Thermoluminescence responses to alpha and beta irradiations, and age determination when the high dose response is non-linear

Abstract

In thermoluminescence dating, in which the TL of naturally occurring minerals is used to obtain past radiation doses, the responses of these minerals to both alpha and beta irradiations must be measured. In this paper a new parameter, the-b-value, is introduced to relate these two responses in the low-dose linear response regions. It is then shown that in simple models for the high-dose non-linear responses, the b-value concept can still be applied and that it can be determined in a straightforward manner using equivalent beta dose and equivalent alpha track length measurements. The b-value equivalent dose so determined may be used in the standard age equation for archaeological and geological materials without errors due to non-linearity. An example supporting the model is given.