A new system for measuring optically stimulated luminescence from quartz samples

Abstract

An optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) unit based on a halogen lamp light source has been developed for the stimulation of quartz samples. In addition to the halogen light source, the OSL unit incorporates an infra-red diode array for infra-red-stimulated luminescence (IRSL) measurements of feldspar samples and for screening the purity of quartz. The new OSL unit can be fitted directly onto the automated Risø TL dating apparatus. The stimulation spectrum filtered from the halogen lamp delivers about 16mW cm^-2 at the sample. Preliminary OSL studies of quartz samples are described, and dating results are presented.