THERMOLUMINESCENCE - POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS IN FORENSIC SCIENCE

• NCJ Number: 11679
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 18 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1973) Pages: 217-225
• Author(s): J D INGHAM; D D LAWSON
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 9 pages
• Grant Number(s): NAS7-100
• Sponsoring Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Admin
• Corporate Author: American Soc for Testing and Materials
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

REVIEW OF THERMOLUMINESCENCE (TL) APPLICATIONS, WITH EMPHASIS ON CURRENT METHODOLOGY FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE TL AS APPLIED TO SUCH MATERIALS AS GLASS AND SOIL SAMPLES.

Abstract

THERMOLUMINESCENCE (TL) IS THE EMISSION OF LIGHT THAT MAY OCCUR WHEN A MATERIAL IS HEATED TO TEMPERATURES BELOW INCANDESCENCE. THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF THESE LIGHT EMISSIONS IS PREVIOUS EXPOSURE OF THE MATERIAL TO NATURAL OR LABORATORY IONIZING RADIATION AT OR BELOW THE TEMPERATURE AT WHICH HEATING IS STARTED. FOR CRIMINALISTICS APPLICATIONS, TL RESPONSE FOR A SPECIFIC MATERIAL IS COMPARED WITH THE CURVE (SHOWING LIGHT INTENSITY VERSUS TEMPERATURE) OBTAINED UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS FOR ANOTHER SAMPLE OF THE SAME MATERIAL OF KNOWN ORIGIN. ESSENTIALLY IDENTICAL CURVES WILL INDICATE A COMMON ORIGIN. PROCEDURES FOR USING HIGH TEMPERATURE TL (ROOM TEMPERATURE TO 723 K) IN THIS TYPE OF COMPARISON ARE OUTLINED, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER DEFINING THE SCOPE OF APPLICATIONS AND IMPROVING TL METHODOLOGY ARE MADE. TL DOES APPEAR TO BE A USEFUL TECHNIQUE FOR THE INTERPRETATION AND EVALUATION OF CERTAIN TYPES OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE MATERIALS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED).