Observation of thermoluminescence induced by fission fragments

Thermoluminescence induced in CaF2 powder by fission fragments emanating from a uranium foil bombarded by fast neutrons has been measured as a function of neutron fluence. A linear relationship between the glow produced and the fast neutron fluence between 5 × 1010 and 6.5 × 1011 n/cm2 has been obtained, thus establishing the feasibility of the use of this method for fast-neutron dosimetry. A limitation of the method is that, if the fissile foil is not separated from the phosphor after irradiation, the TL produced by the α-disintegration of 238U may eventually mask the fission-induced TL.