Towards a fully automated instrument for the advanced characterisation of trapped-charge luminescence signals: The NAUTILUS proof-of-concept

A Risø TL/OSL reader and a Horiba Fluorolog-QM spectrofluorometer were coupled using an optical fibre bundle to form a novel instrument, the N ext-generation AU tomated T rapped charge I nduced LU minescence S pectroscopy (NAUTILUS) instrument. The combined capabilities of the two instruments forming the NAUTILUS open up the possibility to perform a large range of luminescence measurements to characterise radiation-induced luminescence signals. The NAUTILUS can carry out sequences of irradiation, preheating, annealing, and advanced luminescence measurements, such as photoluminescence (PL) or radiophotoluminescence (RPL) spectroscopy, PL at elevated temperature, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) stimulation and emission spectroscopy, and/or bleaching across the visible spectrum. The NAUTILUS also allows for nanosecond time-resolved PL or OSL measurement using pulsed lasers or diode sources. These measurements can be carried sequentially on up to 48 samples without the need to move the samples between instruments, thus improving both measurement reproducibility and throughput. The aim of this contribution is to demonstrate the capabilities of the NAUTILUS using well-known dosimetric materials, such as Al 2 O 3 :C,Mg, Al 2 O 3 :C, MgB 4 O 7 :Ce,Li, and Ag + -doped phosphate glass. By doing so, we demonstrate the NAUTILUS’ capability to perform in-situ irradiation, heating, and reliable advanced luminescence measurements, sequentially on up to 48 samples, with results in agreement with those reported in the literature. • NAUTILUS integrates a Risø TL/OSL reader with a spectrofluorometer to automate advanced luminescence measurements on up to 48 samples. • It reliably reproduces known PL, OSL, and RPL behaviours in standard dosimetric materials. • The system enables elevated-temperature PL and wavelength-dependent TL bleaching that were previously difficult to perform. • Advanced time-resolved capabilities enables the measurements of the lifetime of the F+ centre in Al2O3:C,Mg at 2.05 ns.