Lutetium aluminate: spectroscopic and scintillation properties

The present status of the LuAlO/sub 3/:Ce (LuAP) scintillator is reviewed and its performance compared to that of YAlO/sub 3/:Ce (YAP). The light output of LuAP, at this stage of development, appears to be limited by two factors: insufficient Ce concentration and the presence of a parasitic absorption, Both LuAP and YAP show a dependence of light output on thickness, indicating that YAP also suffers from parasitic absorption. Measurements on undoped material offer a clue to the identity of the "parasite".