Radiation Damage of Oxy-Orthosilicate Scintillation Crystals Under Gamma and High Energy Proton Irradiation

Radiation damage effects in lutetium, yttrium and gadolinium oxy-orthosilicates, Lu ₂ SiO ₅ :Ce, Y ₂ SiO ₅ :Ce, Gd ₂ SiO ₅ :Ce under γ- and protons irradiation have been investigated. Crystals were irradiated with a ⁶⁰ Co gamma source to a total dose of 2000 Gy and a high-rate 24-GeV proton beam at CERN PS, to a fluence of ~3.6 ×10 ¹³ p/cm ² . Color centers created under irradiation, phosphorescence and its mechanism in the crystals are discussed.