Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Isolation of Quartz Grains for Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) Dating of Quaternary Sediments for Paleoenvironmental Research
Published on: August 2, 2021
Optically stimulated luminescence dosimetry with gypsum wallboard (drywall)
Jeroen W Thompson1, Kevin E Burdette, Elizabeth L Inrig
1Department of Medical Physics and Applied Radiation Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main St West, Hamilton, ON, Canada L9H 6L6. thompjw@mcmaster.ca
Abstract:
Gypsum wallboard (drywall) represents an attractive target for retrospective dosimetry by optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) in the event of a radiological accident or malicious use of nuclear material. In this study, wallboard is shown to display a radiation-induced luminescence signal (RIS) as well as a natural background signal (NS), which is comparable in intensity to the RIS. Excitation and emission spectra show that maximum luminescence intensity is obtained for stimulation with blue light-emitting diodes (470 nm) and for detection in the ultraviolet region (290-370 nm). It is necessary to decrease the optical stimulation power dramatically in order to adequately separate the RIS from the interfering background signal. The necessary protocols are developed for accurately measuring the absorbed dose as low as 500 mGy and demonstrate that the RIS decays logarithmically with storage time, with complete erasure expected within 1-4 d.
Related Concept Videos
Masonry Cavity Walls
Maintaining a clean cavity during construction is...
Composite Masonry Walls
Photoluminescence: Applications
Thermal Insulation in Masonry Walls
External insulation can be applied using an Exterior Insulation and Finish System (EIFS), which involves affixing panels of plastic foam to the wall and covering them with a polymeric stucco reinforced with glass fiber mesh.

