On the general-order kinetics of the thermoluminescence glow peak and the calculation of parameters from glow curves

Abstract

It has been shown by a new approach that the equation which describes general-order kinetics is an interpolating function between analogous equations for first- and second-order kinetics. A new method for calculation of parameters is proposed. The method is based on the determination of the glow curve maximum, and the effective values of half-width and part of the half-width on the higher temperature side. The relation for the symmetry factor as a function of the corresponding order of kinetics I and the correction factor Delta is obtained. Approximate symmetry factor function is derived which enables analytical calculation of the parameters: activation energy E, order of kinetics I, and preexponential factor s((t)). An iterative procedure is developed for more precise calculation of these parameters. The new method for calculation of these parameters is checked for some characteristic values of the parameters. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.