THERMOLUMINESCENT RESPONSE OF LITHIUM FLUORIDE TO RADIATIONS WITH DIFFERENT LET

The supralinear TL response of LiF (TLD-100) has been investigated for radiations with different LET. High energy electrons from 6 to 33 MeV, 4.4 MeV deuterons, thermal neutrons, 137Cs gamma -rays, soft X-radiation and monoenergetic electrons from 50 to 400 keV were used. The high energy electrons and 137Cs gamma -rays show an identical response. The higher LET radiations cause less supralinearity, and no supralinearity is seen with deuteron irradiations. The sensitivity factors, a measure of the radiation- induced increase in sensitivity, show a pronounced dependence on the quality or LET of both the sensitizing and the test radiations. Low LET radiations give a high sensitivity factor at doses greater than 104 rads; as the LET increases the sensitivity factor decreases.