Dosimetry of X-Rays and Gamma-Rays by Radiophotoluminescence

The effects of high energy radiation on the luminescence properties of solids are surveyed. Of the four effects considered—radiophotoluminescence, radiophotostimulation, radiothermoluminescence, and the ``killing'' of luminescence by x-rays or gamma-rays—the first effect is shown to have advantages in principle over the others as a basis for dosimetry. The absorption, excitation, emission, sensitivity, energy dependence, and stability characteristics of a radiophotoluminescent Ag-activated phosphate glass are described. It is shown that dosage measurements can be made with this material, employing a simple fluorophotometer, from 10 roentgens to a few thousand roentgens of gamma-rays. By proper shielding, such a dosimeter element can be made reasonably independent of energy. The dosage indication obtained is quite stable with time and is not seriously affected by exposure of the glass to visible or ultraviolet light or to temperatures in the range of −70° to +100°C. Because of its sensitivity range and its stability over a wide range of ambient conditions, the dosimeter appears to be particularly suited for monitoring personnel that may be exposed to rather high doses of gamma-rays, such as may be encountered in A-bomb explosions.