Scintillation properties of Sc-, Pr-, and Ce-doped LuAG epitaxial garnet films

Lu3Al5O12 (LuAG) films were grown from the BaO-B2O3-BaF2 flux on LuAG and YAG substrates using the liquid phase epitaxy method (LPE). They were doped with Pr3+, Sc3+, and eventually still with Ce3+ ions. Photoelectron yield, its time dependence, and energy resolution were measured under alpha-particle excitation. A sample of the Czochralski-grown bulk LuAG:Pr single crystal was measured as a reference. The best performing epitaxial films had low Sc3+ concentration and appeared comparable or superior to the Czochralski-grown crystal in terms of photoelectron yield and relative intensity of the fast component of scintillation response. High concentration of Sc3+ ions results in slowdown of response and lower photoelectron yield. Some samples with lower photoelectron yield than that of the Czochralski-grown crystal did exhibit better energy resolution. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.