A TECHNIQUE AND RESULTS OF A STUDY OF INORGANIC SCINTILLATING MATERIALS

A procedure for measuring the temporal characteristics and light outpu t of powdered scintillators excited by delta, gamma-, and alpha-partic les from radioactive sources is described. Results of measurements of characteristics are presented for similar to 40 scintillating compound s including cerium-doped yttrium silicate and scandium berate; europiu m-doped strontium phosphate; cerium-doped strontium silicate, calcium silicate and magnesium calcium silicate; etc. Upon beta- and gamma-exc itation, cerium-doped scandium borate gives the highest light output w ith a fluorescent lifetime of 40 +/- 4 ns. The highest light output fo r alpha-excitation was from cerium-doped yttrium aluminum perovskite, with a fluorescent lifetime of 29 +/- 3 ns.