Optically-Stimulated Luminescence is a late Quaternary dating technique used to date the last time quartz sediment was exposed to light.As sediment is transported by wind, water, or ice, it is exposed to sunlight and zeroed of any previous luminescence signal.Luminescence dating typically refers to a suite of radiometric geologic dating techniques whereby the time elapsed since the last exposure of some silicate minerals to light or heat can be measured.
Through geologic time, quartz minerals accumulate a luminescence signal as ionizing radiation excites electrons within parent nuclei in the crystal lattice.
This issue brings together contributions on new and innovative luminescence dating methods and the latest findings related to Earth-surface processes and human existence. Excalibur Mineral Corporation Gemological Institute of America International Centre for Diffraction Data International Mineralogical Association Isotop X PANalytical Proto XRD RFG2018 Conference Savillex GUEST EDITORS: Michael E.
Zolensky (NASA Johnson Space Center, USA) and Monica M.
When the crystal is stimulated by light or heat, the electrons in the traps are evicted into the conduction band (Eviction).
From there, they can recombine with holes at the luminescence centers (L), resulting in the emission of a photon of light – the luminescence signal that is observed in the laboratory.
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