Electron trapping model of u.v. induced thermoluminescence in polyethylene

An electron trapping model is proposed to explain the previously observed thermoluminescence output from polyethylene exposed to ultraviolet radiation. Ionization of luminescent molecules by a double excitation mechanism is assumed to be followed by competition for the ejected electrons between shallow traps and radiation-produced alkyl radicals, with electrons in shallow traps also being untrapped by the incident radiation. It is shown that this model not only explains all the available data on thermoluminescence induced by ultraviolet radiation but also correlates well with the very different data on thermoluminescence and alkyl radical production induced by true ionizing radiation.