Investigation of the optically stimulated luminescence of fluoropatites.

• Grant number: 24/20652-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: March 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mining Engineering - Mineral Prospecting
• Principal Investigator: Neilo Marcos Trindade
• Grantee: Frantz Sagbvagare Vieira
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física (IF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Fluorapatite (Ca_10(PO_4)_6F_2) is a mineral from the apatite group and one of the largest sources of phosphate in the Earth's crust. This material is known for its luminescent properties and is used in lasers and fluorescent lamps. Recently, due to its physical characteristics being similar to human bone, some studies have been conducted on this mineral under ionizing radiation exposure for dosimetry applications. The central objective is to investigate the effects of ionizing radiation on natural fluorapatites using the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) technique. OSL refers to the luminescence emitted by the recombination of charges optically released from specific traps within a material that has been previously irradiated by ionizing radiation. Additionally, the project includes performing optical absorption (OA) measurements in the UV-Vis spectrum, complemented by mineralogical and microstructural characterization techniques such as scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Therefore, this project seeks to explore and expand current knowledge on the luminescent and dosimetric properties of natural fluorapatites.