A New Lanthanide Activator for Iodide Based Scintillators: ${\hbox {Yb}}^{2+}$

In this study we report for the first time that Yb 2+ is an efficient and fast activator in iodide scintillator crystals. In both SrI 2 and CsBa 2 I 5 , Yb 2+ offers blue luminescence (λ max = 414 nm), light yield greater than 50,000 Photons/MeV and sub-microsecond decay time. Results on crystal growth and characterization will be presented.