Simultaneous microbeam IBA and beam-induced luminescence analysis of strained doped silica fibre radiation dosimeters

We demonstrate that the simultaneous combination of ion beam analysis (IBA) and ion beam induced luminescence (IL) can reveal valuable information concerning the performance of strained doped silica fibre thermoluminescence microdosimeters. The micron scale spatial resolution and low detection limits of IBA allow the lateral distribution of dopant elements to be mapped and then correlated with the distribution of prompt radioluminescence. Measurement of the decay of the IL signal with dose provide information concerning the saturation of the subsequent TL signal at high doses. MeV ion beams can deposit relatively high energy in localized, well-quantified small volumes and so this method is valuable for studying high dose effects in TL dosimeters. We describe a simple modification of the target chamber microscope which enables sensitive low background light detection in two wavelength bands and present preliminary results from three types of germanium doped silica fibre dosimeter

Investigation of silica-based TL media for diagnostic x-ray dosimetry

We focus on the development of Ge-doped silica thermoluminescent dosimeters with sensitivity superior to that of the LiF (Mg,Ti) phosphors popularly used in x-ray diagnostic imaging dosimetry, typically in the form of the product TLD-100. Of interest are Ge-doped silica telecommunication fibres (SMF) and tailor-made doped photonic crystal fibres (PCFc), the latter Ge-doped or also co-doped with boron. The PCFs are formed of capillaries that at high temperatures and under vacuum are made to collapse inwards (PCFc), the internal walls fusing and generating strain-related defects. To-date, the fabricated PCFc-Ge-B, PCFc-Ge and (SMF) have been observed to provide TL yields which weight-for-weight are some 15, 10 and 2 × that of TLD-100. In present study we test the linearity of TL yield for x-ray doses from 0.1- to 10 mGy, use being made of an x-ray tube operated at 80 kVp, a value typically selected in chest radiography. For a dose of 10 mGy, a study of energy dependence has been conducted using x-ray tube potentials of 80 kVp 100 kVp, and 120 kVp, with inherent filtration 0.9 mm Al measured at 75 kVp, and total filtration of 2.8 mm Al at 80 kVp

Optical properties of GeO2-doped silica preform from absorption and vibrational spectroscopy

Germanium doped silica optical preform fabricated using standard MCVD has been studied in terms of the effect of germanium-oxygen deficient defect using optical characterization techniques to investigate the effect of preform process temperature. The preforms are fabricated using standard MCVD process using SiCl4 and GeCl4 vapor precursor and their collapse temperature varies between 2100°C and 2200 °C. The absorption spectra of the preform at UV region is used to identify the Ge concentrations in the sample and the background loss. From the absorption result, two peaks can be observed at 5.1eV and 6.7eV. By using Raman and Photoluminescence spectroscopy, the effect of the temperature to the Ge concentration can also be quantify

Measurement of a wide-range of X-ray doses using specialty doped silica fibres

Using six types of tailor-made doped optical fibres, we carry out thermoluminescent (TL) studies of X-rays, investigating the TL yield for doses from 20 mGy through to 50 Gy. Dosimetric parameters were investigated for nominal 8 wt% Ge doped fibres that in two cases were co-doped, using B in one case and Br in the other. A comparative measurement of surface analysis has also been made for non-annealed and annealed capillary fibres, use being made of X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. Comparison was made with the conventional TL phosphor LiF in the form of the proprietary product TLD-100, including dose response and glow curves investigated for X-rays generated at 60 kVp over a dose range from 2 cGy to 50 Gy. The energy response of the fibres was also performed for X-rays generated at peak accelerating potentials of 80 kVp, 140 kVp, 250 kVp and 6 MV photons for an absorbed dose of 2 Gy. Present results show the samples to be suitable for use as TL dosimeters, with good linearity of response and a simple glow curve (simple trap) distribution. It has been established that the TL performance of an irradiated fibre is not only influenced by radiation parameters such as energy, dose-rate and total dose but also the type of fibre

Developments in production of silica-based thermoluminescence dosimeters

This work addresses purpose-made thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLD) based on doped silica fibres and sol–gel nanoparticles, produced via Modified Chemical Vapour Deposition (MCVD) and wet chemistry techniques respectively. These seek to improve upon the versatility offered by conventional phosphor-based TLD forms such as that of doped LiF. Fabrication and irradiation-dependent factors are seen to produce defects of differing origin, influencing the luminescence of the media. In coming to a close, we illustrate the utility of Ge-doped silica media for ionizing radiation dosimetry, first showing results from gamma-irradiated Ag-decorated nanoparticles, in the particular instance pointing to an extended dynamic range of dose. For the fibres, at radiotherapy dose levels, we show high spatial resolution (0.1 mm) depth-dose results for proton irradiations. For novel microstructured fibres (photonic crystal fibres, PCFs) we show first results from a study of undisturbed and technologically modified naturally occurring radioactivity environments, measuring doses of some 10 s of μGy over a period of several months

Synthesis of silver decorated silica nanospheres for Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) substrates

A sol-gel technique has been used to synthesize silver decorated silica nanospheres for Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) substrates. X- Ray diffraction (XRD) spectra shows peak at 2θ = 38.1, 44.6, 64.7, and 77.5° confirming the presence of Ag nanoparticles on the substrates. The Ag decorated silica nanospheres were applied as SERS substrates using Rhodamine 6G (R6G) as probe molecule. From Raman analysis, the highest SERS enhancement factor is observed at R6G concentration of 102 mol L-1 calculated around ~109

Effect of particle size on the thermoluminescence (TL) response of silica nanoparticles

We focus on the development of Ge-doped silica thermoluminescent dosimeters with sensitivity superior to that of the LiF (Mg,Ti) phosphors popularly used in x-ray diagnostic imaging dosimetry, typically in the form of the product TLD-100. Of interest are Ge-doped silica telecommunication fibres (SMF) and tailor-made doped photonic crystal fibres (PCFc), the latter Ge-doped or also co-doped with boron. The PCFs are formed of capillaries that at high temperatures and under vacuum are made to collapse inwards (PCFc), the internal walls fusing and generating strain-related defects. To-date, the fabricated PCFc-Ge-B, PCFc-Ge and (SMF) have been observed to provide TL yields which weight-for-weight are some 15, 10 and 2 × that of TLD-100. In present study we test the linearity of TL yield for x-ray doses from 0.1- to 10 mGy, use being made of an x-ray tube operated at 80 kVp, a value typically selected in chest radiography. For a dose of 10 mGy, a study of energy dependence has been conducted using x-ray tube potentials of 80 kVp 100 kVp, and 120 kVp, with inherent filtration 0.9 mm Al measured at 75 kVp, and total filtration of 2.8 mm Al at 80 kVp

Enhance TL response due to radiation defects in Ge doped silica preforms

Study has been made of the thermoluminescence (TL) response of Ge-doped silica preforms fabricated using the MCVD process and subsequently subjected to γ-ray irradiation. Two types of preform were fabricated, obtained using a different flow rate and deposition temperature for each case. Results from the absorption spectra of the samples show a signature absorption peak at 5.1 eV and 6.8 eV, indicative of oxygen-deficient and oxygen-rich defects respectively. The TL efficiency for both Ge samples were compared with the standard phosphor-based (LiF) thermoluminescence dosimeter, TLD100. For both sample types, a linear response has been obtained over the dose range 1–10 Gy. Analysis further showed the oxygen deficient Ge-doped silica sample provides a very much greater TL yield than TLD100, at 890 nC/Gy compared to 220 nC/Gy. Conversely, the oxygen rich sample gave a more limited response, with a sensitivity of 75 nC/Gy

Developments in production of silica based thermoluminescence dosimeter

This work addresses purpose-made thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLD) based on doped silica fibres and sol–gel nanoparticles, produced via Modified Chemical Vapour Deposition (MCVD) and wet chemistry techniques respectively. These seek to improve upon the versatility offered by conventional phosphor-based TLD forms such as that of doped LiF. Fabrication and irradiation-dependent factors are seen to produce defects of differing origin, influencing the luminescence of the media. In coming to a close, we illustrate the utility of Ge-doped silica media for ionizing radiation dosimetry, first showing results from gamma-irradiated Ag-decorated nanoparticles, in the particular instance pointing to an extended dynamic range of dose. For the fibres, at radiotherapy dose levels, we show high spatial resolution (0.1 mm) depth-dose results for proton irradiations. For novel microstructured fibres (photonic crystal fibres, PCFs) we show first results from a study of undisturbed and technologically modified naturally occurring radioactivity environments, measuring doses of some 10 s of μGy over a period of several months