Crystal Growth and Scintillation Properties of ${\rm Cs}_{2}{\rm NaGdBr}_{6}{:}{\rm Ce}^{3+}$

Single crystals of Cs₂NaGdBr₆ with different Ce⁺³ activator concentrations were grown by a two-zone Bridgman method. This new compound belongs to a large elpasolite halide (A₂BLnX₆) family. Many of these elpasolite compounds have shown high luminosity, good energy resolution and excellent proportionality in comparison to traditional scintillators such as CsI and NaI; therefore, they are particularly attractive for gamma-ray spectroscopy applications. This study investigated the scintillator properties of Cs₂NaGdBr₆:Ce⁺³ crystals as a new material for radiation detection. Special focus has been placed on the effects of activator concentration (0 to 50 mol.%) on the photoluminescence responses. Results of structural refinement, photoluminescence, radioluminescence, lifetime and proportionality measurements for this new compound are reported.