The dependence of thermoluminescence of LiF:Mg,Cu,Si on sintering temperatures and dopants concentrations

The dependence of thermoluminescence (TL) of LiF:Mg,Cu,Si on sintering temperatures and dopants concentrations were investigated. The dependency of the TL in LiF:Mg,Cu,Si on sintering temperature exhibits a very sharp maximum at 830 °C. LiF:Mg,Cu,Si is much too sensitive than LiF:Mg,Cu,P to sintering temperature. The glow curve and the TL sensitivity depend on the concentration of Mg, Cu and Si, showing a distinct maximum for certain concentrations of these impurities. Mg seems to be the most essential dopant, as very small changes of the Mg content strongly influence both the glow curve and the TL sensitivity. Si is the main activator responsible for TL emission. The stability to heat treatments in LiF:Mg,Cu,Si was influenced greatly by Mg concentrations. The thermal instability in LiF:Mg,Cu,Si is caused not by Cu and Si but Mg ion state change. It was found that the optimum concentrations are Mg:0.6 mol%, Cu:0.03 mol% and Si:0.9 mol% for this material, which showed the best stability to heat treatment.