Non-linear fitting of TL/ESR dose-response curves

Abstract

When attempting to date geological or archeological samples by thermoluminescence (TL) or electron spin resonance (ESR), the parameter which is estimated by these methods is the accumulated radiation dose (AD). The value of AD is assessed by the additive dose technique. Many dose-response curves of geological samples show saturation effects which exclude a linear least square fit for AD determination. In this paper we introduce a fitting procedure which allows the determination of the accumulated radiation dose (AD), without converting the data points into a straight line. Additionally, we suggest a procedure to calculate the uncertainty in AD estimation (jackknifing).