Scintillation and dosimeter properties of CaF2 transparent ceramics doped with Nd3+ produced by SPS

We have developed CaF2:Nd transparent ceramics with varying doping concentrations of Nd by spark plasma sintering (SPS) and evaluated the optical, scintillation and dosimeter properties. The samples showed effective absorption peaks in the visible and near infrared regions due to the 4f-4f transitions of Nd3+. In scintillation properties, Nd3+ was also active and showed the 4f-4f radiative transitions of Nd3+ which appeared at 860 and 1064 nm under X-ray irradiation. In photoluminescence under 160 nm excitation, the samples showed emission peaks in the vacuum ultraviolet region due to the 5d-4f transitions of Nd3+. Furthermore, the samples showed thermally stimulated luminescence (TSL) exhibiting glow peaks at 100, 150 and 380 °C. Among the present samples the 5% Nd-doped sample showed the highest sensitivity which allowed to measure radiation dose from 0.1 to 1000 mGy with a good linear response.