Radiation damage in rare-earth and bromine-doped fluorozirconate glass ceramics as basis for novel X-ray storage phosphors

We found a photostimulated luminescence (PSL) effect in Eu- and Ce-doped fl uorozirconate glasses which were additionally doped with 5% Br ions. Small crystallites of the high pressure phase BaBr2 form in the glass on cooling. The PSL is attributed to the 5d-4f emission of Eu2+ or Ce3+. The PSL excit ation band peaking at 570 nm is due to radiation-induced electron trap cent res which are located either in the Eu- or Ce-doped crystallites or in the glass; where exactly is not yet known. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All r ights reserved.