contaminated with rare earth elements). The beryllium oxide is already recognized as good material for OSL dosimetry, but has not yet been studied extensively. The Brazilian fluorite is interesting for OSL dosimetry as it is an affordable and abundant material, besides being a good TL material. The OSL signal of these materials will be characterized observing the response of the material to different types of radiation, correlating the OSL signal with the TL signal and determining the values of the signal life-times to carry out POSL measurements. The objectives of this work also include the integration of a light spectrometer to a Risø TL/OSL system, making possible the measurement of the TL spectra and, if possible, OSL spectra. The changes of light spectra with variations of sample temperature, wavelength of stimulating light and type of radiation will be investigated. This project may open new areas of study and provide alternative materials for OSL dosimetry in Brazil.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MALTHEZ, ANNA L. M. C.; MARCZEWSKA, BARBARA; FERREIRA, FELISBERTO; UMISEDO, NANCY K.; NOWAK, TOMASZ; BILSKI, PAWEL; YOSHIMURA, ELISABETH M. OSL dosimetric properties and efficiency of Brazilian natural calcium fluoride pellets. Applied Radiation and Isotopes, v. 135, p. 166-170, MAY 2018. Web of Science Citations: 1.