TL response to 1-30 kV electrons of TLD-100 and TLD-100 diffused with various elements

irradiations are carried out with /sup 137/Cs gamma rays. (2) All discrepancies in sensitivity can be accounted for by the higher Linear Energy-Transfer (LET) of the electrons. (3) The ''standard annealing'' of 400/sup 0/C for one hour commonly used, produced a change in the glow curve shape and a loss in sensitivity in contrast to the vacuum anneal results. Diffusion of hydroxyl ions into the sample during air annealing was isolated as the primary cause for this change. (4) These results also explain the cause for the existence of the 0.4 micron ''dead layer'' which previous investigators have proposed to explain the variation with particle size of the luminescent efficiency of TLD-100 powder irradiated with x-rays. The glow curve obtained from virgin TLD-100 extruded ribbon samples varied, but in general lay between the glow curve obtained from single crystal samples annealed in vacuum and single crystal samples annealed in air. With the use of the annealing procedure presented TLD-100 may immediately be applied to the dosimetry of low energy electrons and other shallowly penetrating radiation. With this proposed annealing procedure the same sensitivity and reproducibility can be achieved as is currently achieved for the dosimetry of x-rays.