Thermoluminescence and photoluminescence studies on γ-ray-irradiated Ce3+,Tb3+-doped potassium chloride single crystals

Single crystals of KCl doped with Ce3+,Tb3+ were grown using the Bridgeman–Stockbarger technique. Thermoluminescence (TL), optical absorption, photoluminescence (PL), photo‐stimulated luminescence (PSL), and thermal‐stimulated luminescence (TSL) properties were studied after γ‐ray irradiation at room temperature. The glow curve of the γ‐ray‐irradiated crystal exhibits three peaks at 420, 470 and 525 K. F‐Light bleaching (560 nm) leads to a drastic change in the TL glow curve. The optical absorption measurements indicate that F‐ and V‐centres are formed in the crystal during γ‐ray irradiation. It was attempted to incorporate a broad band of cerium activator into the narrow band of terbium in the KCl host without a reduction in the emission intensity. Cerium co‐doped KCl:Tb crystals showed broad band emission due to the d–f transition of cerium and a reduction in the intensity of the emission peak due to 5D3–7Fj (j = 3, 4) transition of terbium, when excited at 330 nm. These results support that energy transfer occurs from cerium to terbium in the KCl host. Co‐doping Ce3+ ions greatly intensified the excitation peak at 339 nm for the emission at 400 nm of Tb3+. The emission due to Tb3+ ions was confirmed by PSL and TSL spectra. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.