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This study examines the effect of the offset term in a multiple single exponential equation that fits into experimental afterglow decay curve data for material applications. For afterglow materials applied and attached to structures, the inclusion of this offset term may reduce the values of the calculated decay times, τi, and enlarge the time invariant constants, Ai, in the associated equation compared to theoretically perfect test conditions. Using a set of experimental data obtained from a lab under dim light, adjustments can be made to calculate the required parameters for an equation without the offset term. This study uses mathematical simulations and lab tests to support our thesis and crosslink test results generated from different ambient light conditions. This paper defines the offset ratio as the ratio of the offset value, I0, versus the initial light intensity in an equation. This ratio can be used to evaluate possible effects on the calculated parameters of an equation in an associated numerical simulation. The most reliable parameters will have consistent results from the use of multiple single exponential equations, with and without the offset term, in simulations to obtain them in an equation to model a set of data.

Multiple exponential equations have been successfully fitted to experimental long afterglow decay curve data for some phosphor materials by previous researchers. The calculated decay constants in such equations are used to assess the phosphorescence characteristics of an object. This study generates decay constants from experimental test data and from existing literature for comparison. It shows that the decay constants of an object may not be invariant and that they are dependent on phosphor material, temperature, irradiation intensity, sample thickness, and phosphor density for samples. In addition, the use of different numbers of exponential components in interpretation leads to different numerical results for decay constants. The relationship between the calculated decay constants and the afterglow characteristics of an object is studied and discussed in this paper. The appearance of the luminescence intensity is less correlated to the decay constants than to the time-invariant constants in an equation.