Thermal Quenching of Thermoluminescence in Quartz

Abstract

Studies of the stability and kinetics of the 325 "C thermoluminescence peak in quartz are described which show the occurrence of thermal quenching, the decrease in luminescence efficiency with rise in temperature. This phenomenon causes the initial rise ' method of trap depth determination to give spuriously low results which erroneously implies thermal instability of a peak which is suitable for dating. Its presence is confirmed by radioluminescence studies and is shown not to preclude the use of other methods of trap depth determination. ' = 1 + K exp (-WVjkT)