Lund Luminescence Laboratory for Dosimetry

LLLDo

The LLLDo lab in Malmö is part of “Lund University optically stimulated luminescence center for dating and dosimetry” (Lu2D2) together with Lund Luminescence Laboratory (LLL) at the Department of Geology. LLLDo is actively participating in the European Radiation Dosimetry group (EURADOS) WG10 (retrospective dosimetry) and is part of the European Network of Biological and retrospective physical dosimetry (RENEB). LLLDo also take part in the activities of the Swedish radiation emergency preparedness organization.

LLLDo is mainly devoted to dosimetry. The main focus is on the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and thermoluminescence (TL) properties of materials for prospective and retrospective dosimetry. Investigations include traditional materials, that are commercially available, such as LiF and Al₂O₃ based dosimeters and new/ fortuitous materials e.g. salt (NaCl), electronic components, KCL. Especially for NaCl, grains of salt is compressed to pellets to improve the handling and dosimetric properties. These NaCl pellets may be used for reference dosimetry purposes.

Optically stimulated luminescence and thermoluminescence readers, models Risø TL/OSL-DA-15 and 20. The readers are each equipped with a ⁹⁰Sr/⁹⁰Y calibration sources with activities of 20 MBq (approx. 0.75 mGy/s at the sample position) and 100 MBq (approx. 5 mGy/s at the sample position), respectively. Optical stimulation is achieved using either blue LEDs (470 nm, 80 mW/cm²), green LEDs (525 nm, 40 mW/cm²) or IR LEDs (870 nm, >135 mW/cm²). The thermal stimulation system is able to heat samples to 700 ^oC at heating rates from 0.1 to 10 ^oC/s. The OSL and TL signals are detected with a blue/UV sensitive photo electron multiplier tube (PMT), with maximum detection efficiency between 200 and 400 nm. The readers allow for manual (TL/OSL-DA-15) and automatic (TL/OSL-DA-15) exchange of detection filters. Each reader have 48 individual sample positions for each readout cycle.
The two reader systems are operated in a dedicated darkroom (red light).
A pellet press is available for making pellets from various types of powder.

Optically stimulated luminescence as well as thermoluminescence studies on various types of commercial available and “new/fortuitous” materials. Both OSL and TL dosimetry studies are possible with the built-in radiation sources of the readers as well as with other radiation qualities in a nearby lab.
Readout of quartz and feldspar is feasible for pre-prepared “young” samples.
NaCl pellets can be produced and offered in large amounts for reference dosimetry in various applications (e.g. hospital, clinics, nuclear industry, environmental monitoring), to be read and evaluated at LLLDo.