RESUMEN

Resumen Introducción: en la búsqueda de nuevos materiales útiles como dosímetros termoluminiscentes (TL) la alúmina (α-Al2O3) ha adquirido gran atención. La α-Al2O3 posee una sensibilidad TL que es perceptible a las concentraciones de impurezas y a las condiciones térmicas del crecimiento de sus cristales, por lo que encontrar nuevas variaciones del material permitirá aumentar su respuesta TL. Objetivo: analizar las curvas de brillo de matrices de alúmina pura sinterizadas bajo diferentes condiciones de calcinación y dopadas con cerio a concentración 0.1 % p/p (Al2O3:Ce), usando la función asimétrica logística, para calcular sus parámetros cinéticos termoluminiscentes y explicar el comportamiento del material. Materiales y métodos: polvo de alúmina bohemita fue utilizado para preparar muestras puras sintetizadas de bajo diferentes condiciones de calcinación (NALO y ALO). El cerio se introdujo mediante impregnación húmeda utilizando nitrato de cerio hexa-hidratado. El análisis estructural de las matrices se realizó mediante Difracción de Rayos X. La lectura TL se realizó en un TLD 4500. Resultados: la deconvolución obtenida en las curvas de brillo para los grupos ALO y NALO evidencia la presencia de tres y cuatro señales TL respectivamente, y de seis señales TL en la muestra Al2O3:Ce. Conclusión: los tratamientos térmicos aplicados introdujeron un cambio sustancial en la curva de brillo del material y en su cinética TL, en términos del número de trampas y de la cantidad inicial de portadores de carga atrapados. La introducción de impurezas de cerio produjo una modificación fundamental en la curva de brillo de las matrices de alúmina.

Abstract Introduction: in the search for new materials useful as thermoluminescent dosimeters (TL) alumina (α-Al2O3) has acquired great attention. The α-Al2O3 has a sensitivity TL that is perceptível to the concentrations of impurities and to the thermal conditions of the growth of its crystals, so finding new variations of the material will allow to increase its TL response. Objective: analyze the brightness curves of pure alumina matrices sintered under different calcination conditions and doped with cerium at a concentration of 0.1 % p/p (Al2O3:Ce), using the asymmetric logistic function, to calculate its thermoluminescent kinetic parameters and explain the behavior of the material. Materials and methods: boehmite alumina powder was used to prepare pure sintered samples of under different calcination conditions (NALO and ALO). The cerium was introduced by wet impregnation using cerium hexahydrate nitrate. The structural analysis of the matrices was carried out by X-ray diffraction. The TL reading was performed in a TLD 4500. Results: the deconvolution obtained in the brightness curves for the ALO and NALO groups evidences the presence of three and four TL signals respectively, and of six TL signals in the sample Al2O3:Ce. Conclusion: the applied heat treatments introduced a substantial change in the brightness curve of the material and its TL kinetics, in terms of the number of traps and the initial amount of charge carriers trapped. The introduction of cerium impurities produced a fundamental modification in the brightness curve of the alumina matrices.

Resumo Introdução: na busca por novos materiais úteis como dosímetros termoluminescentes (TL), a alumina (α-Al2O3) tem adquirido grande atenção. O α-Al2O3 possui uma sensibilidade TL que é perceptível às concentrações de impurezas e às condições térmicas do crescimento de seus cristais, portanto, encontrar novas variações do material permitirá aumentar sua resposta TL. Objetivo: analisar as curvas de brilho de matrizes de alumina pura sinterizadas sob diferentes condições de calcinação e dopadas com cério na concentração de 0,1 % p/p (Al2O3:Ce), utilizando a função logística assimétrica, para calcular seus parâmetros cinéticos termoluminescentes e explicar a comportamento do material. Materiais e métodos: o pó de alumina boehmite foi usado para preparar amostras de puro sinterizado sob diferentes condições de calcinação (NALO e ALO). O cério foi introduzido por impregnação a úmido com nitrato de cério hexaidratado. A análise estrutural das matrizes foi realizada por difração de raios X. A leitura TL foi realizada em um TLD 4500. Resultados: a deconvolução obtida nas curvas de brilho para os grupos ALO e NALO mostra a presença de três e quatro sinais TL respectivamente, e de seis sinais TL na amostra Al2O3: Ce. Conclusão: os tratamentos térmicos aplicados introduziram uma mudança substancial na curva de brilho do material e sua cinética de TL, em termos do número de armadilhas e da quantidade inicial de portadores de carga aprisionados. A introdução de impurezas de cério produziu uma modificação fundamental na curva de brilho das matrizes de alumina.

RESUMEN

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the photon field effective energy (Eeff ) distribution and percentage depth-dose (PDD) within a mammography phantom by the analysis of the CaF2 :Tm (TLD-300) thermoluminescent (TL) glow curve. The experimental procedure involves the use of TLD-300 to determine with single dosimeter exposures both the relative dose and the beam quality. METHODS: TLD-300 chips were exposed to x rays from a GE Senographe 2000D mammography unit at the surface and different depths within a BR12 phantom. X-ray beams were generated with Mo/Mo, Mo/Rh, and Rh/Rh anode/filter combinations and voltages between 25 and 34 kV. Glow curves were deconvoluted into component peaks and the high- to low-temperature ratio (HLTR) was evaluated. The photon field Eeff was obtained from the HLTR values using a calibration curve determined previously. PDD was established from the peak 5 TL signal (TLSP5 ) at depths between 0.0 and 3.5 cm inside the phantom. Taking into account the differences in density and composition between CaF2 :Tm and breast tissue, an energy-dependent correction factor (ß(E)) was applied to TLSP5 . Measurements were compared with radiation transport Monte Carlo (MC) simulations performed with PENELOPE-2008. RESULTS: A typical 5% change in the HLTR from the phantom top surface to 3.5 cm depth was measured, which corresponds to a 2.2 keV increase in photon field Eeff . Values of the ß(E) correction factor were 0.33 and 0.13 for Eeff equal to 15.1 and 22.5 keV, respectively. This strong energy dependence of ß(E) is mostly due to the differences in fluence attenuation between CaF2 and breast tissue. According to PDD measurements, dose decreased to half the surface value at depths between 0.7 and 1.0 cm for Mo/Mo/25 and Rh/Rh/34 beams, respectively. Values of PDD, less than 10% at 3.5 cm depth, would have been overestimated by about 3.5% (a large relative error) if an energy-independent correction factor had been assumed. Mean differences between experiments and MC simulations were 0.8 keV and 1.2% in the determination of Eeff and PDD, respectively. CONCLUSION: The TLD-300 glow curve was used to accurately measure the photon field Eeff and PDD within a mammographic phantom. This work has demonstrated that Eeff and dose can be established simultaneously by using solely TLD-300.