Low Cost Large Volume Lanthanide Halide Scintillators

New cerium-doped lanthanide halide scintillators have shown a strong potential to move beyond their familiar role in conventional gamma ray spectroscopy, toward fulfilling the needs of other highly demanding applications. However, issues related to the reliable, large volume manufacturing of these high-light-yield materials have not been resolved or purposefully addressed. This project will develop an alternate method of material synthesis based upon the rapid epitaxial growth of rare earth halides on suitable substrates. The technique will permit large volume synthesis of high quality material in hours, at a cost that is substantially lower than currently possible. Phase I will demonstrate the feasibility of synthesizing rare earth halide scintillators using modified epitaxial growth techniques. A number of relatively small specimens will be produced by varying fabrication parameters. These specimens will be thoroughly evaluated to quantify their optical and scintillation properties. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee Improved and less expensive scintillators should find use as detectors in nuclear and high energy physics research, medical imaging, diffraction, nuclear waste clean-up, nuclear treaty verification and safeguards, homeland security, and geological exploration