Fit of second order thermoluminescence glow peaks using the logistic distribution function

A new thermoluminescence glow curve deconvolution (GCD) function is introduced which accurately describes second order thermoluminescence (TL) curves. The logistic asymmetric (LA) statistical probability function is used with the function variables being the maximum peak intensity (Im), the temperature of the maximum peak intensity (Tm) and the LA width parameter a2. An analytical expression is derived from which the activation energy E can be calculated as a function of Tm and the LA width parameter a2 with an accuracy of 2% or better. The accuracy of the fit was tested for E values ranging from 0.7 to 2.5 eV, for s values between 10(5) and 10(25) s(-1), and for trap occupation numbers no/N between 1 and 10(-6). The goodness of fit of the logistic asymmetric function is described by the Figure of Merit (FOM) which is found to be of the order of 10(-2). Preliminary results show that the GCD described here can easily be extended to the description of general order TL glow curves by varying the asymmetry parameter of the logistic asymmetric function. It is concluded that the TL kinetic analysis of first, second and general order TL glow curves can be performed with high accuracy and speed by using commercially available statistical packages that incorporate the Weibull and logistic asymmetric functions.