Red emission of PbWO4 crystals

Abstract Luminescence characteristics of a large number of undoped and doped PbWO 4 crystals, grown by the Czochralski or Bridgman method, as-grown or annealed in the nitrogen atmosphere or in air, were studied in the 4.2– 300 K temperature range. Two types of red emission centres were found. The centres with the emission band, peaking at 4.2 K at 1.57 eV , were observed in most of the crystals studied. The centres with the emission band, peaking at 4.2 K at 1.48 eV , were observed only in the PbWO 4 : Mo 6+ , Y 3+ crystal. It is suggested that incompletely compensated lead vacancies are responsible for the appearance of the red emission.