The Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology, TU Bergakademie Freiberg and Freiberg Instruments have established the LUNA Lab as a shared research infrastructure for luminescence spectroscopy and geochronology. By combining scientific expertise with adaptable measurement technology, the partners are creating new methods for the exploration and characterization of materials and mineral resources.
Located at the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology, the laboratory strengthens the long-standing collaboration between the participating institutions. While researchers at TU Bergakademie Freiberg have traditionally used spectroscopic methods to investigate defects in semiconductor and oxide materials, the LUNA Lab extends these capabilities toward geological materials and resources.
Identifying minerals through luminescence
Luminescence spectroscopy analyzes the light emitted by a material after it has been excited by an external source of energy. Because these signals can be extremely weak, they are commonly measured in darkened environments. This characteristic also inspired the laboratory’s name: LUNA is derived from the Latin word for moon.
One focus of the laboratory is the investigation of characteristic luminescence properties for mineral identification. This is particularly relevant for critical raw materials such as rare earth elements, whose efficient exploration and characterization require sensitive and reliable analytical methods.
The resulting data can support the development of mineral-mapping routines and improve existing data-processing workflows. Combining luminescence measurements with hyperspectral imaging is also intended to provide more comprehensive information about complex materials and geological samples.
Advancing geochronology and measurement methods
A second research area focuses on geochronology and the fundamental physical processes that cause materials to emit luminescence. A better understanding of these mechanisms supports the continued development of optically stimulated luminescence methods used to determine the age of sediments and other geological materials.
Freiberg Instruments contributes specialized measurement technology to the laboratory. The instruments can be adapted and optimized according to the scientific requirements of individual research projects, enabling the partners to explore new measurement configurations and analytical approaches.
The LUNA Lab therefore connects fundamental research, method development and instrument optimization within one shared infrastructure. This close cooperation helps translate scientific questions into practical measurement solutions while advancing the understanding of luminescence processes in geological and functional materials.
By bringing together expertise from research and industry, the partners are strengthening Freiberg as a location for innovative spectroscopy, resource technology and luminescence research.
For further information about the laboratory and its current research activities, visit the LUNA Lab project page.
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