A kinetic model of zircon thermoluminescence

A kinetic model of zircon thermoluminescence (TL) has been constructed to simulate the processes and stages relevant to thermoluminescent dating such as: filling of electron and hole traps during the excitation stage both for natural and laboratory irradiation; the time dependence of fading after laboratory irradiation; TL experiments both after laboratory and natural irradiation. The goal is to inspect qualitative behavior of the system and to unravel the processes and determine the parameters controlling TL phenomena of zircon. The input parameters of the model, such as types and concentrations of the TL centers and energy distributions of the hole and electron traps, were obtained by analyzing the experimental data on fading of the TL-emission spectra of samples from different locations. EPR data were used to establish the nature of the TL centers. Glow curves and 3D TL emission spectra are simulated and compared with the experimental data on time-dependent TL fading. Theoretical dating curves for combined natural plus laboratory irradiation have been calculated for as-irradiated, faded and preheated samples. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved