New photostimulable phosphor materials for digital radiography

Intense photostimulated luminescence (PSL) is observed, for the first time, in X-ray-irradiated KBr:Eu and KCl/sub x/Br/sub 1-x/Eu phosphor ceramics. The peak in the stimulation spectrum for the PSL red-shifted with increasing the Br content of KCl/sub x/Br/sub 1-x/:Eu phosphor ceramics. The intensity of the PSL with a peak of about 420 nm increases linearly with increasing X-ray irradiation dose over a wide range. The KBr:Eu phosphor exhibites better fading characteristics at room temperature (RT) in the dark, comparing with that of BaFBr:Eu phosphor. The mechanism of fading of the PSL is also discussed.