Medical & Radiation Technologies

• Portable X-ray Machines: Tm-170 (radioactive isotope) is used in compact, battery-powered X-ray devices for field medicine and dentistry.
• Cancer Treatment: Investigated for targeted alpha therapy due to its decay properties.

Lasers & Fiber Optics

• Thulium-Doped Fiber Lasers (TDFLs): Emit in the 1.9–2.1 μm infrared range, used in:
  • Laser surgery (precise tissue cutting with minimal bleeding).
  • Military countermeasures (IR decoys).
  • Material processing (welding, engraving).

Phosphors & Lighting

• Blue LED Phosphors: Tm³-doped materials help produce blue light in LEDs and display screens.
• UV-Emitting Lamps: Used in forensic and counterfeit detection.

4. Nuclear Applications

• Neutron Absorption: Used in control rods for nuclear reactors (though less common than europium/gadolinium).

5. Superconductors & Electronics

• High-Temperature Superconductors: Thulium is studied in yttrium-based superconductors (YBCO) for improved performance.
• Semiconductor Dopant: Enhances properties of thin-film transistors.

6. Scientific Research

• Mössbauer Spectroscopy: Tm-169 is used to study magnetic and structural properties of materials.