Correlation of phase transition with the change in TL characteristics in CaSO4:Dy phosphor--effect of thermal treatment.

The study is aimed at optimising the glow curve structure of CaSO4:Dy phosphor for dosimetric purpose and also to understand the observed changes owing to thermal treatment in the thermoluminescence (TL) sensitivity and glow curve structure. The reversible changes in the intensities of the lower temperature satellite peak and the main dosimetric glow peak with temperature of thermal treatment in the temperature range 400-700 degrees C indicates the interconversion of defect complexes responsible for the glow peaks in CaSO4:Dy. Phosphor samples subjected to thermal treatment in temperature range beyond 800 degrees C, showed irreversible changes in the intensities of the lower temperature and dosimetric peaks. The changes in TL characteristics of the phosphor for thermal treatments >800 degrees C are attributed to the partial phase transition in the phosphor as confirmed by the XRD and TG/DTA analysis of the phosphor.