STOICHIOMETRIC CERIUM COMPOUNDS AS SCINTILLATORS .1. CEF3

Simple arguments indicate that stoichiometric Ce-materials with negligible Ce-Ce interactions should have superior properties (speed and light output),[1]. In this paper we present a study of the already known scintillator, CeF3. We have investigated spectroscopy of CeF3, cerium trifluoride, using optical and ionizing radiation excitations. We show that rapid quenching of Ce emission in this material is responsible for the loss of about 50% of the light output and generates the, so-called, ultra fast component. Additional competition comes from unidentified centers, probably due to perturbed Ce ions. Although the light output of CeF3 is now only about 50% of BGO it clearly demonstrates the potential of light output. Deeper understanding of Ce-systems is certainly needed in order to fully exploit their potentials.