60 mm Diameter Lu$_{0.4}$Gd$_{1.6}$SiO$_{5}$: Ce (LGSO) Single Crystals and Their Improved Scintillation Properties

Abstract

We developed Lu <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">0.4</sub> Gd <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">1.6</sub> SiO <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">5</sub> (LGSO) crystal as a new scintillator for medical imaging applications. The size of the LGSO ingot obtained for this investigation was approximately 60 mm in diameter and 170 mm in length. The as-grown crystal was yellow in color. To eliminate the tint, the crystal was annealed in pure N <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> atmosphere after the growth. As a result, the LGSO became colorless with uniform and large light output which is about 2.0 times that of GSO