The response of a radiation resistant ceramic scintillator (Al2O3:Cr) to low energy ions (0–60keV)a)

This work extends a previous study on ionoluminescence of a radiation-hard ceramic scintillator, Al2O3:Cr, to ions accelerated to keV energies [K. J. McCarthy et al., J. Nucl. Mater. 321, 78 (2003)]. It is motivated by the identification of this material as a promising candidate for use in the fast-ion-loss detector for ITER [for the range of thermal (low energy) and suprathermal ions]. In the paper we quantify and compare its ionoluminescence with that of some common luminescent materials (YAG:Ce and ruby) when irradiated by H+ ions accelerated to ⩽60keV using a purpose built laboratory setup. Next, studies are made on the ceramic to quantify its response as a function of incident ion mass, i.e., to He+. For this, the absolute luminosities of the material are estimated in terms of the number of photons emitted per incident ion as a function of energy. Moreover, the radiation hardness and postirradiation recovery of the ceramic are investigated. Finally, from the studies it can be concluded that the ceram...