Crystal Growth and Optical Properties of Organic Crystals for Neutron Scintillators

Abstract

This paper presents the study of prospective organic-based materials, trans-stilbene and p-terphenyl, as their potential application for new neutron scintillators. Growth of their single crystals by the self-seeding vertical Bridgman method is reported. And evaluation of grown crystals concerning the composition, optical and luminescence properties, and scintillation performance at room temperature is discussed. Their photo- and radio-luminesce spectra were peaking at 388 and 408 nm, their quantum yield was of 52.4% and 79.7%, and the light yield were of 0.89 and 1.80 times higher than that of GS-20 standard, respectively. The scintillation decay times of 8.2 ns (trans-stilbene) and 5.8 ns (p-terphenyl) were observed as well.