Analysis of relaxation parameters and their distributions using fractional polarization thermally stimulated discharge currents

It is shown that, in the analysis of fractional polarization thermally stimulated depolarisation current, the values obtained for the activation energy W and the preexponential factor τ₀ depend on which one is assumed constant. The elemental peak position and shape change significantly for simulations where we assume that the activation energy is variable and the preexponential factor is constant, or vice-versa. A mathematical expression for the current is proposed in the case where W τ₀ and are both variable. The uncertainties affecting the relaxation parameters produce a broadening of the theoretical peak. The minimum uncertainties in the relaxation parameters are estimated. For a current peak at temperature T_m, a calculated distribution of W with width ≈ kTm, or a calculated distribution of τ with width ≈ τ₀ is physically meaningless.