S.V. Nikiforov

On the role of hole trapping centers in the interactive mechanism of the trap interaction in anion-defect alumina single crystals

The effect of deep hole traps on the intensity and shape of the dosimetric peak of thermoluminescence (TL) has been studied at 450 K in anion-defect alumina single crystals. It has been shown that filling of deep hole centers leads to a decrease in the sensitivity to radiation of crystals with a small half-width of the TL peak and has no effect on the sensitivity of crystals with a broadened peak. It has been assumed that traps responsible for the TL dosimetric peak broadening are of hole nature, which can be caused by the presence of Ti3+ ions in the corundum lattice. The results obtained have been interpreted within the modified model of the interactive system of traps.

Simulation of sublinear dose dependence of thermoluminescence with the inclusion of the competitive interaction of trapping centers

The sublinearity of dose characteristics of the thermoluminescence has been calculated in terms of the model of competitive interaction of electron and hole trapping centers. It has been found that the sub-linearity is caused by the nonradiative electron recombination with hole deep traps during irradiation and recording of the thermoluminescence upon linear heating of a dosimetric phosphor. It has been shown that the proposed sublinearity mechanism can be used to explain the dose characteristics of the thermoluminescence of anion-defective aluminum oxide.

Simulation of the superlinearity of dose characteristics of thermoluminescence of anion-defective aluminum oxide

The specific features revealed in the superlinearity of dose dependences of thermoluminescence of anion-defective aluminum oxide single crystals have been considered theoretically in terms of the model of an interactive trap system. The model explains the decrease in the degree of superlinearity at a low heating rate, as well as with an increase in the dose increment, the occupancy of deep traps, and the sensitivity of the crystals to radiation due to the increase in the concentration of luminescence centers. The obtained results indicate a widening of the possibilities of the model for interpreting experimental data in the investigation of the dose characteristics of thermoluminescence of the studied crystals.

Phototransferred Thermoluminescence of Dosimetric α-Al2O3 Crystals Irradiated by a Pulsed Electron Beam

The thermoluminescence (TL) of deep traps of anion-defective alumina monocrystals irradiated by a high-dose (more than 1 kGy) pulsed electron beam (130 keV) is studied. The deep traps in the studied material are classified according to the TL temperature range. It is demonstrated that the phototransferred thermoluminescence (PTTL) in the temperature range of the main TL peak is induced by optical charge migration from deep traps that are emptied at 400–470 and 470–600°C. An anomalous PTTL enhancement in crystals subjected to stepped annealing in the 350–400°C interval is observed. It is demonstrated that this effect may be caused by competing processes of charge transfer that involve deep traps corresponding to the TL peak at 390°C. The applicability of PTTL in the dosimetry of high-dose (1–50 kGy) pulsed electron beams is established.

Thermoluminescence of new Al2O3-BeO ceramics after exposure to high radiation doses

New Al2O3-BeO ceramics were synthesized from alumina nanopowder in BeO crucibles by high-temperature treatment in reducing conditions. It was found that the TL curve of these ceramics is characterized by a dosimetric peak at 520-530 K for a heating rate of 2 K/s. The integrated TL of the peak is not influenced by the heating rate of the samples, unlike that in anion-defective alumina and beryllia crystals. The presence of an energy distribution of the traps which cause dosimetric TL peak is verified by Tm-Tstop and initial rise methods. Linear dependence on dose of the intensity of TL peak at 520-530 K is observed in the 10-300 Gy gamma-dose range. The diversity of TL sensitivity of the ceramic samples synthesized in one cycle does not exceed 10%. The results obtained show that the newly synthesized Al2O3-BeO ceramics are promising materials for TL dosimetry of high doses of ionizing radiation.

The contribution of hole traps to thermoluminescence of the dosimetric peak in anion-defect α-Al 2 O 3 single crystals

The thermoluminescent properties of anion-defect alumina single crystals with different FWHMs of the main (dosimetric) peak at 400–500 K are studied. New experimental evidence in favor of the hole nature of traps associated with the high-temperature part of this peak are presented. The introduction of hole trap centers into analysis provided theoretical justification for the experimentally observed dependences of the thermoluminescence (TL) intensity, the temperature position of the main peak, and its FWHM on the occupancy of deep traps. The hole nature of traps of the high-temperature part of the main TL peak is confirmed by the results of examination of specific TL features of shallow trap centers, which govern TL at 350 K, and the temperature variation of the main TL peak spectrum.