Scintillation characteristics of Nd3+-doped BaO–Al2O3–TeO2 glasses

Abstract Photoluminescence and scintillation characteristics of Nd 3+ -doped TeO 2 glasses [(15– x )BaO–5Al 2 O 3 –80TeO 2 – x Nd 2 O 3 ( x = 0.1–1.0)] were evaluated. The Nd 3+ -doped TeO 2 glasses exhibited sharp emission peaks originating from the 4f–4f transition of Nd 3+ in photoluminescence. The 0.1% Nd 3+ -doped TeO 2 glass showed the highest quantum yield (about 33%). In addition, 0.1%–1.0% Nd 3+ -doped TeO 2 glasses showed photoluminescence decay time constants in the time range of 128–194 μ s originating from the 4 F 3/2 → 4 I 9/2 transition of Nd 3+ . In scintillation, the 0.1%–1.0% Nd 3+ -doped TeO 2 glasses exhibited sharp scintillation peaks at around 905, 1060, and 1335 nm ascribed to the 4f–4f transitions of Nd 3+ . The 0.5% and 1.0% Nd 3+ -doped TeO 2 glasses exhibited high intensities. The decay times of the Nd 3+ -doped TeO 2 glasses under X-ray were in the time range of 123–174 μ s. Moreover, the Nd 3+ -doped TeO 2 glasses exhibited afterglow levels of about 618–829 ppm.