Radiation Detector with Dual-Speed Scintillator
An apparatus for detecting radiation includes a dual-speed scintillator for receiving the radiation and emitting secondary radiation in response thereto, and detectors in communication with the dual-speed scintillator for receiving the secondary radiation.
1 . An apparatus for detecting radiation, the apparatus comprising
a dual-speed scintillator for receiving the radiation and emitting secondary radiation in response thereto, and
detectors in communication with the dual-speed scintillator for receiving the secondary radiation.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising
a processor in communication with the detectors, the processor being configured to generate an image in response to signals received from the detectors.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the dual-speed scintillator comprises intrinsic cesium iodide.
4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the intrinsic cesium iodide has been heated and quenched to form lattice defects.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the dual-speed scintillator comprises sodium-doped cesium iodide.
6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the cesium iodide is doped with sodium at a concentration between 30 ppm and 200 ppm.
7 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the cesium iodide is doped with sodium at a concentration of about 100 ppm.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the dual-speed scintillator comprises thallium-doped cesium iodide.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the dual-speed scintillator comprises cesium bromide.
10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the dual-speed scintillator comprises cesium iodide and cesium bromide.
11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the scintillator comprises approximately 2% bromine and 98% iodine.
12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the scintillation crystal comprises europium.
13 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the dual-speed scintillator comprises doped cesium iodide.
14 . A method for detecting radiation, the method comprising:
receiving first data representative of a slow component from a scintillator;
receiving second data representative of a fast component from a scintillator;
processing the first data to obtain an estimate of a first characteristic of an event within the scintillator; and
processing the second data to obtain an estimate of a second characteristic of an event within the scintillator.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising classifying the event as one event of a coincidence at least in part on the basis of the first and second data.
16 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising selecting the first characteristic to be an energy associated with the event.
17 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising selecting the second characteristic to be a time of occurrence of the event.
18 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising estimating a time-of-flight associated with photons emitted as a result of the event.