Polarization effects on a high-sensitivity radiochromic film

Abstract

A new high-sensitivity radiochromic film has been tested for its polarization properties. Gafchromic HS film has been shown to produce a relatively small (less than 3%) variation in the optical density measured at 660 nm wavelength when the light source is fully linear polarized and the film is rotated through a 360° angle. Similar variations are seen when the detector is linearly polarized. If both the light source and the detector are linearly polarized, variations in the measured optical density can reach 15% when the film is rotated through a 360° angle. This seems to be due to a phase shift in polarized light caused by the radiochromic film resulting in the polarized light source becoming out of phase with the polarized detector. Gafchromic HS radiochromic film produces a minimal polarization response with varying angle of rotation; however, we recommend that a polarization test be performed on a densitometry system to establish the extent of its polarization properties before accuracy dosimetry is performed with radiochromic HS film.