Scintillation properties and effect of thermal annealing in Lu3Al5O12:Ce and Lu3Al5O12:Pr ceramics

The impact of thermal annealing on the properties of LuAG:Ce and LuAG:Pr ceramics has been investigated. The results of measurements of pulse height spectra, scintillation time profiles, absorption spectra, radioluminescence as a function of temperature, absorption spectra, as well as low temperature thermally stimulated luminescence, performed before and after annealing of the samples in air, are compared. Pulse height spectra are used to estimate the light outputs of the samples, while scintillation time profiles to find the decay time constants. Absorption spectra are analyzed to identify the observed lines and/or bands. Radioluminescence spectra examine the changes of particular emissions as a function of temperature. Finally, parameters of traps detected in thermally stimulated luminescence are determined by decompositions of the recorded glow curves.