Single crystal bulk ZnO scintillator grown by the hydrothermal method was tested on its scintillation performances. In X‐ray induced radio luminescence spectrum, it exhibited two intense emission peaks at 400 and 550 nm. The former was ascribed to the free and bound exciton related luminescence and the latter to oxygen vacancy related one, respectively. X‐ray induced scintillation decay time of the exciton related emission measured by the pulse X‐ray streak camera system resulted ∼ 4 ns. Finally, the light yield under 241Am 5.5 MeV α‐ray was examined and it resulted ∼ 500 ph/5.5 MeV‐α.(© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

No abstract

We report an over one-order-of magnitude improvement in the response time of conventional hydrothermal method-grown zinc oxide (ZnO) scintillator by introducing additional quenching channels via intentional indium ion doping. A 3-ps fluorescence decay time constant is achieved, therefore making it the fastest scintillator operating below 100 nm to date. Using this indium-doped ZnO, relative jitter between extreme ultraviolet free electron laser (EUV-FEL) probe and optical pump pulses is evaluated to be less than 3 ps. Moreover, pulses from these sources can be synchronized with 3-ps accuracy through in-situ observation of relative time difference in single-shot base.

High quality In-doped ZnO single crystal was grown using the hydrothermal method. The growth rate for both <0001> and <000-1> directions is about 80 m/day. The X-ray rocking curve (XRC) full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the (0002) reflection is 24.2 arcsec. In order to make it possible to use this material as a scintillator for in situ imaging of soft X-ray laser with high spatial resolution, we prepared an In-doped ZnO wafer (9.0 mm x 9.0 mm x 0.75 mm) and mounted it on a vacuum flange. The decay time constant is evaluated to be 120 ps, therefore making it an ideal scintillator for in situ imaging device of soft X-ray laser with high spatial resolution. Furthermore, In-doped ZnO scintillator with such short decay time constant is suitable for high accuracy alignment and synchronization of ultrafast, short wavelength laser sources for pump-and-probe experiments.

No abstract