POSITRON LIFETIME SPECTROSCOPY AND CATHODOLUMINESCENCE OF POLYCRYSTALLINE TERBIUM-DOPED YTTRIA

Polycrystalline, terbium-doped yttrium oxide samples were sintered und er various conditions and examined using positron lifetime spectroscop y and cathodoluminescence. Rapid grain growth was found to occur at si ntering temperatures between 1500 and 1600 degrees C, as shown by both the positron lifetimes and the luminescent intensities. The correlati on between the results demonstrates the utility of positron lifetime m easurements for investigating microstructural properties of materials and the importance of these properties to the luminescence.