TECHNIQUES FOR THERMOLUMINESCENCE GLOW CURVE ANALYSIS

Three techniques, developed at the Harwell Laboratory, for separating thermoluminescent glow curves into their individual glow peaks are described. They are: non-linear least squares fitting; division of glow curves by a reference glow curve: and glow curve subtraction. Using the non-linear least squares fitting method it becomes difficult to resolve individual glow peaks accurately from complex glow curves. The glow curve division method enables rapid evaluation of the relative intensities of the individual peaks relative to the corresponding peak intensities in the reference glow curve. Finally, given peak parameters determined by the previous two methods, dominant peaks can be successively subtracted to reveal the less dominant glow peaks for further analysis. As examples of the application of these methods, glow curves obtained in previous experimental work at Harwell have been analysed. These show the effect of LET and the effect of a pre-irradiation heat treatment on the individual glow peaks.