BaF2 Barium Fluoride Scintillators for Fast Timing Measurements
BaF₂ (barium fluoride) scintillation detectors provide fast timing response with sub-nanosecond time resolution, making them suitable for applications that require precise coincidence or time-of-flight measurements.
- Positron Lifetime Studies – High timing accuracy for positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS).
- Time-of-Flight (TOF) Measurements – Fast neutron or particle detection with excellent temporal resolution.
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET) – Coincidence detection in medical imaging systems.
Berkeley Nucleonics offers complete BaF₂ detector assemblies, including the scintillation crystal, light readout device (typically PMT or SiPM), and front-end electronics tailored for fast timing performance. Configurations support various crystal sizes and coupling options to match experimental needs.
Overview
Barium Fluoride (BaF2) scintillation crystals are characterized by a very fast scintillation emission with a decay time of 800 ps at 220 nm. The crystals produce both fast slow optical emission pulses. PMTs with Quartz windows are required for the readout of the crystal’s fast component. Typical time resolutions are 150 ps at 1 MeV per detector. BaF2 scintillators are radiation hard and are only slightly hygroscopic to long term exposure.
Specifications
Density
4.88 g/cc
Emission Maximum
220 nm (fast component)
310 nm (slow component)
Decay Time Constant
0.63 us
0.8 ns
Refractive Index
1.54 (220 nm)
1.50 (310 nm)
Conversion Efficiency (Relative to NaI)
5 (fast)
16 (slow)
Radiological Background
< 0.23 c/s/cc
Hygroscopic
Slightly (long term exposure)
Accessories
Free Online Training Module – An Introduction to Scintillation Crystals and Detectors
Vist our Training page to access the module or for more information
Technical Resources
Press Room – Scintillation Detectors: Attenuation Length Of Optical Emission
Press Room – Custom-Built Scintillation Detectors For Every Application
Press Room – Scintillator | What Are Scintillator Materials?
Press Room – From Crystal Growth To Assembly: The Manufacturing Process Of Custom Nal Scintillation Crystals
BaF2 Datasheet
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Downloadable Resources
Downloadable resources such as datasheets, firmware, software, drivers and products manuals. Alternatively, you can browse resources directly by visiting our downloads page.
Media
Playlist
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