Prescott Environmental Luminescence Laboratory
The Prescott Environmental Luminescence Laboratory is an interdisciplinary research facility that brings together research expertise from the Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing and the Institute for Mineral and Energy Resources.
PELLprovidesworld-leadingexpertise in“NovelFluorescence” – a breakthrough innon-contactreal-timematerial identificationusing optical spectrometry techniques,applicable both terrestrially and in Space–andhas unique capabilities inradiation science. These includemonitoring ofionizingradiation fields,luminescence dosimetry forthe detection of prior exposure to radiation,personnel dosimetry,Geochronology,environmental radiation dose-ratemeasurement,andmeasurement of the concentration and micron-scale spatial localization ofradioisotopes.
The team is eager to engage in collaborative efforts, contributing to both groundbreaking research and the design and development of products. Additionally, we offer access to an extensive array of analysis techniques, covering optical properties like reflection/absorption photometry, as well as micro-analysis methods such as electron-optical and mass spectrometry.
-
Novel Fluorescence
PELL has created the world’s most versatile fluorescence analysis facility, capable of cryogenic-to-high temperature measurement, excitation mapping, and pump-probe (multiphoton) fluorescence over an excitation wavelength range fromUV-MWIR, and detection capabilities over a similar range, including sensitive fluorescence mapping and lifetime measurements.
Using oursuite oftunablelasers(deliveringhard UV to the mid-infrared-UV-MWIR), spectrometers, imagersand fluorimeters,PELL is the global pioneer ofresearchinto new modalities offluorescenceanalysis made accessibleusing thesemodern technologies. Thisinnovative“Novel Fluorescence”(NF)capability is openingnewfields of application enabled byreal-time, stand-off sensing;NF enablesboth detection and identification of a wide range of materials,including for mineral processing control,resourceanalysis inSpace, and biological and chemical analysis, for example monitoring fuel for aging and contamination.
In addition to NF research and sensor development, the Laboratory explores fluorescence properties of newly designed materials, such as opticalfiber, fluorescent taggants, and upconversion glasses.The facility both enables fluorescence discovery and characterization, giving thedeep understanding required for the design of novel fluorescence-based field deployable sensors.
-
Radiogenic Luminescence
Located within theSchool of Physical Sciences and the Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing, thePELLfacility, and its spin-off, the Centre for Radiation, Research,Education and Innovation (CRREI)containsamongthe most comprehensive suites of radiogenic luminescence research equipment in the world.Luminescence dosimetry techniques arehighly versatile, applying both to Geochronology, accurately measuring ages from near-present day to approximately 500,000 years ago,and to Retrospective Population and Forensic Dosimetry in the present day, being able toquantify absorbed doses as low as a fraction of one day’s background radiation.
ThePELLfacilityincludes the world’s most sensitive TL (thermoluminescence) spectrometer, aPhoton-CountingImagingSystem (PCIS),multiplestate-of-the-art TL/OSL/IRSL(optically-stimulated luminescenceand infrared-SL) Risöreaders, specialized apparatus for the measurement of luminescence kinetics andTL/OSLsignal stability, and apparatus for Food Irradiation detection, including custom POSL and ESR spectrometers.
Our research is advancingradiogenic luminescence forenvironmentaldosimetryand radiation monitoringand analysisandextendingthe applicability of luminescence analysisto new materials.
-
Radionuclide Measurement
The monitoringand precise quantificationof radionuclide concentrations is an integral part ofmanydating methods,since the deposition and decay of radioactive elements can be tracked as a time-dependent signature,andthe accrued energy deposited from the radiation provides various radiogenic luminescence “clocks.”The sameradioisotopemeasurement techniques are applicable for the evaluation of mineral processing of ore containing NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material) nuclides, for retrospective population dosimetry following a radiological eventandfor environmental dose-rate evaluation.
The PELL capabilities include alpha, beta,and gamma-ray measurement facilities,including both commercially available and custom-built apparatus for specialisedrequirements.
Thegamma-ray facility includes developmental scintillation detectors for drone deployment, and multiple (7)coaxial and well configuration HPGe detectorsfor gamma spectrometry, including threestate-of-the-art SAGe well detectorsfor small sample measurements. The SAGe devicesare best available for the measurement of low levels of gamma-emitting radionuclides.Thesmallsamplesizesandhighsensitivity allow monitoring of laboratory-scale mineralogical process research which would not be possiblewith conventional detector types, and the multiple detectors give fast turnaround and great versatility for research.
Alpha-particle analysis capabilities include multiple (12) PIPSisensors forstate-of-the-art AlphaSpectroscopy,highlysensitivescintillationcountingcapabilityfor total alphameasurement utilizingTSAC (thick source alpha counting)techniques,micron-scalespatially resolved alphaparticleautoradiography, which allowspoint of originanalysis ofalpha mission formineralogy, and alpha-sensitive radiation sensitive opticalfibreprobes for alpha activity monitoring in fluids.Beta countingcapabilities include radiation-sensitive opticalfibreprobesfor distributedbetasensing and a state-of-the-art beta spectrometer.
-
Commercial Services
We can support your research and provide access to a range of additional and supporting analysis techniques including mass spectrometry, electron microscopy and alpha spectrometry.
The facility
The Environmental Luminescence facility brings together an apparatus suite which enables state-of-the-art Geochronology and a great range of research possibilities.
- 3D TL Spectrometer - Interferometer-based, 200-720 nm sensitive range for temperatures up to 600°C - the world's most sensitive TL spectrometer
- Photon-Counting Imaging System (PCIS) - developed in collaboration with ANU and to be transferred to IPAS on long-term loan. An LN-cooled silicon CCD camera is interfaced with a Risø OSL/TL-DA-15 with fast (f0.9) reflective optics to enable exploitation of the full 200-1050 nm sensitive range of the CCD.
- R1: a Risø TL-DA-8 with cooled red (S20) PMT module optimised for red TL.
- R2: a Risø TL/OSL DA-20 with Single-Grain Module with green and IR lasers, dedicated to Single-Grain Optical Dating.
- R3: a Risø TL/OSL DA-20 with fast photon timer module for time-resolved OSL (POSL), and Single-Grain Module with green and IR lasers.
- R4: a Risø OSL/TL-DA-12 for blue TL, with blue/UV (bialkali) PMT, and a 470 nm LED pack for optical stimulation
- Elsec Automated OSL/IRSL Reader Type 9010
- A "Single-aliquot" fading chamber for anomalous fading investigations (gift from Prof Dave Huntley, Simon Fraser Ӱֱ, Canada).
- Modified "Elsec" TL glow oven for Kinetics; this is optimised for low count rate TL with a low-noise EMI 9635QA PMT and is capable of heating rates as low as 0.0008 k/s.
- Princeton Instruments Spectrofluorometer (PIXIS 256 detector) enables fluorescence analysis.
- Single-photon avalanche photodiodes (free-space and fibre-coupled).
Sample collection in the field
- A water-cooled "Hilti" coring drill is used for sampling building materials and lithic materials.
- Sediment samples are collected using coring cylinders.
Field dosimetry is performed using:
- Two calibrated 27 cubic inch NaI portable gamma-ray spectrometers
- TLD Capsule Dosimetry.
Laboratory in-house dosimetry includes:
- Four LN-cooled high-resolution Ge-gamma ray spectrometers
- Six alpha-counters for thick-source alpha counting
In addition, we routinely use external providers for ICPMS/OES, XRF (K), and neutron activation and delayed neutron activation.
Sample preparations
Well-equipped sample preparation darkrooms include separate areas for field kit, a "saw room" with masonry saw, Buehler diamond wafering slow-saw and water-cooled coring drill, and a preparation lab dedicated to the extraction of mineral grains; apparatus includes 38 mm and 100 mm micromesh sieve stacks, a facility for batch density separation using lithium heteropolytungstate, Franz magnetic separator, centrifuge, ultrasonic baths, hotplates, precision electronic balances, drying ovens, a tube oven and wide range of laboratory glassware.
Irradiations
Alpha (Am241) and beta (Sr90/Y90) particle irradiations are administered by sources either mounted within the four Risø¸ automated luminescence readers, or in stand-alone automated irradiators. These include two Elsec "6-position" alpha irradiators, an Elsec automated alpha irradiator Type 9010, two Elsec Type 9010automated beta irradiators, two Daybreak automated beta irradiators, and a Littlemore automated beta irradiator. In addition, a set of free standing Sr90/Y90 sources with activities ranging from 0.7 MBq to 1.5GBq and a free-standing 14 MBq Am241 alpha source are available for purpose-configured experiments on Elsec readers or within lead castles.
Ancillary apparatus includes a 1000W Oriel solar simulator, a comprehensive set of Schott, Ealing and Hoya filters, four microprocessor-controlled ovens, lasers (UV to NIR), binocular microscopes, pyroelectric radiometers, and calibrated Si photodiodes.
The Laboratory space exceeds 200 m2, with individual booths and rooms for separate apparatus within a common darkroom, and services including adjustable intensity safe-light options (red and orange), reticulated vacuum, ultra-high purity nitrogen, cooling water and deionised water.
Group members
Professor Nigel Spooner
Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS)
The Ӱֱ of Adelaide,AUSTRALIA5005
Telephone:+61 (0)8 831 34852
Email:nigel.spooner@adelaide.edu.au
Professor Nigel Spooner
A/Professor Tony Hooker
Dr Martina Demuro
ARC Future Fellow
Luminescence dating of Middle Pleistocene archaeological records in Southwest Europe
A/Professor Dr Lee Arnold
Leader of Mawson Optical Dating and Archaeological Luminescence Laboratory
Optical dating of archaeological, palaeontological and palaeoenvironmental sediment archives.
Thomas de Prinse
Postdoctoral Researcher
Dr Cornelia Wilske
Postdoctoral Researcher
Mineralogical and fluid age dating and complex data analysis.
Dr Christopher Kalnins
Ӱֱ Research Fellow
High resolution detection of radionuclide isotopes distributions.
Dr James McEvoy
Dr Trinh Nguyen
Rhianna Power
Jillian Moffatt
Postdoctoral Researcher
Studying novel fluorescence techniques for real-time mineral sensing.
Daniele Questiaux
Research Fellow
Radionuclide (Po-210) analysis of mineral ores using alpha spectrometry and alpha spectroscopy.
Kathryn McDonnell
Researcher/Student
Contact Kathryn
Dr Owen Williams
Visiting Senior Fellow
Thermoluminescence and optically stimulated luminescence mechanisms.
Dr Richard Lewis
Visiting Senior Fellow
Dr Barnaby Smith
Visiting Senior Fellow