Impact of Lu/Gd ratio and activator concentration on structure and scintillation properties of LGSO:Ce crystals

• Published in: Journal of crystal growth 2010-02, Vol.312 (4), p.601-606
• Main Authors: Sidletskiy, O., Bondar, V., Grinyov, B., Kurtsev, D., Baumer, V., Belikov, K., Katrunov, K., Starzhinsky, N., Tarasenko, O., Tarasov, V., Zelenskaya, O.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: A1. Doping; A1. Solid solutions; A2. Czochralski method; Afterglows; B1. Oxides; B2. Scintillator materials; Cations; Concentration (composition); Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Crystal growth; Crystal structure; Crystals; Exact sciences and technology; Growth from melts; zone melting and refining; Lattices; Materials science; Methods of crystal growth; physics of crystal growth; Optimization; Physics; Scintillation
• ISSN: 0022-0248; 1873-5002
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2009.11.048

We have studied the dependence of structural and scintillation characteristics of Lu 2 x Gd 2−2 x SiO 5:Ce (LGSO:Ce) crystals on cation composition. LGSO:Ce crystals at x=0–1 have been obtained by the Czochralski method. We report here a strong correlation between ionic radii of trivalent cations and their distribution between non-equivalent sites in lattice. By choosing the optimal Lu/Gd ratio and Ce concentration we were able to obtain the light output by∼70%, as compared to LSO:Ce crystals, and energy resolution ∼7 at% 662 KeV ( 137Cs); the afterglow level was decreased by 1–3 orders of magnitude as compared to LSO:Ce. We also discuss the possible mechanisms of control on scintillation characteristics of mixed orthosilicates.