${\hbox {Nd}}^{3+}{\hbox {:LaF}}_{3}$ as a Step-Wise Excited Scintillator for Femtosecond Ultraviolet Pulses

Vacuum ultraviolet fluorescence from Czochralski method-grown Nd
³⁺
:LaF
₃
excited by 290 nm femtosecond pulses from a Ti:sapphire laser is reported. Peak emission at 175 nm with 7 ns lifetime is observed. This decay time would be one of the fastest among solid-state, inorganic scintillators. Laser emission in the VUV region may also be achievable by pumping with existing ultraviolet solid-state lasers.