phosphorescence of certain materials or objects as a result of heating. It is caused by pre-irradiation of the material inducing defects which are removed by the heat, the energy released appearing as light: used in archaeological dating
Derived forms
thermoluminescent (ˌthermoˌlumiˈnescent)
adjective
thermoluminescence in American English
(ˌθɜrmoʊˌluməˈnɛsəns)
noun
the release in the form of light of stored energy from a substance when it is heated