Role of the Dilution of the Gd Sublattice in Forming the Scintillation Properties of Quaternary (Gd,Lu)3Al2Ga3O12: Ce Ceramics

Abstract

Technological factors and processes contributing to the scintillation mechanism have been considered in quaternary garnet ceramics doped with Ce(Gd,Lu)3Al2Ga3O12. The super-stoichiometric additive of gadolinium in the material composition or its co-doping with a low concentration of Mg were found to be effective tools to suppress phosphorescence in the quaternary garnet, confirming that it is not an intrinsic property of the material. The Monte-Carlo simulation of electronic excitation transfer demonstrates that the hopping migration along the gadolinium sublattice plays an essential role in forming the scintillation kinetic parameters. Breaking the integrity of the gadolinium sublattice by substitution with heavier lutetium ions increases the role of self-trapped states in the excitation of Ce3+ ions, which ensures both an increase in the fraction of short ~20 ns and very long ~600 ns components in the scintillation kinetics.