Compositional regulation of multi-component GYGAG:Ce scintillation ceramics:Self-sintering-aid effect and afterglow suppression

(Gd,Y,Ce)_(3)(Y_(x)Ga_(1−x))_(2)GaAl_(2)O_(12)(GYGAG:Ce)scintillation ceramics with different Y excess,where x=0.005−0.08,were fabricated by the solid-state reaction method.The effects of stoichiometry on the phase composition,optical quality,and microstructure of GYGAG:Ce ceramics were analyzed.GYGAG:Ce ceramics have a pure garnet phase and obtain good in-line transmittance when x<0.04,while more Y excess leads to the creation of the secondary phase.The change of x value influences the sintering behavior of the GYGAG:Ce ceramics:The excess of Y works as the self-sintering aid and significantly reduces the sintering temperature of ceramics.When x=0.01–0.04,the X-ray excited luminescence(XEL)spectra and light yields of GYGAG:Ce ceramics are similar.The fast scintillation decay time and afterglow intensity of GYGAG:Ce ceramics show a slight decrease with increasing x value.Finally,additional 50–500 ppm MgO and 100–500 ppm CaO were introduced to the GYGAG:Ce ceramic with x=0.04,and both were found to significantly increase the fast scintillation component and reduce the afterglow intensity by two orders of magnitude to 0.01%after X-ray cut-off.