Radiation-induced luminescence centres in Sm:MgF2 ceramics.

Abstract We have prepared Sm:MgF 2 ceramics by the spark plasma sintering technique and studied the radio-photoluminescence (RPL) properties. RPL is a phenomenon seen in selected phosphors in which a new photoluminescence (PL) emission centre is generated by ionizing radiations such as X-rays. In the present system, RPL is observed with two different emissions in the blue and near infrared (NIR) ranges due to M(C 2h) and M(C 1) centres. The dynamic range using the former centre is in the high dose range above 100 Gy while the former centres have a sensitivity below 100 Gy. In addition, heat-treating an irradiated 0.01%Sm:MgF 2 sample induces the reduction of the Sm3+-ion, i.e. Sm3+ → Sm2+). These centres are metastable, and their concentration can be increased or decreased by heat-treatment and exposing to UV light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]