The analysis of thermoluminescence glow curves

Information about the behavior of traps in a luminescent material is usually derived by fitting the glow curves in the thermoluminescence spectrum of the material to a general formula. From the fit one seeks to obtain values for the depth of the traps, the frequency factors governing the release of electrons from the traps, and some indication of the rates of trapping and retrapping. This study investigates how successful this fitting process is in providing reliable values for the trap parameters. The relevant rate equations are used to numerically generate simulated glow curves for specific values of trap parameters. These glow curves are then analyzed by the usual fitting process, and values for the trap parameters are derived from the fitting process. We comment on the comparison between the derived parameter values and the correct values. From these comparisons we attempt to obtain some useful insights to assist in the interpretation of experimentally observed thermoluminescence spectra. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.