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Title: Apparatuses and methods for laser reading of thermoluminescent phosphors

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods 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 at a desired value or values which can vary with time. 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 opitcal 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 thermoluminscent phosphors. Also disclosed are preferred signal processing and control circuits including one system using a digital computer. Also disclosed are time-profiled laser power cycles for pre-anneal, read and post-anneal treatment of phosphors.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2]
  1. SW. 730 City View, Pullman, WA 99163
  2. Pullman, WA
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
INTERNATIONAL SENSOR TECHNOL
OSTI Identifier:
867002
Patent Number(s):
4839518
Assignee:
Braunlich; Peter F. (Pullman, WA) [*] Notice: portion of term of this patent subsequent to January 20, 2004 has been disclaimed.
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01T - MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION
DOE Contract Number:  
AC03-84ER80165
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
apparatuses; methods; laser; reading; thermoluminescent; phosphors; rapidly; determine; amount; luminescent; energy; stored; therein; interpreted; measure; total; exposure; phosphor; ionizing; radiation; apparatus; generate; beam; power; level; monitored; detector; controlled; maintain; desired; value; values; vary; time; shutter; interrupting; means; control; equalized; opitcal; equalizer; approximately; uniform; density; heated; emits; visible; otherwise; detectable; emission; measured; indication; thermoluminscent; disclosed; preferred; signal; processing; circuits; including; digital; computer; time-profiled; cycles; pre-anneal; post-anneal; treatment; luminescent energy; control circuits; thermoluminescent phosphors; thermoluminescent phosphor; signal processing; control circuit; power level; laser beam; ionizing radiation; power density; beam power; power cycle; digital computer; radiation exposure; laser power; reading thermoluminescent; stored luminescent; stored therein; approximately uniform; phosphor emits; circuits including; energy stored; luminescent emission; rapidly reading; signal process; desired value; luminescent phosphor; /250/

Citation Formats

Braunlich, Peter F, and Tetzlaff, Wolfgang. Apparatuses and methods for laser reading of thermoluminescent phosphors. United States: N. p., 1989. Web.
Braunlich, Peter F, & Tetzlaff, Wolfgang. Apparatuses and methods for laser reading of thermoluminescent phosphors. United States.
Braunlich, Peter F, and Tetzlaff, Wolfgang. Sun . "Apparatuses and methods for laser reading of thermoluminescent phosphors". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/867002.
@article{osti_867002,
title = {Apparatuses and methods for laser reading of thermoluminescent phosphors},
author = {Braunlich, Peter F and Tetzlaff, Wolfgang},
abstractNote = {Apparatuses and methods 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 at a desired value or values which can vary with time. 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 opitcal 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 thermoluminscent phosphors. Also disclosed are preferred signal processing and control circuits including one system using a digital computer. Also disclosed are time-profiled laser power cycles for pre-anneal, read and post-anneal treatment of phosphors.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1989},
month = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1989}
}