Scintillation properties of LuAG:Ce single crystalline films grown by LPE method

Lu3Al5O12:Ce (LuAG:Ce) thin films were grown from the PbO-B2O3 (PB) and BaO-B2O3-BaF2 (BBB) fluxes using the liquid phase epitaxy method (LPE). Photoelectron yield, its time dependence, and energy resolution were measured under a-particle excitation. A sample of the Czochralski grown bulk LuAG:Ce single crystal was measured as a reference. Photoelectron yield of the crystal was the best, followed by slightly inferior films grown from the BBB flux and still worse performing films grown from the PB flux. The samples grown from BBB flux and reference crystal exhibit the intense slow component in scintillation response. Relative energy resolution is indirectly proportional to photoelectron yield and varies from 9% to 28%. Obtained results are discussed taking into account the influence of the flux and technology used. Additionally, influence of alpha-particle energy deposition and substrate scintillation response are discussed. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.