Applicability of Dy-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG:Dy) in phosphor thermometry at different oxygen concentrations

Phosphor thermometry is a method used to measure temperature based on the temperature-dependent phosphorescence of phosphors and elucidate heat transfer phenomena, such as high-temperature gas flow. Although various rare earth-doped thermographic phosphors are in use, the effect of oxygen concentration on their phosphorescence has not been sufficiently explored. We explore herein the applicability of Dy-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG:Dy), a well-known rare earth-doped phosphor with temperature sensitivity above 1000 K, in phosphor thermometry at different oxygen concentrations. A third-harmonic Nd: YAG laser excited the sample. Phosphorescence was measured using a photomultiplier tube for lifetime detection. A spectrometer was used to detect the intensity ratio between two emission lines. The chamber was filled with a nitrogen–oxygen mixture with a controlled concentration. The phosphorescence intensity ratio depended on temperature over a wide temperature range and varied with the oxygen concentration, especially above 1000 K. The YAG:Dy lifetimes could be detected over the entire temperature range and remained constant up to 1000 K. In addition, the lifetimes decreased with the increasing oxygen concentration, especially above 1000 K, confirming the oxygen quenching effect. Consequently, YAG:Dy is confirmed to be sensitive to oxygen concentration for determining the intensity ratio and lifetime, especially above 1000 K.