Beta-induced luminescence of some crystalline inorganic materials

Abstract

The beta-particle-induced luminescence spectra of a number of crystalline solids have been recorded using a single-photon-counting spectrometer in the search for high-stability u.v. light sources for use in analytical instrumentation. Of particular interest are the emissions from CaF₂, sapphire and spinel, all of which produce useful emission intensities below 300 nm. The kinetic behaviour of the emissions from 1 : 1 and 1.8 :1 spinels have been studied in some detail, and it is found that the noise level of the emitted light is significantly reduced by the ‘smoothing’ action of a long luminescence decay time. The results are consistent with the view that the spinel emission is associated with the recombination of electrons trapped on [AL]⁺_Mg with holes trapped on [Mg]^–_Al centres.