Descriptive of the production of incandescence by a substance when its temperature is increased: Thermoluminescent reactions take place when certain substances have been exposed to the action of X-rays.

By measuring the amount of thermoluminescent gleaming that is given off, the duration of exposure to radiation can be determined; so, it has been used to determine the age of various minerals and archaeological artifacts.

In archaeology, a method of dating by measuring the rate of release of luminous energy from an object; often used to establish the date when a pottery artifact was last heated in antiquity: Dr. Spicer used the process of thermoluminescent dating to determine the approximate age of the ancient pottery shards, or pieces, which he brought back from his archeological diggings.

1. A method of measuring the ionizing emissions to which a person is exposed by means of a device that contains a radiant sensitive crystalline material: Thermoluminescent dosimetry stores the radiation's energy by changing the structure and then when the material is heated at some later time, it releases the energy as ultraviolet or visible light.

Because of her work in the X-ray department at the hospital, Ms. Smith frequently used the thermoluminescent dosimetry device to ensure that she remained uncontaminated by the radioactive emissions.

2. The determination of the amount of lucidity to which a material has been exposed: Usually thermoluminescent dosimetry is accomplished by heating the material in a specially designed instrument which relates the amount of luminescence coming from the material to the amount of exposure.

Ionizing radiation; such as, x rays, alpha rays, beta rays, and gamma rays, remains undetectable by the senses, and the damage it causes to the body is cumulative, depending on the total dosage of thermoluminescent dosimetry received.

Dr. Jonas used the thermoluminescent dosimetry concept to obtain an estimation of the amount of radioactive elements to which the X-ray staff might have received.