熱釋光測年法

熱釋光測年法，或稱熱螢光定年法，是利用熱釋光效應（thermoluminescence）測量含有結晶體的礦物或燒製文物，自加熱或燒制後經過時間的一種方法。利用熱釋光效應，可以根據樣本所釋放光子的能量判斷出樣本自從上一次被加熱後至今所接受的環境背景輻射能量之和，因而估算自加熱時間點至今經過的時間。

Figure 1: The three stages of thermoluminescence as outlined by Aitken (1985, 1998) and applied to a quartz grain (Keizars, 2008b)

Figure 2: The process of recharging and discharging thermoluminescent signal, as applied to beach sands. (modified from Aitken, 1998; Keizars, 2008a)

Figure 3: Thermoluminescence signature lost during migration of two sand grain sizes (Keizars, 2008).

Figure 4: Illustrated method of passively monitoring sand input (Keizars, 2003).

參見

• 放射測年法

更多閱讀

• GlobalNet.co.uk （頁面存檔備份，存於互聯網檔案館）, Quaternary TL Surveys - Guide to thermoluminescence date measurement
• Aitken, M.J., Thermoluminescence Dating, Academic Press, London (1985) – Standard text for introduction to the field. Quite complete and rather technical, but well written and well organized. There is a second edition.
• Aitken, M.J., Introduction to Optical Dating, Oxford University Press (1998) – Good introduction to the field.
• Keizars, K.Z. 2003. NRTL as a method of analysis of sand transport along the coast of the St. Joseph Peninsula, Florida. GAC/MAC 2003. Presentation: Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.
• JCRonline.org, Ķeizars, Z., Forrest, B., Rink, W.J. 2008. Natural Residual Thermoluminescence as a Method of Analysis of Sand Transport along the Coast of the St. Joseph Peninsula, Florida. Journal of Coastal Research, 24: 500-507.
• Keizars, Z. 2008b. NRTL trends observed in the sands of St. Joseph Peninsula, Florida. Queen's University. Presentation: Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
• Liritzis, I., 2011. Surface Dating by Luminescence: An Overview. Geochronometria, 38(3): 292-302.
• Antiquity.ac.uk, Rink, W. J., Bartoll, J. 2005. Dating the geometric Nasca lines in the Peruvian desert. Antiquity, 79: 390-401.