(a) Dosimetry:
Most recent interest has concerned the the development of anion-deficient Al₂O₃ doped with carbon as a sensitive OSL dosimeter using visible light to stimulate the emission. Our recent work has resulted in the development of a Pulsed OSL technique (POSL) dosimetric readout method. The technology is licensed by Landauer Inc. and in their dosimeter, sold under the trade name Luxel^TM.

A second major project within the lab is the development of Al₂O₃ fiber optic probes for use in radiotherapy dosimetry. The goal is to develop a dosimeter probe which is small enough to place within the body for near-real-time measurement of the absorbed dose during radiotherpay treatment for cancer. (Sponsored by the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science, and Landauer Inc.)

Another major interest of the lab is in the development of novel UV dosimetry techniques. Current work has led to the development of a dosimeter based on OSL from Al₂O₃:C for the assessment of UVB exposure. Projects testing the UVB response of other dosimetry materials are also underway.(Sponsored by the State of Oklahoma.)

A recent new interest is the development of luminescence dosimetry techniques for astronauts in Low Earth Orbit.  Both OSL and TL of a variety of materials are being examined for potential applications in space, where the complex radiation environment presents a challenge for conventional dosimetry methods and procedures. This project is part of the group's activities within the Arkansas-Oklahoma Center for Space and Planetary Sciences (see below). (Sponsored by NASA and NSF.)

(b) Dating:
Techniques in luminescence dating which are of interest include OSL and TL single aliqout and single grain procedures on quartz and feldspars. Applications of interest include the dating of eolian and fluvial Holocene sand dunes in central Oklahoma, and the potential for modification of these methods for dating sediments trapped within ice cores. (Sponsored by the State of Oklahoma.)

We are developing objective ways to analyze large statistical data sets obtained from Single Aliquot Regeneration (SAR) methods as applied to quartz and feldspar. Applications of the methods have been demonstrated in Holocene sands in Oklahoma and South Australia. (Sponsored by NSF and by the State of Oklahoma.)

An exciting project is the development of instrumentation and techniques for the potential application of luminescence dating on the surface of Mars, using robotic in-situ instrumentation. We are collaborating with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, other NASA Centers, and the private sector to develop the necessary instrumentation, while at the same time developing the techniques required to date martian surface sediments using instrumentation of this type. (Sponsored by NSF and  by the State of Oklahoma.)