Different components of the quartz OSL signal resolved by the TM-OSL method

Highlights: • OSL components in quartz can be experimentally separated by the TM-OSL method. • At least three components can be distinguished in the wavelength range 620-450 nm. • Dose response curves can be investigated for the individual OSL components. -- Abstract: Recently it has been shown that the thermally modulated optically stimulated luminescence (TMOSL) method, which is based on optical stimulation during linear heating of the sample, can be used successfully to extract the individual OSL components during the experimental stage. Such a possibility is important in OSL dating of sediments, where using the OSL component that is most easily bleached in nature is the prerequisite for correct results. The TM-OSL measurements help also to correlate the optical depth of a trap with its thermal depth which enables to determine the thermal stability of traps active in the OSL process. This is especially significant in thermochronometry where the prediction of the temperature and time dependence of the stimulation processes in mineral grains is the main problem. It has been showed that the fast component of OSL in quartz can be separated from the others by optical stimulation with the wavelength of 620 nm. Here, it is shown how the slower OSL components in quartz can be measured individually using the TM-OSL method with the wavelengths of stimulation light in the range 450–620 nm. The growth curves for these components and results of the first tests of their thermal stability are presented.