Bulk Crystal Growth and Characteristics of Novel scintillating Materials for Gamma-ray Detectors

摘要

Recently halide scintillator materials, such as cerium doped LaBr_3 or LaCl_3 crystalsrnhave proven to be novel inorganic scintillator for gamma-ray detection and spectroscopy.rnBoth materials exhibit exceptional scintillation properties such as high light output, fastrnresponse, and excellent energy resolution. However, these materials are highly hygroscopic,rnhard to grow due to thermal stressing then end up cracking and suffer from the self-activity. Arnsearch for high resolution, high light yields, and non-hygroscopic materials are highlyrndesirable to advance the scintillator technology. This paper presents the crystal growth of arnnew scintillator material, lanthanum doped cerium bromide (CeBr_3:3%LaBr_3), and its opticalrncharacteristics. In comparison with the high performance Ce-doped LaBr_3 or LaCl_3 ,rnCeBr_3:3%LaBr_3 crystals are less hygroscopic, have higher energy resolution (R～ 8% @ 662rnkeV) and higher light yield (67,000 Ph/MeV±3000). Preliminary results on the growth ofrnCeBr_3:3%La crystals are presented along with comparison of its luminescence properties withrnother well-known inorganic scintillators.