Effect Of Pre-Irradiation Annealing Treatments On The Response Of High-Temperature Glow Peaks Of Lif:Mg,Ti

A need to study the effect of pre-irradiation annealing on LiF:Mg,Ti was recognized to enhance the intensity of its high-temperature thermoluminescence (HTTL), and the ratio of HTTL and dosimetric glow peaks (DP). Slow cooling following thermal annealing enhanced the intensity of HTTL. and reduced the DP. Following 400 degrees C-1 h annealing (established for this type of phosphor and used widely), additional pre-irradiation annealing treatments and oven-cooling (by switching off the power to the oven) were investigated in steps of 20 degrees C in the range of pre-set temperatures from 400 degrees C to 100 degrees C. The oven-cooling from pre-set temperature of 170 degrees C enhanced the HTTL and the HTTL/DP ratio by up to 1.66 and 4.88 times, respectively, as compared to that for the fast cooling from 400 degrees C but reduced the DP by 2.9 times. The slow cooling from pre-set temperatures in the range of 180 C-160 degrees C appears crucial for the intensities of DP and HTTL, and thereby for the applicability of LiF:Mg,Ti in mixed-field dosimetry of low and high LET radiation. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.