Bridgman growth of Cs2LiYCl6:Ce and 6Li-enriched Cs26LiYCl6:Ce crystals for high resolution gamma ray and neutron spectrometers

Single crystals of small and large diameter Cs2LiYCl6:Ce and 6Li-enriched Cs26LiYCl6:Ce have been grown by the vertical Bridgman technique. These scintillator crystals are used in the fabrication of high resolution, gamma ray and neutron spectrometers. The Cs2LiYCl6:Ce and 6Li-enriched Cs26LiYCl6:Ce crystals we have grown have high light outputs of up to ∼22,000 photons/MeV. The emission wavelength for the Cs2LiYCl6:Ce and 6Li-enriched Cs26LiYCl6:Ce is λ=373 nm. This material has an excellent energy resolution at room temperature of ∼4% FWHM for 662 keV photons (using a super bialkali photomultiplier). Cs2LiYCl6:Ce exhibits different temporal responses to gamma and neutron radiation. This difference results in effective pulse shape discrimination. In this paper, we will report on our results to date for vertical Bridgman crystal growth and characterization of Ce-doped Cs2LiYCl6:Ce and 6Li-enriched Cs26LiYCl6:Ce crystals.