Spectroscopic and neutron detection properties of rare earth and titanium doped LiAlO2 single crystals

Journal Article · Sun Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 2017 · Journal of Luminescence

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlumin.2017.05.047· OSTI ID:1376735

Dickens, Peter T.; Marcial, José; McCloy, John; McDonald, Benjamin S.; Lynn, Kelvin G.

In this study, LiAlO₂ crystals doped with rare-earth elements and Ti were produced by the CZ method and spectroscopic and neutron detection properties were investigated. Photoluminescence revealed no clear luminescent activation of LiAlO₂ by the rare-earth dopants though some interesting luminescence was observed from secondary phases within the crystal. Gamma-ray pulse height spectra collected using a ¹³⁷Cs source exhibited only a Compton edge for the crystals. Neutron modeling using Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport Code revealed most neutrons used in the detection setup are thermalized, and while using natural lithium in the crystal growth, which contains 7.6% ⁶Li, a 10 mm Ø by 10 mm sample of LiAlO₂ has a 70.7% intrinsic thermal neutron capture efficiency. Furthermore, the pulse height spectra collected using a ²⁴¹Am-Be neutron source demonstrated a distinct neutron peak.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830; PNNL-SA-121859; AC0576RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1376735
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1364380
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-121859; S0022231316315320; PII: S0022231316315320
• Journal Information: Journal of Luminescence, Journal Name: Journal of Luminescence Vol. 190 Journal Issue: C; ISSN 0022-2313
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: Netherlands
• Language: English

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36 MATERIALS SCIENCE