Optical and scintillation properties of inorganic scintillators in high energy physics

This paper presents a comparative study of the optical and scintillation properties for various inorganic crystal scintillators commonly used in high energy physics experiments. Transmittance, excitation and photo-luminescence spectra were measured for samples with a dimension of 1.5 X₀. The transmittance data are compared to the theoretical limit calculated by using refractive index, assuming no internal absorption. Refractive index of lutetium oxyorthosilicate and lutetium-yttrium oxyorthosilicate was measured by using a V-prism. Light output was measured for these samples with Tyvek paper wrapping, and the result is presented with the quantum efficiency of the readout devices taken out. Temperature coefficient of the light output was also measured. The result of these measurements will be used in the summary table of the inorganic scintillator section for the 2008 edition of the particle data book.