Numerical model for thermoluminescence of MgO

The luminescence emitted from magnesium oxide (MgO) is complex and shows a variety of different components with diverse physical properties. This complexity is explained by the variety of defects in MgO that are either intrinsic (e.g., oxygen vacancies) or related to impurity atoms (e.g., Cr, Fe, Mn). This paper provides a mathematical description of thermoluminescence mechanisms that have been observed in previously published experiments. An attempt to produce a self-consistent general model of magnesium oxide luminescence behaviour (thermoluminescence) is presented. Results from a numerical simulation of MgO electronic system are described. The processes of choosing and testing the numerical parameters are described in detail and results of the modelling are compared to a wide range of laboratory measurements of several different natural magnesium oxide samples. The model comprises five electron trapping centres and one luminescence (recombination) centre.