a b s t r a c t Doubly doped BaY 2 F 8 :Er,Nd scintillation crystals were grown by modified micro-pulling-down method. The Er co-doping was chosen to enhance the energy transfer from the host lattice to the Nd 3þ luminescence center via the 5d-levels of Er 3þ , which can be enabled by the overlap of Er 3þ 5d-4f emission spectrum with the Nd 3þ 4f-5d absorption. The energy transfer was clearly evidenced in the BaY 2 F 8 :Er,Nd.The processes are complicated by energy migration to killer centres and/or cross-relaxation processes. The luminescence and energy transfer mechanism are discussed.