Optical spectroscopy of Nd ions in a nanostructured glass matrix

This paper presents the optical characterization of Nd³⁺ ions in nanostructured SiO₂-Na₂CO₃-Al₂O₃-B₂O₃ (SNAB) CdS glass, synthesized by fusion. Radiative properties of the glass were determined by absorption, luminescence spectroscopy and lifetime measurements. Nd³⁺ emission enhancement and quenching were investigated in the presence of CdS nanocrystals. Nd³⁺-emission quenching was attributed to upconversion mechanisms and nonradiative processes such as multiphonon decay and energy transfer, while the Nd³⁺-emission enhancement was due to energy transfer from the CdS nanocrystals. Changes in the chemical environment around CdS nanocrystals were also confirmed by Judd-Ofelt calculations.     

Scintillation detector with SiPM matrix as a photosensor

The results of a characterization study of the scintillation detector with SiPM matrices as multichannel photosensors are presented. The SiPM matrix attached to a plastic scintillator gives a snapshot of the glowing track of a charged particle traversing the scintillator.     

Enhanced luminescence in transparent glass ceramics containing BaYF5: Ce3+ nanocrystals

Ce³⁺ doped transparent glass ceramics containing BaYF₅ nanocrystals were prepared by controlled heat treatment of 45SiO₂–15Al₂O₃–10Na₂O–24BaF₂–6Y₂O₃–0.5Ce₂O₃ (mol%) glass. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy data have revealed the formation of BaYF₅ nanocrystals. Both photoluminescence and X-ray excited luminescence spectra have shown a blue-shift of the emission band of Ce³⁺ on ceramization, which is consistent with the Ce³⁺ environment evolving from a glassy oxide to a fluoride phase. The luminescent intensity of Ce³⁺ ions in the transparent glass ceramics is greatly enhanced compared with the precursor glass under ultraviolet and X-ray excitation. This could be attributed to the Ce³⁺ ions present in the BaYF₅ crystalline phase.     

Luminescence properties of Ce3+ doped gadolinium-calcium-silicaborate glass scintillator

In this work, the Ce³⁺ doped gadolinium-calcium-silicaborate glass scintillators of the composition ratio 25Gd₂O₃:10CaO:10SiO₂:(55−x)B₂O₃:xCeF₃, have been fabricated by using the melt-quenching technique. The doping concentration of the Ce³⁺ was varied from 0.05 mol% to 2.5 mol%. The 4f-5d transition of the Ce³⁺ allowed scintillation with a fast decay time. The absorption spectrum, X-ray induced emission spectrum, photo luminescence spectrum, laser luminescence spectrum and decay time of the scintillators were measured for studying the luminescence properties. From the X-ray induced emission spectrum result, we checked the trend between doping concentration and light yield. The laser induced luminescence spectrum was measured while changing the temperature from 300 K to 10 K. We also measured the decay time by using the laser excitation of the 0.15 mol% Ce³⁺ doped glass scintillator.     

Sensitized fluorescence of Ce3+/Mn2+ system in phosphate glass

The preparation of sodium phosphate glasses singly and doubly doped with rare earth ion Ce³⁺ and transition metal ion Mn²⁺ by a melt quench method is described. The spectroscopic characterizations of the samples are conducted by absorption, excitation, and emission spectra. The orange red emission of divalent manganese sensitized by trivalent cerium ions in a phosphate glassy matrix has been investigated. Energy transfer (ET) from optically excited Ce³⁺ to Mn²⁺ in sodium phosphate glass, by nonradiative process is confirmed by fluorescence studies with various activator concentrations. The mechanism of ET is mainly electric dipole–dipole in nature.     

Levels in 138Ce by in-beam spectroscopy

Gamma ray and conversion electrons from levels in ¹³⁸Ce have been studied following the ¹³⁹La(p, 2n)¹³⁸Ce and ¹³⁶Ba(α, 2n)¹³⁸Ce reactions. A level scheme, based on the measurement of conversion coefficients, of gamma-ray angular distributions and excitation functions and of gamma-gamma coincidences, is proposed and compared with findings by other authors. Some transitions observed lead to levels not previously identified in gamma-ray work; in other cases new spin and/or parity assignments have been given. An indication on the nature of some of the observed states is obtained by comparing the experimental data with the predictions of the ALAGA model and of the IBM-2 model.     

Using a LaBr3:Ce scintillator for positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy

A LaBr₃:Ce scintillator has a high light output (~60000 p.e/MeV) and a short decay constant (<25 ns), which makes it good for time spectrometry. Compared with a BaF₂ scintillator, it can bear a much higher count rate, and can be coupled to photomultipliers without using a quartz window. In this work, a positron annihilation lifetime spectrometer (PALS) consisting of two bulks of φ25 mm×25 mm LaBr₃:Ce scintillator coupled to two XP20D0 photomultipliers, respectively, was built. A time resolution of FWHM=206 ps was measured for the PALS with a ⁶⁰Co source at the energy window for ²²Na. With this spectrometer, a reasonable lifetime value τ=221±4 ps in a pure Si sample is obtained, which means that the utilization of LaBr₃:Ce as the detector for a PALS is feasible.     

Vibrational spectroscopy of oh-defects in sol-gel Ce 3+ and Gd 3+ -doped silicate glasses

Vibrational modes of OH, as stretching, bending, combination, and overtones, were monitored by means of FTIR spectroscopy in Ce 3+ - and Gd 3+ -doped silicate glasses, prepared by means of the sol-gel technique, submitted to different thermal treatments, and aimed to applications as scintillators. The dopant concentration was varied in a wide range (10 m 3 -8% m.f.) and co-doped samples were also investigated. In this framework, the effects of OH and of rare-earth (RE) clustering, i.e. two possible non-radiative decay channels, on the IR spectra in the 500-14 v 000 v cm m 1 were examined. OH was detected as belonging either to water and to silanol in samples densified at 450 and 750 v C, while in those treated at 1050 v C only Si-OH groups were present in a concentration of the order of 1% m.f., nearly regardless of the RE amount. An absorption peaking at 4250 v cm m 1 was identified as related to an OH combination mode (bending+stretching) perturbed by a Gd cluster on the basis of its amplitude dependence on the Gd concentration and rapid thermal treatment.     

Effect of neutron irradiation on etching,optical and structural properties of microscopic glass slide used as a solid state nuclear track detector

Microscopic glass slides are soda-lime glasses which are readily available and are easy to manufacture with low production cost. The application of these glasses as nuclear track detector will help us to make use of these glasses as solid-state nuclear track detector. The present paper describes the variation in the etching, optical and structural properties of the soda-lime microscopic glass slides due to neutron irradiation of different fluences. The color transformation and an increase in the optical absorption with neutron irradiation are observed. Both the bulk and track etch rates are found to increase with neutron fluence, thus showing a similar dependence on neutron fluence, but the sensitivity remains almost constant.     

Optical spectroscopy of Ce 3+ ions in BaY 2 F 8 single crystals

In the present work we report on the spectroscopic properties of the Ce 3+ ion in BaY 2 F 8 single crystals. The absorption and excitation spectra of the emission centered at 340 v nm have been measured in the temperature range 15-300 v K. The 340 v nm emission consists of two broad partially overlapping bands, peaking at 324 and 347 v nm (at 15 v K), respectively. The full width at half maximum is about 0.5 v eV at room temperature. The absorption spectrum of the lowest in energy component of the f M d transition of Ce 3+ reveals at low temperature a marked vibronic structure. High resolution (0.02 v cm m 1 ) Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in the wave number range 500-5000 v cm m 1 and in the temperature range 9-300 v K has been exploited to monitor the f level splitting. The absorption transitions from the three Stark components of the 2 F 5/2 manifold to the four of the 2 F 7/2 one, have been monitored in the wave number range 2000-3400 v cm m 1 . The wave number separation at 9 v K between the lowest level of the ground 2 F 5/2 manifold and lowest one of the 2 F 7/2 manifold is found to be 2197.47 v cm m 1 in good agreement with the splitting detected between the two components of the d M f emission.     

High energy spectroscopy in Ce and La compounds

X-ray photoemission, X-ray photoabsorption and bremmstrahlung isochromat spectroscopy in Ce and La compounds are theoretically analyzed by using the single-site Anderson model incorporated with various final state interactions. Discussions are given on the physical information derived from the analysis and also on similarities and differences in spectral features between metallic and insulating systems.     

Upconversion fluorescence spectroscopy of Er~(3+)-doped lead oxyfluorosilicate glass

Upconversion fluorescence emission of Er3+-doped oxyfluorosilicate glass excited at 975 nm is experimentally investigated. The results reveal that the intense green and red emission, and weak blue emission centered at 525, 543, 655, and 410 nm, respectively. A two-photon upconversion process is assigned to the green and red emission while a three-photon process is responsible for blue upconversion. The possible upconversion mechanisms are discussed based on excited state absorption and energy transfer between excited Er3+ ions. The intense upconversion fluorescence of Er3+-doped lead oxyfluorosilicate glass may be a potentially useful material for developing upconversion optical devices.     

Using Raman spectroscopy as a tool for the detection of iron in glass

Raman spectroscopy has been used to identify iron‐containing glasses. This nondestructive technique offers a fast method to obtain qualitative information about the presence of iron oxides in glass. The effect of the iron content in glass samples is reflected on the topology of the Raman spectra: A strong link between the ratio of the Q₂/Q₃ vibration units of the silica tetrahedral structure is seen. If matrix effects are taken into account, also (semi)quantitative results can be obtained from the calibration lines. The linear calibration is based on the normalized band intensity at 980 cm⁻¹ (I₉₈₀/I₁₀₉₀) and the iron oxide concentration for similar glasses. In amber and dark colored glasses, an extra peak in the spectrum indicates the presence of a FeS chromophore. Different series of glasses of various origins (ancient and modern/industrial glass) have been considered. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stress state of silver nanoparticles embedded in a silicate glass matrix investigated by HREM and EXAFS spectroscopy

Ag particles of 3.9 and 5.1 nm mean size in silicate glasses were produced by ion exchange and subsequent annealing at 480 and 600 ^°C. These thermal treatments may induce stresses in matrix and particles in addition to the well known effect of surface atoms because of the thermal expansion mismatch of both materials. Structural characterisation of the particles by high-resolution electron microscopy revealed a size-dependent lattice dilatation quite opposite to the so far observed lattice contraction of similar metal/glass composites. This result, confirmed by X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the Ag K-edge, is discussed in terms of an Ag-Ag bond length increase near the particle surface. The temperature-dependent EXAFS spectra (10-300 K) indicate an increased thermal expansion coefficient of the particles with an increased mean particle size calculated on the basis of an anharmonic Einstein model. With that the bond length increase can be explained. The results can be interpreted by a combination of both the particle size effects and the influence of the surrounding matrix. Received 30 November 2000     

Radiation induced colour centers and damage in YAlO 3 :Ce and YAlO 3 :Ce,Zr scintillators

Radiation induced absorption spectra (irradiation up to 500 v Gy by 60 Co) and TSL of a set of YAP:Ce crystals co-doped by Zr 4+ were investigated. Positive effect of Zr 4+ co-doping was found, namely reduction of both the defect creation and presence of TSL active traps. Up to three absorption bands were observed in the radiation induced absorption spectra. They probably have different origin - from colour centers in the green part of the spectra to change of the Ce 3+ valency in the near UV.     

White LED based on nano-YAG:Ce3+/YAG:Ce3+,Gd3+ hybrid phosphors

Nano-YAG:Ce³⁺ and YAG:Ce³⁺,Gd³⁺ phosphors were synthesized by glycothermal method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements showed that the samples can be well-crystallized at 600 °C. The transition electron microscope (TEM) showed that the particles have sizes mostly in the range between 35 and 100 nm. The YAG:Ce nano-phosphor had a wide emission band ranging from blue to yellow peaking at 532 nm, due to the transition from the lowest 5d band to ²F_7/2, ²F_5/2 states of the Ce³⁺ ion. Red-shift of emission peak wavelength from 532 nm to 568 nm has been achieved as doping Gd³⁺ ions into the YAG:Ce³⁺ to substitute some Y³⁺ ions. White LEDs were fabricated by combining GaN (460 nm) chip with the YAG:Ce³⁺ and YAG:Ce³⁺,Gd³⁺. Color rendering index of the white LED as a function of the ratios of theses two kinds of phosphors was studied. As the ratio of YAG:Ce³⁺,Gd³⁺ phosphor increased, the color rendering index of the LED improved significantly under the forward bias of 20 mA. As the ratio of YAG:Ce³⁺ and YAG:Ce³⁺,Gd³⁺ was 11:9, the white LED had a color rendering index, CIE chromaticity coordinates and color temperature T_c of 85, (0.3116, 0.3202) and 6564 K, respectively.     

四方相BaTiO_3:Ce及Mn离子注入的BaTiO_3:Ce的拉曼散射的研究

四方相ＢａＴｉＯ３：Ｃｅ及Ｍｎ离子注入的ＢａＴｉＯ３：Ｃｅ的拉曼散射的研究刘玉龙朱恪张昊朱镛（中科院物理研究所北京１０００８０）赵金涛（张掖师范高等专科学校物理系甘肃张掖７３４０００）萧季驹（香港城市大学物理及材料科学系香港九龙）ＲａｍａｎＳｐｅｃ...     

Preparation and properties of GAGG:Ce/glass composite scintillation material

The translucent GGAG:Ce/glass composites are prepared successfully by ball-milling, tableting, and pressureless sintering. The thickness of composites is about 400 μm. The x-ray diffraction(XRD), differential scanning calorimetry(DSC), density of composite materials are measured and discussed systematically. The scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer(EDS) elemental mapping are employed to analyze the particle size, the shape of powders, and the distribution of GGAG:Ce particles in the glass matrix, respectively. The decay time, ultraviolet,(UV),x-ray excitation luminescence spectra, and temperature spectra are studied. The results show that the composite materials have high light output, good thermostability, and short decay time. The method adopted in this work is an effective method to reduce the preparation time and cost of the sample. The ultralow afterglow indicates that the composite materials have an opportunity to be used for x-ray detection and imaging.