Scintillation properties of phosphate-borate-fluoride glass doped with Tb3+/Pr3+

Abstract Scintillation glass doped with Tb 3+ and Pr 3+ ions with different concentrations were prepared by the melt-quenching method. Optical, photoluminescence and decay kinetic characteristics of the pulse cathodoluminescence (PCL) were investigated. It was shown that the absorption coefficient of the induced absorption in the visible range of the spectrum decreases significantly with the increase of the Pr 2 O 3 content starting from 0.2 to 1 wt%. There was the difference in the luminescence spectra of the glass at a selective and non-selective type of excitation. The “green” emission (λ em = 542 nm, 5 D 4 → 7 F 5 radiative transition of Tb 3+ ions) was excited an electron beam. The “red” emission (λ em = 600 nm, 3 P 0 → 3 H 6 radiative transition of Pr 3+ ion) was observed under selective excitation action (λ exc = 450 nm). It was demonstrated that decreasing of intensity the main bands of Tb 3+ ions at 487, 544, 622 nm connected with increases of concentration Pr 3+ ions. The luminescence decay time of terbium ions at 487, 544, 622 nm emission bands depend on Pr 3+ concentration. The tendency of reducing the luminescence decay time in the main luminescence bands of Tb 3+ ions at increasing the Pr 3+ concentration was presented. The results showed that Tb 3+ / Pr 3+ co-doped phosphate-borate-fluoride glasses are promising non-crystalline scintillation materials.