Ultrafast Transparent ceramic scintillators using the Yb ³⁺ charge transfer luminescence in RE ₂O ₃ host

We report a new discovery of Yb ³⁺-doped ultrafast scintillators based on the Yb ³⁺ charge transfer luminescence. Transparent ceramic Yb ³⁺-doped Y ₂O ₃, Sc ₂O ₃, Lu ₂O ₃, and Yb ₂O ₃ were prepared by sintering. When irradiated by γ-and X-rays, they showed a well detectable photoabsorption peak in the pulse height spectra and ultrafast scintillation decay dominated by the decay time of about 1 ns. For the first time, the Yb ³⁺-doped oxide materials show detectable scintillation in the pulse height measurement at room temperature with ultrafast scintillation decay.