Development of A1203 Detector Material and OSL Dosimetric Technique for

This proposal describes a new research program to be established at the small business Still Sciences, LLC, in collaboration with Department of Physics of Oklahoma State University. The overall goal is to develop and commercialize an all-optical dosimetry system for industrial radiation processing based on a novel Pulsed Optically Stimulated Luminescence readout technique and a new Al2O3 material produced by innovative crystal growth technology. Material requirements for OSL detectors differ from that for TL applications. Additional requirements of irradiation processing such as a saturation dose up to 100 kGy, independence of dose rate, and fast automatic processing should be satisfied. To develop a new luminescent material, we will modify the defect structure of Al2O3 during the crystal growth process and during post-crystal-growth annealing in a controlled gas atmosphere. Our approach to material engineering of Al2O3 is based on fast feedback between crystal growth and spectroscopic investigations using facilities at Stillwater Sciences and OSU. The developed material and POSL technique will be tested for both gamma ray and fast electron irradiations.