变色薄膜的紫外线辐照响应研究

 制备了含多芳氨基甲烷类化合物的高分子变色薄膜，经紫外线辐照后，这种薄膜随吸收剂量的不同由无色透明逐渐变为绿色，在可见光区主要吸收峰位于626 nm附近，光密度响应与辐照时间近似成线性关系。研究表明：该辐射变色薄膜变色响应随紫外线能量密度增加而增加；分次辐照能略微提高光密度响应；辐射变色薄膜响应受温度和湿度影响较大，在20～50 ℃温度范围、40%～60%相对湿度范围，响应基本稳定；卤代物添加剂可以大大提高辐射变色薄膜的响应灵敏度；受后辐照效应影响，辐照结束最初2 h内响应迅速增加，2 h后响应才基本稳定。     

一种新型辐射变色膜的γ射线辐照研究

报道了以高聚物为载体，以有机染料及添加剂为变色指示剂体系，制备一种辐射变色膜。这种辐射变色膜为无色透明固体薄膜，经60Co γ射线辐照后，其颜色变为蓝色。辐照后样品的紫外-可见吸收光谱表明，在可见光区其最强吸收峰出现在624 nm附近。在10～90 kGy的剂量范围内，不含添加剂的辐射变色膜的光密度变化与吸收剂量呈线性关系，而含有添加剂的辐射变色膜对γ射线辐照的响应在50 kGy时就达到饱和。同时还探索了该体系辐照效应的化学反应机理。     

溶剂对辐射变色膜吸收剂量的影响

本实验室分别选用无水乙醇和丙酮溶液为溶剂制成两种类型的辐射变色膜, 并对这两种辐射变色膜进行了60Co γ射线与紫外线辐照, 研究不同溶剂对辐射变色膜吸收剂量的影响。实验发现, 60Co γ射线与紫外线辐照后, 使用丙酮作溶剂的辐射变色膜变色效果比无水乙醇的更加明显。在相同的辐照剂量下, 使用丙酮作为溶剂的变色膜比用无水乙醇的光谱吸收峰(680 nm)值平均高65.5%。γ射线辐照时, 用丙酮作为溶剂的辐射变色膜变色的辐照剂量下限为0.5 Gy, 而用无水乙醇做为溶剂的为1 Gy; 紫外辐照时, 用丙酮为溶剂的辐射变色膜吸收峰处吸收剂量的线性响应区间为0～6×100 μJ/cm2, 而用无水乙醇做为溶剂的为0～36×100 μJ/cm2。     

金属氧化物半导体场效应管长期辐射效应的数值模拟

将粒子输运的蒙特卡罗方法与器件数值模拟的有限体积法相耦合来模拟典型金属氧化物半导体场效应管(MOSFET)的长期辐射效应。二氧化硅中的陷阱电荷及硅中的自由电子和空穴均使用漂移扩散模型来描述,入射粒子的能量沉积可作为源项耦合至漂移扩散模型方程,并根据有限体积法得到控制方程的离散格式,方程的数值解即为MOSFET的长期辐射响应结果。使用该方法模拟了MOSFET受射线粒子辐照后的阈值电压漂移与关态漏电流现象。结果表明,耦合方法适用于典型半导体器件长期辐射效应模拟,其阈值电压漂移及漏电流计算结果与文献符合较好。     

辐射变色薄膜的质子辐照响应

 用J-2.5质子静电加速器提供的质子束,对研制的一种高灵敏度新型辐射变色膜进行质子辐射响应研究。该变色膜以聚乙烯醇缩聚物为基质,以类丁二炔化合物为有机染色材料,质子能量为2.0 MeV,辐照注量为1.0×10¹⁰～1.0×10¹² cm^-2。用光谱响应测试薄膜的辐射效应显示：变色薄膜颜色由粉红渐变为蓝色, 并随着辐照剂量的增加而逐渐加深;用图像分析仪分析辐照后靶材的光密度发现,图像的光密度随聚焦斑距离的增大而减小;用分光光度计测试其吸收光谱发现,主吸收峰值出现在660 nm附近,且吸收峰处的响应吸光度与质子注量具有较好的线性关系;对新型变色薄膜辐照后持续效应的研究表明,变色膜辐照后续效应微弱,辐照后可以立即测量,且对测量环境变化不敏感。     

10位CMOS数模转换器在中子和γ混合环境下的综合辐射效应

研究了在反应堆中子和γ射线综合辐照环境下CMOS工艺10位数模转换器(DAC)的辐射效应。通过对DAC在γ辐射环境、中子辐射环境、中子和γ混合辐射环境以及中子预辐照后进行γ射线辐照下的效应对比发现,在中子和γ混合辐射环境下会产生电离总剂量效应加剧现象,即一定混合程度的中子和γ同时辐照会增强CMOS器件的辐射效应。     

高感度辐射变色薄膜电子剂量计

 以聚乙烯醇缩聚物为基质,以类丁二炔化合物为有机染色材料,研制了一种高灵敏度新型辐射变色膜。采用JJ-2型范格拉夫静电加速器对变色薄膜进行剂量范围为15～90 Gy的电子束辐照,结果显示:变色薄膜颜色由粉红渐变为蓝色,并随着辐照剂量的增加而逐渐加深;分光光度计测试其吸收光谱,发现主吸收峰值出现在675 nm附近,且吸收峰处的响应吸光度与电子注量具有较好的线性关系;对变色层厚度为20～80 μm的变色膜,吸收峰处的响应吸光度与其变色层厚度也成线性关系;添加不同比例的协同剂,能提高变色薄膜的响应灵敏度;变色膜辐照后续效应微弱,辐照后可以立即测量,且对测量环境变化不敏感。     

γ射线及质子辐照导致CCD光谱响应退化的机制

光谱响应是表征CCD性能的重要参数。为了研究辐射环境对CCD光谱响应产生影响的规律及物理机制,开展了不同粒子辐照实验,对CCD光谱响应曲线的退化形式及典型波长下CCD光响应的退化情况进行了分析。辐射效应对CCD光谱响应的影响可以分为电离总剂量效应和位移效应导致的退化,本文从这两种辐射效应出发,采用⁶⁰Co-γ射线及质子两种辐照条件,研究了CCD光谱响应的退化规律。针对460 nm（蓝光）和700 nm（红光）等典型CCD光响应波长,从辐射效应导致的损伤缺陷方面分析了CCD光谱响应退化的物理机制。研究发现,在⁶⁰Co-γ射线辐照时CCD光谱响应曲线变化是由于暗信号增加导致的,而质子辐照导致CCD对700 nm波长的光响应退化明显大于460 nm波长的光响应,且10 MeV质子导致的损伤比3 MeV质子更明显,表明位移损伤缺陷易导致CCD光谱响应退化。结果表明,电离总剂量效应主要导致CCD光谱响应整体变化,而位移效应则导致不同波长光的响应差异增大。     

γ脉宽对电子器件瞬时辐照效应的影响

 采用了2种γ脉冲辐射源,在脉冲宽度分别约为20,50,150 ns,剂量率为10⁶～10⁹ Gy(Si)·s^-1下,对5种不同类型的电子器件进行了辐照试验并对其辐照响应进行了分析,比较了不同脉冲宽度条件下辐照响应的差异。实验结果表明：脉冲宽度是影响瞬时辐照效应的重要因素,γ脉冲宽度越宽,辐照响应越强,分离器件比集成电路受脉宽的影响更明显。     

1 MeV电子辐照下晶格匹配与晶格失配GaInP/GaInAs/Ge三结太阳电池辐射效应研究

对采用MOCVD方法制备的晶格匹配(LM)与晶格失配(UMM)GaInP/GaInAs/Ge三结太阳电池进行了1MeV电子辐射效应研究。结果表明:在电子辐照下,两种电池的I-V特性参数(开路电压Voc,短路电流Isc,最大输出功率Pmax)均发生衰降,且晶格失配电池的I-V特性参数衰降均大于晶格匹配电池。在光谱响应方面,对于顶电池,晶格匹配电池的衰降大于晶格失配电池;而中间电池则前者衰降小于后者;另外,Ge底电池的光谱响应表现特殊,辐照后光谱响应变强。     

Spectral response of radiochromic gel detector in the near-ultraviolet region (200–400 nm)

Tissue-equivalent radiochromic gel detector is sensitive in the regions of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and gamma and X-rays. This study aims to investigate the spectral response and other optical properties of the ferrous sulphate, xylenol orange and gelatin (FXG) radiochromic gel dosimeter at particular UVR wavelengths. A total of nine monochromatic wavelengths were selected in the range of 240–400 nm with an increment of 20 nm. The FXG spectral response was estimated from the variation of spectral absorbance at 560 nm resulting from 1 h exposure to UVR beam at each chosen wavelength. Experimental results show that the FXG responsivity depends on the wavelength of the radiation and the optical path in the gel material. UVC and UVB photons have relatively higher photochemical effect than UVA; however, UVA penetration is deeper. Investigations showed that the FXG gel response is relatively constant between 240 and 320 nm, but it varies rapidly with wavelength in the UVA range and takes a minimal value at 360 nm. UVR spectral absorbance curves for different gel sample thicknesses were examined. The experiment showed that 6 mm of neutral gelatin or FXG gel samples was capable of absorbing >99.7% of the beam in the UV range of 240–290 nm.     

Characterization of ferric ions diffusion in Fricke gel dosimeters by using inverse problem techniques

Diffusion of ferric ions in ferrous sulfate (Fricke) gels represents one of the main drawbacks of some radiation detectors, such as Fricke gel dosimeters. In practice, this disadvantage can be overcome by prompt dosimeter analysis, and constraining strongly the time between irradiation and analysis, implementing special dedicated protocols aimed at minimizing signal blurring due to diffusion effects. This work presents a novel analytic modeling and numerical calculation approach of diffusion coefficients in Fricke gel radiation sensitive materials. Samples are optically analyzed by means of visible light transmission measurements by capturing images with a charge-coupled device camera provided with a monochromatic filter corresponding to the XO-infused Fricke solution absorbance peak. Dose distributions in Fricke gels are suitably delivered by assessing specific initial conditions further studied by periodical sample image acquisitions. Diffusion coefficient calculations were performed using a set of computational algorithms based on inverse problem formulation. Although 1D approaches to the diffusion equation might provide estimations of the diffusion coefficient, it should be calculated in the 2D framework due to the intrinsic bi-dimensional characteristics of Fricke gel layers here considered as radiation dosimeters. Thus a suitable 2D diffusion model capable of determining diffusion coefficients was developed by fitting the obtained algorithm numerical solutions with the corresponding experimental data. Comparisons were performed by introducing an appropriate functional in order to analyze both experimental and numerical values. Solutions to the second-order diffusion equation are calculated in the framework of a dedicated method that incorporates finite element method. Moreover, optimized solutions can be attained by gradient-type minimization algorithms. Knowledge about diffusion coefficient for a Fricke gel radiation detector is helpful in accounting for effects regarding elapsed time between dosimeter irradiation and further analysis. Hence, corrections might be included in standard dependence of optical density differences and actual, non-diffused, absorbed dose distributions. The obtained values for ferric ion diffusion coefficient are around 0.65 mm² h^?1, being in good agreement with previous works corresponding to similar Fricke gel dosimeter compositions. Therefore, more accurate 2D and 3D dose mapping might be attained, thus constituting valuable improvements in Fricke gel dosimetry, and parallely a high precision method of diffusion modeling and calculation has been developed.     

Tridimensional dosimetry for prostate IMRT treatments using MAGIC-f gel by MRI

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy is able to deliver complex dose distributions and a system able to determine tridimensional dose distribution during the quality assurance of the treatments would be of great interest. In this context polymeric gels can be a useful dosimeter. This work aims to apply this tridimensional dosimetry technique for two prostate IMRT treatments, using MAGIC-f as a gel dosimeter combined with the magnetic resonance imaging to determinate the dose distributions. Dose images obtained by the gel were compared with the treatment planning images and the gamma index was calculated as a quantitative comparison. In both plans a high pass rate was achieved in the gamma analyses (95.5% and 94.0% for plans 1 and 2 respectively) showing that they were approved in the tridimensional quality assurance.     

Sensitivity optimization of PRESAGE polyurethane based dosimeter

A new class of three-dimensional dosimeter (PRESAGE) has recently emerged, that consists of an optically clear polyurethane matrix containing a leuco dye and a free radical initiator. The dye exhibits a radiochromic response when exposed to ionizing radiation, changing color in proportion to the radiation dose. In this work we investigate and characterize the sensitivity of this new dosimeter by changing the portion of these two materials in the feature. Our results show considerable improvement in both dosimeter sensitivity and dose response stability by changing the percents of leuco dye and free radical initiator to approach to an optimum value.     

Determination of Radiation Dose Distribution by Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the New Tissue Equivalent Gel

Abstract

A new tissue-equivalent substance for the MR dosimetry has been developed. It is composed of water, bovine serum albumin, acrylamide with N,N′-methylene-bis-acrylamide, ammonium ferrous sulphate and sulphuric acid. The elemental composition, mass density, and electron density of the PIRA gel are closer to real tissue than those of dosimeter gels previously investigated. Irradiation causes the changes in the NMR properties of the gel. The dose dependence of NMR longitudinal relaxation rate, R1, is reproducible (less than 2% variation) and is linear up to about 30 Gy, with a slope of 0.023 s^?1Gy^?1 at 0.48 T. The gel, referred to as PIRA, can be used to obtain accurate radiation dose distribution with conventional magnetic resonance imaging devices.     

Investigation of the dose rate dependency of the PAGAT gel dosimeter at low dose rates

Medical physicists need dosimeters such as gel dosimeters capable of determining three-dimensional dose distributions with high spatial resolution. To date, in combination with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), polyacrylamide gel (PAG) polymers are the most promising gel dosimetry systems. The purpose of this work was to investigate the dose rate dependency of the PAGAT gel dosimeter at low dose rates. The gel dosimeter was used for measurement of the dose distribution around a Cs-137 source from a brachytherapy LDR source to have a range of dose rates from 0.97 Gy h^?1 to 0.06 Gy h^?1. After irradiation of the PAGAT gel, it was observed that the dose measured by gel dosimetry was almost the same at different distances (different dose rates) from the source, although the points nearer the source had been expected to receive greater doses. Therefore, it was suspected that the PAGAT gel is dose rate dependent at low dose rates. To test this further, three other sets of measurements were performed by placing vials containing gel at different distances from a Cs-137 source. In the first two measurements, several plastic vials were exposed to equal doses at different dose rates. An ionization chamber was used to measure the dose rate at each distance. In addition, three TLD chips were simultaneously irradiated in order to verify the dose to each vial. In the third measurement, to test the oxygen diffusion through plastic vials, the experiment was repeated again using plastic vials in a nitrogen box and glass vials. The study indicates that oxygen diffusion through plastic vials for dose rates lower than 2 Gy h^?1 would affect the gel dosimeter response and it is suggested that the plastic vials or (phantoms) in an oxygen free environment or glass vials should be used for the dosimetry of low dose rate sources using PAGAT gel to avoid oxygen diffusion through the vials.     

A self consistent normalized calibration protocol for three dimensional magnetic resonance gel dosimetry

In a clinical setting, mixed and inconsistent results have been reported using Magnetic Resonance Relaxation imaging of irradiated aqueous polymeric gels as a three-dimensional dosimeter, for dose verification of conformal radiation therapy. The problems are attributed to the difficulty of identifying an accurate dose calibration protocol for each delivered gel at the radiation site in a clinical setting. While careful calibration is done at the gel manufacturing site in a controlled laboratory setting, there is no guarantee that the dose sensitivity of the gels remains invariant upon delivery, irradiation, magnetic resonance imaging and storage at the clinical site. In this study, we have compared three different dose calibration protocols on aqueous polymeric gels for a variety of irradiation scenarios done in a clinical setting. After acquiring the three-dimensional proton relaxation maps of the irradiated gels, the dose distributions were generated using the off-site manufacturer provided calibration curve (Cal-1), the on-site external tube gel calibration (Cal-2) and the new on-site internal normalized gel calibration (Cal-3) protocols. These experimental dose distributions were compared with the theoretical dose distributions generated by treatment-planning systems. We observed that the experimental dose distributions generated from the Cal-1 and Cal-2 protocols were off by 10% to 40% and up to 200% above the predicted maximum dose, respectively. On the other hand, the experimental dose distributions generated from the Cal-3 protocol matched reasonably well with the theoretical dose distributions to within 10% difference. Our result suggests that an independent on-site normalized internal calibration must be performed for each batch of gel dosimeters at the time of MR relaxation imaging in order to account for the variations in dose sensitivity caused by various uncontrollable conditions in a clinical setting such as oxygen contamination, temperature changes and shelf life of the delivered gel between manufacturing and MR acquisitions.     

Study on energy dependence of PAGAT polymer gel dosimeter evaluated using X-Ray CT

The normoxic polymer gel dosimeter evaluated with X-Ray computed tomography has emerged as a promising tool for measuring the dose delivered during radiotherapy in three dimensions. This study presents the dependence of PAGAT normoxic polymer gel sensitivity to different photon and electron energies. PAGAT polymer gel was prepared under normal atmospheric condition and irradiated with different photon energies of 1.25 MeV from Co-60 and 6 MV and 15 MV from linear accelerator and electron energies of 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 21 MeV from linear accelerator. Evaluation of dosimeter was performed with an X-Ray CT scanner. Images were acquired with optimum scanning protocols to reduce the signal-to-noise ratio. The averaged image was subtracted from the unirradiated polymer gel image for background. Central axis depth dose (PDD) curves obtained for each energy and polymer gel dosimeter measurements were in good agreement with diode and film measurements. Hounsfield (HU) – dose response curve for each photon and electron energy were derived from the PDD curve obtained from the gel dosimeter measurements. From the study it was clear that the HU-dose response curve was linear in the region 1–10 Gy. The dosimeter sensitivity was defined as a slope of these linear HU-dose response curves and found that the sensitivity of polymer gel decreases with increase in both photon and electron energies. This trend in dependence of PAGAT gel dosimeter sensitivity to different photon and electron energies was not dosimetrically significant. However, to evaluate the test phantom exposed with one energy using the calibration curve derived at another energy can produce clinically significant error.     

UV dosimeter based on polyamide woven fabric and nitro blue tetrazolium chloride as an active compound

This paper reports on the preparation and features of a UV light dosimeter composed of nitro blue tetrazolium chloride (NBT) and polyamide woven fabric. This textile dosimeter is based on the conversion reaction of NBT into formazan, which was initially examined in aerated aqueous solutions through steady state UV irradiation. Irradiated solutions change their colour as a consequence of the formation of polydisperse NBT formazan particles. This was analysed in relation to the absorbed dose of UV light through UV–VIS spectrophotometry and dynamic laser light scattering measurements. When NBT substrate molecules are embedded in polyamide textile, UV irradiation leads to similar effects as in solution. However, the tinge intensity changes at much lower absorbed doses. The dependence of the tinge intensity on the absorbed dose was followed by measurements of the remission of light from the NBT-polyamide samples. Consequently, the calibration parameters were calculated such as the dose sensitivity, dose range, and quasi-linear dose range. An improvement of the NBT-polyamide samples by application of a colour levelling agent and improvement of their resistance to humidity is presented. Finally, the samples were used for estimation of absorbed UV energy distribution showing their capability as new dosimeters for in-plane high resolution radiation dose measurements.     

Development of a personal dosimeter badge system using sintered LiF:Mg,Cu,Na,Si TL detectors for photon fields

The badge system of personal thermoluminescence (TL) dosimeter for photon fields using LiF:Mg,Cu,Na,Si TL material, which was developed by Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) a few years ago, was developed by taking advantage of its dosimetric properties including energy dependencies. A badge filter system was designed by practical irradiation experiments supported by computational modeling using Monte Carlo simulation. Design properties and dosimetric characteristics such as photon energy response and angular dependence of new TL dosimeter system examined through the irradiation experiments are presented. Based on the experiments for the developed dosimeter, it is demonstrated that the deep dose response of dosimeter provided the value between 0.78 and 1.08, which is within the design limit by ISO standard. This multi-element TL dosimeter badge system allows the discrimination of the incident radiation type between photon and beta by using the ratios of the four TL detectors. Personal TL dosimeter using sintered LiF:Mg,Cu,Na,Si TL detectors has the ability to measure a personal dose equivalent H_p(d) for a wide range of photon energies.