Optically stimulated luminescence signals of polymineral fine grains in the JSC Mars-1 soil simulant sample.

Abstract

The results of various experiments which characterise the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) signals from polymineral fine grains of a Martian soil simulant sample (JSC Mars-1) are presented. The blue-green stimulated luminescence signal has greater thermal stability than the infrared stimulated luminescence signal for pre-heat temperatures between 250 degrees C and 400 degrees C. Fading tests over a 2 month storage period at 20 degrees C indicate that in some aliquots of JSC Mars-1 both the blue-green stimulated luminescence and the infrared stimulated luminescence signals fade by as much as 50%, whereas in others there is no evidence of significant fading. Dose recovery experiments demonstrate that equivalent dose (measured/given) ratio varies from aliquot to aliquot, and the underestimation in dose is less than 5% for at least one aliquot, for both the infrared and blue-green stimulated luminescence signals.