The InLight® dosimetry system using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) technology provides users with reliable and accurate radiation monitoring. The system measures radiation dose with aluminum oxide doped with carbon (Al2O3 :C) detectors read out by optically stimulated luminescence.
Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL)
When the Al2O3 :C crystal of the dosimeter is exposed to ionizing radiation, free electrons and holes are created within the crystalline structure. Some of this free electrons and holes are trapped at the defects in the Al2O3 :C crystal.
When the Al2O3 :C crystal is stimulated with green light after the exposure to ionizing radiation, the trapped electrons/holes will recombine resulting in the luminescence of blue light by the Al2O3 :C crystal. The intensity of this luminescence is proportional to the absorbed dose.
The read out process uses a light emitting diode (LED) array (green light) to stimulate the detectors, and the light emitted by the OSL material (blue light) is detected and measured by a photomultiplier tube (PMT) using a high sensitivity photon counting system.
The amount of light released by the OSL material is directly proportional to the radiation dose.
KEY FEATURES & ADVANTAGES
- Nondestructive read out: OSL technology allows for reanalysis and reuse of its dosimeters
- No required heating parameters and gas to maintain since OSL technology uses LED light
- Effective replacement for older radiation measurement technology (e.g., TLD)
- Readers using OSL technology are easier to maintain
- The process of annealing OSL dosimeters is simpler compared with other types of passive dosimeters.
- Dosimeters using OSL technology have high sensitivity to X, Gamma and Beta Radiation