TY - GEN
T1 - Cerium-doped mixed-alkali rare-earth double-phosphate scintillators for X- and gamma-ray detection
AU - Neal, John S.
AU - Boatner, Lynn A.
AU - Spurrier, Merry
AU - Szupryczynski, Piotr
AU - Melcher, Charles L.
PY - 2006
Y1 - 2006
N2 - Previous measurements of the scintillation properties of members of the single-alkali, rare-earth double-phosphate family have demonstrated high light output and fast decay times when exposed to ionizing radiation. Cerium-doped K3Lu(PO4)2 and Rb3Lu(PO 4)2 scintillators have exhibited light outputs of 32,500 and 28,200 photons/MeV respectively and decay times of 37 and 34 nanoseconds respectively. Because of the ease with which the alkali constituents (Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs) of the crystal matrix may be interchanged (e.g. K 2CsLu(PO4)2 and CsLi2Lu(PO 4)2), the rare-earth double-phosphate family of scintillators provides an ideal system for the study of matrix effects on scintillation efficiency and kinetics. In order to better understand and to ultimately optimize the scintillation properties of these scintillators, new members of the rare-earth double-phosphate family have been synthesized by high temperature flux growth. These new samples, represented by the general formula (A,B)3Lu(PO4)2:Ce where A and B are alkali elements, incorporate mixed alkali rather than single alkali components and varying levels of Ce doping. Light output, scintillation decay times, and photoluminescence measurements for the most promising of the samples to date are reported. In this paper, we identify promising samples and results that clearly demonstrate outstanding light output, up to 270% of BGO, fast decay times, 29-39 nanoseconds, and peak emission wavelengths of ∼400 nm for many of the samples.
AB - Previous measurements of the scintillation properties of members of the single-alkali, rare-earth double-phosphate family have demonstrated high light output and fast decay times when exposed to ionizing radiation. Cerium-doped K3Lu(PO4)2 and Rb3Lu(PO 4)2 scintillators have exhibited light outputs of 32,500 and 28,200 photons/MeV respectively and decay times of 37 and 34 nanoseconds respectively. Because of the ease with which the alkali constituents (Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs) of the crystal matrix may be interchanged (e.g. K 2CsLu(PO4)2 and CsLi2Lu(PO 4)2), the rare-earth double-phosphate family of scintillators provides an ideal system for the study of matrix effects on scintillation efficiency and kinetics. In order to better understand and to ultimately optimize the scintillation properties of these scintillators, new members of the rare-earth double-phosphate family have been synthesized by high temperature flux growth. These new samples, represented by the general formula (A,B)3Lu(PO4)2:Ce where A and B are alkali elements, incorporate mixed alkali rather than single alkali components and varying levels of Ce doping. Light output, scintillation decay times, and photoluminescence measurements for the most promising of the samples to date are reported. In this paper, we identify promising samples and results that clearly demonstrate outstanding light output, up to 270% of BGO, fast decay times, 29-39 nanoseconds, and peak emission wavelengths of ∼400 nm for many of the samples.
KW - Gamma-ray detectors
KW - Rare-earth phosphates
KW - Rare-earth scintillators
KW - X-ray detectors
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33750723130&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1117/12.683884
DO - 10.1117/12.683884
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:33750723130
SN - 0819463981
SN - 9780819463982
T3 - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
BT - Hard X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Detector Physics and Penetrating Radiation Systems VIII
T2 - Hard X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Detector Physics and Penetrating Radiation Systems VIII
Y2 - 14 August 2006 through 17 August 2006
ER -