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Title: Method and apparatus for reading thermoluminescent phosphors

Abstract

An apparatus and method for rapidly reading thermoluminescent phosphors to determine the amount of luminescent energy stored therein. The stored luminescent energy is interpreted as a measure of the total exposure of the thermoluminescent phosphor to ionizing radiation. The thermoluminescent phosphor reading apparatus uses a laser to generate a laser beam. The laser beam power level is monitored by a laser power detector and controlled to maintain the power level nearly constant. A shutter or other laser beam interrupting means is used to control exposure of the thermoluminescent phosphor to the laser beam. The laser beam can be equalized using an optical equalizer so that the laser beam has an approximately uniform power density across the beam. The heated thermoluminescent phosphor emits a visible or otherwise detectable luminescent emission which is measured as an indication of the radiation exposure of the thermoluminescent phosphors. Also disclosed are preferred signal processing and control circuits.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2]
  1. SW. 730 City View, Pullman, WA 99163
  2. Pullman, WA
Issue Date:
OSTI Identifier:
866116
Patent Number(s):
4638163
Assignee:
Braunlich; Peter F. (Pullman, WA)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01T - MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION
DOE Contract Number:  
B81227AX
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
method; apparatus; reading; thermoluminescent; phosphors; rapidly; determine; amount; luminescent; energy; stored; therein; interpreted; measure; total; exposure; phosphor; ionizing; radiation; laser; generate; beam; power; level; monitored; detector; controlled; maintain; nearly; constant; shutter; interrupting; means; control; equalized; optical; equalizer; approximately; uniform; density; heated; emits; visible; otherwise; detectable; emission; measured; indication; disclosed; preferred; signal; processing; circuits; luminescent energy; control circuits; thermoluminescent phosphors; thermoluminescent phosphor; signal processing; control circuit; power level; laser beam; ionizing radiation; power density; beam power; nearly constant; radiation exposure; laser power; reading thermoluminescent; stored luminescent; stored therein; approximately uniform; phosphor emits; energy stored; luminescent emission; rapidly reading; signal process; luminescent phosphor; /250/

Citation Formats

Braunlich, Peter F, and Tetzlaff, Wolfgang. Method and apparatus for reading thermoluminescent phosphors. United States: N. p., 1987. Web.
Braunlich, Peter F, & Tetzlaff, Wolfgang. Method and apparatus for reading thermoluminescent phosphors. United States.
Braunlich, Peter F, and Tetzlaff, Wolfgang. Thu . "Method and apparatus for reading thermoluminescent phosphors". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/866116.
@article{osti_866116,
title = {Method and apparatus for reading thermoluminescent phosphors},
author = {Braunlich, Peter F and Tetzlaff, Wolfgang},
abstractNote = {An apparatus and method for rapidly reading thermoluminescent phosphors to determine the amount of luminescent energy stored therein. The stored luminescent energy is interpreted as a measure of the total exposure of the thermoluminescent phosphor to ionizing radiation. The thermoluminescent phosphor reading apparatus uses a laser to generate a laser beam. The laser beam power level is monitored by a laser power detector and controlled to maintain the power level nearly constant. A shutter or other laser beam interrupting means is used to control exposure of the thermoluminescent phosphor to the laser beam. The laser beam can be equalized using an optical equalizer so that the laser beam has an approximately uniform power density across the beam. The heated thermoluminescent phosphor emits a visible or otherwise detectable luminescent emission which is measured as an indication of the radiation exposure of the thermoluminescent phosphors. Also disclosed are preferred signal processing and control circuits.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1987},
month = {1}
}