RESEARCH PAPER
The Helios OSL reader: a portable system for dating and dosimetry applications
1
Institute of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Jan Dlugosz University, Poland
2
Research and Development Department, Zero-Rad Sp. z o.o., Poland
3
Institute of Physics, Division of Geochronology and Environmental Isotopes, Silesian University of Technology, Poland
4
Institute of Geography, Heidelberg University, Germany
5
Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Poland
Submission date: 2025-03-28
Acceptance date: 2025-08-01
Online publication date: 2025-08-06
Publication date: 2025-08-06
Corresponding author
Renata Majgier
Institute of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Jan Dlugosz University, Armii Krajowej 13/15, 42-200, Czestochowa, Poland
Institute of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Jan Dlugosz University, Armii Krajowej 13/15, 42-200, Czestochowa, Poland
Geochronometria 2025;52(1)
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Optical Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) screening has emerged as a significant advancement in the field of luminescence dating applications. The employed portable luminescence readers offer practical and efficient tools for on-site measurements. In contrast to traditional luminescence dating in the laboratory, which often involves analyzing enriched quartz or feldspar mineral separates, portable OSL readers typically measure infrared (IR) or blue post-IR OSL signals from unprocessed bulk material. Here, we present a new device series that can be used as a portable OSL reader for dating purposes and luminescence screening: the OSL Helios reader. The reader has already been used in luminescence laboratories as a bench-top device for dosimetry research for almost twenty years. It recently received significant upgrades for better versatility. Our contribution demonstrates the application of the OSL Helios reader for luminescence screening on a loess profile, where luminescence signal intensities were assessed for specific sedimentological layers. The profile was measured using different versions of the OSL Helios reader, and the results were compared to those of the SUERC reader, which is commonly used as a portable reader in applications. Additionally, standard passive dosimeters (Al2O3:C and BeO), as well as detectors considered for emergency dosimetry (NaCl), were measured to determine the sensitivity of Helios devices. We conclude that the Helios reader performs similarly to the SUERC reader in most standard situations and can be considered an additional option for portable luminescence reader application.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to Professor David Sanderson for his valuable consultations regarding properly setting measurement parameters of the SUERC reader.
FUNDING
MB was financed by project #101107989 - Lyoluminescence - HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01. SK was financed through the DFG Heisenberg programme (#505822867). The research was partially carried out with the support of the Polish National Science Centre, contract number 2021/41/N/ST10/00169. This work was partly supported (RM and AM) by research project no. 2018/31/B/ST10/03966 from the Polish National Science Centre.
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