Non-proportionality in the scintillation response and the energy resolution obtainable with scintillation crystals

Abstract

A review and new data are presented on the absolute photon yield emitted by "classical" (NaI(Tl/sup +/), CsI(Tl/sup +/), CsI(Na/sup +/), CaF/sub 2/(Eu/sup 2+/), Bi/sub 4/Ge/sub 3/O/sub 12/, and CdWO/sub 4/) and "modern" (BaF/sub 2/, Gd/sub 2/SiO/sub 5/(Ce/sup 3+/), YAlO/sub 3/(Ce/sup 3+/), Lu/sub 2/SiO/sub 5/(Ce/sup 3+/), Lu/sub 3/Al/sub 5/O/sub 12/(Sc/sup 3+/), and K/sub 2/LaCl/sub 5/(Ce/sup 3+/)) scintillation crystals after absorption of X-rays and /spl gamma/-rays of energies ranging from 5 keV to 1 MeV. Factors influencing the energy resolution with which high energy photons can be detected with scintillator-photomultiplier combinations are reviewed. Attention is especially focused on the effects of nonproportionality in the scintillation response on the energy resolution.