What is the active component of a thermoluminescent radiation monitoring device?

Thermoluminescent radiation monitoring devices (TLDs) are designed to detect and measure ionizing radiation exposure by using materials that release stored energy in the form of light when heated. The active component that enables this process is lithium fluoride.

Lithium fluoride is particularly effective because it has a high atomic number and a suitable energy band gap, which makes it sensitive to ionizing radiation. When radiation interacts with lithium fluoride, it creates electron-hole pairs that become trapped in the crystal lattice. When the TLD is heated later, these traps release energy as light, which can be quantified and correlated to the amount of radiation exposure.

This characteristic of lithium fluoride, combined with its stability and range of sensitivities, makes it the preferred choice for use in thermoluminescent dosimetry. This property essentially allows for accurate and reliable measurement of radiation doses received by individuals over time.