Thermoluminescent Characteristics of GR-200, TLD-700H and TLD-100 for Low Dose Measurement: Linearity, Repeatability, Dose Rate and Photon Energy Dependence

BACKGROUND: The dose values obtained from procedures of diagnostic radiology are relatively low. To accurately and precisely measure the dose values in this dose range, it is necessary to know the characteristics of dosimeters. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate several thermoluminescent characteristics of GR-200, TLD-700H and TLD-100 for low dose measurement. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this experimental study, linearity, repeatability, dose rate and photon energy dependence of different TLD materials were investigated in a 0.05-10 mGy range dose. It is noteworthy that the data obtained from TLD-100 were considered as reference and the data obtained from two other types of TLDs were compared with them. RESULTS: For all three types of TLD materials, there are linear relations between absorbed dose values to TLDs and their responses. TLD-100 and TLD-700H have very low sensitivity than GR-200. For GR-200 and TLD-100, the coefficients of variation values (%) are 3.00% and 2.01%, respectively, that these values are within the tolerance limit (<7.5%). However, this value for TLD-700H is 10.85% which it is more than the reported tolerance limit. Furthermore, remarkable effects of dose rate and photon energy dependence on the responses of GR-200 are not observed in a 0.5-4 mGy dose range; nevertheless, remarkable effects of dose rate and photon energy dependence on the responses of TLD-100 and TLD-700H are found in this dose range. CONCLUSION: The evaluated thermoluminescent characteristics for GR-200 are better than two other types of TLDs (TLD-100 and TLD-700H) for low dose values.