Luminescent properties of Cr-doped gallium garnet crystals grown by the micro-pulling-down method

Cr-doped (GdxY1−x)3Ga5O12 crystals (x=0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00) were grown by the micro-pulling-down method and examined for their possible application as red and infrared scintillating detectors in medical field. Although Cr:(Gd0.75Y0.25)3Ga5O12 and Cr:Gd3Ga5O12 had similar X-ray diffraction patterns, other samples showed some change in lattice constant. All the crystals had broad emission bands in the red and infrared region when excited by either 450 nm photons or X rays. These bands were associated with 4T2→A2 transitions. Moreover, redshift of the emission-peak wavelengths (4T2→4A2) and absorption peaks (4A2→4T1 and 4T2) was observed with increase of Gd content (x) in Cr-doped (GdxY1−x)3Ga5O12 due to the change of the crystal fields. The crystals had scintillation emissions in the wavelength region suitable for the real time dose monitoring in radiation therapy.