Fast ultradense GdTa1-xNbxO4 scintillator crystals

Single crystals of GdTaO4 and GdTa0.8Nb0.2O4 were grown by the Czochralski technique, and their luminescent and scintillation properties were studied. Both crystals demonstrate fast emission with decay time around 10−8 s. Meanwhile, in GdTaO4 the fast decay is accompanied by a huge build-up with the decay time around 1 μs, while in the mixed crystal the contribution of slow components is negligible. UV- and X-ray excited luminescence, curves of thermostimulated luminescence and absolute light yields of crystals are presented as well. GdTa0.8Nb0.2O4 crystal is shown to be an ultradense (8.37 g/cm3) and fast (shortest component decay time 17 ns) scintillator with a high stopping power.