Thermoluminescence (TL) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) are two of the most important techniques used in radiation dosimetry. They have extensive practical applications in the monitoring of personnel radiation exposure, in medical dosimetry, environmental dosimetry, spacecraft, nuclear reactors, food irradiation etc., and in geological /archaeological dating. Thermally and Optically Stimulated Luminescence: A Simulation Approach describes these phenomena, the relevant theoretical models and their prediction, using both approximations and numerical simulation. The authors concentrate on an alternative approach in which they simulate various experimental situations by numerically solving the relevant coupled differential equations for chosen sets of parameters. Opening with a historical overview and background theory, other chapters cover experimental measurements, dose dependence, dating procedures, trapping parameters, applications, radiophotoluminescence, and effects of ionization density. Designed for practitioners, researchers and graduate students in the field of radiation dosimetry, Thermally and Optically Stimulated Luminescence provides an essential synthesis of the major developments in modeling and numerical simulations of thermally and optically stimulated processes.

In this volume, international leading experts in the study of thermally and optically stimulated luminescence give an up-to-date, comprehensive coverage of the theoretical and experimental aspects of these subjects, as well as their applications.The theory of thermoluminescence (TL) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) are discussed in detail including mainly solid state models of localized and delocalized transitions. These models cover the effects occurring during the excitation by irradiation and the read-out by heating or by exposure to light. The methods described consist of analytical mathematical considerations as well as numerical simulations.The main application of these effects, namely radiation dosimetry, includes personal and environmental dosimetry, as well as retrospective dosimetry and the dosimetry of cosmic radiation and space missions. Also discussed in detail are archaeological and geological dating, the use of luminescence dosimetry in medical physics as well as general applications in geosciences, other model subjects such as time-resolved luminescence and thermally assisted OSL, and the sister-subject of thermoluminescence in photosynthetic materials.

Optically stimulated luminescence has developed into one of the leading optical techniques for the measurement and detection of ionizing radiation. This text covers, in a readable manner, advanced modern applications of the technique, how it can play a useful role in different areas of dosimetry and how to approach the challenges presented when working with optically stimulated luminescence. The six chapters are as follows: Introduction, including a short history of OSL and details of successful applications Theory and Practical Aspects Personal Dosimetry Space Dosimetry Medical Dosimetry Other Applications and Concepts, including retrospective and accident dosimetry, environmental monitoring and UV dosimetry Throughout the book, the underlying theory is discussed on an as-needed basis for a complete understanding of the phenomena, but with an emphasis of the practical applications of the technique. The authors also give background information and relevant key references on each method, inviting the reader to explore deeper into the subject independently. Postgraduates, researchers, and those involved with radiation dosimetry will find this book particularly useful. The material is both relevant and accessible for both specialists and those new to the field, therefore is fundamental to any academic interested in modern advances of the subject.

Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) has become the technique of choice for many areas of radiation dosimetry. The technique is finding widespread application in a variety of radiation dosimetry fields, including personal monitoring, environmental monitoring, retrospective dosimetry (including geological dating and accident dosimetry), space dosimetry, and many more. In this book we have attempted to synthesize the major advances in the field, covering both fundamental understanding and the many applications. The latter serve to demonstrate the success and popularity of OSL as a dosimetry method.The book is designed for researchers and radiation dosimetry practitioners alike. It delves into the detailed theory of the process from the point of view of stimulated relaxation phenomena, describing the energy storage and release processes phenomenologically and developing detailed mathematical descriptions to enable a quantitative understanding of the observed phenomena. The various stimulation modes (continuous wave, pulsed, or linear modulation) are introduced and compared. The properties of the most important synthetic OSL materials beginning with the dominant carbon-doped Al2O3, and moving through discussions of other, less-well studied but nevertheless important, or potentially important, materials. The OSL properties of the two most important natural OSL dosimetry material types, namely quartz and feldspars are discussed in depth. The applications chapters deal with the use of OSL in personal, environmental, medical and UV dosimetry, geological dating and retrospective dosimetry (accident dosimetry and dating). Finally the developments in instrumentation that have occurred over the past decade or more are described. The book will find use in those laboratories within academia, national institutes and the private sector where research and applications in radiation dosimetry using luminescence are being conducted. Potential readers include personnel involved in radiation protection practice and research, hospitals, nuclear power stations, radiation clean-up and remediation, food irradiation and materials processing, security monitoring, geological and archaeological dating, luminescence studies of minerals, etc.

Currently, thermoluminescence (TL) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) are the main techniques for studying the luminescence properties of several materials, mainly insulators called phosphors. Frequently, however, students and experts alike need to clarify some concepts related to the effects and defects present in the radiation interaction with solids generated by these phenomena. In this book, a series of questions and corresponding answers give a clearer explanation about the concepts, theory and models related to TL and OSL, including applications in important related areas.Students, researchers and teachers will find this book a good guide for understanding TL and OSL as methods for studying the nature of luminescent solids. It provides a quick way for clearing doubts in the concepts and terminology concerning OSL and TL, as it is intended to answer many questions which can be encountered in practical applications.

In this book, the authors give an up-to-date account of thermoluminescence (TL) and other thermally stimulated phenomena. Although most recent experimental results of TL in different materials are described in some detail, the main emphasis in the present book is on general processes, and the approach is more theoretical. Thus the details of the possible processes which can take place during the excitation of the sample, and during its heating, are carefully analysed. The methods for analysing TL glow curves are critically discussed, and recommendations as to their application are made. Also discussed is the expected behavior of these phenomena as functions of the experimental parameters, for example, dose of excitation. The consequences of the main applications of TL (for example, radiation dosimetry) are also discussed in detail as are the similarities and dissimilarities of other thermally stimulated phenomena, and the simultaneous measurements of the latter and TL.