On the energy conversion in thermoluminescence dosimetry materials

A model allowing theoretical prediction of the maximum possible energy conversion efficiency of a thermoluminescence (TL) material has been described. The model is based on an earlier work on the prediction of the efficiency of inorganic scintillators. The maximum possible efficiency of well-known TL materials does not vary much and is found to be approximately 13%. The important parameters in the model are highlighted on the basis of two recently developed hypersensitive TL materials CaF2 : Cu and KMgF3 : Ce3+ which show efficiencies only a factor similar to 3 below the theoretical limit. Among the distinct steps in the conversion process (trapping, transfer and recombination under the emission of light), the trapping appears to be the least efficient. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.