 NaI(Tl)
The necessity to use NaI(Tl) crystals in sealed units is counterbalanced by the fact that
they have the greatest light output among all the scintillators and a convenient emission
range coinciding with a maximum efficiency of photomultipliers with bialkali photocatodes.
Moreover, large-size NaI(Tl) crystals can be produced at a low cost.
CsI(Na)
CsI(Na) is a good alternative for NaI(Tl) in many standard applications because it has a
high light output (85% of that of NaI(Tl)), the emission in a blue spectral region
coinciding with the maximum sensitivity of the most popular PMT with bialkali
photocatodes, and hygroscopicity substantially lower than that of NaI(Tl).
CsI(Tl)
Since the maximum of emission spectrum is at 550 nm, photodiodes can be used to detect the
emission. Because a scintillator-photodiode pair can be used, it is possible to reduce
significantly the size of the detection system, to do without a high-voltage power supply,
and to use the detection system in magnetic fields.
CsI(CO3)
We offer a new scintillation material, CsI(CO3). The light output in
gamma-excitation is 60% that of NaI(Tl). The decay time varies from 1.4 to 3.4 ms
depending on the dopant concentration. These characteristics allow CsI(CO3) to
be used in combination with other scintillators in phoswich detectors. CsI(CO3)
has an afterglow of 0.05% after 5 ms.
Undoped CsI
The decay time is ~10 ns. Undoped CsI can be effectively used for experiments in medium-
and high-energy physics.
LiF(W)
The absorption of thermal neutrons in Li-based crystals proceeds according to the
following reaction:
6Li + n -> 4He
+ 3H + Q
Therefore, the thermal neutrons can be detected against the natural background using the
amplitude discrimination. The lithium nuclei number per unit volume for LiF(W) is greater
than that in LiI(Eu) by a factor of 3.3. |