Suitability of some common polymer films for MeV proton beam dosimetry

We have been evaluating the efficacy of polymer films for proton beam dosimetry. PE, PS, PVF, PVDF, PFA and FEP films were irradiated with 4.1 and 9.4 MeV protons at a flux of 2.5 × 1011 cm−2 s−1 and a fluence of 2.5 × 1013 cm−2. The perfluorinated films were relatively insensitive to the proton irradiation. The UV absorption of PS displayed significant radiation-induced red shift, but no quantifiable absorption peaks. The strongly absorbing chromophore at 225 nm of irradiated PVDF is too unstable for practical dosimetry. PE has a stable and moderately absorbing radiolytic chromophore at 235 nm, but is transparent in the visible wavelength region. Irradiated PVF absorbs strongly in both UV and visible regions, and its UV absorbance is linearly proportional to the dose over the range of 10-1000 kGy when irradiated with 4.1 MeV protons at a dose rate of 840 Gy s−1. PVF shows the most potential as multipurpose dosimeter for high resolution profiling of ion beams. Pertinent applications include irradiations that require verification of lateral beam homogeneity.