Radioluminescence and spectroscopic properties of proton-irradiated Yb3+ doped crystals embedded in phosphate glass for real-time dosimetry

Yb 3+ doped phosphate glass and composites containing Yb 2 Si 2 O 7 , LiNbO 3 :Yb 3+ , and CaWO 4 :Yb 3+ crystals embedded in phosphate glass were irradiated with a 3.5 MeV proton beam to investigate the impact of the radiation treatment on the Yb 3+ spectroscopic properties. While the structure of the Yb 3+ doped glass remained almost unaffected by the proton exposure, the irradiation was found to lead to structural changes in the composites, including defect formation and partial dissolution of the crystals with variations in the local environment of the Yb 3+ ions. Micro-Raman spectroscopy revealed structural modifications induced by irradiation, including radiation-induced crystallization within the glass phase of the composite, as well as changes in the Raman spectra of the embedded crystals. Despite these microscopic changes, no visible alterations in transparency nor coloration were observed, demonstrating the composites' resistance to 3.5 MeV proton beam. The radioluminescence spectra were measured in-situ and changes in the spectroscopic properties were observed from all samples, with Yb 3+ doped glass exhibiting the highest sensitivity with accumulated dose, followed by the composites prepared with CaWO 4 :Yb 3+ and Yb 2 Si 2 O 7 . These results highlight the impact of proton irradiation on the structural and spectroscopic properties of Yb 3+ doped crystals embedded in phosphate glass, demonstrating their potential for real-time radiation dosimetry.