Enhanced efficiency of PbWO4:Mo,Nb scintillator

The effect of Nb codoping on the optical properties of the PbWO4:Mo scintillator is investigated by radio- and thermoluminescence, scintillation decay, and light yield measurements. Steady-state radioluminescence efficiency of PbWO4:Mo,Nb with optimized doping concentrations (2750 and 350 molar ppm, respectively) becomes up to 20 times higher with respect to that of undoped PbWO4 and is comparable to that of Bi3Ge4O12. However, slow components down to several tens of microseconds appear in the time decay. Their existence may be related to the presence of traps monitored by thermoluminescence. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.