Optical fibre dosemeter systems for clinical applications based on radioluminescence and optically stimulated luminescence from Al2O3:C

Abstract

Optical fibre dosemeter systems based on radioluminescence and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) from carbon-doped aluminium oxide (Al(2)O(3):C) crystals were developed for in vivo real-time dose rate and absorbed dose measurements in radiotherapy and mammography. A technique was also developed for making ultra-small dosemeter probes that can easily be placed inside patients in radiation treatment. These probes have shown excellent properties in both head and neck intensity-modulated radiation therapy treatment and in mammography. The dose-response of the OSL signal for the new optical fibre dosemeter system showed a repeatability within 0.15% at a dose level of 60 mGy when integrated over 100 s. The temperature dependence in the range 0-45 degrees C showed a reproducibility within 1.3% when the OSL signal was integrated over 100 s.