LaBr3:Ce and CeBr3 are novel inorganic scintillators for gamma-ray detection and spectroscopy. Both materials exhibit exceptional scintillation properties, such as very high light output, fast response and excellent energy resolution. Custom equipment was built for crystal growth and handling of the moisture- and oxygen-sensitive materials. Crystal growth runs of large diameter crystals of LaBr3:Ce and pure CeBr3 were conducted in vertical multizone-zone Bridgman systems due to their operational simplicity and the potential for reduced thermal shock to the crystals. Procedures were developed to prepare clean charges, inhibit the formation of oxyhalides, and reduce the residual stresses and cracks in the crystals. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Single crystals of LaBr3:1% Pr and CeBr3:1% Pr have been grown by the vertical Bridgman technique. Crystals of these scintillators can be used in the fabrication of gamma-ray spectrometers. The LaBr3:1% Pr and CeBr3:1% Pr crystals we have grown had light outputs of similar to 73,000 and similar to 50,000 photons/MeV, respectively, and principal decay constants of 11 mu s and 26 ns, respectively. There were a number of emission peaks observed for these compounds. The emission wavelength range for the LaBr3:1% Pr and CeBr3:1% Pr scintillators were from about 400 to 800 nm. The CeBr3:1% Pr scintillator had a dominating emission peak due to CeBr3 at 390 nm. These two materials had energy resolutions of 9 and 7% FWHM, respectively, for 662 keV photons at room temperature. In this paper, we will report on our results to date for vertical Bridgman crystal growth and characterization of Pr-doped LaBr3 and Pr-doped CeBr3 crystals. We will also describe the special handling and processing procedures developed for these scintillator compositions.

„Der Teil meines Berufs, den ich am meisten schtze, ist mit motivierten und talentierten Studenten zu arbeiten. Mein Lieblingsfach in der Schule war Geschichte. Faszinierend und letztendlich wichtiger als Wissenschaft …“ Dies und mehr von und über Milko E. van der Boom finden Sie auf Seite 8479.

„Der Teil meines Berufs, den ich am meisten schtze, ist mit motivierten und talentierten Studenten zu arbeiten. Mein Lieblingsfach in der Schule war Geschichte. Faszinierend und letztendlich wichtiger als Wissenschaft …“ Dies und mehr von und über Milko E. van der Boom finden Sie auf Seite 8479.