Glass-Based Bone-Equivalent Retrospective Dosimeters: A Comprehensive Review of Thermoluminescence and Structural Evolution

This paper addresses recent studies on numerous glass materials for retrospective analysis to ascertain radiation dose after catastrophic, large-scale radioactive incidents. These glasses have shown to be versatile retrospective dosimeters in medical and industrial settings, providing great spatial resolution, sensitivity, and water resistance. A review analyzing the retrospective applications of the glass has been conducted, emphasizing the potential of these materials in measuring unintentional radiation exposures. The novelty of this work lies in providing a comparative framework linking thermoluminescence (TL) response, effective atomic number (Z eff ), dose-response behavior, and radiation-induced structural alterations across multiple glass materials. The relevant scientific research was rigorously assessed to compare thermoluminescence (TL) response, effective atomic number (Z eff ), dose response, and radiation-induced structural alterations in glass materials. From the review, effective atomic numbers ranged from 9.23 to 15.1, strongly aligning with the Z eff of bone, indicating the potential of glass materials as bone-equivalent retrospective dosimeters. The dose-response relationship demonstrates that TL intensity exhibits the most significant correlation with the administered dose and glow curve occurring between 150 to 273 °C, indicating stable charge trapping and recombination processes. Morphological and structural analysis confirmed the dose dependent structural alteration of the glass samples. Despite certain constraints, such as long-term stability, optical bleaching, and dependable dose reconstruction, glasses exhibit potential efficacy as a retrospective dosimeter. This study incorporates thermoluminescence, effective atomic number, and dose-induced structural evolution in a cohesive framework, providing a comprehensive comparative analysis to improve the understanding of glass-based materials as bone-equivalent retrospective dosimeters for post-accidental radiation evaluation.