Some novel features of post-500°C heating blue stimulated OSL emission of fired natural quartz

Abstract In this study, some novel features of the post 500°C blue stimulated optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) of fired geological quartz are reported. Different observations (i) pulse annealing and (ii) impact of bleaching on high temperature TL glow peak suggested 510°C (heating rate of 2°C/s) TL peak trap to be responsible for the observed emission. The dosimetric properties of this emission were seen to make its applicability for dose assessment till kGy range. The signal was seen to be easily bleachable, reaching background value within 100 s with blue light at 125°C. The signal qualified all the tests (i) reproducibility, (ii) negligible recuperation and (iii) accuracy of dose recovery needed for reliable assessment of the radiation dose with modified Single aliquot regenerative (SAR) protocol. Considering the bleachability and high dynamic dose range of this signal, it has the potential to stretch the upper dose limit of dating by one order of magnitude than possible with conventional OSL, corresponding to 325°C TL trap. So, combining all the results, the signal reported here could be very useful for dosimetric applications involving measurement of high radiation dose, like dating.