Luminescence properties of porcelain ceramics relevant to restrospective radiation dosimetry

When applied to porcelain products, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) is a potentially viable method for use in dose reconstruction following contamination from nuclear accidents. However, dose sensitivities are highly variable, depending on what type of porcelain is being measured. This appears to arise from the fact that OSL is potentially stimulated in a variety of component phases of the ceramic, and these phases vary from sample to sample. This article reports an initial attempt at characterising the luminescence properties of widely available porcelain wares manufactured under a variety of conditions, in order to establish the principal luminescent components of the material. Correlation of the luminescence properties is then made with the OSL dose sensitivities. It is shown that where alumina or zircon have been added as a raw ingredient of the porcelain, the end products tend to have the highest sensitivities to radiation dose. Moreover, the presence of these phases is easily identifiable by characteristic signatures in the luminescence emission spectra.