Temperature dependence of luminescence from zircon, calcite, Iceland spar and apatite

Radioluminescence and cathodoluminescence have been used to separate emission bands with different non-radiative activation energies and/or different excited state lifetimes. The test materials were zircon, calcite, Iceland spar and apatite containing Mn or rare earth ions. It is noted that, even for the same impurity site, the line spectra differ in their quenching behaviour depending upon the upper states of the luminescence. The relevance of such effects for detailed computer modelling of thermoluminescence kinetics are noted. (author)