Synthetic polycrystals of CaSiO3 un-doped and Cd, B, Dy, Eu-doped for gamma and neutron detection

Abstract

The undoped and B, Cd, Dy, Eu doped synthetic CaSiO3 polycrystals were produced in the laboratory. They are very sensitive γ-ray detectors with main prominent TL peak occurring at about 270 °C, this peak was obtained using 4 °C/s heating rate. The TL behavior changes very little by doping with B, Cd and Dy while Eu doping brings changes. These minerals can be used also for neutron dosimetry. Thermal neutrons react with Ca, Si and O through (n, γ) process and γ emitted in this reaction added to γ-rays of the reactor that produces thermal neutrons and are responsible for induction of thermoluminiscence. The TL response of CaSiO3 is linear for dose < 10 Gy and then has a supralinear behavior up to about 7 kGy and saturating beyond.