Crystal Growth and Scintillation Properties of 2-Inch-Diameter ${\rm Pr}:{\rm Lu}_{3}{\rm Al}_{5} {\rm O} _{12}$ (Pr:LuAG) Single Crystal

In this work we tried to grow 2-inch-diameter and high quality Pr:LuAG single crystals by the Czochralski (Cz) method. To grow the large diameter Pr:LuAG single crystal, we have optimized growth conditions and the furnace design. As a result, we have succeeded in the growth of 2-inch-diameter Pr:LuAG single crystal with a length of 110 mm. To determine light yield and energy resolution the energy spectra were collected under 662 keV gamma-ray excitation (
¹³⁷
Cs source) and detection by a photomultiplier (Hamamatsu H7826). The light yield was around three times higher than that of BGO and almost homogeneous with increasing solidification fraction up to 0.32. The energy resolution was around 8%. Furthermore, scintillation decay time was around 23 ns and almost homogeneous all over the crystal.