A new method for obtaining the trap parameters of complex thermoluminescence glow peaks

A new method is described to obtain the trap parameters of thermoluminescence (TL) glow curves including several peaks. The method starts with obtaining the trap parameters of the higher temperature glow peak. The evaluation of the trap parameters of this peak starts with determining the order of kinetics b. Two different equations are developed to estimate b. Thereafter, the activation energy E (eV) and then the frequency factor S (s-1) or the pre-exponential factor S'' (s-1) of this peak are determined. The shape of this peak is then fitted to an equation of the order of kinetics depending on the determined value of b. Using the previously determined shape, the higher temperature peak is scaled up to fit the decreasing portion of the combined peak. The procedure is then repeated to account for each of the remaining peaks in the glow curve. (author)