Evaluation of Melt-Grown, ZnO Single Crystals for Use as Alpha-Particle Detectors
Evaluation of Melt-Grown, ZnO Single Crystals for Use as Alpha-Particle Detectors
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DOI：
10.1109/tns.2008.922829
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发表时间：
2008-06
影响因子：
1.8
通讯作者：
J. Neal;N. Giles;Xiaocheng Yang;R. Wall;K. Ucer;R.T. Williams;D. Wisniewski;L. Boatner;V. Rengarajan;J. Nause;B. Nemeth
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文献类型：
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作者：
J. Neal;N. Giles;Xiaocheng Yang;R. Wall;K. Ucer;R.T. Williams;D. Wisniewski;L. Boatner;V. Rengarajan;J. Nause;B. Nemeth
作为氧化锌 (ZnO) 基闪烁体闪烁特性持续研究的一部分，使用 α 粒子激发、红外反射率和室温光致发光对几种熔融生长的 ZnO 单晶进行了表征。这些晶体由 Cermet, Inc. 采用加压氧气熔融生长工艺生长，掺杂有第 1 族元素 (Li)、第 2 族元素 (Mg)、第 3 族元素 (Ga、In) 和镧系元素 (Gd、Er、Tm)。这些研究的目的是更好地了解与 ZnO 闪烁体家族各个成员相关的闪烁机制，然后利用这些知识来提高 ZnO 基闪烁体的辐射探测能力。 ZnO 特别适合作为闪烁体的一种应用是作为氘氚 (D-T) 中子发生器中的相关粒子探测器。应用要求包括不含有机材料、出色的定时分辨率和高抗辐射性。 ZnO:Ga 和 ZnO:In 已证明具有快速（亚纳秒）衰减时间和相对较低的光产额，并且 ZnO(Ga) 已以粉末形式用作 D-T 中子发生器的相关粒子探测器。本研究确定了四种有前景的候选材料：ZnO、ZnO:Ga、ZnO:In,Li 和 ZnO:Er,Li。这四个样品表现出与 BC-400 快速塑料闪烁体相当的亚纳秒衰减时间和 α 粒子激发发光。 ZnO:Mg、Ga、ZnO:Gd 和 ZnO:Li 样品表现出明显的缓慢（微秒）衰减成分，这与高计数率应用不兼容。
As part of an ongoing investigation of the scintillation properties of zinc-oxide-(ZnO)-based scintillators, several melt-grown, ZnO single crystals have been characterized using alpha-particle excitation, infrared reflectance, and room temperature photoluminescence. The crystals, grown by Cermet, Inc., using an oxygen-pressurized melt-growth process, were doped with Group 1 elements (Li), Group 2 elements (Mg), Group 3 elements (Ga, In) and lanthanides (Gd, Er, Tm). The goals of these studies are to better understand the scintillation mechanisms associated with various members of the ZnO scintillator family and to then use this knowledge to improve the radiation detection capabilities of ZnO-based scintillators. One application for which ZnO is particularly well suited as a scintillator is as the associated particle detector in a deuterium-tritium (D-T) neutron generator. Application requirements include the exclusion of organic materials, outstanding timing resolution, and high radiation resistance. ZnO:Ga and ZnO:In have demonstrated fast (subnanosecond) decay times with relatively low light yields, and ZnO(Ga) has been used in a powder form as the associated particle detector for a D-T neutron generator. Four promising candidate materials, ZnO, ZnO:Ga, ZnO:In,Li, and ZnO:Er,Li, were identified in this study. These four samples demonstrated sub-nanosecond decay times and alpha-particle-excited- luminescence comparable to BC-400 fast plastic scintillator. The ZnO:Mg,Ga, ZnO:Gd, and ZnO:Li samples demonstrated appreciable slow (microsecond) decay components that would be incompatible with high-counting-rate applications.