Photoluminescence and radioluminescence in Pr-doped lanthanum aluminoborate glasses

Photoluminescence (PL) and radioluminescence properties of Pr-doped lanthanum aluminoborate glasses with the composition xPr-20La2O3-30Al2O3-50B2O3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) were studied. In the PL spectra, the characteristic emission bands due to both f-f and the d-f transitions of Pr3+ were confirmed for the glass system. In X-ray induced scintillation spectra, emission from the host matrix was observed in addition to emission bands from d-f and the f-f transitions of Pr3+; the peak area ratio of the host to the f-f transition depended on the Pr content. It is significant that emission from the host was confirmed in both X-ray-induced scintillation and thermally stimulated luminescence, and the emission intensity from the host decreased with an increase in the Pr content. It is suggested that doping with Pr decreases the number of trap sites in the host glass.