A new radiation damage phenomenon of LSO:Ce scintillation crystal

Cerium-doped lutetium oxyorthosilicate (LSO:Ce) is an excellent scintillator with a large radiation hardness. But, in this work, some LSO:Ce crystals grown by SIC showed a new radiation damage phenomenon after exposure to 60Co γ-rays. An absorption band peaking at near 430 nm was observed. Because of the absorption the emission spectra were distorted but no new emission center appeared. There is no new thermoluminescence (TL) peak in the TL curve but the relative intensity of peaks is different from that of normal samples. The peaks at 490 and 546 K may be attributed to the appearance of absorption band that was proved by annealing at different temperatures. Absorption band can be eliminated a little at 200 °C and completely at 300 °C, either in air or in N2 atmosphere.