Thermoluminescence glow curves in preheated feldspar samples: An interpretation based on random defect distributions

- TL glow curves for four types of preheated feldspar samples were measured.
- The experimental data is analyzed using two different methods within a model of localized electronic recombination.
- The model deals with random distribution of donor-acceptor pairs, with nearest-neighbor interaction.
- Low temperature TL signal for preheat below 260 °C is consistent with the presence of a continuous distribution of energies.
- A single trap characterized by a single activation energy E = (1.20 ± 0.09) eV at temperatures higher than 300 °C.

Thermoluminescence (TL) glow curves from feldspar samples have been studied extensively in luminescence dating and dosimetry applications. However, the mechanism responsible for their unusual shape and behavior in preheated samples is not well understood. This paper presents new experimental TL glow curves for four types of preheated feldspar samples; an orthoclase, a sanidine and two microclines. Both the preheat temperature and the duration of the preheat are varied, before measurement of the remnant TL glow curve. Kinetic analysis of the experimental results is carried out using a recently proposed physical kinetic model which describes localized electronic recombination in a random distribution of donor-acceptor pairs, with nearest-neighbor interaction. The experimental data are analyzed using two different methods within the model. In the first method one follows the development of the distribution of nearest neighbor distances for each of the four stages of the experiment, namely irradiation followed by heating to a temperature and holding the sample at this temperature for certain time, and finally measurement of the TL glow curve. In the second method the TL glow curves are analyzed by using a single adjustable parameter in the model, which characterizes the thermal history of the sample. Good agreement is found between the two methods. However, the second method is much simpler to use in practical situations, and in principle it can be applied for any thermally or optically pretreated feldspar sample.