Growth, Structural Considerations, and Characterization of Ce-Doped (La,Gd)2Si2O7 Scintillating Crystals

Abstract

Ce-doped lantanium-gadolinium pyrosilicate (La,Ce,Gd)2Si2O7 (Ce:La-GPS), crystals with various content of rare-earth elements were produced from the melt, and their optimal La/Gd ratio was examined. It was found that Ce:La-GPS single crystals of acceptable optical quality can be produced from the melts ranging from La0.5Gd1.5Si2O7 to La1.0Gd1.0Si2O7 and containing about 1 atom % Ce with respect to the host rare-earths of La and Gd. The crystal growth was performed by the micro-pulling-down and Czochralski methods. The crystals were chemically uniform along the growth axis, and their composition was equal to that of the melt, thus corresponding to vicinity of congruent melting composition. Spatial distribution of Ce in La-GPS was also inspected, and no variation of Ce content was detected as a result of its similarity to one of the host cations (La) regarding the size. Basic optical and scintillation properties of the Ce:La-GPS crystals are also reported, and it is demonstrated that partial substitution of...