The Luminescence Facilities
The luminescence laboratory has three purpose built laboratories which are fully equipped for all stages of sample preparation and measurement. The sample preparation laboratory is used to isolate and clean the appropriate grain size mineral fractions for samples. All work is carried out under controlled darkroom conditions with specially adapted equipment to avoid unintentional exposure of samples to wither heat or light.
In the Instrument laboratory luminescence measurements are made with one of three fully calibrated computer driven Risø automated luminescence readers:-
- a latest generation Risø DA-15 is capable of both thermoluminescence (TL) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) using high powered laser diodes (both infra-red and blue/green).
- a Risø DA-15 in addition to the above is fittest with single grain laser attachment allowing the measurements of the luminescence signal from individual sand grains.
- a Risø DA-12 reader is used to measure TL and OSL via filtered halogen lamp.
All the above have calibrated strontium Beta source used to find an equivalent dose to the naturally accumulated. Additional equipments allows for the controlled radiation dosing dosing and controlled resetting (bleaching) of samples allowing sample behavioural studies to be undertaken.
The dosimetry Laboratory allows for laboratory based dosimetry measurements to be undertaken using a series of Daybreak alpha counters and a Risø beta counter. Field-based dosimetry is possible using an EG&G Micronmad multi-channel portable gamma spectrometer.