Luminescence mechanism and energy transfer in doubly-doped BaY 2 F 8 :Tm,Nd VUV scintillator

Abstract

Doubly-doped BaY 2 F 8 :Tm,Nd scintillation crystals were grown by modified micro-pulling-down method. Nd co-doping was chosen to enhance the energy transfer from the host lattice to the Nd 3+ luminescence center via the 5d-levels of Tm 3+ , due to the overlap of Tm 3+ 5d-4f emission spectrum with the Nd 3+ 4f-5d absorption. The energy transfer was clearly evidenced in the BaY 2 F 8 :Tm,Nd. This process is not complicated by an energy migration to killer centers and/or cross-relaxation. The radioluminescence process is complicated by an energy transfer from the host lattice exciton states to the lower f-levels of Tm 3+ ion.