ABSTRACT
Among the wide choice of solid state detectors that can be used for applications in radio-
therapy, brachytherapy, diagnostic radiology and radiation protection of the patient,
radiothermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD) and diodes are currently the most used (see
Figure 16.1). The purpose of this chapter is to give a brief description of the underlying
theoretical principles, the materials used, and their main dosimetric characteristics, leaving
the reader to refer to the specialized literature on the subject to get the in-depth information
that is impossible to provide in a generalist handbook. The practical use of these detectors for
in-beam measurements and for quality control of beam characteristics will be presented in
Section 19.1.4 and Section 38.4 respectively. Their use for in-vivo dose measurements in
external radiotherapy and brachytherapy and for dosimetric comparisons betwen centres will
be presented in Section 40.2.
