Cerium-Doped Cs2NaGdCl6 Scintillator for X-Ray and \gamma-Ray Detection.

New single crystals of Ce-doped Cs2NaGdCl6 are investigated under x-ray and \gamma-ray excitation. These scintillation crystals are grown by two zone vertical Bridgman technique and belong to elpasolite crystal family. Energy resolution, scintillation light yield, non-proportionality, energy resolution as a function of \gamma-rays energies and scintillation decay time measurements are presented. Ce^3+-related x-ray excited emission is observed between 360 and 450 nm wavelength region at room temperature. At higher Ce-concentration both self-trapped exciton (STE) and Gd^3+ emissions are disappeared and enhance Ce^3+ emission. Under 662 keV \gamma-rays excitation, Cs2NaGdCl6 shows an energy resolution of 5.2%, (FWHM) at 1% Ce-concentration. Best energy resolution of 4.8% (FWHM) is obtained for 10% Ce-concentration. No significant improvement is observed in the energy resolution of Cs2NaGdCl6 with the increase of Ce-concentration. The highest light yield of about 21,000 ph/MeV is obtained for 10% Ce-doped crystal. At room temperature three decay time components are found under \gamma-ray excitation for all Ce-doped samples. This material is highly hygroscopic. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]