Articles
  • X-ray induced effects in Sm3+-doped ZnO-P2O5 glass for radiation measurements
  • Go Okadaa, Hirokazu Masaib, Aya Torimotob, Safa Kasapc and Takayuki Yanagidaa
  • a Graduate School of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama-cho, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan b Institute of Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan c Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, 57 Campus Dr., Saskatoon, SK S7N5A9, Canada
Abstract
We have studied X-ray induced effects on ZnO-P2O5 glass doped with Sm3+ ion. The glass was synthesized by a conventional melt-quenching method in an ambient atmosphere. We have investigated the following three different effects induced by Xray irradiation in this glass, which can be used for radiation sensing applications. First, although the as-prepared glass sample is highly transparent and homogeneous, upon irradiation with X-rays, the sample becomes slightly brownish due to an appearance of color centers induced by X-ray irradiation which can be measured as an optical absorption in the UV-Vis range. By utilizing the extent of absorption change by X-ray irradiation, it is possible to measure the incident radiation dose from about 0.5 to over 20 Gy. Second, with the Sm3+ ion included as a luminescent centre, the glass sample emits orange-red light upon X-ray irradiation. The integrated light emission is proportional to the incident X-ray dose, hence it can be used as a scintillator plate for online radiation monitoring. The confirmed exposure dose detection range for this use is approximately 1 -300 R. Last, when an irradiated sample is heated at elevated temperatures from 100 to 400 oC, it shows a thermallystimulated luminescence (TSL). The emission intensity increases with the accumulated X-ray dose delivered prior to the measurement, so our sample has a function to act as a TSL dosimeter as well. Over the radiation dose range we have tested, the X-ray induced effects above show linear response against the incident dose. The linear response is of particular importance for dosimetry applications since it enables us to calibrate the response of sample to radiation dose with high accuracy.

Keywords: Samarium, Zinc phosphate glass, X-ray

This Article

  • 2016; 17(3): 148-151

    Published on Mar 31, 2016