Thermoluminescence of Ce and Nd co-doped CaF2 phosphors after beta irradiation

Abstract

In this study, we have synthesized CaF2:Nd3+,Ce3+ phosphors by solid state reaction method. The thermoluminescence (TL) properties of the family of synthesized phosphors (CaF2:Ce3+ and CaF2:Ce3+,Nd3+) were investigated using a combination of a SCHOTT BG39 and HC414/46 filters. This gave the highest TL intensity of each phosphor after 10 Gy beta-irradiation. Two TL glow peaks of CaF2:Nd3+,Ce3+ phosphor are centered at around 90 and 265 degrees C (with a heating rate of 2 degrees Cs-1). The glow peaks displayed a linear dose response in the range of 0.1-50 Gy. Various heating rates (VHR) were performed between 0.5 and 10 degrees Cs-1. It was seen that the TL intensity at 90 degrees C decreases and peak maximum temperature shifts to higher temperatures with an increasing heating rate. The TL intensity of the glow peak located at 265 degrees C increases with heating rate. The initial rise (IR) applied after T-M-T-stop experiment and computerized glow curve deconvolution (CGCD) methods in addition to the VHR method on the glow curves of CaF2:Nd3+,Ce3+ phosphor were used to determine the number of peaks, the order of kinetics (b), activation energy (E) and frequency factor (s). The response of TL glow curves remained constant within +2% deviation from the initial value after 10 cycles of reuse.