The Timing and Spectral Characteristics of Detectors Based on a Ce:GAGG Inorganic Scintillator Using Photomultiplier Tubes and Silicon Photodetectors

Abstract

The time and energy resolutions of scintillation detectors based on gadolinium gallium garnet (Ce:GAGG) crystals produced via cooperation between the Kurchatov Institute, the Research Institute for Nuclear Problems of the Belarusian State University, and the Fomos Materials Co. (Moscow, Russia, http://newpiezo.com/company/) were measured in comparison with crystals produced by the C&A Corporation (Japan). The measurements were performed for γ rays with energies ranging from ~20 keV to ~2 MeV. R3998-100-02 photomultiplier tubes and ArrayB-3035-144P silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) arrays were used as photodetectors. The time and energy resolutions of the crystals from Fomos Materials were competitive with the crystals produced by leading world companies and, in particular, by the C&A Corporation, Japan. It was shown by the measurements of the intrinsic radiation background of the gadolinium gallium garnet crystals that the scintillators from Fomos Materials, in combination with SiPM arrays, had very good prospects for use in compact spectrometric detectors of γ rays and charged particles and, in particular, detectors designed for future space experiments.