Superfast timing performance from ZnO scintillators

We report promising performance from prototype doped ZnO scintillator crystals. The scintillation properties of ZnO in powder form have long been known. Recently, Cermet Inc. has developed the capability to produce single crystals of ∼1 cm2 area, using a high-pressure direct melting technique. Crystals of several doping species and concentrations have been produced and tested. These crystals exhibit pulse rise-times <100 ps, and fall times <1 ns, and so are faster than any currently available scintillators. Light output is comparable with fast plastic scintillators, and we anticipate improvement by further work to optimize doping. Unprecedented high speed, coupled with other favorable properties (ZnO is non-hydroscopic, stable over a wide range of temperatures, mechanically robust, and denser than plastics) will lead to new applications where high count rates, exceptional timing resolution, or high-temperature stability are required.