Thermoluminescence studies of some terrestrial and extraterrestrial materials

Khazal, Kassim Abdul Redha (1977). Thermoluminescence studies of some terrestrial and extraterrestrial materials. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

Following a short description of the thermoluminescence kinetics and the experimental techniques and procedures used during the course of this project, the thesis reports on thermoluminescence studies of materials of terrestrial and extraterrestrial origin. The terrestrial materials studied include geological samples such as natural Brazilian quartz and Oklo materials (Gabon, Africa). The extraterrestrial materials are lunar soil samples collected from inside and outside the shadows of certain Apollo 17 boulders.
The experiments described in this thesis are:
1. The study of the changes in the TL sensitivity and sensitisation in crystalline quartz induced by varying doses of protons and gamma-rays. The changes are interpreted as being caused by damage to the Al/alkali recombination centre.
2. The study of a strong dependence of the TL sensitivity and sensitisation upon the temperature at which the quartz sample is irradiated. The temperature effect results in a variation of a factor of \(\sim\)5 in the TL glow intensity over the temperature of.irradiation range from 293°K down to 113°K with an X-ray dose of 5krad and a factor of \(\sim\)10\(^3\) over the temperature range from 293°K down to 178°K with a gamma-dose of 600krad. An explanation of the temperature effect is presented and its implication on TL-dating is discussed.
3. The study of natural and artifically induced TL of some Oklo samples as a function of distance from the edge of a reaction zone to compare the TL characteristics of the samples from inside and outside the reaction zone and to assess the degree of radiation damage suffered by the core samples as a result of the occurrence of the nuclear reaction. The age of the Oklo natural nuclear reactor is calculated, by the fission-track analysis method, to be 1.73 x 10\(^9\) yr.
4. Attempts to calculate the shade temperature of certain Apollo 17 boulders, and duration yield 256°K and 6.5 x 10\(^4\) yr respectively, based on a dose rate of 10rad yr\(^-1\) in the shade.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):