Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 February 2011
Spectral and kinetic parameters of PbX2 (X=F, Cl, Br, I) crystals emission are investigated under pulse photo- (∆t=l.0 ns) and X-ray (∆t=l.5 ns) excitation in the temperature region from 77 to 293 K. X-ray luminescence of the PbF2, PbC12 and PbBr2 crystals is considered as radiative decay of the self-trapped excitons at the defects, while subnanosecund and nanosecond emission components are regarded to the result of the thermal quenching. The nature of the fast X-ray luminescence for PbI2 crystals is discussed from the viewpoint of the possibility for observation of radiative core-valence transition.