Properties of new mixed Lu/sub x/(RE/sup 3+/)/sub 1-x/AlO/sub 3/:Ce scintillators (RE/sup 3+/=Y/sup 3+/ or Gd/sup 3+/) compared with other Ce-doped or intrinsic scintillation crystals

Abstract

This paper presents the development of new Ce-doped, fast and high effective-Z mixed Lu/sub x/(RE/sup 3+/)/sub 1-x/AlO/sub 3/ crystals. The crystals were grown by the Czochralski method and good results were obtained with x=0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 for Y/sup 3+/ ions and roughly between x=0.6 and 0.7 for Gd/sup 3+/ ions. Relative light yields measured for the Lu/sub x/(RE/sup 3+/)/sub 1-x/AlO/sub 3/:Ce crystals were 40% to 75% bigger than the BGO light yield and were comparable to the light yield of YAP:Ce. Measured energy resolutions at 662 keV ranged over 8% to 15.3% fwhm and were close to the energy resolution obtained with a YAP:Ce crystal.