CaSiO 3 :Dy 3+ (1–5mol%) nanophosphors have been prepared by a low temperature solution combustion method. The structural and luminescence (ionoluminescence; IL and photoluminescence; PL) studies have been carried out for pristine and ion irradiated samples. The XRD patterns of pristine sample show a prominent peak at (320) for the monoclinic structure of β-CaSiO 3 . Upon ion irradiation, the intensity of the prominent peak is decreased at the fluence of 7.81×10 12 ionscm −2 and at higher fluence of 15.62×10 12 ionscm −2 , the prominent peak completely vanishes. The decrease in peak intensity might be due to the stress induced point defects. On-line IL and in situ PL studies have been carried out on pelletized samples bombarded with 100MeV Si 7+ ions with fluences in the range (7.81–15.62)×10 12 ionscm −2 . The characteristic emission peaks at 481,574, 664 and 754nm recorded in both IL and PL are attributed to the luminescence centers activated by Dy 3+ ions. It is found that IL and PL emissions intensity decreases with increase in Si 7+ ion fluence. The decrease in intensity can be due to the destruction of SiOSi and OSiO type species present on the surface of the sample. FTIR studies also confirm the SiOSi and OSiO type species observed to be sensitive for swift heavy ion (SHI) irradiated samples.