Effect of Eu and Pb doping on the dosimetric properties of LiCAF

LiCaAlF6 (LiCAF) crystals doped with two different ions (europium and lead) have been investigated as potential new dosimetric materials. The stability of thermally stimulated luminescence (TSL) glow peaks in LiCAF:Eu was evaluated by means of the initial rise technique. The decay times at room temperature of the traps related to the dosimetric glow peaks were found to range between 40 and 2 × 104 years confirming the good dosimetric characteristics of this crystal. The glow curve of LiCAF:Pb is dominated by a peak at approximately 300 °C emitting in the UV region ( 3P0,1-1S0 transition of Pb 2+) superimposed to a very broad structure at lower temperature (20-200 °C) featuring recombination at an intrinsic defect centre. The anomalous behavior of the low temperature structure during thermal cleaning procedures prevented any reliable numerical analysis of the TSL glow peak at 300 °C. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.