Thermoluminescent Detectors for Surveillance Studies of Radiation Exposure of the Population

Luminescent glow occurring in a substance exposed to ionizing radiation (IR) in the process of heating, thermoluminescence (TL) is now an effective method of registration of radiation-absorbed doses. It is important to be aware that the correct absorbed dose when exposed to mixed radiation with unknown characteristics is determined in the material of detector as well as in materials similar in composition (Z eff) and density [1-3]. In this connection, it is expedient to use different types of detectors for solution of different dosimetric problems. This study gives a comparison of the performance characteristics of TLD-K thermoluminescent detectors [4, 5], made of sodium silicate glass ceramic with the characteristics of IR detectors made of luminophors based on lithium fluoride monocrystals containing impurities of titanium and magnesium (TLD -100) [6, 7] and an anion of defective aluminum oxide (TLD-500) [8-11] widely used in thermoluminescence dosimetry. Comparison of a number of parameters that are relevant to the use of detectors in dosimetric monitoring of environment favors TLD-K detectors. The studies were carried out on the territory of the Kemerovo region.