U. Rogulis

RbBr and CsBr doped with Eu2+ as new competitive X-ray storage phosphors

Abstract After X-irradiation of the alkali halides RbBr and CsBr doped with divalent Eu a significant photostimulated luminescence (PSL) effect was found. In both systems the electron trap centre is an F centre, the hole trap centre is still unknown. The Eu 2+ aggregation with cation vacancies plays an important role. Although all of the different Eu 2+ aggregates seem to show PSL effects, they have different PSL efficiencies, decay times and spectral characteristics. In the case of RbBr:Eu 2+ it was possible to investigate the different Eu 2+ -cation vacancy aggregate states by magnetic circular dichroism of the optical absorption (MCDA) and MCDA-detected electron paramagnetic resonance. In Eu 2+ -doped CsBr no paramagnetic Eu 2+ aggregate nor isolated Eu 2+ was found, in spite of intense and typical Eu 2+ -related PSL effects.

Photostimulated luminescence process in the x-ray storage phosphor CsBr:Ga+

CsBr doped with Ga+ has previously proved to be an efficient X-ray storage phosphor with a figure of merit comparable to that of the commercially used BaFBr:Eu2+. By measuring the magnetic circular dichroism of the optical absorption (MCDA), the MCDA-detected electron paramagnetic resonance and the photostimulated luminescence (PSL), the paramagnetic defect centers generated upon x-irradiation involved in the storage and read-out process were investigated and found to be particularly simple: The electron traps are F centers, the hole trap centers are Ga2+ centers with a hyperfine interaction with 69Ga of 69A=6.5 GHz. No superhyperfine interaction was resolved. It is proposed that the PSL-active Ga2+ center is an isolated Ga2+ on a Cs+ site.

Colour centres in LiBaF3 crystals

Abstract The origin of the absorption bands in LiBaF 3 created by X-ray irradiation at RT has been investigated. It is found that three absorption bands at 270, 320 and 430 nm represent different electron transitions within a radiation defect effectively created in LiBaF 3 single crystals. Following the Mollwo–Ivey relation we discuss investigations of optical dichroism, magnetic optical dichroism, as well as the assumptions regarding the accumulation kinetics of these absorption bands, the F centre being the main radiation defect created by X-rays in undoped LiBaF 3 crystals at RT.

Ga2+ hole centers and photostimulated luminescence in the x-ray storage phosphor RbBr:Ga+

It was previously shown that RbBr doped with Ga+ is an efficient x-ray storage phosphor with a figure of merit comparable to that of the commercially used BaFBr:Eu2+. The paramagnetic hole centers generated upon x-irradiation involved in the storage and read-out process were investigated by measuring the magnetic circular dichroism of the optical absorption (MCDA), the MCDA-detected electron paramagnetic resonance (MCDA-EPR) and the photostimulated luminescence (PSL). Two different Ga2+ hole centers with a hyperfine interaction with 69Ga of 69A=8.2 GHz and 69A=6.0 GHz, respectively, were found. No superhyperfine interaction was resolved. Therefore, the structural difference between the two Ga2+ centers could not be established from EPR. The PSL effect is correlated only to one of the two Ga2+ centers, namely that with A=8.2 GHz. The generation mechanism of the two hole centers is investigated. It is proposed that the PSL-active Ga2+ center is an isolated Ga2+ on a Rb+ site, whereas the other center is a G...

Colour centres in LiBaF3

Abstract The X-ray-induced optical absorption (OA) and the spectra of magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) followed by optically detected EPR (ODEPR) have been investigated in undoped LiBaF3 crystals. According to ODEPR, the absorption bands in the spectral region 470–770 nm correspond to the F-type centres, whereas the absorption band at 420 nm is assigned to the hole centres. The redistribution of electrons to the thermal more stable F-type centres indicates that all types of colour centres are annealed in the course of the thermal release of electrons from F-type centres, accompanied by a thermostimulated luminescence.

F-type centres in LiBaF3 crystals

Abstract The origin of the absorption bands in LiBaF3 created by X-ray irradiation at RT has been investigated. It is found that three absorption bands at 270, 320 and 430 nm represent different electron transitions within the same radiation defect effectively created in LiBaF3. The Mollwo-Ivey relation as well as investigations of optical dichroism, magnetic circular dichroism and the assumptions regarding the accumulation kinetics of these absorption bands lead us to suggest that the F-type centre being the main radiation defect created by X-rays in LiBaF3 crystals at RT.

Hole‐trapping sites and the mechanism of the photostimulated luminescence of the x‐ray storage phosphor RbI:Tl+

Radiation damage centers generated by x irradiation at 80 and 300 K in the storage phosphor RbI:Tl+ were investigated with optically detected magnetic resonance and optical measurements. It is shown that the intensity of the photostimulated luminescence depends on the concentration of Tl2+ centers. Bleaching into any of the seven identified Tl2+ absorption bands destroys the Tl2+ centers and leads to a Tl+ emission as well as to VK centers. Proportionally to photodestruction of Tl2+ centers, the photostimulated luminescence is decreased. The traps for information storage in RbI:Tl+ are F centers and Tl2+ centers.

Self-trapped holes and recombination luminescence in LiBaF3 crystals

Abstract We investigated electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) angular dependencies, recombination afterglow and thermostimulated luminescence of undoped LiBaF3 crystals, X-irradiated at low temperatures. EPR parameters of the F2− molecule oriented along the [1 1 0] direction have been obtained. Based on the value of the g-shift Δg=g⊥−gII=0.02, characteristic for the VK-centres in similar perovskites, we propose that we indeed observed the VK-centres, not the H-centres. X-irradiation below 170 K results in creation of a long-time temperature-independent afterglow due to the tunnelling recombination between close electron and hole centres. The F-type electron centres and the VK as well as probably O2− centres are proposed to be the tunnelling recombination partners, responsible for the 4.1 and 3.15 eV luminescence bands, respectively.

Rare Earth Activated Oxyfluoride Glasses and Glass-Ceramics for Scintillation Applications

Oxyfluoride glasses 49SiO₂·6Al₂O₃·24Li₂O·20LaF₃ activated with Tb, Ce, Eu have been synthesized and studied. After heating at 580°C and 750°C crystalline phases were obtained. The samples were studied by DTA (Differential thermal analyzer), CL (cathodoluminescence), XRD (X-ray diffraction), SEM (scanning electron microscope), EDS (energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy) methods. We found out that presence of crystalline phase enhances the CL of Tb activated samples significantly; whereas, the shortest decay time of 0.29 μs has been observed for less intense Ce doped glass sample.

Hole self-trapping and recombination in LiBaF3

Abstract We investigated the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), recombination afterglow and thermostimulated luminescence (TSL) of the X-irradiated LiBaF3 crystals. After X-irradiation at 80 K, an EPR of the self-trapped hole centre VK (F− 2) oriented along the [110] axis is identified. X-irradiation at temperatures below 200 K results in a creation of a long-term temperature-independent afterglow—tunnelling luminescence (TL), with main emission bands at 300, 370 and 430 nm. The short wavelength TL bands are associated with the tunnelling recombination of the electron centre with the VK centre, with thermal stability estimated to be about 130 K.