Crystals for High-Energy Physics calorimeters in extreme environments

Scintillating crystals are used for calorimetry in several high-energy physics experiments. For many of them, performance has to be ensured in very difficult operating conditions, like a high radiation environment and large particle fluxes, which place constraints on response and readout time. An overview is presented of the knowledge reached up to date, and of the newest achievements in the field, with particular attention given to the performance of Lead Tungstate crystals exposed to large particle fluxes. Presented at the 9th ICATPP Conference on Astroparticle, Particle, Space Physics, Detectors and Medical Physics Applications Como, Italy, October 17th to 21st, 2005