On fast LuAG:Ce scintillation ceramics with Ca2+ co-dopants

Defect engineering was a valid strategy to modify the performance of LuAG:Ce scintillator, usually realized by Me2+/Me+ co-doping. To investigate the effects of Ca2+ co-doping on the scintillation properties of LuAG:Ce, a set of LuAG:Ce ceramics with Ca2+ concentrations ranging from 0 to 0.5 at.% were manufactured. The absorption spectra, radioluminescence spectra (RL spectra), light yield, RL spectra as a function of temperature, decay time, and TSL curves of the ceramic products were carefully measured. With Ca2+ co-doping, the scintillation performance of LuAG:Ce ceramics was greatly improved. Especially for the 0.2 at.% Ca2+ co-doped one, it has a high light yield value of 24, 400 ph/MeV, a fast scintillation decay time of 48 ns, and a small slow component contamination. And the role of Ca2+ in the scintillation mechanism of LuAG:Ce ceramics was also discussed in this paper.

Automated summary

The effects of Ca2+ co-doping on the scintillation properties of LuAG:Ce were investigated, showing significant improvement in scintillation performance. Especially the 0.2 at.% Ca2+ co-doped sample exhibited high light yield, fast scintillation decay time, and minimal slow component contamination. The role of Ca2+ in the scintillation mechanism of LuAG:Ce ceramics was also discussed in the study.