Scintillation properties of ACa₁₋yEuyX₃ (A = K, Rb, Cs, X = Cl, Br) crystals

Abstract

The presented paper describes a series of new Eu²⁺-activated scintillators of Ca₁-yEuyX₂, ACa₁-yEuyX₃, (A=K, Rb, Cs; X=Cl, Br, 0 ≤y≤0.08). All the single crystals were grown using the Bridgman-Stockbarger method and their operational characteristics were compared including affinity for atmospheric moisture and scintillation properties (light yield, energetic resolution and decay constant of scintillation light). The maximal values of light yield of ARbCa₀.₉₂Eu₀.₀₈X₃ materials in the sequence A = K, Rb, Cs were observed for Rb-containing crystals: 38500 photons per MeV for RbCa₀.₉₂Eu₀.₀₈Cl₃ and 54000 photons per MeV for RbCa₀.₉₂Eu₀.₀₈Br₃. The distribution coefficients of Eu²⁺ in all the studied crystals are very close to unity that can be explained by perfect isomorphism of Eu²⁺ and Ca²⁺ cations.