A comparison of BGO and BSO crystals used in the dual-readout mode

We report on a systematic study of the properties of two high-Z scintillating crystals, bismuth germanate (BGO) and bismuth silicate (BSO), in view of the possible application of such crystals in dual-readout calorimeters. Whereas the light attenuation characteristics of both crystals are about the same, BSO offers a considerably higher Cherenkov light yield, and with a given UV filter the separation between the Cherenkov and scintillation signals is substantially better in this crystal.