Unveiling of UV intrinsic luminescence in (Lu,Y)2SiO5:Ce3+single crystals

Intrinsic luminescence in Ce-doped (Lu,Y)2SiO5 (or LYSO:Ce) single crystals have been studied by means of excitation luminescence spectroscopy in the vacuum ultraviolet energy range under synchrotron radiation. A previously unreported luminescence band with emission at 250 nm has been discovered as well as its thermal behavior was described in the temperature range 10-120 K. The excitation spectra as well as time-resolved properties of this band suggest that this emission corresponds either to the singlet component of self-trapped exciton or to a self-trapped exciton in the lutetium sublattice of LYSO single crystals.