Honours year projects: apprenticeships in a luminescence laboratory

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In the final year of study for the honours physics degree at Edinburgh University the students are given the opportunity to undertake two or three projects with research groups. An account is given of experience of such project work in a laboratory concerned with research on the physical foundation and application of luminescence processes to the dating of material of geological and archaeological significance. The background to the work in progress is outlined, showing the range of possibilities for relevant short projects on topics such as thermoluminescence, optically stimulated luminescence, dosimetry of natural radioactivity, and instrumentation development. Examples of projects on luminescence are described in detail. The value of the project work to the students concerned and to the prosecution of the research is assessed.Â