Photoluminescence and scintillation properties of Pr-doped (Lu, Y)₂Si₂O₇ crystals

Abstract

Pr-doped (Lu1-x , Y x )2Si2O7 (x = 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75) crystals were synthesized by the Floating Zone method. Emission peaks due to 5d–4f transitions of Pr3+ were observed at 300 nm under excitation of both ultraviolet light and X-rays. Scintillation decay times of 19–22 ns were obtained, and they originated from the 5d–4f transitions of Pr3+. Afterglow levels became high from 64.7 to 541 ppm as the Y-admixed concentration increased. The light yields were estimated to be 560–700 photons/MeV by comparing the channels of photoabsorption peaks from the pulse height spectra of 137Cs γ-rays measured using the prepared crystals and commercial Gd2SiO5 reference.