Scintillation properties of the Yb-doped YAlO3 crystals

Yb³⁺-doped YAlO₃ single crystals were grown by the Czochralski method with a radio frequency heating system. The starting melt compositions of Y_1−xYb_xAlO₃ were varied as x=0.02, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.45. Photo- and thermo-luminescence characteristics including emission decays were measured within 4–300 K. Very fast charge transfer luminescence of Yb³⁺ was found, with the typical double peak spectrum at 345 and 525 nm. At room temperature the photoluminescence and scintillation decay curves show a leading subnanosecond decay component without any additional slower processes. The high density of Yb-rich YAlO₃ makes this material a promising candidate for fast scintillators.