Crystal growth and scintillation characteristics of the Nd³⁺ doped LaF₃ single crystal

Two-inch diameter Nd³⁺ doped LaF₃ single crystals were successfully grown by the Czochralski technique. No remarkable absorption due to unfavorable impurities or color centers was observed from optical absorption measurements in the vacuum ultra-violet spectral region. The high crystallinity and homogeneous Nd³⁺ distribution were found from X-ray rocking curve and chemical composition analysis, respectively. X-ray excited luminescence spectrum was measured and the significant 4f²5d-4f ³ luminescence at 173 nm was observed in the grown crystal. The pulse height spectrum and scintillation decay curves were taken upon γ-ray irradiation. As a result, the grown crystals demonstrated sufficient response to the γ-ray, the light yield of 140 ± 30 photons/MeV, and fast scintillation decay of 7.6 ns.