X-ray excited luminescence spectroscopy of barium fluorohalides

Abstract

Photostimulated luminescence (PSL) phosphors, such as BaFBr:Eu, are currently used in x-ray screens for digital medical imaging. There is, however, little known about the mechanistic details responsible for the luminescence process in these materials. This paper describes a study of the emission mechanism in the host lattice BaFX(X=Cl, Br). Electron-hole recombination luminescence produced by x-ray irradiation has been observed. The recombination luminescence intensity is temperature dependent and yields information concerning the ionization process in these crystal lattices. This information is fundamental to the PSL process.