Radiation damage of pure and doped KMgF/sub 3/ crystals

The radiation damage nature of pure and doped KMgF/sub 3/ crystals was studied on the basis of the absorption, emission, excitation and thermoluminescence (TL) spectra. It is shown that the sensitivity of this material to the ionizing irradiation is defined not only by its own color centers but by the presence of oxygen impurities too. The availability of oxygen in KMgF/sub 3/ is revealed in additional absorption and emission bands, high temperature (T>400/spl deg/C) peaks of TL, UV-energy storage. From the RE doped KMgF/sub 3/ crystals the most illustrative results were obtained for EuF/sub 3/ and Eu/sub 2/O/sub 3/ doped samples. High emission efficiency corresponds to the f-f transitions in Eu/sup 2+/ ions. The trap structure is connected with intrinsic point defects and oxygen impurity contents. The most intensive TL-peak is at 390/spl deg/C and in crystals with Eu/sub 2/O/sub 3/ it's in many times higher than in those with EuF/sub 3/. It is shown that KMgF/sub 3/:Eu/sub 2/O/sub 3/ is an effective dosimeter not only for X-ray but for UV-registration too.<
>