Evaluating displacement damage in cerium-doped yttrium borate using photoluminescence lifetime

•YBO:Ce powder at various doping levels was fabricated and irradiated with protons.•Photoluminescence (spectral and lifetime) of the YBO:Ce was measured before and after proton irradiation.•Degradation of PL lifetime was observed after 1014 H+/cm2.•Different doping levels displayed different levels of sensitivity to the radiation.

The photoluminescence lifetime and spectrum of YBO3:Ce3+ are observed before and after proton bombardment. The optical properties change under irradiation, and thus the material can record information about the radiation exposure. As the fluence of 1 MeV protons increases beyond 1014proton/cm2, the lifetime of YBO3:Ce3+ decreases nearly exponentially. Furthermore, by changing the concentration of cerium, the sensitivity of the material to the radiation induced defects is controllable such that lower-doped YBO3:Ce3+ is more sensitive to damage.