Deep-trap model for thermoluminescence: emptying stage calculation and comparison with experimental data

Abstract In a former paper ( Fain et al., 1994 ), a general TL model based on deep-trap competition was proposed, but only a preliminary qualitative approach was made for the heating stage. The purpose of the present paper is to present more accurate calculations and their comparison with experimental data. For the sake of simplicity, only the one TL-trap model is considered here. During heating, the following occurrences are taken into consideration after the thermal release of one electron: (i) retrapping on a TL-trap; (ii) capture in a deep trap; (iii) recombination with a spatially correlated hole; (iv) recombination with a non correlated hole centre. Using the “quasi-equilibrium approximation”, a set of two differential equations governing the kinetics is proposed. Their integration allows for the prediction of the shapes of glow curves and growth curves. Satisfying fits were obtained with a large range of experimental results.