Mechanoluminescence characterizations in γ-irradiated and Dy3+ activated (K0.5Na0.5)Cl phosphor for accidental radiation dosimetry

The mechanoluminescence of γ-irradiated powder of (K0.5Na0.5)Cl:Dy3+ (0.05–0.5 mol%) phosphor is reported. The variation of mechanoluminescence peak intensity with γ-dose and with different concentration of Dy3+ ions doped in (K0.5Na0.5)Cl are studied and compared with thermoluminescence characterization. The variation of peak mechanoluminescence intensity of (K0.5Na0.5)Cl:Dy3+ (0.1 mol%) with different γ-ray dose is found to be linear up to 5 kGy exposure dose and minimum fading in peak height is observed.