Observations on the thermoluminescence signal induced by alpha radiation

Experimental observations of changes in thermoluminescence sensitivity of a polymineral fine-grain sample are reported. A repeat alpha regeneration ex periment, involving multiple cycles of heating and alpha irradiation reveal ed a sensitivity decrease. It was further investigated whether this effect is caused by irradiation or heating. Our experiments show that repeated the rmal treatments result in an increase in thermoluminescence (TL) sensitivit y. This is in contrast to the effect of cycles of alpha irradiation which l ed to a decrease in TL sensitivity. This decrease was found to be dependent on the alpha irradiation history. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All right s reserved.