Scintillation studies of Bi4Ge3O12 (BGO) down to a temperature of 6 K

The scintillation light response and the decay time constant of Bi4Ge3O12 (BGO) were measured down to a temperature of 6 K using a multi-photon counting technique. The light response of BGO was confirmed to be temperature independent below 100 K and an estimate of the light yield was made, giving a value of 23,700±2600 ph/MeV. The temperature dependence of the scintillation decay time constant is interpreted using a simple three-level model for the emission centre which agrees well with the experimental data over the temperature range investigated.