Performance study of GAGG:Ce scintillator for gamma and neutron detection

Inorganic scintillators with high density and high light output are widely used for the detection of ionizing radiation in high energy physics, space exploration, modern medical imaging and industry. Recently developed cerium-doped Gd${}_3$Al${}_2$Ga${}_3$O${}_{12}$ (GAGG:Ce) crystal is a promising scintillator with high density, high light yield, fast scintillation decay time and non-hygroscopicity used for calorimetry. Furthermore, the presence of Gd isotopes with a very high thermal neutron capture cross section makes the GAGG:Ce crystal efficiently sensitive for neutron detection. In this manuscript, performance of gamma and neutron detection based on GAGG:Ce scintillator has been studied carefully. Scintillation properties of Single crystal and ceramic GAGG:Ce were investigated. Thanks to very high light yield, the photopeaks due to conversion electrons and low energy X-ray are successfully observed and can be used to do the neutron/gamma discrimination.