Analysis of anomalous data produced by Harshaw Model 8801 thermoluminescent dosimeter cards.

摘要

A large number of dosimeters that have produced abnormal data during field assignment have been stored, reirradiated, and studied. Results are summarized and comparisons are made with normal dosimeters. Summarized here are anomalous glow curve shapes, distributions of anomalies in the residual luminescent responses, and historical and repeat-irradiation behavior of abnormal dosimeters. The results indicate that by far the most frequent abnormal data involve elevated readings from Chip 3, accompanied by excess luminescence at temperatures higher than that of the normal radiation produced band. There is no sharp division between normal and abnormal dosimeters (dosimeters yielding excess luminescence at high temperature). Rather, dosimeters exhibit a continuum of behavior from very good (little high temperature luminescence) to clearly abnormal behavior. The excess luminescence emitted at high temperature in abnormal dosimeters is not proportional to absorbed dose; it has a radiation-independent average value that depends on the dosimeter but varies erratically above and below that average for consecutive anneals. At relatively high radiation exposures (>100 mR), the amount of excess high temperature luminescence becomes unimportant and abnormal data are rare.