Large volume low-background
CdWO4 crystal scintillators

A low-background scintillation spectrometer based on CdWO4 crystals of large volume (100-200 cm3) with improved energy resolution has been developed as a result of advances in crystal growth technology, optimization of light collection and design of a special electronic unit for amplification and shaping of CdWO4 signals [1]. Developed in [2] pulse-shape discrimination method based on the optimal digital filter gives the possibility to clearly discriminate between γ rays (electrons) and α particles. The energy resolution of crystals with volume 80-150 cm3 is equal 10-12% for 662 keV γ rays. A value of 7-8%, which is comparable to that of NaI(Tl), has been obtained with small samples (10-20 cm3). The purity of CdWO4 crystals is very high; limits on internal contamination are equal (in μBq/kg):

<8 for 232Th,
<13 for 226Ra,
<4000 for 40K,
<300 for 137Cs and
<3000 for 90Sr [1].

The unique spectrometers based on CdWO4 crystals of large volume were developed for experiments in basic researches (search for forbidden in the Standard Model double β decay of 116Cd [3] and 106Cd [4], investigation of 4th forbidden β decay of 113Cd [5], search for α decays of W isotopes [6]), as well as for environmental control, well lodging and measurements of radioactive contamination in various samples. Sensitivity for the detection in 1 kg sample of standard earth is equal 1.2×10-12 Ci/kg for 40K and 2×10-13 Ci/kg for 208Tl (for a measuring time 24 h and with a statistical accuracy 30%).

References:

1. S.Ph.Burachas et al., Nucl. Instrum. and Meth. A 369(1996)164;
A.Sh.Georgadze et al., Instr. and Exp. Technique 39(1996)359.

2. T.Fazzini et al., Nucl. Instrum. and Meth. A 410(1998)213.

3. F.A.Danevich et al., Phys. Lett. B 344(1995)72;
Phys. Rev. C 62(2000)045501; Phys. Rev C 68(2003)035501.

4. F.A.Danevich et al., Z. Phys. A 355(1996)433.

5. F.A.Danevich et al., Phys. At. Nucl. 59(1996)1.

6. A.Sh.Georgadze et al., JETP Lett. 61(1995)882;
F.A.Danevich et al., Phys. Rev. C 67(2003)014310.



Main characteristics of CdWO4 scintillators:


Characteristic [units] Value
Effective atomic number
Density [g/cm3]
Melting point [K]
Cleavage plane
Hardness [Mohs]
Hygroscopicity
Wavelength of emission max [nm]
Index of refraction
Average decay time [μs]
Afterglow (after 3 ms) [%]
Light yield [% of NaI(Tl)]
64
7.9
1598
<010>
4-4.5
No
470/540
2.3
12
0.1
25-40



Fig. 1. Gamma spectrum of 207-Bi with CWO crystal scintillator
Gamma spectrum of 207-Bi with CWO crystal scintillator



Fig. 2. Large single crystals of CWO
Large single crystals of CWO



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