Investigation of thermoluminescence characteristics of gamma irradiated phlogopite mica

The present paper investigates the thermoluminescence (TL) characteristics of phlogopite mica irradiated with gamma rays in the dose ranges from 5kGy to 40kGy. It has been found that at all gamma doses, TL glow curve of phlogopite mica shows a simple glow curve structure with one broad peak around 400K temperature. There is no shift in peak temperature with increase in gamma dose which clearly indicates that TL glow peaks are of first order kinetics. The TL intensity increases linearly up to 30kGy and then shows saturation up to 40kGy which have been explained using TIM and UNIM model. The effect of different heating rates on the TL intensity, TL glow peak temperature and total glow curve area for 10kGy irradiated phlogopite mica has also been studied. Theoretical analysis of TL glow curves of gamma irradiated phlogopite mica has been done by glow curve deconvolution procedure using computerized Glow Fit software and the trapping parameters of isolated TL glow peaks have also been determined. The simple glow curve structure and the linear TL response to a wide range of gamma doses of phlogopite mica confirm its suitability as an effective thermoluminescent material and explore its potential for tremendous applications in radiation dosimetry. ► The present paper reports the thermoluminescence characteristics of phlogopite mica. ► This investigation focuses on the TL response of phlogopite mica to gamma rays. ► Different kinetic parameters have also been studied for the better understanding of the TL phenomenon.