thermoluminescence
Radiation-induced light emission
Thermoluminescence is the emission of light from certain materials when heated, caused by the release of energy stored from previous exposure to radiation.
The phenomenon is used in archaeological and geological dating: minerals in pottery or sediment accumulate radiation damage over time, and heating them releases light proportional to their age.
Thermoluminescence dating placed the artifact at 3,000 years old.
Temporal ordering of events
- potteryFired clay objects
- ceramicsHardened clay objects
- quartzCrystalline silicon dioxide
- feldsparSilicate mineral group
sediments · artifacts · geochronology · paleolithic · neolithic · stratigraphy · prehistory · antiquity
Crystalline silicon dioxide
- feldsparSilicate mineral group
- zirconZirconium silicate crystal
- calciteCrystalline calcium carbonate
- crystallographyStudy of atomic lattices
lattice · defects · silicates · crystalline · apatite · impurities · vacancies · inclusions
Heatless delayed light emission
- fluorescenceLight emitted after absorption
- emissionDischarged substance or act
- radianceGlowing luminous quality
- afterglowLingering light or feeling
intensity · wavelength · spectrum · photons · recombination
Measured heat intensity
Producing charged particles
- dosimeterExposure measurement device
- detectorDevice that senses
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
- readoutDisplayed recorded data
chronology
Temporal ordering of events
feldspar · sediments · artifacts · geochronology · paleolithic · neolithic · stratigraphy · prehistory · antiquity · calibration
quartz
Crystalline silicon dioxide
crystallography · lattice · defects · silicates · crystalline · apatite · impurities · vacancies · inclusions
phosphorescence
Heatless delayed light emission
- fluorescenceLight emitted after absorption
- emissionDischarged substance or act
- radianceGlowing luminous quality
afterglow · intensity · wavelength · spectrum · photons · recombination
temperature
Measured heat intensity
- furnaceEnclosed heat-producing structure
- annealingHeat-softening of metals
- kilnOven for hardening clay
preheat · regeneration · sensitization · zeroing · bleaching
ionizing
Producing charged particles
- dosimeterExposure measurement device
- detectorDevice that senses
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
- luminescencefluorescence, phosphorescence, photoluminescence, glow, light emission
- ancient datingcarbon dating, radiocarbon, dendrochronology, stratigraphy, radiometric dating
- Archaeometrychemical analysis, dating methods, lab analysis, spectroscopy, carbon dating
- crystal propertieshardness, luster, cleavage, fracture, streak
- Dating Methodsradiocarbon dating, carbon dating, carbon-14 dating, radiometric dating, absolute dating
- conservationconservation, wildlife, endangered, habitat, sanctuary
thermoluminescencephotoluminescence
Light emission after absorption
chemiluminescence · electroluminescence · bioluminescence · phosphorescence · fluorescence
illuminate, luminous, thermal, thermometer, luminescent, luminescence, bioluminescence, thermodynamic, chemiluminescence