On the readout of HT peaks in LiF:Mg,Ti by applying high rate gas heating

The main high temperature (HT) peaks in the glow curves of LiF:Mg,Ti, normally assigned as 6 and 7 are known to have higher response to high LET radiation than to low LET radiation. This effect can be used in principle to discriminate between neutrons and gamma rays in a mixed neutron–gamma field. In routine dosimetry, a high rate gas heating of Teflon coated chips is employed (mostly 25 °C/s), which may cause marginal thermal conditions. The fast heating rate readout process of the HT peaks and the practical consequences were studied, leading to the conclusion that in spite of the technical constraints, using high rate gas heating produces results which are not significantly different from those using a slow heating rate. Applying high heating rates seems to pose no practical obstacle in utilizing HT peaks information, which has the potential to be used for mixed neutron–gamma dosimetry.