Results from a nuclear microprobe analysis of selected rare earth fluor materials

Until recently, it was difficult to measure properties of individual fluor grains. The development of an accelerator-based nuclear microprobe, as is currently available at the Louisiana Accelerator Center, has made this type of research possible. Using ion beams as small as 1 × 1 μm (horizontal × vertical extent), it is now possible to measure properties of individual fluor grains. Starting in 2000, a research program was initiated to determine the microscopic fluorescence properties for selected rare earth compounds, like Y₂O₂S:Eu. Particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) was used to characterize individual fluor grains. Individual Y₂O₂S:Eu grains are clearly visible in the analysis and are less than 10 μm in extent.