Growth of pure and doped TeO2 crystals for scintillating bolometers

Double-beta decay hybrid detectors (scintillating bolometers) are prospective sensitive tools for nuclear and particle physics investigations. For this goal, the bolometric capability of crystals should be combined with extrinsic scintillation. Tellurium dioxide (TeO2) crystals have well established, suitable properties to be conveniently used as bolometers. A first attempt to grow doped TeO2 crystals to increase their scintillation was performed. Preliminary room temperature transmission and luminescence measurements showed the incorporation of different dopants in TeO2 host lattice.