Lengthening of the Sm²⁺ 4f⁵5d → 4f⁶ decay time through interplay with the 4f⁶[⁵D₀] level and its analogy to Eu²⁺ and Pr³⁺

Recent research activity on Sm2+-doped compounds has significantly increased the amount of available data on 4f55d → 4f6 decay times. This enabled the systematic comparison of spectroscopic and time resolved luminescence data to theoretical models describing the interplay between the 4f55d and 4f6[5D0] excited states on the observed decay time. A Boltzmann distribution between the population of the excited states is assumed, introducing a dependence of the observed 4f55d → 4f6 decay time on the energy gap between the 4f55d and 4f6[5D0] levels and temperature. The model is used to interpret the origin of the large variation in reported 4f55d → 4f6 decay times through literature, and links their temperature dependence to applications such as luminescence thermometry and near-infrared scintillation. The model is further applied to the analogous situation of close lying 4fn-15d and 4fn states in Eu2+ (6P7/2) and Pr3+ (1S0).RST/Luminescence Material

Characterisation of Sm²⁺-doped CsYbBr₃, CsYbI₃ and YbCl₂ for near-infrared scintillator application

Fast energy transfer from Yb2+ to Sm2+ is a requirement when using Yb2+ as a sensitiser for Sm2+ emission for near-infrared scintillator applications. This cannot be achieved through dipole-dipole interactions due to the spin-forbidden nature of the involved Yb2+ transition, making the rate of energy transfer too slow for application. This work explores whether exploiting the exchange interaction by increasing the Yb2+ concentration to 99% is an effective way to increase the rate at which energy is transferred from Yb2+ to Sm2+. The scintillation characteristics of CsYbBr3:1%Sm, CsYbI3:1%Sm and YbCl2:1%Sm single crystals were studied through 137Cs excited pulse height spectra, X-ray excited decay and X-ray excited luminescence spectra. An energy resolution of 7% and a light yield of 30,000 ph/MeV was achieved with CsYbI3:1%Sm. Photoluminescence spectroscopy and decay studies were performed to study the band structure and relaxation dynamics.RST/Luminescence Material

Design and modeling of a Laue lens for radiation therapy with hard x-ray photons

We have designed and modeled a novel optical system composed of a Laue lens coupled to an x-ray tube that produces a focused beam in an energy range near 100 keV (? = 12.4 picometer). One application of this system is radiation therapy where it could enable treatment units that are considerably simpler and lower in cost than present technologies relying on linear accelerators. The Laue lens is made of Silicon Laue components which exploit the silicon pore optics technology. The lens concentrates photons to a small region thus allowing high dose rates at the focal area with very much lower dose rates at the skin and superficial regions. Monte Carlo simulations with Geant4 indicate a dose deposition rate of 0.2 Gy min-1 in a cylindrical volume of 0.7 mm diameter and 10 mm length, and a dose ratio of 72 at the surface (skin) compared to the focus placed 10 cm within a water phantom. Work is ongoing to newer generation crystal technologies to increase dose rate. RST/Luminescence Material