| Summary: | The thermoluminescence yield of silica glass doped with Gd2O3 and MgO is investigated as a potential material
for neutron dose measurement. The dosimetric materials used herein were prepared via the sol-gel route with
concentration of rare earth metal oxides varying from 1 to 10 mol%. Reactor irradiations were made at 750 kW
thermal power, producing thermal, epi-thermal and fast neutron fluxes of 5.61 × 1012, 2.51 × 1012, 2.58 × 1012
n/cm− 2
.s− 1
, respectively. It has been found that 1 mol% Gd:Mg doped SiO2 exhibits excellent dosimetric
response over the entire dose range investigated, obtaining a regression coefficient in excess of 96%. The
thermoluminescence (TL) glow curves have been deconvolved, at best fit yielding a total of six peaks, the
associated activation energies and frequency factors also being obtained. The results indicate sol-gel Gd:Mg
doped SiO2 to offer promising performance as a low-cost passive radiation dosimeter, with utility for both
radiotherapy and industrial applications.
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