TLDs

Thermoluminescent detectors (TLDs) are inorganic crystalline materials

that record the total absorbed dose from ionizing radiation.

As charged particles pass through the TLD they lose energy by ionizing
(displacing electrons to a higher energy state) atoms of the crystal. When
the electrons displaced by the charged particles attempt to return to their
original state they become trapped in an area called the "electron trap". As
the radiation dose to which the TLD is exposed to accumulates, so does the
quantity of trapped electrons. The total absorbed dose is determined using
a TLD reader. The TLD reader heats the TLD, which pushes the electrons out
of their trap and back to a lower state of energy. This process releases
energy and gives off visible light, which is measured by the TLD reader. The
amount of light given off as the TLD is heated is proportional to the total
absorbed radiation dose accumulated by the TLD over the duration of its
exposure.

SOURCE: http://lsda.jsc.nasa.gov/scripts/hardware/hardw.cfm?hardware_id=941
NASA