Comparative study of kinetic parameters induced by different excitation sources: using a novel and user-friendly glow curve deconvolution spreadsheet

In this work, we performed a comparison study between the kinetic parameters associated to the KCl:Eu²⁺ crystal, which is excited separately with ultraviolet light and a source of beta particles. To obtain the kinetic parameters easily (peak and trap parameters), the glow curve deconvolution technique was implemented in a novel and friendly spreadsheet, the KCl:Eu²⁺ crystal was used as an example. Also, was employed a new mathematical equation to realize the glow curve deconvolution (based on Kiti’s original expressions) and was designed a low cost electronic configuration was implemented. In literature it is reported that, regardless of the excitation source, the glow curves of KCl:Eu²⁺ crystal have a similar shape. However, when the overlapped peaks are analyzed in detail (using their kinetic parameters), only some peaks of both glow curves have the same kinetic parameters. Some peaks appear only when beta particles are used, while other peaks appear only when UV light is used. The similarity between the glow curves, produced with ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, could indicate a common damage mechanism behind both irradiation processes.