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Luminescence Dating, Instrumentation

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Encyclopedia of Scientific Dating Methods

Definition

The basic instrumentation required to obtain a dose based on optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) signals consists of four main components: (i) a luminescence detection system, (ii) a stimulation light source, (iii) a heating system, and (iv) an irradiation facility. To obtain a thermoluminescence (TL) dose, a stimulation light source is not required.

Introduction

Luminescence dating is an absolute chronological technique widely used in archaeological and geological dating but also with applications in other areas of retrospective dosimetry such as environmental, accidental, medical, and forensic dosimetry. In dating applications an age is determined by measuring the dose absorbed by the target mineral, primarily quartz and feldspars, and dividing it by an independently determined dose rate in the media. This dose rate is mainly derived from the flux of ionizing radiation emitted from naturally occurring isotopes (from the thorium and uranium series as well as...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Nuclear Technologies, DTU Nutech, Frederiksborgvej 399, Building 201, room S28, DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark

    Kristina Jørkov Thomsen

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  1. Kristina Jørkov Thomsen
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Correspondence to Kristina Jørkov Thomsen .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    W. Jack Rink

  2. Department of Medical Physics and Applied Radiation Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    Jeroen Thompson

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Thomsen, K.J. (2014). Luminescence Dating, Instrumentation. In: Rink, W., Thompson, J. (eds) Encyclopedia of Scientific Dating Methods. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6326-5_121-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6326-5_121-3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-007-6326-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Earth and Environm. ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Earth and Environmental Sciences

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Luminescence Dating, Instrumentation
    Published:
    11 February 2014

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6326-5_121-3

  2. Original

    Luminescence Dating, Instrumentation
    Published:
    05 October 2013

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6326-5_121-2

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