Light induced fading associated with the application of OSL to personal dosimetry

• The light fading is one of the most important dosimetric characteristics of Al2O3:C.
• Optical decay of the OSL signal was studied when exposed to light in different ways.
• A loss in the OSL signal was found in all tested ways.

Al2O3:C is the best material example that presents OSL response and adequate dosimetric behaviour for OSL dosimetry. It was the first commercial material manufactured for use in personal monitoring based on an OSL reader system from Landauer. The purpose of this paper was to report the results of optical fading experiments for the nanoDot commercial OSL detectors (Al2O3:C), provided by Landauer Inc. Five groups of different experimental conditions were formed with all detectors, exposing them to fluorescent and semiconductor light sources and to sun light. The loss of OSL signal when the detectors are kept open, was verified, which was already expected, but a loss in the OSL signal even when the detectors are exposed to light and covered with the manufacturer plastic protection are also revealed. The results show also that the use of Mylar filters can delay the OSL fading of the detectors.