Sensitization of the photostimulable x-ray storage-phosphor CsBr:Eu2+ following room-temperature hydration

The x-ray storage-phosphor CsBr:Eu2+ has been found to exhibit a strong increase in photostimulated-luminescence (PSL) intensity following hydration at room temperature. The sensitivity increases by a factor of 25 following a 60 min exposure to an atmosphere of 99% relative humidity, which is considered to be due to an incorporation of H2O molecules within the CsBr:Eu2+ matrix, which are orientated by and enhance the electric fields surrounding (Eu2+–O2−)-dipoles, increasing their charge trapping cross sections. Following irradiation the PSL increase is accompanied by the formation of mobile VK-centers, which decrease the F-center population by a recombination process, which appear as an intrinsic 360 nm emission from the CsBr matrix in low temperature thermoluminescence measurements.