Freiberg Researchers Open Joint Laboratory for Luminescence Research

The Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology (HIF) and TU Bergakademie Freiberg (TUBAF) have strengthened their long-standing collaboration in luminescence research with the opening of a new joint laboratory, the LUNA Lab.

Expanding a Long-Standing Collaboration

Both institutions have been active in luminescence research for many years. At TUBAF, spectroscopic methods are primarily used to characterize defects in semiconductor and oxide materials. With the establishment of the LUNA Lab at the HIF site on Chemnitzer Straße, these competencies are now being expanded to make spectroscopic measurements increasingly applicable to the characterization of geological resources and advanced materials.

“With the establishment of a joint laboratory at the HIF site on Chemnitzer Straße, the appropriate framework has now been created for these research activities, thus further expanding the scientific cooperation between TUBAF and HIF,” said Rector Klaus-Dieter Barbknecht at the opening of the laboratory.

A Laboratory for Advanced Spectroscopic Methods

The LUNA Lab is equipped with specialized measurement devices developed by Freiberg Instruments, a TUBAF spin-off company that designs advanced luminescence and dosimetry measurement technologies. The laboratory focuses on method development for spectroscopic investigations used in the exploration and characterization of materials, including laser-induced fluorescence.

Luminescence spectroscopy analyzes optical radiation emitted as a physical system transitions from an excited state back to its ground state after external stimulation. Because these signals are often extremely weak, measurements are typically conducted in darkened environments. The laboratory’s name, LUNA Lab, is derived from the Latin word luna (moon), reflecting the measurement of light in darkness.

Research Focus and Scientific Objectives

Over the coming years, research at the LUNA Lab will focus on two primary areas. One key objective is the investigation of characteristic luminescence properties for mineral identification, particularly in relation to critical raw materials such as rare earth elements. This work aims to enable the development of mineral mapping routines while improving data processing methods, including the planned integration of hyperspectral imaging.

“In the field of spectroscopy, we want to investigate characteristic luminescence properties for mineral identification. This will allow us to develop routines for mineral mapping and at the same time improve the data processing procedures,” explained Dr. Margret Fuchs, head of the laboratory on behalf of HIF.

From the TUBAF perspective, research will also address fundamental scientific questions. “In addition to geo-chronological investigations, we are particularly interested in the fundamental phenomena and properties that lead to luminescence in materials,” said Prof. Dr. Johannes Heitmann, head of the laboratory on behalf of TUBAF.

Advancing Instrumentation and Scientific Understanding

The measurement instruments used in the LUNA Lab are continuously adapted and optimized according to scientific requirements. Through this work, the laboratory contributes both to the advancement of luminescence-based instrumentation and to a deeper scientific understanding of the processes involved in optically stimulated dating and related techniques.