Scintillation properties and anomalous Ce(3+) emission of Cs(2)NaREBr(6):Ce(3+) (RE = La,Y,Lu)

We report the optical and scintillation properties of the Ce(3+)-doped bromoelpasolites Cs(2)NaREBr(6) (RE = La,Y,Lu). The γ-ray scintillation light yield of these materials varies from 6000 to 17 000 photons per MeV absorbed γ-ray energy. At room temperature (RT), the γ-ray scintillation decay curves for all compounds show a fast component of 61 ns, whereas the intrinsic Ce(3+) decay time is 30 ns. The scintillation mechanism in elpasolites is addressed. In Cs(2)NaLuBr(6):Ce(3+) and Cs(2)NaYBr(6):Ce(3+), we observe for the first time the so-called Ce(3+) anomalous emission in bromide compounds. This emission previously observed for chloride compounds is an ultrafast Ce(3+) emission with a selective excitation mechanism. The decay time of the anomalous emission at 10 K in bromide compounds (∼7.80 ns) is faster than that in chloride compounds (∼9.90 ns). Two bands of the anomalous emission are resolved for the first time. The mechanism behind this emission is discussed.