Dosimetric characterization of LiCaAlF6:Eu,Y for its application in mix thermal n-γ fields

LiCaAlF6:Eu,Y (LCAF) possesses excellent dosimetry properties for gamma radiation. Presence of Li in this phosphor makes it sensitive to thermal neutron without any coating or doping of neutron sensitive elements. The thermal neutron response of LCAF is found to be 1.5 mGy equivalent of 137Cs gamma for 9 × 107 n cm−2. TL and OSL response of LCAF has been found to be linear up to studied dose of ∼50 mGy for the thermal neutron. In this paper the feasibility of using LCAF as thermal neutron OSL dosimeter has been investigated. An OSL badge containing combination of LCAF and α-Al2O3:C discs can be used to evaluate thermal neutron and gamma doses separately in the mixed gamma-neutron field.