Scintillation properties of Yb³⁺-doped YAG transparent ceramics

We investigated scintillation properties of Yb³⁺-doped Y ₃A₅O₁₂ (YAG) transparent ceramics with different dopant concentrations. The transparency of both 0.3% and 15% Yb ³⁺-doped exceeded 70% in the wavelength range 300-800 nm, and two kinds of absorption bands due to charge transfer (CT) transition and 4f-4f forbidden transition of Yb³⁺ were observed around 200-250 nm and 900 nm, respectively. Ultraviolet luminescence caused by the CT transition between Yb³⁺ and O^2- was observed under α-ray excitation from ²⁴¹Am sealed source. The scintillation decay times were determined to be about 2.2 ns (Yb 0.3%) and 1.4 ns (Yb 15%) using the streak camera system equipped with pulsed X-ray source. From ²⁴¹Am alpha-ray-excited pulse height spectra, the relative scintillation light yield of 0.3% and 15% Yb³⁺-doped ceramics was 7% and 10% compared with that of BGO commercial scintillator.