The surface electronic states of MgO are measured at Auger neutralization condition with an ion excitation source by using thermoluminescence (TL) spectroscopy. The advantage of this method is that the dynamic properties of excited states at the topmost MgO surface could be measured at the same conditions as γ measurement. Luminescence, activation energy, lifetime of trapped states are discussed.SID 11 DIGEST • 501 ISSN 0097-966X/11/4201-0501-$1.00