ELECTRICAL AND THERMOLUMINESCENCE PROPERTIES OF GAMMA-IRRADIATED LA2CUO4 CRYSTALS

Measurements of the electrical properties of unirradiated as well as gamma-irradiated La2CuO4 crystals were carried out at different temperatures in the frequency range of 0.1-100 kHz. Thermoluminescence (TL) studies were also performed on such crystals in the temperature range of 300-600K. The conductivity of the unirradiated La2CuO4 crystals were found to obey the power law frequency dependence at each measured temperature below the transition temperature (T-c = 450K). The activation energies for conduction and dielectric relaxation time have been calculated. The TL response and the de resistance were found to increase with gamma-irradiation dose up to 9-10 kGy. The results showed that the ferroelastic domain walls of La2CuO4 crystal as well as its TL traps are sensitive to gamma-raditaion. This material can be used in radiation measurements in the range 225 Gy-10 kGy.