Intrinsic energy resolution and light output of the Lu0.7Y0.3AP:Ce scintillator

Light output and energy resolution for a 2 x 2 x 10 mm(3) LuYAP:Ce crystal coupled to a XP2020Q photomultiplier were studied. The measured light output of 8530 photons/MeV includes the correction for the quantum efficiency of the XP2020Q photomultiplier. An energy resolution of 7.33% was obtained for 662 keV gamma-rays with a long face coupled to the PMT. The measured number of 2130 phe/MeV implies a photoelectron statistical contribution of 6.59% and hence a LuYAP intrinsic energy resolution of 3.21%. The relative light output of the LuYAP scintillator measured for photon energies varying from 31 keV to 1.333 MeV was constant within 7%. These observations are consistent with results for the YAP:Ce scintillator, and with the assumption that there is a direct correlation between the energy resolution of scintillators and non-proportionality of their light output versus energy in the low-energy domain. The results are compared to the relative light output of the LSO:Ce scintillator measured for varying energies. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.