YAG(Ce) Scintillation Crystals
Yttrium Aluminium Garnate (Cesium) - YAG(Ce) Y3Al5O12:Ce - is a highly effective gamma-ray absorber as a result of its high density and high Z characteristics.

YAG(Ce) scintillator crystals have:
  • Reasonably fast with a decay time of 70ns
  • Emission peaking at 550nm is well matched with CCD detectors
  • Stable scintillating characteristics up to c.100 rad
  • Virtually no afterglow emissions
  • Non hygroscopic

YAG(Ce) scintillator crystals have the following issues which should be noted. They:
  • Have a light emission, a good part is above 500nm, a region where photomultipliers are less sensitive
  • Are intrinsically radioactive making it unacceptable for some applications
  • Are susceptible to radiation damage, starting with doses between 1 and 10 Gray (10² - 10³ rad). Reversible with time or annealing.

Yttrium Aluminium Garnate (Cerium) - YAG(Ce) - scintillator crystals are useful in diverse applications such as:
  • X-ray counting
  • X-ray and electron imaging screens
  • Geological logging
  • Specialist applications in high energy, nuclear, space and medical physics
YAG(Ce) Scintillation Crystals
- Properties -
YAG(Ce) Mass Attenuation Coefficients
YAG(Ce) Scintillator Emission Spectrum
YAG(Ce) Mass Attenuation Coefficients
YAG(Ce) Scintillator Emission Spectrum
YAG(Ce) Scintillation Crystals
- Optical Properties -
Property Units Value
Wavelength (Max. Emission) nm 550
Wavelength Range nm 500 - 700
Decay Times ns 70
Light Yield photons/keV 35
Photoelectron Yield % of NaI(Tl) 35
Afterglow % <0.005 @ 6ms
Radiation Length cm 3.5
Optical Transmission µm TBA
Transmittance % TBA
Refractive Index 1.82 @ 550nm
Reflection Loss/Surface % TBA
Neutron Capture Cross-section barns TBA
YAG(Ce) Scintillation Crystals
- Mechanical Properties -
Property Units Value
Chemical Formula Y3Al5O12:Ce
Density g/cm³ 4.55
Atomic Number (Effective) 74
Melting Point ºK 1970
Thermal Expansion Coeff. C⁻¹ 8.5 x 10‾⁶
Crystal Structure Cubic
Hardness Mho 8.5
Hygroscopic No
Solubility g/100gH₂0 N/A
YAG(Ce) Scintillation Crystals
- Further Reading/Publications -
YAG(Ce) Scintillation Crystals
- Sizes -
Diameters:
80mm max.
Lengths:
150 mm max.
Thin Sections - minimum thicknesses:
  • Free Standing: 0.2mm (Diameters <100mm), 0.1mm (Diameters <50mm)
  • Ring - Edge Mounted: 0.05mm (Diameters <50mm), 0.02mm (Diameters <10mm)
  • Substrate Mounted: 0.01mm (Diameters <40mm), 0.005mm (Diameters <30mm)
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