Radio-luminescence and absence of trapping defects in Nd-doped YAG single crystals

Nd-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (NdYAG) is an important solid-state laser material due to Nd3+ interconfigurational transitions which result in intense infrared emission. This work shows that NdYAG crystals also emit visible radio-luminescence in response to exposure to beta particles due to other Nd3+ interconfigurational 4f–4f transitions. Additionally, thermo-luminescence spectroscopy reveals the absence of traps in NdYAG, making it a potentially superior scintillation material. The fact that Nd is present in only one valence state in NdYAG leads to charge balance and results in the suppression of defect formation. This finding reveals fundamental understanding regarding defect formation in ionic crystals.

► Radio-luminescence emission resolves interconfigurational 4f–4f transitions of Nd3+ in NdYAG.
► NdYAG may have the potential to be developed as superior scintillator due to the absence of traps.
► A new fundamental understanding regarding defect formation in ionic crystals was developed.