The impact of radiation dose variability on the response of radiophotoluminescence glass dosimeters – an experimental approach

The dosimetric properties of radiophotoluminescence glass dosimeters (RPLGDs) make them valuable tools for accurately measuring doses in various radiation fields. Over the years, thermoluminescence dosimeters have been used for both personal and environmental monitoring in South Africa, although th...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Manny Mathuthu, Samuel O.O. John, Dithole H. Seepamore, Vincent Maselesele
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Academy of Science of South Africa 2025-05-01
Series:South African Journal of Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://sajs.co.za/article/view/17896
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850234092826656768
author Manny Mathuthu
Samuel O.O. John
Dithole H. Seepamore
Vincent Maselesele
author_facet Manny Mathuthu
Samuel O.O. John
Dithole H. Seepamore
Vincent Maselesele
author_sort Manny Mathuthu
collection DOAJ
description The dosimetric properties of radiophotoluminescence glass dosimeters (RPLGDs) make them valuable tools for accurately measuring doses in various radiation fields. Over the years, thermoluminescence dosimeters have been used for both personal and environmental monitoring in South Africa, although they have certain limitations. We investigated the exceptional properties of RPLGDs by characterising their response to different radiation doses, using radiation sources of 60Co, 137Cs, and 241Am. The objective was to assess the ability of RPLGDs to be read multiple times without losing the original signal, and to explore their potential to replace TLDs in diverse radiation environments. A substitution method was employed to determine the reference measurements across all radiation source set-ups. In this approach, the RPLGD, serving as the unit under test, was exposed to the same dose as the ionisation chambers, which acted as reference detectors to accumulate the radiation signal, which was then corrected to determine the air kerma and absorbed dose to water. All relevant corrections affecting the unit under test response were applied to the final readings to characterise the RPLGDs, which were compared with the prescribed dose. The findings of this research are valuable to medical facilities and radiation workers as they offer both technical and economic benefits through improving the accuracy and reliability of radiation dose monitoring. Significance: • Radiophotoluminescence glass dosimeters (RPLGDs) were successfully characterised with 60Co, 137Cs, and 241Am radiation beams. • The glass dosimeters were annealed and irradiated at a temperature of 400 °C. • The RPLGD calibration coefficients, air kerma rate and absorbed dose to water measurements were established. • RPLGDs are capable of being re-read multiple times without losing any signal.
format Article
id doaj-art-1dd1d4262de84ee583ba4e8ba03b6eb6
institution OA Journals
issn 1996-7489
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Academy of Science of South Africa
record_format Article
series South African Journal of Science
spelling doaj-art-1dd1d4262de84ee583ba4e8ba03b6eb62025-08-20T02:02:44ZengAcademy of Science of South AfricaSouth African Journal of Science1996-74892025-05-011215/610.17159/sajs.2025/17896The impact of radiation dose variability on the response of radiophotoluminescence glass dosimeters – an experimental approachManny Mathuthu0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7608-2610Samuel O.O. John1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3372-5177Dithole H. Seepamore2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8588-8253Vincent Maselesele3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4131-6274Centre for Applied Radiation Science and Technology (CARST), North-West University, Mmabatho, South AfricaCentre for Applied Radiation Science and Technology (CARST), North-West University, Mmabatho, South AfricaNational Metrology Institute of South Africa, Pretoria, South AfricaSteve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa The dosimetric properties of radiophotoluminescence glass dosimeters (RPLGDs) make them valuable tools for accurately measuring doses in various radiation fields. Over the years, thermoluminescence dosimeters have been used for both personal and environmental monitoring in South Africa, although they have certain limitations. We investigated the exceptional properties of RPLGDs by characterising their response to different radiation doses, using radiation sources of 60Co, 137Cs, and 241Am. The objective was to assess the ability of RPLGDs to be read multiple times without losing the original signal, and to explore their potential to replace TLDs in diverse radiation environments. A substitution method was employed to determine the reference measurements across all radiation source set-ups. In this approach, the RPLGD, serving as the unit under test, was exposed to the same dose as the ionisation chambers, which acted as reference detectors to accumulate the radiation signal, which was then corrected to determine the air kerma and absorbed dose to water. All relevant corrections affecting the unit under test response were applied to the final readings to characterise the RPLGDs, which were compared with the prescribed dose. The findings of this research are valuable to medical facilities and radiation workers as they offer both technical and economic benefits through improving the accuracy and reliability of radiation dose monitoring. Significance: • Radiophotoluminescence glass dosimeters (RPLGDs) were successfully characterised with 60Co, 137Cs, and 241Am radiation beams. • The glass dosimeters were annealed and irradiated at a temperature of 400 °C. • The RPLGD calibration coefficients, air kerma rate and absorbed dose to water measurements were established. • RPLGDs are capable of being re-read multiple times without losing any signal. https://sajs.co.za/article/view/17896radiophotoluminescence glass dosimeterthermoluminescent dosimeterair kermaabsorbed doseradionuclide beam
spellingShingle Manny Mathuthu
Samuel O.O. John
Dithole H. Seepamore
Vincent Maselesele
The impact of radiation dose variability on the response of radiophotoluminescence glass dosimeters – an experimental approach
South African Journal of Science
radiophotoluminescence glass dosimeter
thermoluminescent dosimeter
air kerma
absorbed dose
radionuclide beam
title The impact of radiation dose variability on the response of radiophotoluminescence glass dosimeters – an experimental approach
title_full The impact of radiation dose variability on the response of radiophotoluminescence glass dosimeters – an experimental approach
title_fullStr The impact of radiation dose variability on the response of radiophotoluminescence glass dosimeters – an experimental approach
title_full_unstemmed The impact of radiation dose variability on the response of radiophotoluminescence glass dosimeters – an experimental approach
title_short The impact of radiation dose variability on the response of radiophotoluminescence glass dosimeters – an experimental approach
title_sort impact of radiation dose variability on the response of radiophotoluminescence glass dosimeters an experimental approach
topic radiophotoluminescence glass dosimeter
thermoluminescent dosimeter
air kerma
absorbed dose
radionuclide beam
url https://sajs.co.za/article/view/17896
work_keys_str_mv AT mannymathuthu theimpactofradiationdosevariabilityontheresponseofradiophotoluminescenceglassdosimetersanexperimentalapproach
AT samueloojohn theimpactofradiationdosevariabilityontheresponseofradiophotoluminescenceglassdosimetersanexperimentalapproach
AT ditholehseepamore theimpactofradiationdosevariabilityontheresponseofradiophotoluminescenceglassdosimetersanexperimentalapproach
AT vincentmaselesele theimpactofradiationdosevariabilityontheresponseofradiophotoluminescenceglassdosimetersanexperimentalapproach
AT mannymathuthu impactofradiationdosevariabilityontheresponseofradiophotoluminescenceglassdosimetersanexperimentalapproach
AT samueloojohn impactofradiationdosevariabilityontheresponseofradiophotoluminescenceglassdosimetersanexperimentalapproach
AT ditholehseepamore impactofradiationdosevariabilityontheresponseofradiophotoluminescenceglassdosimetersanexperimentalapproach
AT vincentmaselesele impactofradiationdosevariabilityontheresponseofradiophotoluminescenceglassdosimetersanexperimentalapproach