Investigating the filling state of OSL detector traps with the optical sampling method

Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and thermoluminescence (TL) methods are commonly used in dosimetry of ionizing radiation and dating of archaeological and geological objects. A typical disadvantage of OSL detectors is signal loss over a longer time scale. In this article, we present a method of studying this phenomenon as well as monitoring the state of the detector by means of optical sampling. The method was used to determine the OSL signal loss (fading) characteristics of selected potassium feldspars.