What type of personnel dosimeter uses aluminum oxide as the absorbing material?

The use of aluminum oxide as the absorbing material identifies the optically stimulable luminescent dosimeter (OSL) as the correct answer. OSLs function by trapping electrons in the aluminum oxide crystal lattice when exposed to ionizing radiation. When stimulated by light, these electrons are released, emitting luminescence that can be measured. This aspect of aluminum oxide makes OSLs highly sensitive and capable of monitoring low levels of radiation over extended periods.

On the other hand, film badges utilize a film that darkens in response to radiation exposure, but they do not contain aluminum oxide; instead, their sensitivity is reliant on the characteristics of the film emulsion. Thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) use lithium fluoride or calcium fluoride crystals, which release stored energy as light when heated, fundamentally differing from the operation principles of OSLs. Pocket dosimeters rely on ionization and do not include aluminum oxide material, providing a different means of measuring radiation exposure through immediate readings.