Thermoluminescence dosimetry is a versatile tool for the assessment of dose from ionising radiation. The wide variety of TLD ceramic materials and their different physical forms allow the determination of different radiations qualities at dose levels from m Gy to kGy. Major advantages of TL dosimeters are their small physical size and that no cables or auxiliary equipment is required during the dose measurement. This makes them well suited for a wide range of applications. This article aims to present a short review of basic principles of, and a theoretical approach to, thermoluminescence, the usual basic thermoluminescence model, some applications to the dosimetry of ionising radiations and the research developed at IPEN in this area.
thermoluminescence; dosimetry; ceramics
