Scintillation response to gamma-rays measured at wide temperature range for Tl doped CsI with SiPM readout

Abstract A custom design cryostat was constructed to study the temperature dependence of relative light yield and non-proportionality trends of scintillators between −182 °C and ＋152 °C. CsI:Tl crystal response to γ -rays and X-rays was investigated between 14 keV and 662 keV. Scintillation light was detected by a SiPM device, which was installed on a copper frame separated from the crystal and the cooling rod to enable operating the device at room temperature. The scintillation efficiency of CsI:Tl is peaked at about room temperature. The light yield of CsI:Tl at temperature close to liquid nitrogen boiling point is reduced by a factor of 15 in comparison to room temperature conditions. The non-proportionality of CsI:Tl scintillation response is high at low temperatures and is getting more proportional with increasing temperature.