The cw roentgenoluminescence and pulsed cathodoluminescence spectra of
BeO ceramics doped with rare-earth (RE) oxides were studied at room a
nd low temperatures. Oxygen deficiency was found to be the main factor
influencing formation of luminescence centers in the BeO ceramic. The
introduction of RE oxides promotes formation of additional oxygen vac
ancies in the surface layer of BeO microcrystals and leads to a 2.0- t
o 3.5-fold increase in the quantum yield of the intrinsic luminescence
of BeO.