Effect of the Pr3+→ Gd3+energy transfer in multicomponent garnet single crystal scintillators

Luminescence processes in the undoped and Pr 3+ -doped (Gd,RE) 3 (Ga,Al) 5 O 12 , RE = Lu,Y, multicomponent garnets are studied by time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy. Energy transfer processes between Pr 3+ and Gd 3+ causing significant deterioration of the scintillation performance are considered in detail. As is shown in current work, an overlap of the 5d 1 – 3 H 4 emission transition of Pr 3+ and 8 S– 6 P x absorption transition of Gd 3+ results in unwanted depletion of Pr 3+ 5d 1 excited state and is further intensified by the concentration quenching in the Gd 3+ -sublattice. This process explains a drastic decrease of light yield in Pr 3+ -doped Gd 3+ -containing multicomponent garnets observed in a previous work.