Efficiency and radiation hardness of phosphors in a proton beam

Abstract A new system has been used to measure the relative peak efficiency and radiation damage endurance of several phosphor-binder combinations on aluminum substrates. The phosphors tested are Gd 2 O 2 S doped with Pr, Tb, and Eu; Y 2 O 2 S doped with Tb and Eu; YAG doped with Ce; and ZnS doped with Ag. The binders used are a polysiloxane resin and sodium silicate. Binder with suspended phosphor was sprayed on the heated substrates. Tests were done on a 3 MeV proton beam at the University of Lowell Van de Graaff accelerator. The aluminum substrates are formed as rotatable turrets to facilitate sample changes. Light measurement was by means of a silicon photodiode with no optical filter except a glass window. Ce doped YAG shows the best radiation hardness, while Y 2 O 2 S doped with Eu shows the highest fluorescence efficiency.