X-ray response properties of Sm³⁺-activated BaO-B₂O₃ glass scintillators

Undoped and 0.1–10% Sm-doped BaO-B2O3 glasses were synthesized by the conventional melt-quenching technique. The amorphous nature and the transparency of the synthesized samples were respectively confirmed by X-ray diffraction and transmittance spectra measurements. The photoluminescence and the X-ray-induced scintillation properties of the samples were investigated. The Sm-doped samples exhibited orange–red photoluminescence and scintillation, originating from 4f-4f transitions of Sm 3+ . Among all the samples, the 1% Sm-doped samples exhibited the highest X-ray-induced scintillation intensity, and the lower detection limit of X-ray dose rates was 81 mGy h -1 .