GROWTH AND APPLICATIONS OF GD2SIO5-CE SCINTILLATORS

Gd2SiO5 is a clear, colorless material with a density of 6.71 g/cm3 and a melting point of near 1950-degrees-C. Single crystal boules up to 60 mm diameter and 200 mm long were grown using the Czochralski technique. It can be doped with cerium, producing an efficient scintillator with an emission centered at 430 nm. Due to anisotropic physical properties, boule quality strongly depends on the thermal gradient, rotation rate, diameter, and cooling rate. GSO is attractive for many gamma-ray and X-ray detector applications such as positron emission tomography, nuclear physics experiments, position sensitive detectors, and oil well logging.