Mechanisms of luminescence decay in YAG-Ce,Mg fibers excited by γ- and X-rays

Abstract : Time-resolved luminescence of YAG-Ce (150 ppm) fiber crystal with Mg co-doping was studied under pulsed X-ray excitation and γ-rays (Cs 662 keV). The initial part of decay kinetics under X-ray excitation is faster than for direct cerium excitation (63 ns). Decay kinetics is also characterized by the presence of slow components with at least two characteristic times longer than Ce³⁺ radiation time. The slowest one which dominates for t > 500 ns in YAG-Ce without Mg co-doping practically vanishes for samples with 50 ppm co-doping. Decay kinetics under γ-rays are characterized by slower rise time than that under X-rays. These properties can be explained by competition of energy transfer and energy losses in track regions. The distribution of excitations in tracks produced by X-rays differs from that in tracks produced by γ-rays, since the energy of primary electron after γ-quantum conversion is much higher than after X-ray absorption. The stopping power for energetic electrons decreases with increase of electron energy, and therefore the density distribution after X-ray conversion is shifted to higher densities, Therefore, the acceleration of recombination and quenching of excitations is more prominent under X-ray excitation. Specific role of Ce⁴⁺ induced by Mg co-doping is also discussed in the paper.