Cesium and lithium-containing quaternary compound scintillators
The present invention relates to quaternary compound scintillators and related devices and methods. The scintillators may include, for example, a quaternary compound, the quaternary compound having a first position, a second position, a third position, a fourth position; wherein the first position is Cs; the second position is Li; the third position is La or Lu; and the fourth position is Cl, Br, or I. In certain embodiments, the scintillator composition can further include a single dopant or mixture of dopants.
1. A scintillator, comprising a quaternary compound and a dopant, the quaternary compound consisting of a first position, a second position, a third position, a fourth position; wherein the first position is Cs; the second position is Li; the third position is La or Lu; and the fourth position is Br, or I.
2. The scintillator of claim 1 , wherein the dopant comprises Ce, Lu, La, Eu, Pr, Sm Sr, Tl, Cl, F, or I.
3. The scintillator of claim 2 , wherein the dopant is present from about 0.1% to about 20% by molar weight.
4. The scintillator of claim 1 , wherein the dopant is Ce and present from about 0.1% to about 5% by molar weight.
5. The scintillator of claim 1 , wherein the quaternary compound and the dopant comprise Cs2LiLaBr6:Ce, Cs2LiLaI6:Ce, or Cs2LiLuI6:Ce.
6. The scintillator of claim 1 , wherein the scintillator is a fast scintillator.
7. The scintillator of claim 6 , wherein the scintillator comprises a fast decay-time constant of less than about 90 ns.
8. The scintillator of claim 1 , wherein the scintillator comprises a light output of greater than about 10,000 Photons/MeV.
9. The scintillator of claim 1 , wherein the scintillator comprises a light output of greater than about 45,000 Photons/MeV.
10. The scintillator of claim 1 , wherein the scintillator comprises a sensitivity to both energetic photons and to neutrons.
11. A radiation detection device, comprising a scintillator comprising a quaternary compound and a dopant, the quaternary compound comprising Cs2LiLaBr6:Ce, Cs2LiLaI6:Ce, or Cs2LiLuI6:Ce; and a photodetector assembly optically coupled to the scintillator.
12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the device is configured to detect x-rays, gamma-rays, neutron emissions, or a combination thereof.
13. The device of claim 11 , further comprising a radiation source.
14. The device of claim 11 , further comprising a computer system coupled to the photodetector assembly so that the computer outputs image data in response to detected radiation.
15. The device of claim 11 , wherein the computer comprises instructions for constructing an image from detected radiation.
16. The device of claim 11 , wherein the photodetector assembly comprises a photomultiplier tube, a photodiode, a PIN detector, charge-coupled device, or an avalanche detector.
17. A gamma-ray and neutron detection device, comprising:
a scintillator comprising a quaternary compound and a dopant, the quaternary compound consisting of a first position, a second position, a third position, a fourth position;
wherein the first position is Cs; the second position is Li; the third position is La or Lu; and the fourth position is Br, or I;
a photodetector assembly optically coupled to the scintillator; and
electronics configured for performing pulse-shape analysis to differentiate gamma-ray detections from neutron detections.
18. The device of claim 17 , further comprising a radiation source.
19. The device of claim 17 , further comprising a computer system coupled to the photodetector assembly so that the computer outputs image data in response to detected radiation.
20. The device of claim 17 , wherein the scintillator further comprises a reflective layer, a moisture resistant layer, or a vapor barrier.
21. A method of performing radiation detection, comprising:
providing a detection device comprising a scintillator comprising a quaternary compound and a dopant, the quaternary compound consisting of a first position, a second position, a third position, a fourth position; wherein the first position is Cs; the second position is Li; the third position is La or Lu; and the fourth position is Br, or I; and a photodetector assembly optically coupled to the scintillator; and
positioning the device such that a radiation source is within a field of view of the scintillator so as to detect emissions from the source.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein a patient is positioned between the radiation source and the scintillator.
23. The method of claim 21 , wherein the radiation source comprises a patient.
24. The method of claim 21 , wherein the emissions comprise gamma-ray or X-ray emissions.
25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the emissions further comprise neutron emissions.
26. A scintillator composition, comprising a quaternary compound and a dopant, where the quaternary compound is a CsLiLu Halide and the halide includes Cl, Br, or I.