Radiation damage effects in Y2SiO5:Ce scintillation crystals under γ-quanta and 24 GeV protons

Abstract

This work focuses on the study of changes in the optical transmission of Y2SiO5:Ce crystals caused by ionizing radiation from γ-quanta and high energy protons. Radioisotope content of proton-irradiated crystals, transmission and induced absorption spectra, and scintillation characteristics are measured after irradiation with protons. In contrast to crystals of heavy complex oxides, Y2SiO5:Ce crystals do not demonstrate significant deterioration of transmission in the luminescence range (400-600 nm) under irradiation. Such crystals can be considered as a material for construction of detecting cells of the calorimetric detectors at LHC with high luminosity. The feasibility of growing large crackless Y2SiO5:Ce crystals with a diameter up to 50 mm and length up to 250 mm is demonstrated. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.