Optical and Scintillation Properties of the Thermal Neutron Scintillator Li $_{3}$ YCl $_{6}$ :Ce

The thermal neutron detection, X-ray detection, gamma detection and the optical properties of the chloride scintillator Li₃YCl₆:Ce are reported. Photo-luminescence (PL) and luminescence excitation spectra together with X-ray excited emission studies provide information on the scintillation and luminescence mechanism. Thermal neutron scintillation performance was investigated and compared with the performance of scintillators like Rb₂LiYBr₆:Ce and Cs₂LiYCl₆:Ce from the elpasolite family. The estimated absorption length for thermal neutrons (1.8 Å wavelength or 25 meV energy) is 0.8 mm in 95 % ⁶Li-enriched Li₃YCl₆:Ce.