Use of sintered magnesium borate thermoluminescent dosimeters for low dose measurements.

The need for improved dosimetry in operational health physics has, in the past few years, lead to increased development and use of thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs). One recently developed phosphor for low radiation dose measurements is dysprosium-activated magnesium tetraborate. The phosphor was reported to be about seven times more sensitive than LiF TLD-100, having a single glow peak at about 210/sup 0/C when proper but unspecified annealing procedures are used. This note presents the results of preliminary investigations into some of the basic dosimetric characteristics of commercially available MgB/sub 4/O/sub 7/:Dy. The objective was to assess its suitability for low dose measurements and its potential applicability for space radiation dosimetry.