Purpose: RENEB, ‘Realising the European Network of Biodosimetry and Physical Retrospective Dosimetry,’ is a network for research and emergency response mutual assistance in biodosimetry within the EU. Within this extremely active network, a number of new dosimetry methods have recently been proposed or developed. There is a requirement to test and/or validate these candidate techniques and inter-comparison exercises are a well-established method for such validation. Materials and methods: The authors present details of inter-comparisons of four such new methods: dicentric chromosome analysis including telomere and centromere staining; the gene expression assay carried out in whole blood; Raman spectroscopy on blood lymphocytes, and detection of radiation-induced thermoluminescent signals in glass screens taken from mobile phones. Results: In general the results show good agreement between the laboratories and methods within the expected levels of uncertainty, and thus demonstrate that there is a lot of potential for each of the candidate techniques. Conclusions: Further work is required before the new methods can be included within the suite of reliable dosimetry methods for use by RENEB partners and others in routine and emergency response scenarios.

The objective of this study was to improve the precision of linear energy transfer (LET) measurements using $$\text {Al}_2\text {O}_3\text {:C}$$Al 2 O 3 :C optically stimulated luminescence detectors (OSLDs) in proton beams, and, with that, improve OSL dosimetry by correcting the readout for the LET-dependent ionization quenching. The OSLDs were irradiated in spot-scanning proton beams at different doses for fluence-averaged LET values in the (0.4–6.5) $$\hbox {keV}\, \upmu \hbox {m}^{-1}$$keV μ m - 1 range (in water). A commercial automated OSL reader with a built-in beta source was used for the readouts, which enabled a reference irradiation and readout of each OSLD to establish individual corrections. Pulsed OSL was used to separately measure the blue (F-center) and UV ( $$F^+$$F + -center) emission bands of $$\text {Al}_2\text {O}_3\text {:C}$$Al 2 O 3 :C and the ratio between them (UV/blue signal) was used for the LET measurements. The average deviation between the simulated and measured LET values along the central beam axis amounts to 5.5% if both the dose and LET are varied, but the average deviation is reduced to 3.5% if the OSLDs are irradiated with the same doses. With the measurement procedure and automated equipment used here, the variation in the signals used for LET estimates and quenching-corrections is reduced from 0.9 to 0.6%. The quenching-corrected OSLD doses are in agreement with ionization chamber measurements within the uncertainties. The automated OSLD corrections are demonstrated to improve the LET estimates and the ionization quenching-corrections in proton dosimetry for a clinically relevant energy range up to 230 MeV. It is also for the first time demonstrated how the LET can be estimated for different doses.

The objective of this work is to review and assess the potential of $\mathrm{Mg}{\mathrm{B}}_4{\mathrm{O}}_7$:Ce,Li to fill in the gaps where the need for a new material for optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dosimetry has been identified. We offer a critical assessment of the operational properties of $\mathrm{Mg}{\mathrm{B}}_4{\mathrm{O}}_7$:Ce,Li for OSL dosimetry, as reviewed in the literature and complemented by measurements of thermoluminescence spectroscopy, sensitivity, thermal stability, lifetime of the luminescence emission, dose response at high doses (>1000 Gy), fading and bleachability. Overall, compared with ${\mathrm{Al}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3:\mathrm{C}$, for example, $\mathrm{Mg}{\mathrm{B}}_4{\mathrm{O}}_7$:Ce,Li shows a comparable OSL signal intensity following exposure to ionizing radiation, a higher saturation limit (ca 7000 Gy) and a shorter luminescence lifetime (31.5 ns). $\mathrm{Mg}{\mathrm{B}}_4{\mathrm{O}}_7$:Ce,Li is, however, not yet an optimum material for OSL dosimetry, as it exhibits anomalous fading and shallow traps. Further optimization is therefore needed, and possible avenues of investigation encompass gaining a better understanding of the roles of the synthesis route and dopants and of the nature of defects.