Progress exploring the characteristics of yellow stimulated luminescence on potassium feldspar

We investigate the characteristics of low-temperature yellow stimulated luminescence (YSL), to compare its utility for dating with infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) stimulated at 50 °C (IR₅₀), post-IR₅₀ yellow stimulated luminescence (pIR-YSL) and pIRIR₂₉₀. Altogether, eleven samples from a range of depositional environments and known ages were tested. Thermal stability, bleachability, dose recovery, fading tests and equivalent dose estimation were undertaken. The pIR-YSL signal is stable up to 150 °C but susceptible to thermal transfer at higher temperatures and both the pIR-YSL and YSL₅₀ signals bleach out at a rate and extent that is similar to the IR₅₀ signal. Dose recovery tests on four of the young intermediate samples illustrate that the pIR-YSL signal can be both recovered and fully reset. Fading tests show that all three signals suffer from significant fading and equivalent dose estimations of the saturated samples IR₅₀, IR-YSL and YSL₅₀ signals significantly underestimate relative to the pIRIR₂₉₀ signal. Elevated temperature signal combinations are additionally evaluated with the aim of further understanding the effect of elevated temperatures on the fading rate and ultimately the utility of YSL signals for dating.