Date of Award

12-2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Environmental Engineering and Science

Committee Chair/Advisor

Dr. Timothy A. DeVol

Committee Member

Dr. Endre Takacs

Committee Member

Dr. Nicole Martinez

Abstract

Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dosimetry was utilized to calibrate Al2O3:C powder dosimeters, available commercially as the nanoDot® from Landauer Inc., and compare the dosimeter response to radium-226 (226Ra) and cesium-137 (137Cs). The signal from the OSL was quantified using a microSTARii® OSL reader also produced by Landauer Inc. Dose-response curves were developed for 226Ra and 137Cs experiments (5 dosimeters each) at thirteen absorbed doses. Individual dosimeter response was tracked by serial number. Linear regression analysis was performed to determine if there were significant differences between the intercepts of the fit dose-response curves. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistical test was used to determine the significance of the slope of the dose-response curve with follow-up analysis conducted to identify which dosimeter(s) has significantly different responses. The dosimeter response at 1mGy was determined to evaluate the manufacturer claim that accuracy (total uncertainty-single measurement) is ±10%. This study has illustrated that nanoDot dosimeters accuracy is generally within 10% of the actual absorbed dose over the dose range of 0.04 to 1.04 mGy, with a few of the measurements being different by 15%.

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.