The response of several luminescent materials to keV and MeV ions

We have quantified the ionoluminescence of several materials when irradiated with protons and He ions accelerated to keV and MeV energies. In particular, we have determined the absolute luminosity in terms of the number of photons emitted per incident ion from the front and back faces of thin screens of Y3Al5O12:Ce (0.15% CeO2), Al2O3:Ti (0.2% Ti), fused silica, and chemical vapour deposited diamond. This work has been motivated principally by their application in diagnostics for measuring fast ion losses at the edges of hot plasmas in fusion devices, where their radiation hardness, compared to that of standard phosphors, make them attractive candidates. Here, after presenting brief descriptions of the materials and summarizing the experimental set-up and the analysis method used, the results obtained are presented, and the afterglow and damage are evaluated.