Thermoluminescence in ZnS: Pr and ZnS:(Mn, Pr) Phosphors

ABSTRACT With the view to understand the phenomena of luminescence in ZnS, a systematic studied of thermoluminescence of UV (3650 Å) irradiated ZnS doped with Pr 3+ and Mn 2+ ions has been undertaken. Thermoluminescence (TL) studies are made from liquid nitrogen temperature to above room temperature. Trap depth of various glow peaks has been calculated employing three different methods of analysis, i.e., the initial rise method, Curie's method, and the three different heating rates method. The values of decay constants have been calculated from decay curves. The lifetime of the electron in the trap and the capture cross sections have also been calculated.