Prescott Environmental Luminescence Laboratory

The Prescott Environmental Luminescence Laboratory is an interdisciplinary research facility that brings together research expertise from the Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing and the Institute for Mineral and Energy Resources.

PELL听provides听world-leading听expertise in听鈥淣ovel听Fluorescence鈥 鈥 a breakthrough in听non-contact听real-time听material identification听using optical spectrometry techniques,听applicable both terrestrially and in Space听鈥撎齛nd听has unique capabilities in听radiation science. These include听monitoring of听ionizing听radiation fields,听luminescence dosimetry for听the detection of prior exposure to radiation,听personnel dosimetry,听Geochronology,听environmental radiation dose-rate听measurement,听and听measurement of the concentration and micron-scale spatial localization of听radioisotopes.

The team is eager to engage in collaborative efforts, contributing to both groundbreaking research and the design and development of products. Additionally, we offer access to an extensive array of analysis techniques, covering optical properties like reflection/absorption photometry, as well as micro-analysis methods such as electron-optical and mass spectrometry.

  • Novel Fluorescence

    PELL has created the world鈥檚 most versatile fluorescence analysis facility, capable of cryogenic-to-high temperature measurement, excitation mapping, and pump-probe (multiphoton) fluorescence over an excitation wavelength range from听UV-MWIR, and detection capabilities over a similar range, including sensitive fluorescence mapping and lifetime measurements.听

    Using our听suite of听tunable听lasers听(delivering听hard UV to the mid-infrared听-听UV-MWIR), spectrometers, imagers听and fluorimeters,听PELL is the global pioneer of听research听into new modalities of听fluorescence听analysis made accessible听using these听modern technologies. This听innovative听鈥淣ovel Fluorescence鈥澨(NF)听capability is opening听new听fields of application enabled by听real-time, stand-off sensing;听NF enables听both detection and identification of a wide range of materials,听including for mineral processing control,听resource听analysis in听Space, and biological and chemical analysis, for example monitoring fuel for aging and contamination.

    In addition to NF research and sensor development, the Laboratory explores fluorescence properties of newly designed materials, such as optical听fiber, fluorescent taggants, and upconversion glasses.听The facility both enables fluorescence discovery and characterization, giving the听deep understanding required for the design of novel fluorescence-based field deployable sensors.

  • Radiogenic Luminescence

    Located within the听School of Physical Sciences and the Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing, the听PELL听facility, and its spin-off, the Centre for Radiation, Research,听Education and Innovation (CRREI)听contains听among听the most comprehensive suites of radiogenic luminescence research equipment in the world.听Luminescence dosimetry techniques are听highly versatile, applying both to Geochronology, accurately measuring ages from near-present day to approximately 500,000 years ago,听and to Retrospective Population and Forensic Dosimetry in the present day, being able to听quantify absorbed doses as low as a fraction of one day鈥檚 background radiation.

    The听PELL听facility听includes the world鈥檚 most sensitive TL (thermoluminescence) spectrometer, a听Photon-Counting听Imaging听System (PCIS),听multiple听state-of-the-art TL/OSL/IRSL听(optically-stimulated luminescence听and infrared-SL) Ris枚听readers, specialized apparatus for the measurement of luminescence kinetics and听TL/OSL听signal stability, and apparatus for Food Irradiation detection, including custom POSL and ESR spectrometers.

    Our research is advancing听radiogenic luminescence for听environmental听dosimetry听and radiation monitoring听and analysis听and听extending听the applicability of luminescence analysis听to new materials.

  • Radionuclide Measurement

    The monitoring听and precise quantification听of radionuclide concentrations is an integral part of听many听dating methods,听since the deposition and decay of radioactive elements can be tracked as a time-dependent signature,听and听the accrued energy deposited from the radiation provides various radiogenic luminescence 鈥渃locks.鈥澨齌he same听radioisotope听measurement techniques are applicable for the evaluation of mineral processing of ore containing NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material) nuclides, for retrospective population dosimetry following a radiological event听and听for environmental dose-rate evaluation.

    The PELL capabilities include alpha, beta,听and gamma-ray measurement facilities,听including both commercially available and custom-built apparatus for specialised听requirements.

    The听gamma-ray facility includes developmental scintillation detectors for drone deployment, and multiple (7)听coaxial and well configuration HPGe detectors听for gamma spectrometry, including three听state-of-the-art SAGe well detectors听for small sample measurements. The SAGe devices听are best available for the measurement of low levels of gamma-emitting radionuclides.听The听small听sample听sizes听and听high听sensitivity allow monitoring of laboratory-scale mineralogical process research which would not be possible听with conventional detector types, and the multiple detectors give fast turnaround and great versatility for research.

    Alpha-particle analysis capabilities include multiple (12) PIPSi听sensors for听state-of-the-art Alpha听Spectroscopy,听highly听sensitive听scintillation听counting听capability听for total alpha听measurement utilizing听TSAC (thick source alpha counting)听techniques,听micron-scale听spatially resolved alpha听particle听autoradiography, which allows听point of origin听analysis of听alpha mission for听mineralogy, and alpha-sensitive radiation sensitive optical听fibre听probes for alpha activity monitoring in fluids.听Beta counting听capabilities include radiation-sensitive optical听fibre听probes听for distributed听beta听sensing and a state-of-the-art beta spectrometer.

  • Commercial Services

    We can support your research and provide access to a range of additional and supporting analysis techniques including mass spectrometry, electron microscopy and alpha spectrometry.

    The facility

    The Environmental Luminescence facility brings together an apparatus suite which enables state-of-the-art Geochronology and a great range of research possibilities.

    • 3D TL Spectrometer - Interferometer-based, 200-720 nm sensitive range for temperatures up to 600掳C - the world's most sensitive TL spectrometer
    • Photon-Counting Imaging System (PCIS) - developed in collaboration with ANU and to be transferred to IPAS on long-term loan. An LN-cooled silicon CCD camera is interfaced with a Ris酶 OSL/TL-DA-15 with fast (f0.9) reflective optics to enable exploitation of the full 200-1050 nm sensitive range of the CCD.
    • R1: a Ris酶 听TL-DA-8 with cooled red (S20) PMT module optimised for red TL.
    • R2: a Ris酶 TL/OSL DA-20 with Single-Grain Module with green and IR lasers, dedicated to Single-Grain Optical Dating.
    • R3: a Ris酶 TL/OSL DA-20 with fast photon timer module for time-resolved OSL (POSL), and Single-Grain Module with green and IR lasers.
    • R4: a Ris酶 OSL/TL-DA-12 for blue TL, with blue/UV (bialkali) PMT, and a 470 nm LED pack for optical stimulation
    • Elsec Automated OSL/IRSL Reader Type 9010
    • A "Single-aliquot" fading chamber for anomalous fading investigations (gift from Prof Dave Huntley, Simon Fraser University, Canada).
    • Modified "Elsec" TL glow oven for Kinetics; this is optimised for low count rate TL with a low-noise EMI 9635QA PMT and is capable of heating rates as low as 0.0008 k/s.
    • Princeton Instruments Spectrofluorometer (PIXIS 256 detector) enables fluorescence analysis.
    • Single-photon avalanche photodiodes (free-space and fibre-coupled).

    Sample collection in the field

    • A water-cooled "Hilti" coring drill is used for sampling building materials and lithic materials.
    • Sediment samples are collected using coring cylinders.

    Field dosimetry is performed using:

    • Two calibrated 27 cubic inch NaI portable gamma-ray spectrometers
    • TLD Capsule Dosimetry.

    Laboratory in-house dosimetry includes:

    • Four LN-cooled high-resolution Ge-gamma ray spectrometers
    • Six alpha-counters for thick-source alpha counting

    In addition, we routinely use external providers for ICPMS/OES, XRF (K), and neutron activation and delayed neutron activation.

    Sample preparations

    Well-equipped sample preparation darkrooms include separate areas for field kit, a "saw room" with masonry saw, Buehler diamond wafering slow-saw and water-cooled coring drill, and a preparation lab dedicated to the extraction of mineral grains; apparatus includes 38 mm and 100 mm micromesh sieve stacks, a facility for batch density separation using lithium heteropolytungstate, Franz magnetic separator, centrifuge, ultrasonic baths, hotplates, precision electronic balances, drying ovens, a tube oven and wide range of laboratory glassware.

    Irradiations

    Alpha (Am241) and beta (Sr90/Y90) particle irradiations are administered by sources either mounted within the four Ris酶赂 automated luminescence readers, or in stand-alone automated irradiators. These include two Elsec "6-position" alpha irradiators, an Elsec automated alpha irradiator Type 9010, two Elsec Type 9010automated beta irradiators, two Daybreak automated beta irradiators, and a Littlemore automated beta irradiator. In addition, a set of free standing Sr90/Y90 sources with activities ranging from 0.7 MBq to 1.5GBq and a free-standing 14 MBq Am241 alpha source are available for purpose-configured experiments on Elsec readers or within lead castles.

    Ancillary apparatus includes a 1000W Oriel solar simulator, a comprehensive set of Schott, Ealing and Hoya filters, four microprocessor-controlled ovens, lasers (UV to NIR), binocular microscopes, pyroelectric radiometers, and calibrated Si photodiodes.

    The Laboratory space exceeds 200 m2, with individual booths and rooms for separate apparatus within a common darkroom, and services including adjustable intensity safe-light options (red and orange), reticulated vacuum, ultra-high purity nitrogen, cooling water and deionised water.

Group members

Professor Nigel Spooner

Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS)
The 成人大片,听AUSTRALIA听5005
Telephone:听+61 (0)8 831 34852听
Email:听nigel.spooner@adelaide.edu.au

Prof Nigel Spooner

Professor Nigel Spooner

A Professor Tony Hooker

A/Professor Tony Hooker

Contact Tony

Dr Martina Demuro

Dr Martina Demuro

ARC Future Fellow
Luminescence dating of Middle Pleistocene archaeological records in Southwest Europe

Dr Lee Arnold

A/Professor Dr Lee Arnold

Leader of Mawson Optical Dating and Archaeological Luminescence Laboratory
Optical dating of archaeological, palaeontological and palaeoenvironmental sediment archives.

Dr Eril Schartner

Dr Erik Schartner

Postdoctoral Researcher

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Thomas de Prinse

Thomas de Prinse

Postdoctoral Researcher

Gilian Ross

Gilian Ross

Laboratory Technician
Luminescence dating preparation.

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Cornelia Wilske Portrait

Dr Cornelia Wilske

Postdoctoral Researcher
Mineralogical and fluid age dating and complex data analysis.

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Dr Chris Kalnins

Dr Christopher Kalnins

University Research Fellow
High resolution detection of radionuclide isotopes distributions.

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Dr Rebecca Norman

Postdoctoral Researcher

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Dr James McEvoy

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Dr Trinh Nguyen

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Dr Alexandra Chapsky

Postdoctoral Researcher

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Rhianna Power

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Dr Joseph Bulith-Williams

Postdoctoral Researcher

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Jillian Moffatt

Jillian Moffatt

Postdoctoral Researcher
Studying novel fluorescence techniques for real-time mineral sensing.

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Daniele Questiaux

Daniele Questiaux

Research Fellow
Radionuclide (Po-210) analysis of mineral ores using alpha spectrometry and alpha spectroscopy.

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Kathryn McDonnell

Kathryn McDonnell

Researcher/Student

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Timothy Doughney

PhD Candidate

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Akhil Kumar

PhD Candidate

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Thomas Slattery

PhD Candidate

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Ben Robertson

PhD Candidate

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Willam Wyche

Honours Candidate

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Jason Charlwood

PhD Candidate

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Joshua Rusby

MPhil Candidate

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Aithan Roufos

PhD Candidate

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Dr Owen Williams

Dr Owen Williams

Visiting Senior Fellow
Thermoluminescence and optically stimulated luminescence mechanisms.

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Dr Richard Lewis

Visiting Senior Fellow

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Dr Barnaby Smith

Visiting Senior Fellow