VUV scintillation of LuPO/sub 4/:Nd and YPO/sub 4/:Nd

LuPO/sub 4/:Nd and YPO/sub 4/:Nd represent new and very fast potential scintillator materials. For most types of ionizing excitation, the luminescence of these materials is dominated by an emission band whose maximum intensity occurs at about 192 nm. The origin of this band lies in the fast 5d-4f transitions of the Nd/sup 3+/ ions. An additional contribution due to host-defect emission varies for different samples. These defects appear to be responsible for the limited light yield of LuPO/sub 4/:Nd.