Growth and optical properties of Yb doped new scintillator crystals

Single crystal of heavily Yb3+-doped Lu3Al5O12 (Yb:LuAG) were grown by the micro-pulling-down method. Radio- and photoluminescence spectra of the Yb:LuAG were studied. Two bands peaking round 340-350 and 480-500 nm could be ascribed to charge transfer (CT) luminescence of Yb3+, as their position nearly coincide with the Yb3+-related CT emission in YAG matrix. The highest emission intensity was observed for Yb concentration of 5% with respect to the Lu site. Temperature dependence of photoluminescence spectra of the Yb: LuAG (5%) was measured and points to remarkable thermal quenching above liquid nitrogen temperature. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.