[The theory of thermoluminescence]

The interaction of stimulating radiation with matter produces defects which can be divided into two groups: 1. electronic defects, 2. ionic defects. The formation of defects is essentially determined by electronic processes and elastic impacts. The supply of energy in the form of heat makes possible a thermal stimulation the probability of which is characterized by a Boltzmann factor. Whereas the classical explications are based on thermodynamic or statistical considerations, the quantum mechanical calculation relates to non-radiative transitions from traps. For the radiating recombination a selective rule is valid which guarantees the conservation of energy and impulse. The phenomenological description of thermoluminescence makes use of the kinetic processes in the non-stationary case and allows in simple models the determination of trap parameters, such as activation energy or pre-exponential factor. The simple models can be extended by introducing thermally separated trap levels. If the kinetic balance equations are solved exactly with the aid of an analogic computer, the simulated Glow curves show a good correspondence with experimental curves.