CaF2(Eu) crystals have a sound transmission in a wide wavelength range from 0.13 to 10µm. It has a relatively high light output, low background radiation, high thermal and mechanical shock resistance, excellent chemical stability, and good machinability. CaF2(Eu) is suitable for detecting soft gamma-rays of several hundred KeV and the charged particles, for it has a very low vapor and is suited to be used in a vacuum environment.

Two issues should be considered when you use the CaF2(Eu): first, CaF2(Eu) has a low density and low z, which has a soft light output for gamma-ray detection. Second, CaF2(Eu) has a sharp absorption at 400nm, which is within the emission spectrum, which means CaF2(Eu) crystals would absorb a part of the emission light.

Shanghai North Optics offers polished CaF2(Eu) scintillators upon customer’s request; our CaF2(Eu) is used in nuclear medicine as phoswiches with NaI(Tl) to separate alpha, beta, and gamma rays.