Specimens of transparent alumina ceramic (TAC) are prepared by slip casting. An alumina spinel, formed during sintering under vacuum or under reducing conditions, as well as individual phases, produced by thermochemical doping with chromium and titanium, are identified. The spectra of steady-state x-ray luminescence (SXL) and pulsed cathodoluminescence (PCL) and the PCL decay kinetics are studied. The highest STL and PCL intensity were observed in specimens that were prepared by thermal diffusion using a carbon + TiO 2 pack. Ti-doped TAC, characterized by a rapid decay of luminescence in the UV region, can be recommended as a promising material for the detector of a scintillation dosimeter. The luminescent chromium ions (isomorphic substituants of aluminum ions in the crystal lattice) are unsuitable for that purpose because of their long luminescence de-excitation time.