Acceleration of scintillation response in Sc,Ca,Mg-codoped YAG:Ce crystals

Abstract

This study explores fast-timing garnet scintillators as potential candidates for future high-energy physics detectors. Sc-codoped YAG:Ce crystals were successfully grown for the first time using the Czochralski method in a reducing atmosphere from tungsten crucibles. Scintillation decay times were accelerated through codoping of Y₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce (YAG:Ce) with Sc³⁺ and divalent alkaline earth metal cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺). The resulting codoped YAG:Ce exhibited a decay time of 21 ns and a high light yield of 14 000 photons per MeV, making it a strong candidate for future detectors at the HL-LHC, where particle collisions occur every 25 ns. The study also examines correlations between cation substitutions and the optical and scintillation performance of Ce-doped Al³⁺/Sc³⁺-substituted garnets, comparing them with known counterparts.