Phase-separated CsI–NaCl scintillator grown by the Czochralski method

Abstract

A phase-separated CsI–NaCl scintillator with light-guiding properties was grown by the Czochralski method. The CsI–NaCl eutectic phase usually consists of NaCl cylinders in a CsI matrix and contains grain boundaries. However, we have grown composites without grain boundaries by creating a convex solid/liquid interface, selecting a single grain by Dash’s neck method, and increasing the diameter of the composite moderately. The good continuous convection flow required for these conditions was achieved by suppressing the drop in the aspect ratio of the melt height to the crucible radius with a double crucible setup. We successfully obtained a CsI–NaCl:Tl composite that was uniform with no grain boundaries greater than 30mm in diameter.