Study on performance of Yttrium doped BaF₂ scintillation detector

[Background] BaF₂ scintillation detector is commonly used in low intensity γ-ray detection experiments, and it is easy to pileup during high intensity γ-ray detection. [Purpose] This study aims to investigate the performance of Yttrium doped BaF₂ (Yttrium doped with 1 at%, atomic percentage) scintillation detector with main concern of pileup and time resolution for high intensity γ-ray detection. [Methods] The energy resolution and time properties of Yttrium doped BaF₂ (Yttrium doped with 1 at%) scintillation detector were experimentally tested by using 0.511 MeV γ-ray generated after positron annihilation from ²²Na source. As a comparison, the normal BaF₂ detector was also tested. [Results] The experimental results show that the ratio of fast and slow components of Yttrium doped BaF₂ crystal (1: 1.1) is much higher than that of BaF₂ crystal (1:5), but the energy resolution of Yttrium doped BaF₂ detector (38%) is worse than that of BaF₂ detector (19%). For high intensity γ-ray detection, the Yttrium doped BaF₂ detector have better time resolution than the BaF₂ detector. [Conclusions] The decrease of the slow component in Yttrium doped BaF₂ crystal can shorten the time width of the detector output signal, hence reduce the signals' pileup and improve the time resolution of the detector in high count rate environment. (authors)