Further studies on the relationship between IRSL and BLSL at relatively high temperatures for potassium-feldspar from sediments

Abstract

In optical dating of potassium-feldspar, the luminescence signals can be stimulated by both infrared (IR) light and blue light (BL). To develop reliable dating methods using different stimulation light sources for feldspars, it is important to understand the sources of the traps associated with the infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) and blue light stimulated luminescence (BLSL) and their relationship. In this study, we explored the luminescence characteristics of IRSL and BLSL at different stimulation temperatures (from 60°C to 200°C) and their relationship based on five sets of experiments, i.e. post-IR BLSL, post-BL IRSL experiments, pulse annealing test, dose–response test and laboratory fading rate test. Our results suggest that the luminescence characteristics of IRSL and BLSL and their relationship are dependent on stimulation temperature. For IR stimulation at a relatively high temperature of 200°C, at least two components of IRSL signals are involved in the process. One component of IRSL signals can be easily bleached by BL stimulation at 60°C, while the other is relatively hard to be bleached by BL stimulation at 60°C. The two components have different luminescence properties, such as thermal stability, dose–response and laboratory fading rate.