Beta-induced luminescence of some crystalline inorganic materials

Abstract

The beta-particle-induced luminescence spectra of a number of crystalline solids have been recorded using a single-photon-counting spectrometer in the search for high-stability u.v. light sources for use in analytical instrumentation. Of particular interest are the emissions from CaF2, sapphire and spinel, all of which produce useful emission intensities below 300 nm. The kinetic behaviour of the emissions from 1 : 1 and 1.8 :1 spinels have been studied in some detail, and it is found that the noise level of the emitted light is significantly reduced by the ‘smoothing’ action of a long luminescence decay time. The results are consistent with the view that the spinel emission is associated with the recombination of electrons trapped on [AL]+Mg with holes trapped on [Mg]–Al centres.