Thermoluminescence apparatus using PT100 resistors as the heating and sensing elements

A novel apparatus for obtaining thermoluminescence glow curves is described. Two standard PT100 precision resistors, which have a well-known dependence of resistance on temperature, are connected back to back to provide a sensing and heating element. The resulting hot finger has very low thermal mass, is nonreactive, and is inexpensive. With dry nitrogen gas-flow cooling, an operational range of -50 to 450 degrees C is achievable. A tailored control circuit which is easily calibrated drives the heating element, and temperature ramps are implemented in software. The simple design permits the use of modularly interchangeable hot fingers for rapid measurement of many samples.