In the luminescence laboratory (LabLUMIN) we develop crystalline sensitivity compounds (alkali halides, fluorides, borates, oxides, and sulfates) to detect ionizing radiation. These materials are doped with different rare-earth ions. Doped material presents different sensitivities to various radiation fields (alpha, beta, gamma, X-rays, and neutron). The phosphor materials present Optically Stimulated Luminescence, thermoluminescence, and Radio-luminescence properties. The point defects generated by radiation and the mechanism of recombination to produce the Stimulated Luminescence are analyzed by the optical properties and several spectroscopies. Also, the quartz and feldspars content in solid of the irradiated Mexican food is studied by the photo-stimulated luminescence (PSL), TL and OSL phenomena to identify the irradiated food. OSL dating service of sediments is available.
Laboratory Infrastructure
In the LabLUMIN there are specific muffles at high temperature for synthesis and preparation samples. A special room with a Lexsyg TL/OSL and an OSL homemade is used to study the defects generated by radiation exposures. A X-ray benchtop equipment is allowed in our lab to rise low doses. Other radiation sources are available in the Radiation Safety Unit of our Institute for irradiation samples at different doses. A Shimadzu spectrofluorometer and TLRA-400 reader for analyzing irradiated samples. Solar simulator and double light source of Quantum Design are used for luminescence study of the perovskites, fluorides, lithium borates, magnesium oxides, calcium sulphates and several types of diamonds. The polyminerals, quartz silicates, and feldspars contained in irradiated foodstuffs are studied in our labLUMIN. Detection of contaminated soils and foodstuffs is carried out in a sensible Atomtex spectrometer.
