Beta Radiation Hardness of GYGAG(Ce) Transparent Ceramic Scintillators

GYGAG(Ce) transparent ceramic garnet scintillators were irradiated with electrons from 0.5 to 2 MeV with fluences from
$10^{16}\,\,\text{e}^{-}$
/cm
²
to
$10^{19}\,\,\text{e}^{-}$
/cm
²
, corresponding to doses from 0.3 to 310 Gigarad. Absorption spectra were measured before and after irradiations. Light yields from alpha, beta, and gamma excitations were measured before and after irradiation and compared to preirradiation values to gain a deeper understanding of how electron irradiations can affect light yield, as well as defects generated in both the surface and bulk. Within experimental error, no degradation in light yield was observed for the electron-irradiated samples, as measured via beta or gamma excitation, with minimal degradation observed via alpha excitation. A small increase in optical absorption near the wavelength of emission was observed following the largest dose irradiation. These results suggest that GYGAG(Ce) is radiation hard to electron irradiation up to
$10^{19}\,\,\text{e}^{-}$
/cm
²
and doses up to 310 Gigarad. This robustness to irradiation indicates that transparent ceramic garnets may prove useful for applications such as scintillation-based nuclear batteries by allowing for higher energy beta emitters, increased power densities, and enabling long service lifetimes.