Hadron-Induced Radiation Damage in Fast Heavy Inorganic Scintillators.

Fast and heavy inorganic scintillators with suitable radiation tolerance are required to face the challenges presented at future hadron colliders of high energy and intensity. Up to 5 GGy and 5 × 10¹⁸ n_eq/cm² of one-MeV-equivalent neutron fluence is expected by the forward calorimeter at the Future Hadron Circular Collider. This paper reports the results of an investigation of proton- and neutron-induced radiation damage in various fast and heavy inorganic scintillators, such as LYSO:Ce crystals, LuAG:Ce ceramics, and BaF₂ crystals. The experiments were carried out at the Blue Room with 800 MeV proton fluence up to 3.0 × 10¹⁵ p/cm² and at the East Port with one MeV equivalent neutron fluence up to 9.2 × 10¹⁵ n_eq/cm², respectively, at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center. Experiments were also carried out at the CERN PS-IRRAD proton facility with 24 GeV proton fluence up to 8.2 × 10¹⁵ p/cm². Research and development will continue to develop LuAG:Ce ceramics and BaF₂:Y crystals with improved optical quality, F/T ratio, and radiation hardness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]