AN ALGORITHM FOR DOSE ESTIMATES USING LiF THERMOLUMINESCENT DETECTORS

The purpose of the thesis is to find algorithms that can be used to get the perosnal dose equivalents Hp(d) using TL dosimeters. To do so, the plan was to irradiate dosimeters with different filters, in air and on a phantom using monoenergetic radioisotopes of low, medium and high Gamma rays energies. In this manner, we can conclude if it is right to calculate the Hp(10) for the UniPi dosimeters as it was done previously, and try to create an algorithm for the four-element dosimeter in a way to conclude the deep, shallow and eye lens doses. In addition, we can see the effect that the phantom has on the dose received by the dosimeter. We also irradiated the dosimeters with protons of different energies therefore analyzing the response of the dosimeters at different energy levels, filters, and their response to charged particles. 241Am (Americium) was our low energy radioisotope because it emitted gamma rays at 49 keV, 137Cs (Cesium) was chosen to be our medium energy radioisotope as it emitted gamma rays at 662 keV, and finally 60Co (Cobalt) was used to cover the high range of energy as it emitted gamma rays at 1.17 MeV and 1.33 MeV. The irradiations with 60Co were done at Bruno Guerrini Laboratory, as for the irradiations with 241Am and 137Cs, they were made at the SSDL (Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory) at C.I.S.A.M. (Joint Research Center for Military Applications). Lastly, the irradiations with protons were done at INFN – LNL (National Institute of Nuclear Physics – National Laboratories of Legnaro). At the end of this work, we were able to find different algorithms for the University of Pisa dosimeter, and for the four-element dosimeter