Abstract
We focus on the development of Ge-doped silica thermoluminescent dosimeters with sensitivity superior to that of the LiF (Mg,Ti) phosphors popularly used in x-ray diagnostic imaging dosimetry, the latter typically being referred to through use of the product identifier TLD-100. Of interest are Ge-doped silica telecommunication fibres (SMF) and tailor-made doped photonic crystal fibres (PCFc), the latter Ge-doped or also co-doped with boron. The PCFs are formed of capillaries that at high temperatures and under vacuum are made to collapse inwards (PCFc), the internal walls fusing and generating strain-related defects. To-date, the fabricated SMF, PCFc-Ge and PCFc-Ge-B have been observed to provide TL yields which weight-for-weight are some 2, 10 and 15x that of TLD-100. In present study we test the linearity of TL yield for x-ray doses from 0.1- to 10mGy, use being made of an x-ray tube operated at 80 kVp, an operating potential typically selected in chest radiography. For a dose of 10mGy, a study of energy dependence has been conducted using x-ray tube potentials of 80 kVp 100 kVp, and 120 kVp, with inherent filtration 0.9mm Al measured at 75 kVp, and total filtration of 2.8mm Al at 80 kVp.
•Ge-doped SMF and Ge- and GeB-doped PCF dosimeters are investigated for chest imaging dosimetry.•Favourable irradiation characteristics are demonstrated.•The presence of boron significantly enhances the sensitivity of the PCF dosimeters.•The GeB doped PCFc have the ability to detect down to particularly low dose levels.