Optical and scintillation properties of Sr3BGa3Si2O14 (B = Nb, Ta) single crystals

• We investigated optical and scintillation properties of the Sr3NbGa3Si2O14 [SNGS] and Sr3TaGa3Si2O14 [STGS] single crystals.
• In the transmittance spectra, absorption peaks around 380 and 505 nm originated from the excess oxygen were observed.
• There was an emission peak around 420 nm in the X-ray radioluminescence spectra of the SNGS.
• There was an emission peak around 335 nm in the X-ray radioluminescence spectra of the STGS.

Optical and scintillation properties of Sr3NbGa3Si2O14 [SNGS] and Sr3TaGa3Si2O14 [STGS] single crystals with the langasite-type crystal structure were investigated as a novel scintillator materials. In the transmittance spectra of the SNGS and STGS polished specimens, absorption peaks around 380 and 505 nm were observed and the absorptions are considered to be attributable to the excess oxygen in the crystals. An emission peak around 420 nm was observed in the X-ray radioluminescence spectrum of the SNGS crystal. On the other hand, there was an emission peak around 335 nm in the X-ray radioluminescence spectrum of the STGS crystal.