Thermoluminescence studies in swift heavy ion irradiated aluminum oxide

Thermoluminescence (TL) of combustion-synthesized aluminum oxide bombarded with 120 MeV swift Au9+ ions in the fluence range of 1 x 10(11) - 2 x 10(13) ions cm(-2) has been studied at room temperature. Two TL glows-a well-resolved one with peak at similar to 623 K (Tg(2)) and another unresolved one at similar to 513 K (Tg1)-are recorded at a heating rate of 10 K s(-1). It is found that the TL intensity increases with the fluence up to I x 10 13 ions cm-2 and then decreases with increase in fluence. Also, the prominent glow peak temperature (Tg(2)) is found to be shifted towards the lower temperature region, while the TL intensity increases with the increase in ion fluence. In the case of heat-treated samples, the TL intensity is observed to be enhanced further. However, in the case of samples heat-treated beyond 973 K, the TL intensity is found to be decreased with the increase in heat treatment. The glow curves are analyzed by the glow curve deconvolution technique and trap parameters are estimated and discussed in this paper. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.