Growth and luminescence properties of undoped strontium iodide crystals

High optical quality undoped strontium iodide crystal grown by using the Bridgman method was characterized. Crystal growth process was described and growth technical parameters were discussed. Impurity analysis of raw materials and as-grown crystal boule indicates that it is feasible to pre-purify the raw material by zone refining or recrystallization. Luminescence properties were studied by photoluminescence, radioluminescence, fluorescence decay time, and scintillation time response. As-grown crystal shows good optical transmittance with wavelength concerned and is transparent for its large Stoke shift, 540 nm peaked broad emission, which has a fluorescence decay time 494 ns at 300 K. The broad emission range from 350 nm to 800 nm was tentatively speculated to be intrinsic and have an origin of self-trapped exciton.