Development of a prototype TL/OSL reader for on-site use in a large-scale radiological accident

Abstract

This study presents the development and characterization of a prototype TL/OSL reader for the retrospective dose assessment of individuals in radiological emergencies. The reader is portable, semi-automatic, and capable of accurate measurements. The dimension of the reader is 25×25×37 cm3 and the weight is about 15 kg. The reader consists of a sample moving stage, a heating module, an optical stimulation module, a detection module, a data acquisition (DAQ) unit, a nitrogen gas control module, and a PC with a GUI program. The reader has three measurement modes: TL, CW_OSL, and custom mode. The reader was characterized using commercial thermal luminescence dosimeters (TLD, LiF:Mg,Cu,Si) and optically stimulated dosimeters (OSLD, Al2O3:C), as well as fortuitous materials, such as display glasses and resistors of mobile phone. The results showed that the reader is capable of measuring signals with a detection limit of up to 0.02 mGy using a commercial dosimeter. In the dose recovery test using fortuitous materials, the reconstructed doses obtained three days post-irradiation closely aligned with the initially administered doses. As a result, this study suggests that the developed TL/OSL reader is a promising instrument for emergency dose assessment at accident sites.