| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/R93247/01 |
| Title: |
Anomalous fading of luminescence in feldspar minerals: mechanisms and solutions |
| Principal Investigator: |
Lee, Professor M |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
School of Geographical & Earth Sciences |
| Organisation: |
University of Glasgow |
| Scheme: |
Fast Stream |
| Starts: |
12 May 2003 |
Ends: |
11 May 2006 |
Value (£): |
62,170
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Manufacturing |
Construction |
| Food and Drink |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Luminescence is produced by the movement of charge carriers between defects (traps and recombination centres) within crystals that have been exposed to ionising radiation. This phenomenon can be used for applications including retrospective radiation dosimetry, detecting irradiated food, assessing thermal damage to burnt concrete and quantifying the duration of burial of sediments. The use of feldspar minerals for some of these applications is severely compromised by the phenomenon of 'anomalous fading' whereby luminescence intensity spontaneously declines over time. Fading results from the loss of charge carriers from traps, possibly by quantum mechanical tunnelling, within which they should otherwise remain for --100,000-1,000,000 years. This project has two aims: (i) to undertake novel experiments to determine the physical mechanisms of anomalous fading and (ii) to develop solutions to enable feldspars to be reliably used in commercial and scientific applications. This work will utilise feldspars whose properties have been characterised at scales approaching those of traps and recombination centres. Luminescence studies will utilise standard techniques, including long-period dark storage, and a range of novel methods including laser time-domain spectroscopy and high-resolution scanning photo-stimulated luminescence. The applicants have internationally recognised expertise in all of these techniques. This research incorporates a number of areas of the EPSRC mission including optical & materials physics and environmental engineering.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.gla.ac.uk |