Laser-induced luminescence of rare-earth elements in natural zircon

Natural and synthetic zircons are investigated by time-resolved and high-re solution laser-induced luminescence to detect and ascribe various luminesce nce lines to a variety of rare-earth elements (REE). The selectivity of det ection is possible by using different time delays after excitation, differe nt gate widths and different excitation wavenumbers. This allowed us to det ect REE in samples where they are hidden by intrinsic luminescence and are not visible in the steady-state luminescence spectra. Luminescence of Eu3+, Tb3+, Er3+, Ho3+ Pr3+, Tm3+ and Ce3+ is detected even at low concentration of REE and in the presence of Dy3+, Sm3+ and Gd3+. (C) 2000 Published by E lsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.