Cathodoluminescence mechanism of crystalline Gd2SiO5:Ce

Complex luminescence decay kinetics have been observed in Gd2SiO5:Ce crystals under electron beam irradiation. Absorption and photoluminescence excitation spectra, decay kinetics in various excitation bands over a wide range of photon energies from 3.6 to 7.0 eV in the temperature region from 80 to 400 K as well as the spectra of the glow curve creation efficiency at 80 K are examined. It is shown that the free electronic excitations produced, depending on the absorbed photon energy, have different recombination mechanisms finally leading to the radiative transitions between the 5d2E configuration and the 4f configuration of the Ce3+ ion. At hvexc < 6.1 eV a single exponential decay caused …