Scintillation properties of RE2Hf2O7 (RE = La, Gd, Lu) single crystals prepared by xenon arc floating zone furnace

Pyrochlore La2Hf2O7, Gd2Hf2O7, and Lu2Hf2O7 single crystals were successfully grown by using an optical floating zone furnace. The synthesized crystals exhibit scintillation with a broad emission peaking around 440-510 nm. The crystal quality and luminescence intensity are sufficiently high that it is applicable for pulse height spectrum measurements. Under Am-241 alpha-ray exposure, the pulse height spectrum indicates the estimated light yield of a La2Hf2O7 crystal is 270 photons/MeV. (C) 2018 The Japan Society of Applied Physics