Optical absorption, photoluminescence, photostimulated luminescence (PSL) and thermoluminescence (TL) studies on RbBr : Tb 3+ crystals irradiated with X-rays is reported. The optical absorption in the UV region confirms the presence of terbium in the host matrix in the trivalent state. Photoluminescence of these crystals exhibits characteristic Tb 3+ emissions due to transitions from the 5 D 3 and 5 D 4 levels to various levels of the 7 F septet. On F-bleaching X-irradiated crystals Z 3 centers are observed. The TL glow curve indicates a two-step thermal annihilation process for the radiatively created defects. The presence of the characteristic emissions due to terbium ions in the photostimulation at the F band confirms the participation of Tb ions in the defect-production process. Trap parameters for the TL process are calculated and presented. Emissions under the TL glow peaks contain the characteristic emissions of Tb 3+ in addition to the emission due to the recombination of the F electron with V-type centers.