Bridgman bulk growth and scintillation measurements of SrI2:Eu2+

• Progress in crystal growth of SrI2:Eu2+ (up to 2 in. diameter).
• 3.0% and 6.0% energy resolution at 662 keV and 122 keV, respectively for a 1 in. right cylinder.
• 70,000 ph/MeV to >100,000 ph/MeV light yield depending on Eu2+ concentration.

Large diameter Bridgman growth of europium activated strontium iodide SrI2:Eu2+ produces crystals with light yield of up to 115,000 ph/MeV with an excellent light yield proportionality. SrI2:Eu2+ exhibits an outstanding energy resolution of better than 3% FWHM at 662 keV. Its emission is centered at 435 nm. The scintillation decays with a 1 μs time constant for small samples and up to 5 μs to larger crystals. This paper presents successful progress made in the vertical Bridgman crystal growth of SrI2:Eu2+ and its scintillator properties. Large diameter, crack-free and transparent SrI2:Eu2+single crystals with diameters of 1 in., 1.3 in., 1.5 in. and 2 in. were all successfully grown.