Radiation study of Lead Fluoride crystals

TL;DR

This study investigates the radiation tolerance of lead fluoride crystals used in high-resolution calorimeters, examining their optical transmittance loss and recovery after exposure to gamma rays and neutrons.

Contribution

It provides new data on the radiation-induced transmittance loss and recovery methods for PbF$_2$ crystals under high radiation doses.

Findings

30% transmittance loss above 350 nm after irradiation

Partial optical recovery through annealing and bleaching

PbF$_2$ crystals maintain functionality under high radiation doses

Abstract

Lead fluoride (PbF$_2$) crystals represent an excellent and relatively innovative choice for high resolution electromagnetic calorimeters with high granularity and fast timing for high intensity environments. For this reason two PbF$_2$ crystals, sized $5\times 5 \times 40 $ mm$^3$, were irradiated with $^{60}$Co photons up to $\sim 4$ Mrad and with 14 MeV neutrons up to a $10^{13}$ n/cm$^2$ total fluence. Their loss in transmittance was evaluated at different steps of the photon and neutron irradiation campaign, resulting in a total of 30% loss above 350 nm. With crystals always kept in dark conditions, natural and thermal annealing, as well as optical bleaching with 400 nm light, were performed on the irradiated specimens, resulting in a partial recovery of their original optical characteristics.