  Applications that utilize scintillation detectors at low temperatures are
growing in number. Many of these require materials with high light yield and a
fast response. Here we report on the low-temperature characterisation of ZnSe
doped with Al or Te, respectively. The X-ray luminescence and decay curves were
measured over the 77- 295 K temperature range, and alpha particle excitation
was used to examine scintillation light output and decay kinetics over the
range 9-295 K. A significant improvement of the scintillation characteristics
was observed at cooling below 100 K. The scintillation light yield of the
crystals increases by a factor about two, and the decay time constant decreases
by almost an order of magnitude to 0.3-0.4 microsec. These improvements enhance
the potential of ZnSe-based crystals for application in cryogenic scintillation
detectors of ionising radiation.
