Anomalous heating rate effect in GdAl3(BO3)4:Dy3+ under beta radiation stimulation: Analysis of dose response and kinetic parameters

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive investigation into the thermoluminescence (TL) properties of Dy3+-activated gadolinium aluminate garnet (Dy3+:GdAl3(BO3)4 or Dy3+-GAB) phosphor materials. The research aims to unravel the intricate interplay among heating rate, radiation dose, and TL glow curve responses to optimize dosimetry applications. The TL response of the material is scrutinized across diverse heating rates (HR) and dose levels, while accounting for temperature lag correction. Concentration quenching effects are explored through Dy3+ concentrations spanning from 0.5 to 7 wt%, revealing the optimal doping concentration to be 3 wt%. The study underscores the critical role of choosing an appropriate band-pass filter, revealing the effectiveness of the “IRSL-TL wideband blue” filter's in capturing TL signals. Furthermore, the study examines kinetic parameter estimated using different approaches and shedding light on how heating rate and radiation dose affect activation energy values. Intriguingly, the study observes an anomalous heating rate effect, resulting in elevated TL peak intensities at higher HR. This effect is attributed to non-radiative transitions and the semi-localized transition model. The reusability of Dy3+-doped GAB is also examined, confirming its consistency and reproducibility across multiple uses. This study significantly contributes to the advancement of TL dosimetry methodologies and enhances our understanding of luminescent material behaviours. We utilized both the Tm-Tstop technique in conjunction with the Initial Rise (IR) method and Computerized Glow Curve Deconvolution (CGCD) techniques, revealing the presence of seven overlapping glow peaks alongside the main ones. Both methods appear to provide excellent agreement in terms of activation energy values, ranging from 0.70 to 1.50 eV for each peak. Furthermore, the findings strongly indicate the effective utilization of TL signals in radiation dosimetry applications.