CLYC:Ce Gamma / Neutron Scintillators

You are here:

CLYC:Ce Gamma / Neutron Scintillators

CLYC (Cs₂LiYCl₆:Ce) scintillators integrate medium-resolution gamma-ray detection and neutron sensitivity within a single crystal, enabling simultaneous measurement of both radiation types without separate detectors.

Key Properties of CLYC Dual-Mode Scintillators
  • Dual-Mode Capability — Detects gamma rays with medium energy resolution and thermal neutrons via ⁶Li(n,α) reaction.
  • Pulse Shape Discrimination (PSD) — Clear separation of gamma and neutron events based on differences in scintillation decay times.
  • Gamma Performance — Suitable energy resolution for nuclide identification in mixed radiation fields.
  • Neutron Sensitivity — Effective thermal neutron detection comparable to ³He in many applications.
  • Hygroscopic Material — Requires encapsulation to protect against moisture.
Available Configurations
  • Encapsulated crystals with entrance window (up to 51 mm × 51 mm).
  • Crystals integrally coupled to light sensors (PMT or SiPM).
  • Complete detector assemblies including light sensor and front-end electronics optimized for PSD processing.

For specifications on crystal sizes, energy resolution, neutron/gamma separation performance, or to discuss CLYC detector configurations for your application, contact us or complete our brief detector survey form. We can help identify the appropriate setup based on your gamma/neutron detection requirements.

Overview

The energy resolution realized with CLYC scintillators is dependent on the size and configuration of the detector employed. This value is typically 4.5% – 5 % FWHM for 662 keV. The thermal neutron peak due to the n-6Li reaction in the crystal produces a narrow peak at approximately 3.3 MeV. CLYC’s fast scintillation component is not excited by neutrons which opens PSD analysis possibilities and further improves neutron/gamma separation. CLYC has some slower emission components, so larger signal shaping times are required. For the absorption of 90% of thermal neutrons, approximately 12.5 mm of crystal is required.

Specifications

Melting Point

6400C

Li-6 Enrichment

96%

Density

3.31 g/cm3

Refractive Index

1.81 (400 nm)

Wavelength of Emission

275 – 450 nm

Max Emission Wavelength

370 nm

Decay Time Constants

1 ns, 50 ns, 1000 ns

Scintillation Light Yield

20.000 photons/MeV

Energy Resolution (662 keV)

4.5 – 5.5% FWHM

Thermal Neutron Peak

3.2 – 3.3 MeV

Accessories

Free Online Training Module – An Introduction to Scintillation Crystals and Detectors

Visit our Training page to access the module or for more information

Technical Resources

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

Price Lists

Price lists are available to our registered users. To view pricing for this and other products, please log in or create a free account.