Thermoluminescence characterization of a MWCVD diamond film exposed to β-rays and UV radiation

The thermoluminescence (TL) characterization of a 10 μm thick microwave plasma chemical vapor deposited (MWCVD) diamond film grown on a (001) silicon substrate and exposed to β-rays and ultraviolet (UV) light was performed. Several TL glow peaks between 300 and 580 K as well as a highest intensity first order TL peak located at 610 K are present in the beta radiation exposed samples. UV irradiated samples exhibit mainly the 610 K TL glow peak that is fully the same to beta irradiated samples. The TL creation spectrum of UV exposed samples spans the 200-400 nm range with maximum TL efficiency around 200-230 nm and 300-380 nm. Thus, it covers the whole UV electromagnetic spectrum relevant to human health concern which is related to UV sunlight radiation reaching the Earth s surface. The TL dosimetry response is linear for beta radiation doses below 0.5 kGy. It increases sub-linearly for higher doses. The UV exposed samples showed a linear-sub-linear dose behavior and a high sensitivity to UV radiation for beam irradiance of the order of 10 ^-3 W/m ². A pronounced fading of all the TL peaks was also observed.