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Pr3+ doped high density germanate glasses were prepared by the melt-quenching method. The physical and luminescent properties were investigated. The glass containing BaF 2 represented maximum phonon energy of 810 cm−1, and the glass density was greater than 6 g/cm3. The glass exhibited good radiation resistance under 2 h of X-ray irradiation. Intense blue, green emissions and weak red emissions were observed when the glass was excited by X-ray, and the blue fluorescence lifetimes were in the range of 9.15–12.59 μs The results show that Pr3+ doped germanate glass could be a potential scintillating material in the field of X-ray detection for fast events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fast and heavy inorganic scintillators with suitable radiation tolerance are required to face the challenges presented at future hadron colliders of high energy and intensity. Up to 5 GGy and 5 × 1018 neq/cm2 of one-MeV-equivalent neutron fluence is expected by the forward calorimeter at the Future Hadron Circular Collider. This paper reports the results of an investigation of proton- and neutron-induced radiation damage in various fast and heavy inorganic scintillators, such as LYSO:Ce crystals, LuAG:Ce ceramics, and BaF2 crystals. The experiments were carried out at the Blue Room with 800 MeV proton fluence up to 3.0 × 1015 p/cm2 and at the East Port with one MeV equivalent neutron fluence up to 9.2 × 1015 neq/cm2, respectively, at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center. Experiments were also carried out at the CERN PS-IRRAD proton facility with 24 GeV proton fluence up to 8.2 × 1015 p/cm2. Research and development will continue to develop LuAG:Ce ceramics and BaF2:Y crystals with improved optical quality, F/T ratio, and radiation hardness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barium fluoride (BaF2) crystals are attracting much attention as efficient inorganic scintillator promising for high‐energy physics, industrial inspection, and other fields because of the fast component of the decay time (0.6 ns) and high radiation resistance. However, two major drawbacks limit its practical application: (i) a slow decay time of ~600 ns is derived from self‐trapping excitons; (ii) the absolute light yield from the fast luminescence component is not competitive. The introducing of rare earth ions and preparation of BaF2 polycrystalline ceramics is considered to be effective measures to solve these bottlenecks. Pr3+ is extremely suitable as the activated ion of scintillation materials, which possess emission peaks located in visible band and the faster 5d–4f transition. In this work, highly sinterable Pr3+:BaF2 precursor powder was synthesized via the coprecipitation method by adjusting the reactant concentration and temperature. The morphology and microstructure of as‐synthesized powders were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmittance electron microscopy analysis. The 5 at.% Pr3+:BaF2 transparent ceramic with a transmittance of 50.7% at the wavelength of 500 nm was fabricated by hot pressing the as‐prepared powders at 900°C for 4 h under the axial pressure of 50 MPa. The SEM images of ceramic cross‐section show that the residual pore is the main light scattering source. The absorption and emission spectrum of ceramic samples were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesoporous crystalline BaF 2 nanopowder with a specific surface area of up to 34.8 m2/g was produced by a pulsed electron beam through the evaporation of targets of micro-sized BaF 2 powder with optical purity (S red = 0.38 m2/g). The texture and thermal features of the BaF 2 nanopowder (before and after annealing in air at a temperature of 200 °C) and some properties of compacts made of the BaF 2 nanopowder by magnetic-pulse compaction and static pressing were studied. Glassy, opaque, and black compacts, which are promising materials for use as scintillators and dosimeters, were produced by magnetic-pulse compaction in a vacuum at a temperature of about 425 °C. It was found that heating up to 425 °C is sufficient for removing defects in nanopowders. The effect of pressing methods on the pulsed cathodoluminescence and photoluminescence spectra of the compacts was studied. Luminescent properties were found to depend on pressing technology. It was also determined that surface color centers, the number of which decreases during heating, are responsible for the pulsed cathodoluminescence band near ∼560 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]