LuAG(Ce) Scintillation Crystals
Lutetium Aluminium Garnet (LuAG(Ce) - Lu3Al5O12:Ce) scintillator crystals are relatively dense (6.73g/cm³), have a high Z (58.9) and have a a fast decay time (70ns). With a peak emission of 535nm, LuAG(Ce) output is well is well matched to photodiodes avalanche photodiodes APDs and silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs). In addition these crystals have good temperature properties.

LuAG(Ce) scintillator crystals have:
  • Mechanically robust characteristics and are non-hygroscopic
  • Stable scintillating characteristics up to c.100 rad
  • Virtually no afterglow emissions
  • No cleavage planes, so can me easily machined into various shapes and geometries

LuAG(Ce) scintillator crystals have the following issues which should be noted. They:
  • Have a light emission which a is good part is above 500nm, a region where photomultipliers are less sensitive
  • Are intrinsically radioactive making it unacceptable for some applications
  • Are susceptible to radiation damage, starting with doses between 1 and 10 Gray (10² - 10³ rad). Reversible with time or annealing.

LuAG(Ce) scintillator crystals are useful in diverse applications such as:
  • Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
  • Imaging screens
  • Specialist applications in high energy, nuclear, space and medical physics
LuAG(Ce) Scintillation Crystals
- Properties -
LuAG(Ce) Scintillator Emission Spectrum
LuAG(Ce) Mass Attenuation Coefficients
LuAG(Ce) Scintillation Crystals
- Optical Properties -
Property Units Value
Wavelength (Max. Emission) nm 535
Wavelength Range nm 475 - 800
Decay Times ns 70
Light Yield photons/keV 25
Photoelectron Yield % of NaI(Tl) 20
Radiation Length cm 1.3
Optical Transmission µm TBA
Transmittance % TBA
Refractive Index 1.84 @633nm
Reflection Loss/Surface % TBA
Neutron Capture Cross-section barns TBA
LuAG(Ce) Scintillation Crystals
- Mechanical Properties -
Property Units Value
Chemical Formula Lu3Al5O12:Ce
Density g/cm³ 6.3
Atomic Number (Effective) 58.9
Melting Point ºC 2020
Thermal Expansion Coeff. C⁻¹ 8.8 x 10‾⁶
Cleavage Plane None
Hardness Mho 8.5
Hygroscopic No
Solubility g/100gH₂0 N/A
LuAG(Ce) Scintillation Crystals
- Further Reading/Publications -
LuAG(Ce) Scintillation Crystals
- Sizes -
Diameters:
80 mm max.
Lengths:
150mm max.
Thin Sections - minimum thicknesses:
  • Free Standing: 0.2mm (Diameters <100mm), 0.1mm (Diameters <50mm)
  • Ring - Edge Mounted: 0.05mm (Diameters <50mm), 0.02mm (Diameters <10mm)
  • Substrate Mounted: 0.01mm (Diameters <40mm), 0.005mm (Diameters <30mm)