Study of the correlation of scintillation decay and emission wavelength

In photoluminescence which directly excites the emission center of phosphor material is known to have a correlation between the emission wavelength and the decay time based on quantum mechanics. In scintillation phenomenon, host lattice of the material is first excited by ionizing radiation and then the excitation energy is transferred to emission centers. For the first time, we investigated the correlation between the scintillation decay and the emission wavelength by using pulse X-ray equipped streak camera system which could observe time and wavelength resolved scintillation phenomenon. Investigated materials were Ce3+, Pr3+ and Nd3+ doped oxides and fluorides which all showed 5d-4f transition based emission. As a result, we obtained the relation that τ (scintillation decay time) was proportional to the λ2.15 (emission wavelength).

► The correlation between emission wavelength and scintillation decay time is investigated.
► Photoluminescence decay times are also evaluated and compared with scintillation decay times.
► It is proved the relaxation process in emission center is dominant even in scintillation decay.