Cathodo- and radioluminescence of Tm$^{3+}$:YAG and Nd$^{3+}$:YAG in an extended wavelength range

摘要

We have studied the cathodo- and radioluminescence of Nd:YAG and of Tm:YAGsingle crystals in an extended wavelength range up to $\approx 5\,\mu$m in viewof developing a new kind of detector for low-energy, low-rate energy depositionevents. Whereas the light yield in the visible range is as large as $\approx10^{4}\,$photons/MeV, in good agreement with literature results, in theinfrared range we have found a light yield $\approx 5\times10^{4}\,$photons/MeV, thereby proving that ionizing radiation is particularlyefficient in populating the low lying levels of rare earth doped crystals.