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In this study, a new Cs4SrI6:Yb2+,Sm2+ near‐infrared (NIR) emitting scintillator was developed using sensitization strategy. It was found that Yb2+ sensitization significantly enhances the NIR radioluminescence (RL) of Sm2+, providing a new approach of designing highly emissive sensitized NIR scintillators. By studying the optical spectra and decay kinetics of Cs4SrI6:Yb2+,Sm2+, it was revealed that the energy transfer pathways involve both radiative and nonradiative processes. The gamma spectroscopy performance of Cs4SrI6:Yb2+,Sm2+ single crystals was studied by using the high‐quantum‐efficiency avalanche photodiode (APD) as the readout. Our results highlight the importance of using sensitization strategy of achieving NIR emitting scintillators and demonstrate the significant potential for radiation detection applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time, hafnia (HfO2) nanoparticles have been produced by photochemical synthesis. The photochemical route has been proven to be scalable, affordable, and straightforward to create monoclinic HfO2 nanoparticles with a size of tens of nanometers. The exploitation of this route offers a chance to create large amounts of dense nanoparticles with reduced costs and time of production for future creation of large area composite scintillators for fast timing techniques. Specific annealing treatments from 450 °C to 1000 °C have been targeted to tune the structural and morphological properties and optimize the luminescence of the nanoparticles. Hafnia nanoparticles annealed at low temperature display an amorphous structure. After thermal treatment at 1000 °C, HfO2 nanoparticles crystallize into a monoclinic phase, as evidenced by thermal analyses and X-ray diffraction. Radioluminescence and photoluminescence of HfO2 have been investigated at room temperature and 77 K. The emission band of hafnia covers a range from 300 to 600 nm and it can be attributed to defects within the matrix. In particular, the highest radioluminescence intensity appears in the crystalline sample annealed at 1000 °C, thanks to the higher crystallinity degree and the reduction of non-radiative channels and quenching defects. Photoluminescence and scintillation decay have evidenced the presence of the fast decay in the nanosecond time range. Thus, due to their size, density, and spectroscopic and timing features, monoclinic hafnia nanoparticles obtained by photochemical synthesis are attractive for potential creation of large area scintillating composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lutetium oxyorthosilicate Lu2SiO5 (LSO) and pyrosilicate Lu2Si2O7 (LPS) activated by Ce3+ or Pr3+ are known to be effective and fast scintillation materials for the detection of X-rays and γ-rays. Their performances can be further improved by co-doping with aliovalent ions. Herein, we investigate the Ce3+(Pr3+) → Ce4+(Pr4+) conversion and the formation of lattice defects stimulated by co-doping with Ca2+ and Al3+ in LSO and LPS powders prepared by the solid-state reaction process. The materials were studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), radioluminescence spectroscopy, and thermally stimulated luminescence (TSL), and scintillation decays were measured. EPR measurements of both LSO:Ce and LPS:Ce showed effective Ce3+ → Ce4+ conversions stimulated by Ca2+ co-doping, while the effect of Al3+ co-doping was less effective. In Pr-doped LSO and LPS, a similar Pr3+ → Pr4+ conversion was not detected by EPR, suggesting that the charge compensation of Al3+ and Ca2+ ions is realized via other impurities and/or lattice defects. X-ray irradiation of LPS creates hole centers attributed to a hole trapped in an oxygen ion in the neighborhood of Al3+ and Ca2+. These hole centers contribute to an intense TSL glow peak at 450–470 K. In contrast to LPS, only weak TSL peaks are detected in LSO and no hole centers are visible via EPR. The scintillation decay curves of both LSO and LPS show a bi-exponential decay with fast and slow component decay times of 10–13 ns and 30–36 ns, respectively. The decay time of the fast component shows a small (6–8%) decrease due to co-doping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low‐dimensional perovskite halides have shown a great potential as X‐ray detection materials because of efficient exciton emissions originating from strongly spatially localized charge carriers. Nonetheless, most of them have a scintillation yield far below their theoretical limits. Here, it is found that the harvesting efficiency of produced charge carriers can be significantly enhanced via a small amount of In+ doping in these highly localized structures. A bright and sensitive zero‐dimensional Cs3Cu2I5:In+ halide with efficient and tunable dual emission is reported. The radioluminescence emission of Cs3Cu2I5:In+ crystals under X‐ray excitation consists of a self‐trapped exciton emission at 460 nm and an In+‐related emission at 620 nm at room temperature. In+ doping enhances the photoluminescence quantum efficiency (PLQY) of Cs3Cu2I5 from 68.1% to 88.4%. Benefiting from the higher PLQY, Cs3Cu2I5:In+ can achieve an excellent X‐ray detection limit of 96.2 nGyair s−1, and a superior scintillation yield of 53 000 photons per MeV, which is comparable to commercial CsI:Tl single crystals. As a result, a remarkable X‐ray imaging resolution of 18 line pairs mm–1 is demonstrated, which is so far a record resolution for single crystal perovskite‐based flat‐panel detectors. These results highlight the importance of efficient harvesting of carriers (and excitons) in low‐dimensional perovskites for radiation detection applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a breakthrough concept for a bulk single crystal as a heavy aluminum perovskite scintillator, where due to bandgap engineering by a balanced Gd admixture in a Lu cation sublattice, the scintillation performance dramatically increases. In an optimized composition of (Lu, Gd)AlO3:Ce (LuGdAP:Ce), the light yield approaches 21,000 phot/MeV, which is close to that of classical but much less dense YAP:Ce and 50% higher than the best LuYAP:Ce reported in the literature. Moreover, contrary to LuYAP:Ce, the LuGdAP host maintains a high effective atomic number close to that of LuAP:Ce (Zeff = 64.9), which is comparable to commercial LSO:Ce. An enormous decrease in afterglow on the millisecond time scale and acceleration in the rise time of the scintillation response further increase the application potential of the LuGdAP host. The related acceleration of the transfer stage in the scintillation mechanism due to diminishing electron trap depths is proven by thermally stimulated luminescence (TSL). Furthermore, we quantitatively characterize and model the energy transfer processes that are responsible for the change in the photoluminescence and scintillation decay kinetics of Ce3+ in the LuGdAP matrix. Such an innovative (Lu, Gd)AP:Ce scintillator will become competitive for use in applications that require heavy, fast, and high light yield bulk scintillators. The dependence of the afterglow in millisecond time scale and light yield (in the inset) on the Gd content in the GdxLu1-xAlO3 single crystal scintillator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scintillation characteristics of Lu0.8Gd2.2 (Al5–xGax)O12:Ce,Mg (x = 2.6 and 3) single crystals grown by the micropulling down method are investigated. The light yield of 27600 photons/MeV obtained for Lu0.8Gd2.2Al2Ga3O12:Ce,Mg is higher than that of 25 400 photons/MeV obtained for Lu0.8Gd2.2Al2.4Ga2.6O12:Ce,Mg. The photoluminescence and scintillation decays measured at room temperature (RT) for Lu0.8Gd2.2Al2Ga3O12:Ce,Mg are faster than those for Lu0.8Gd2.2Al2.4Ga2.6O12:Ce,Mg. Temperature dependence of radioluminescence (RL) intensity indicates a lower quenching temperature for Lu0.8Gd2.2Al2Ga3O12:Ce,Mg. Coincidence time resolution of a Lu0.8Gd2.2Al2Ga3O12:Ce,Mg detector in coincidence experiment with a BaF2 detector was measured to be 410 ps. The afterglow and thermally stimulated luminescence (TSL) characteristics below RT are also measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of ultrafast scintillators is critical to the GHz X‐ray and time‐of‐flight (TOF) imaging techniques. Low‐dimensional silver‐based halides have emerged as promising candidates due to high radioluminescence efficiency and ultrafast decay time. However, the ultrafast scintillation mechanism in silver‐based halides, such as Rb2AgBr3 (RAB), remains controversial. Here, the study reveals the origin of ultrafast scintillation timing response in melt‐grown RAB bulk crystals. The RAB shows light‐yellow emission with a photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 13.9%. Under the picosecond (ps) pulse X‐ray irradiation, RAB has an ultrafast decay time of 3.2 ns that accounts for 40.5% of the total emitted light. The light yield is estimated as 3100 photons MeV−1 under 22Na irradiation. Based on the temperature‐dependent radioluminescence (RL) spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, and spectrally resolved thermally‐stimulated luminescence (TSL) glow curves, it is confirmed that the bromine vacancy as the F‐center is the origin of the ultrafast scintillation component. These findings provide elaborated and fundamental insights into the ultrafast luminescent mechanisms of low‐dimensional silver‐based halides, thereby opening up new design horizons in the development of ultrafast scintillators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ce3+,Pr3+-codoped SiO2-Al2O3-B2O3-Gd2O3 glasses (SABG:Ce,Pr) were prepared by melt quenching under a CO reducing atmosphere. Luminescence properties were investigated under UV and X-ray excitations. A dominant emission band at 430 nm belonging to the Ce3+:5d1 → 4f transition was observed in the photo- and radio-luminescence spectra. The energy transfer occurs from this Ce3+ band toward the 3PJ levels of Pr3+ with an efficiency of up to 24%, followed by the reduction of integrated luminescence intensity with an increasing Pr3+ concentration. This result is attributed to the increase in the reabsorption of Ce3+ luminescence and the non-radiative energy transfer toward the 3PJ levels of Pr3+. The cross-relaxation process within the Pr3+ pairs can further diminish the total luminescence yield at high Pr3+ concentrations. The integral scintillation efficiency and light yield measurements were carried out and compared to the reference Bi4Ge3O12 (BGO) crystal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have investigated Li 4 SiO 4 scintillation crystals for their possible application in neutron detection due to high Li content and low density of 2.35 g/cm 3 . The micro-pulling-down method employing the Ir crucible and afterheater was optimized for crystal growth of Li 4 SiO 4 taking into account the Li evaporation. To grow high-quality crack-free single crystals, the heating power was increased to establish milder temperature gradient, thicker meniscus, smaller crystal diameter and resulting smaller stress in the as-grown crystals. The undoped, Ti-, Cr-, and Al- doped crystals were prepared and studied. Radioluminescence measurements under X-ray excitation showed quite high overall scintillation efficiency of the Ti-doped sample reaching as high as 250% of that of Bi 4 Ge 3 O 12 reference scintillator. The emission spectrum was dominated by one broad band peaking at 350 nm related to Ti 4+ impurity. Reasonable light yield of 10000 photons/neutron was found. However, its long decay time of 54 μs might be a limitation especially for high counting rate applications. The overall scintillation efficiency of the Cr 3+ sample was much lower and the spectrum shows one broad peak at 463 nm which does not correspond to Cr 3+ luminescence. The radioluminescence spectrum of the Al-doped sample resembled to that of the Ti-doped one, just its magnitude is considerably lower, which was explained by Ti contamination. Peculiarities and optimization of crystal growth and a preliminary sketch of luminescence mechanisms and dopant incorporation are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ce-doped lutetium aluminum garnet Lu 3 Al 5 O 12 (LuAG) nanoceramics were fabricated at 1600 °C and 1700 °C by spark-plasma sintering (SPS) method from nano-powders prepared by radiation synthesis. Both undoped and Ce-doped LuAG ceramic samples were also prepared from the nano-powders at 1700 °C with significantly increased pre-heating rate. The backscattered electron images revealed large amount of pores in all the Ce-doped samples causing their significant opacity. On the other hand, very large grains and no pores were revealed in the undoped sample, which was the only transparent one. The radioluminescence measurements revealed superior overall scintillation efficiency of the samples sintered at the temperature 1700 °C, and their defect emission in the UV region was ascribed to oxygen-vacancy-related defects such as F + centers. The photoluminescence decay of the defect emission was characterized by an extremely fast decay time of a few nanoseconds. Influence of sintering procedure and subsequent annealing on the luminescence and scintillation properties is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doubly doped LaF3:Er, Nd scintillation crystals were grown by modified micropulling-down method. The Er codoping was chosen to enhance the energy transfer from the host lattice to the Nd3+ luminescence center via the 5d-levels of Er3+, which can be enabled by the overlap of Er3+ 5d-4f emission spectrum with the Nd3+ 4f-5d absorption. However, no relevant energy transfer was found by photo- and radioluminescence spectra measurements. The reasons of no significant positive effect of Er codoping are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sensitization of scintillation was investigated in crosslinked polymeric composite materials loaded with luminescent gold clusters aggregates acting as sensitizers, and with organic dye rhodamine 6G as the emitting species. The evolution in time of the excited states population in the systems is described by a set of coupled rate equations, in which steady state solution allowed obtainment of an expression of the sensitization efficacy as a function of the characteristic parameters of the employed luminescent systems. The results obtained indicate that the realization of sensitizer/emitter scintillating complexes is the strategy that must be pursued to maximize the sensitization effect in composite materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The properties of various inorganic scintillator materials with different origin of their VUV luminescence have been studied under pulsed excitation by XUV (50-1000 eV) synchrotron radiation. A comparison of spectral and timing characteristics of these crystalline VUV emitters has been performed. The processes of energy transfer from the host crystal to the luminescence centers of different nature were analyzed from the features of excitation spectra in the regions of inner-shell absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Luminescence of new irregular Ce3+-related centers: the unperturbed and perturbed Ce3+ ions located in Al3+ sites and the CeLu3+ ions perturbed by LuAl3+ ions was found. The systematic stuffy of these centers by means of the ESR and luminescence methods and their influence on scintillation characteristics was performed. The structure and symmetry of the irregular Ce3+ centers was established and their spectral characteristics were explained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive study of the optical, radioluminescence and scintillation properties of both the Lu 3+ rich and Lu 3+ deficient non-stoichiometric Lu 3+x AG:Ce,Mg (Lu 3+x Al 5 O 12 :Ce,Mg, x = −4, −1, +1 and +4 at.%) ceramics are performed, completed further by the microstructure and defects characterization. Small deviation from the stoichiometric composition as well as Mg 2+ codoping plays a crucial role in ceramic transparency, radioluminescence intensity and the timing characteristics of scintillation response. The Lu Al antisite defects could be suppressed efficiently by controlling Lu 3+ content below stoichiometry of LuAG host. MgO (Mg 2+ ions) as effective sintering aids, can improve both the optical quality and scintillation performance (light yield, scintillation decay times and the ratio of fast decay components). We generally discuss the composition dependence of defects and properties tailoring. We also performed the systematic comparative study with the stoichiometric LuAG:Ce,Mg ceramic and the commercial BGO and LuAG:Ce single crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lu 3−x Al 5 O 12 :Ce optical ceramics (Lu 3−x AG:Ce, x = 1, 2, 3 and 4 at.%, respectively) with Lu 3+ compositions ranging from 1 to 4 at.% below stoichiometry content were fabricated by solid state reaction method and further optimized by an air-annealing process. The effect of Lu 3+ deficiency on the optical, luminescence and scintillation properties of such a non-stoichiometric Lu 3−x Al 5 O 12 :Ce ceramics was investigated. Significant influence in the material densification was found leading to strong changes in the transparency, radioluminescence (RL) and scintillation response of these ceramics. Within the range of 1–4 at.% Lu 3+ deficiency, Lu Al antisite defects were suppressed effectively and the Lu 3−x AG:Ce ceramics displayed an extremely high RL intensity which reaches ∼4 times higher than that of the latest commercial LuAG:Ce single crystals while its transparency deteriorated. The microstructure, presence of foreign phases and charge traps acting in scintillation mechanism were also characterized by means of SEM, back scattered electron imaging and thermoluminescence techniques, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nd-doped, Gd-doped and doubly Nd, Gd-codoped BaLu 1.2 Y 0.8 F 8 (BaLuYF) and LuF 3 single crystals were grown by a micro-pulling-down method. Their photoluminescence, radioluminescence and alpha-ray-excited pulse-height spectra were studied in the vacuum-ultra-violet (VUV) region to confirm their possible application as fast VUV scintillators. Complementary photoluminescence measurements in the ultra-violet/visible spectral region were performed as well. The possibility of scintillation performance improvement by Gd codoping was tested. The overall scintillation efficiency of BaLuYF:Nd1% was comparable to that of the LaF 3 :Nd8% reference sample and only slight improvement was observed after Gd1% codoping. The positive effect of Gd codoping was confirmed for higher dopant concentrations. This was explained by an energy transfer from the high-energy Gd 3+ 4f 2 G(0) 7/2 level to the Nd 3+ 5d state. On the other hand, pulse-height spectra showed degradation of the light yield under alpha-ray excitation, which was explained by introduction of slow components due to Gd codoping. On the other hand, no positive effect of Gd codoping was found for the overall scintillation efficiency of Nd-doped LuF 3 , despite the same energy transfer process was confirmed. Slight improvement of the light yield under alpha-ray excitation was confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Driven by the pursuit of optimizing the luminescent properties of garnet-based single crystals for X-ray imaging applications, this work reports on the successful synthesis and in-depth characterization of GYAGG crystals doped with Ce³⁺ or Tb³⁺ ions, and doubly-doped with both of them. Micro-pulling down synthesis yielded crystals with a single cubic phase confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Photoluminescence (PL) and radioluminescence (RL) measurements on Ce³⁺,Tb³⁺ co-doped GYAGG revealed bidirectional energy transfer processes. Characteristic broadband 5d 1 →4f emission of Ce³⁺ centers peaking at 530 nm and narrow 4f→4f emission lines of Tb³⁺ ions starting from 5D 4 level within 480–630 nm were observed. At higher doping levels, cross-relaxation in Tb³⁺ pairs resulted depleted 5D 3 state and only the emission from 5D 4 one was observed in the spectra. Analysis of PL decay characteristics corroborated the spectral observations, confirming progressively decreasing Ce³⁺ decay time (down to 40 ns at 15 % Tb3+) due to enhanced Ce³⁺→Tb³⁺ energy transfer. Similarly, the Tb³⁺ decay time accelerated by more than 60 % after the Ce³⁺ co-doping. Notably, co-doping with 0.5 % Ce³⁺ and 10–15 % Tb³⁺ doubled the luminescence intensity of RL spectra compared to 0.5 % Ce³⁺-doping alone, attributed to the increased density of emitting centers. • High-quality and crack-free GYAGG:Ce,Tb single crystals were successfully grown. • The photoluminescence spectra revealed Ce³⁺↔Tb³⁺ bidirectional energy transfer. • At lower Tb³⁺ doping (0.5 %), the bidirectional energy transfer was inefficient. • High Tb³⁺ doping (15 %) significantly enhanced energy transfer. • Co-doping yielded a two-fold radioluminescence intensity compared to sole doping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper we present the photoluminescence (PL) and scintillation response of Pr3+-doped Y3Al5O12 (YAG:Pr) single crystals grown by the Czochralski method with different Pr3+ concentrations of 0.16, 0.33, and 0.65 mol%. PL spectra and decay curves were measured for both the fast 5d → 4f and slow 4f → 4f emissions. The PL decay times were evaluated which evidence concentration quenching especially in 1D2 → 3H4 emission for the highest Pr3+ concentration. Light yield (LY) of 15,600 photons per MeV and energy resolution of 6.4% at 662 keV γ-rays were obtained with the YAG:Pr (0.33%) crystal. The LY non-proportionality and energy resolution versus γ-ray energy were measured and the intrinsic resolution was calculated. A good proportionality of the LY was found within 7% over the energy range from 1274.5 keV down to 32 keV. The estimated photofraction in the pulse height spectra of 320 and 662 keV γ-rays was also determined and compared with the theoretical one calculated using WinXCom program. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The use of aliovalent sintering aids, especially TEOS, for scintillation ceramics preparation caused serious problems due to the need for charge compensation. Isovalent ions, on the other hand, do not cause such a problem and remain a new field to be explored. By using La2O3 and Sc2O3 isovalent sintering aids, we succeeded to produce Pr:LuAG ceramics with pure LuAG phase, good micro-structure, and characterized by high optical quality with 80% transmittance in the visible range. Luminescence and scintillation properties were also investigated and turned out to be similar to those of previously studied transparent ceramics obtained with aliovalent sintering agents. Thermoluminescence data show the presence of several trapping states experiencing a disordered surrounding. It can be concluded that sintering aids, regardless of their valence, introduce local disorder due to their different radii with respect to that of the lattice ions resulting in the appearance of a UV emission and decrease of Pr3+ fast 5d–4f luminescence intensity. The aspects of energy transfer and trapping due to sintering aids in LuAG lattices are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Luminescence and scintillation properties of Lu 2 YAl 2.5 Ga 2.5 O 12 :Ce,Mg (0.02, 0.05 %) garnet crystals grown by the micro-pulling down method were investigated. The onset temperature for luminescence quenching at ∼365 K is determined from the temperature dependence of photoluminescence decay time. At room temperature, the Mg (0.05 %) sample exhibits high integral scintillation efficiency of ∼445 % of BGO crystal, light yield value of 23,500 photons/MeV, and fast scintillation decay times of 20 ns (15 %) + 54 ns (85 %). The higher radioluminescence intensity of the Mg (0.05 %) sample correlates with an appearance of its lower themally-stimulated luminescence intensity in 77–500 K range. • Luminescence and scintillation properties of Lu 2 YAl 2.5 Ga 2.5 O 12 :Ce,Mg (Mg = 0.02 %, 0.05 %) crystals are investigated. • Both crystals show onset of luminescence quenching at 365 K. • Lu 2 YAl 2.5 Ga 2.5 O 12 :Ce,0.05%Mg shows light yield of 23,500 photons/MeV. • Lu 2 YAl 2.5 Ga 2.5 O 12 :Ce,0.05%Mg shows scintillation decay time of 20 ns (14 %) + 54 ns (86 %). • Thermoluminescence characteristics are investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scintillation characteristics of Gd 3 Al 2 Ga 3 O 12 :Ce, Li (GAGG:Ce,Li) and Gd 3 Al 2 Ga 3 O 12 :Ce, Mg (GAGG:Ce,Mg) single crystals were compared. Radioluminescence spectra and photoluminescence decay curves were measured at various temperatures between 77 and 500 K to investigate the thermal luminescence quenching. At 662 keV γ rays, the LY value of 35,400 photons/MeV and energy resolution of 6.9% obtained for GAGG:Ce, Li are superior to those of 24,200 photons/MeV and 9.5% for GAGG:Ce,Mg. Scintillation decays are approximated by a double exponentials with a fast principal decay component of 47 ns (83%) for GAGG:Ce, Mg and 90 ns (86%) for GAGG:Ce,Li. Coincidence time resolution of 282 ps obtained for GAGG:Ce, Mg is better than that of 389 ps for GAGG:Ce,Li. GAGG:Ce, Mg shows a much lower afterglow and thermally stimulated luminescence intensity with respect to GAGG:Ce,Li. • Scintillation properties of Li+ and Mg2+ -codoped Gd 3 Al 2 Ga 3 O 12 :Ce are compared. • Gd 3 Al 2 Ga 3 O 12 :Ce, Mg exhibits better timing performance. • Gd 3 Al 2 Ga 3 O 12 :Ce, Mg shows lower afterglow and TSL intensity. • Gd 3 Al 2 Ga 3 O 12 :Ce, Li exhibits high light yield and good energy resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Ce:(Gd,La) 2 Si 2 O 7 (Ce:La-GPS) and Al co-doped Ce:(Gd,La) 2 Si 2 O 7 (Al,Ce:La-GPS) single crystals were grown by the micro-pulling-down method to improve the mechanical, optical and scintillation properties. In a tensile test, the maximum strain and stress values in the stress-strain curve of the Al,Ce:La-GPS single crystal compared to the Ce:La-GPS single crystal and the result suggests that there is a possibility of the improvement on the mechanical property by Al co-doping. In addition, the light yield of the La-GPS single crystal under γ-ray irradiation was slightly increased and the decay time was accelerated by the Al co-doping. Highlights • Al co-doped Ce:La-GPS single crystals were grown by the μ-PD method. • It is a possibility that Al co-doping improves the mechanical property of the La-GPS. • Emission peaks originated from 5 d-4f transitions of the Ce3+ ion were observed. • The light yield under γ-ray irradiation was slightly increased by Al co-doping. • Scintillation decay times were accelerated by Al co-doping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The In-doped LiCaAlF 6 [In:LiCAF] single crystals were grown by the micro-pulling-down (μ-PD) method, and the phases, chemical compositions, transmittance and radioluminescence spectra were investigated. All the grown crystals showed high transparency and single phase of LiCAF without visible cracks and inclusions except for the end part of In2%:LiCAF crystal which included the impurity phase. In the radioluminescence spectra of the In:LiCAF crystals under X-ray irradiation, the emission peak around 750 nm was revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical and scintillation characteristics of Mg2+-codoped Lu 2 Y(Al 5-x Ga x)O 12 :Ce (x = 2, 3) multicomponent garnet crystals grown by the micro-pulling down method were investigated. At RT, the shortening of scintillation decay time and a decrease of light yield (LY) value measured for a higher Ga containing samples can be explained by thermal ionization of the Ce3+ 5d 1 excited state. At 662 keV γ-rays, Lu 2 YAl 3 Ga 2 O 12 : Ce, 0.05%Mg exhibits high LY value of 29,000 ph/MeV along with scintillation decay times of 50 ns (86%) + 73 ns (14%). Co-doping with larger Mg2+ content leads to a decrease of LY value, scintillation decay time, and afterglow level. Radioluminescence quenching observed at low temperature region in correlation with large thermoluminescence peaks can be caused by trapping of electrons at intrinsic shallow traps. • Luminescence and scintillation properties of Lu 2 Y(Al 5-x Ga x)O 12 :Ce,Mg (x = 2, 3) crystals are investigated. • Temperature dependencies of photo-and radioluminescence are presented. • Lu 2 YAl 3 Ga 2 O 12 :Ce,0.05%Mg shows high light yield of 29,000 photons/MeV. • Lu 2 YAl 3 Ga 2 O 12 :Ce,0.05%Mg shows quenching temperature at 435 K due to thermal ionization. • Afterglow and thermoluminescence characteristics are investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ns 2 -type metal elements (Pb and Sn) doped LiCaAlF 6 single crystals were grown by a micro-pulling-down (μ-PD) method. Pb doped LiCaAlF 6 [Pb:LiCAF] crystals showed high transparency and single phase of the LiCAF structure. However, we could not obtain Sn:LiCAF crystals due to the evaporation of SnF 2 during the crystal growth. There was an absorption peak around 193 nm in the transmittance spectrum of Pb:LiCAF crystal. In the radioluminescence spectrum of the Pb:LiCAF crystal under X-ray irradiation, two emission peaks around 200 and 830 nm were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optical and scintillation properties of Ce 3+ -doped YGd 2 Al 5− x Ga x O 12 ( x =2,3,4) single crystals were investigated. With increasing Ga content in the garnet host, the 5d 1 absorption and emission bands shift toward higher energy due to the decrease in the crystal field splitting of the 5d levels. Temperature dependences of absorption and emission spectra and of photoluminescence decays of both prompt and delayed components were measured. Light yield (LY) and its dependence on an amplifier shaping time were measured under excitation with γ-rays. High LY value of 38,000 photons/MeV was obtained for a YGd 2 Al 2 Ga 3 O 12 :Ce sample. Scintillation decay was measured with an extended dynamical and temporal scale under the nanosecond-pulsed soft X-ray excitation. The relative content of the fastest component in the scintillation response increases with increasing Ga content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mg2+-codoped Y 0.6 Gd 2.4 Al 2 Ga 3 O 12 :Ce (YGAGG:Ce,Mg) single crystal was grown by the Czochralski method and its luminescence and scintillation properties were investigated. Temperature dependence of radioluminescence (RL) yield and photoluminescence (PL) decay time was measured, and activation energy of thermal ionization process was determined from temperature-dependent PL decay time measurement. YGAGG:Ce,Mg exhibited high X-ray excited RL yield almost 5 times higher than BGO reference scintillator. Its light yield of 41,500 ph/MeV and scintillation decay times of 12 ns (2%) + 52 ns (65%) + 207 ns (33%) were measured under excitation with 662 keV γ rays from 137Cs source. Afterglow and thermally stimulated luminescence characteristics are also investigated. • Luminescence and scintillation properties of Y 0.6 Gd 2.4 Al 2 Ga 3 O 12 :Ce,Mg crystal are investigated. • Temperature dependence of photo-and radioluminescence are presented. • Y 0.6 Gd 2.4 Al 2 Ga 3 O 12 :Ce,Mg shows high light yield of 41,500 photons/MeV. • Luminescence quenching above RT can be caused by thermal ionization. • Afterglow and thermoluminescence characteristics are investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of plastic scintillators loaded with low-cost phosphorescent sensitizer is currently an important topic toward enhancing the scintillation light yield for radiation detection applications. In this work, we report plastic scintillators loaded with deep-blue-emitting phosphorescent sensitizer CuI(PPh 3) 2 (t -BuPy), where PPh 3 and t -BuPy stand for triphenylphosphine and 4- tert -butylpyridine, respectively. CuI(PPh 3) 2 (t -BuPy)-loaded poly(vinyltoluene)-based plastic scintillators with high optical transmittance of over 80% were synthesized via bulk polymerization method. The optical absorption, photoluminescence spectra, decay kinetics, and scintillation performance under X-ray, γ-ray, and α-particle excitation were comprehensively investigated. The scintillation yield was reduced with the increase of CuI(PPh 3) 2 (t -BuPy) loading concentration. The physical mechanism and the role of the copper iodide complex in scintillation yield reduction are proposed. [Display omitted] • Poly(vinyltoluene)-based plastic scintillators loaded with phosphorescent sensitizer CuI(PPh 3) 2 (t -BuPy) were synthesized. • The scintillation yield of PVT scintillators is reduced with the increase of CuI(PPh 3) 2 (t -BuPy) loading concentration. • The scintillation yield reduction is associated with the nonradiative dissipation of energy from CuI(PPh 3) 2 (t -BuPy). • Plastic scintillator containing only CuI(PPh 3) 2 (t -BuPy) showed α/γ PSD performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Nd3+ 1%, 5% and 10% doped BaF2 single crystals were grown by the micro-pulling down method. Photoluminescence properties, including excitation and emission spectra and luminescence decay were measured under synchrotron radiation excitation at the Superlumi station in HASYLAB at DESY (Hamburg, Germany). The Nd3+ related 5d-4f emission lines peaking around 180 nm, 230 nm, and 260 nm, identified as the 5d–4Ij, 5d–4Fj, and 5d–2Gj transitions, were observed under 140–168 nm excitation. In photoluminescence decay under the 160 nm excitation, the dominant component decay time is about 12, 2.5 and 1.2 ns for Nd3+ 1%, 5% and 10% concentration, respectively. The decay time shortening is explained by the concentration quenching effect. Transmittance of Nd1% sample is about 80% for wavelengths above 185 nm. Finally, gamma-ray responses, non-proportionality and energy resolution of Nd1% sample were compared with the undoped BaF2 scintillator. The light yield of the Nd1%:BaF2 is about 93% of that of undoped BaF2. ©2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]