Luminescence and Scintillation Properties of Ce$\text{}_{x}$La$\text{}_{1-x}$F$\text{}_{3}$ Monocrystals

In this communication we present our results concerning luminescence and scintillation properties of mixed cerium-lanthanum trifluoride monocrystals, Ce$\text{}_{x}$La$\text{}_{1-x}$F$\text{}_{3}$. The luminescence, luminescence excitation spectra and decays are complex, indicating the presence of Ce$\text{}^{3+}$ ions in regular and parasitic "perturbed" sites. The efficient energy transfer from regular Ce$\text{}^{3+}$ ions (emitting at 286 and 303 nm) to "perturbed" Ce$\text{}^{3+}$ ions (emitting at 340 nm) and the lack of the fast energy migration between Ce$\text{}^{3+}$ ions are responsible for non-exponential decays of the short-wavelength emission and a relatively long rise-time of the long-wavelength emission. The short-wavelength emission decays are described by the Inokuti-Hirayama model of statistically distributed donors and acceptors. Our estimates of oscillator strengths, at 13.1 × 10$\text{}^{-3}$ for Ce$\text{}^{3+}$, and 13.5 × 10$\text{}^{-3}$ for Ce$\text{}^{3+}$$\text{}_{per}$, confirm that the d-f transition on the Ce$\text{}^{3+}$ ion in a different site must be responsible for the long-wavelength emission. Calculations of the Ce-Ce and Ce-Ce$\text{}_{per}$ energy transfer rates give 7.7 × 10$\text{}^{5}$ s$\text{}^{-1}$ and 1.56 × 10$\text{}^{9}$ s$\text{}^{-1}$. The concentration of "perturbers" in good CeF$\text{}_{3}$ samples has been reduced down to about 0.11%. It is likely that the constant and significant progress made by crystal growers (Optovac Inc.) may eventually produce a superior material for applications in high energy and nuclear physics.