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Concept information

study method > dating > optically stimulated luminescence

Preferred term

optically stimulated luminescence  

Definition

  • In physics, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) is a method for measuring doses from ionizing radiation. It is used in at least two applications. Luminescence dating of ancient materials: mainly geological sediments and sometimes fired pottery, bricks etc., although in the latter case thermoluminescence dating is used more often. Radiation dosimetry, which is the measurement of accumulated radiation dose in the tissues of health care, nuclear, research and other workers, as well as in building materials in regions of nuclear disaster. The method makes use of electrons trapped between the valence and conduction bands in the crystalline structure of certain minerals (most commonly quartz and feldspar). The trapping sites are imperfections of the lattice — impurities or defects. The ionizing radiation produces electron-hole pairs: Electrons are in the conduction band and holes in the valence band. The electrons that have been excited to the conduction band may become entrapped in the electron or hole traps. Under the stimulation of light, the electrons may free themselves from the trap and get into the conduction band. From the conduction band, they may recombine with holes trapped in hole traps. If the centre with the hole is a luminescence center (radiative recombination centre), emission of light will occur. The photons are detected using a photomultiplier tube. The signal from the tube is then used to calculate the dose that the material had absorbed. (Adapted from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optically_stimulated_luminescence)

Broader concept

Entry terms

  • optically stimulated luminescence datation
  • optically stimulated luminescence dating
  • optical stimulated luminescence
  • optical stimulated luminescence datation
  • optical stimulated luminescence dating
  • OSL

In other languages

  • luminescence optiquement stimulée

    French

  • datation par luminescence optiquement stimulée
  • datation par luminescence stimulée optiquement
  • LSO
  • luminescence optique stimulée
  • luminescence stimulée optiquement

URI

http://data.loterre.fr/ark:/67375/QX8-QF9XSP6T-H

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