Development of confocal laser microscope system for examination of microscopic characteristics of radiophotoluminescence glass dosemeters

Radiat Prot Dosimetry. 2011 Mar;144(1-4):222-5. doi: 10.1093/rpd/ncq563. Epub 2011 Jan 6.

Abstract

A confocal laser microscope system was developed for the measurement of radiophotoluminescence (RPL) photons emitted from a minute alpha-ray-irradiated area in an RPL glass dosemeter. The system was composed mainly of an inverted-type microscope, an ultraviolet laser, an XY movable stage and photon-counting circuits. The photon-counting circuits were effective in the reduction of the background noise level in the measurement of RPL photons. The performance of this microscope system was examined by the observation of standard RPL glass samples irradiated using (241)Am alpha rays. The spatial resolution of this system was ∼ 3 μm, and with regard to the sensitivity of this system, a hit of more than four to five alpha rays in unit area produced enough amount of RPL photons to construct the image.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Alpha Particles
  • Americium / analysis
  • Copper / analysis
  • Equipment Design
  • Glass
  • Lasers
  • Materials Testing
  • Microscopy, Confocal / instrumentation*
  • Microscopy, Confocal / methods
  • Monte Carlo Method
  • Photons
  • Radiometry / instrumentation*
  • Radiometry / methods
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Ultraviolet Rays

Substances

  • Copper
  • Americium