Monte-Carlo method for determining the quenching function from variable heating rate measurements

In thermoluminescence (TL) measurements radiative recombination takes place at various temperatures. Typically, the quantum efficiency of luminescence decreases with increasing temperature. We call this mechanism the thermal quenching. There is no simple method to ‘restore’ unquenched TL data. This paper presents an algorithm, based on the Monte-Carlo method, for calculating the quenching function and restoring the unquenched TL curve. For this purpose we use a series of TL glow curves measured at the same initial conditions with variable heating rates. The method is quite general and no particular kinetic model of TL need to be assumed. The reliability of the method is tested using computer generated TL glow curves obeying the simple trap model (STM) kinetics.