Abstract One of the main trends in external dosimetry is the investigation of new radiation detection mechanisms with the aim of developing improved detectors and dosemeters. These include bubble-damage, electret detectors, MOS transistors, MOS thin-film breakdown detectors, detectors on the basis of dynamic RAMs, fibre optic detectors, etc. Studies of the physical properties of these detectors are very important in order to ensure the scientific basis of future measurement techniques in dosimetry.