Europium concentration effects on the scintillation properties of Cs₄SrI₆:Eu and Cs₄CaI₆:Eu single crystals for use in gamma spectroscopy

Journal Article · Wed Sep 11 00:00:00 EDT 2019 · Journal of Luminescence

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlumin.2019.116740· OSTI ID:1561974

Rutstrom, Daniel ^[1]; Stand, Luis ^[2]; Koschan, Merry ^[2]; Melcher, Charles L. ^[2]; Zhuravleva, Mariya ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States); University of Tennessee
2. Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)

Recently discovered scintillators Cs₄SrI₆:Eu and Cs₄CaI₆:Eu have shown promising properties for gamma-ray detection in homeland security applications, with <4% energy resolution (at 662 keV) and light yields above 50,000 ph/MeV. However, a thorough investigation of the effects of europium concentration has not yet been conducted. In this work, Eu²⁺ concentration was varied from 0.5 mol% to 9 mol%, and Ø7 mm single crystals were grown from the melt via the vertical Bridgman method. Scintillation performance was evaluated as a function of Eu²⁺ concentration to determine the optimal amount. The observed trend was improved energy resolution and higher light yield with increasing Eu²⁺ concentration up to 7 mol%. The best energy resolution achieved was 3.2% for Cs₄SrI₆:Eu 7% and 3.6% for Cs₄CaI₆:Eu 7%. Their respective light yields were 71,000 ph/MeV and 69,000 ph/MeV.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• Grant/Contract Number: NA0003180
• OSTI ID: 1561974
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1562338
• Journal Information: Journal of Luminescence, Journal Name: Journal of Luminescence Journal Issue: C Vol. 216; ISSN 0022-2313
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
Alkali metal halides
Bridgman technique
Growth from melt
Rare earth elements
Scintillator
Single crystal