Phototransferred thermoluminescence (PTTL) dosimetry using Gorilla® glass from mobile phones

Published

November 30, 2017

Author(s)

Ronaldo Minniti, S Sholom, S W. Mckeever

Abstract

Samples of Gorilla® glass (Corning®) from several touchscreen mobile phones were prepared and analyzed using phototransferred thermoluminescence (PTTL) in an attempt to retrospectively assess radiation doses absorbed by the glass for potential applications in emergency dosimetry. Samples of glass were prepared by cleaning and cutting into small pieces. Glow curves were recorded after irradiation to different doses, pre-heating to a given temperature, and exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light (365 nm) for various times. The dependencies of the thermoluminescence signals so-obtained on the pre-heat temperature and the duration of UV light exposure were studied. The stability of the PTTL signals was also studied for samples stored under ambient conditions. The PTTL signals were quite stable with little change after storage over several days. Dose response curves (PTTL versus initial applied dose) were linear up to ∼20 Gy. Values of minimum detectable dose (MDD) evaluated using PTTL were determined for samples from different phone brands. A non-radiation-induced, UV-light-stimulated TL signal was also observed as a result of the UV exposure. Variability in the strength of this signal and in the PTTL sensitivity of the various glasses leads to a variation in, and places limits on, the obtained values for the MDD. Typical MDD values were found to range between 0.1 Gy and 5 Gy. A method for accounting for the UV-induced signal is suggested involving pre-heating to high temperatures (550 °C). An exploratory test of a suggested protocol for evaluating dose from smartphones using PTTL is described and the results are compared with those obtained using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and thermoluminescence (TL) methods from other phone components.

Conference Dates

July 3-8, 2016

Conference Location

Munich, DE

Conference Title

Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Solid State Dosimetry (SSD18), Munich, Germany, 3 – 8 July 2016.

Pub Type

Conferences

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DOI Link

Keywords

optically stimulated luminescence, thermoluminescence, electron paramagnetic resonance, phones, air kerma, emergency response, dosimetryoptically stimulated luminescence, thermoluminescence, electron paramagnetic resonance, phones, air kerma, emergency response, dosimetry

Citation

Minniti, R. , Sholom, S. and Mckeever, S. (2017), Phototransferred thermoluminescence (PTTL) dosimetry using Gorilla® glass from mobile phones, Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Solid State Dosimetry (SSD18), Munich, Germany, 3 – 8 July 2016. , Munich, DE, [online], https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radmeas.2017.04.005 (Accessed April 19, 2025)