Dense high-speed scintillator material of low afterglow
The invention relates to an inorganic scintillator material of formula Lu (2-y) Y (y-z-x) Ce x M z Si (1-v) M′ v O 5 , in which: M represents a divalent alkaline earth metal and M′ represents a trivalent metal, (z+v) being greater than or equal to 0.0001 and less than or equal to 0.2; z being greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 0.2; v being greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 0.2; x being greater than or equal to 0.0001 and less than 0.1; and y ranging from (x+z) to 1. In particular, this material may equip scintillation detectors for applications in industry, for the medical field (scanners) and/or for detection in oil drilling. The presence of Ca in the crystal reduces the afterglow, while stopping power for high-energy radiation remains high.
1. A positron emission tomography scanner, comprising:
a computed tomography system comprising an inorganic LSO or LYSO scintillation material comprising a divalent alkaline earth metal ion, M, or Al, wherein the M or Al reduces an afterglow.
2. The scanner of claim 1 , wherein the scintillation material comprises Lu, Si, O, and M, wherein M is Ca, Mg, or Sr, and M reduces an afterglow.
3. The scanner of claim 1 , wherein the scintillation material comprises Lu, Si, O, and Al, wherein the Al reduces an afterglow.
4. The scanner of claim 1 , wherein the scintillation material comprises Lu, Si, O, and Ca, wherein the Ca reduces an afterglow.
5. The scanner of claim 1 , wherein the scintillation material comprises Lu, Si, O, and Al, wherein the Al reduces an afterglow.
6. The scanner of claim 1 , wherein the scintillation material is a single-crystal material.
7. A time of flight positron emission tomography scanner, comprising:
a computed tomography system comprising an inorganic LSO or LYSO scintillation material comprising a divalent alkaline earth metal ion, M, or Al, wherein the M or Al reduces an afterglow.
8. The scanner of claim 7 , wherein the scintillation material comprises Lu, Si, O, and M, wherein M is Ca, Mg, or Sr, and M reduces an afterglow.
9. The scanner of claim 7 , wherein the scintillation material comprises Lu, Si, O, and Al, wherein the Al reduces an afterglow.
10. The scanner of claim 7 , wherein the scintillation material comprises Lu, Si, O, Y and Ca, wherein the Ca reduces an afterglow.
11. The scanner of claim 7 , wherein the scintillation material comprises Lu, Si, O, Y and Al, wherein the Al reduces an afterglow.
12. The scanner of claim 7 , wherein the scintillation material is a single-crystal material.
13. A positron emission tomography scanner, comprising:
a computed tomography system comprising a scintillation material of formula (I):
Lu (2-y) Ce x Ca z SiO 5 (I),
wherein:
z is greater than or equal to 0.0001 and less than 0.05;
x is greater than or equal to 0.0001 and less than 0.1; and
y is equal to (x+z).
14. The scanner of claim 13 , wherein it is of the time of flight type.
15. A positron emission tomography scanner, comprising:
a computed tomography system comprising a scintillation material of formula (II):
Lu (2-y) Ce x M z Si (1-v) M′ v O 5 (Formula II),
wherein:
M is a divalent alkaline earth metal ion;
M′ is a trivalent metal;
(z+v) is greater than or equal to 0.0001 and less than or equal to 0.2;
z is greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 0.2;
v is greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 0.2;
x is greater than or equal to 0.0001 and less than 0.1; and
y is equal to (x+z).
16. The scanner of claim 15 , wherein it is of the time of flight type.
17. A method for improving the resolution of the computed tomography of a positron emission tomography scanner comprising a computed tomography system and an inorganic LSO or LYSO scintillation material, wherein a divalent alkaline earth metal ion, M, or Al is added to said material to reduce an afterglow.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the scintillation material comprises Lu, Si, O, and M, wherein M is Ca, Mg, or Sr, and M reduces an afterglow.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the scintillation material comprises Lu, Si, O, and Al, wherein the Al reduces an afterglow.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the scintillation material comprises Lu, Si, O, and Ca, wherein the Ca reduces an afterglow.
21. The method of claim 17 , wherein the scintillation material comprises Lu, Si, O, and Al, wherein the Al reduces an afterglow.
22. The method of claim 17 , wherein the scintillation material is a single-crystal material.
23. A method for improving the resolution of the computed tomography of a time of flight positron emission tomography scanner comprising a computed tomography system and an inorganic LSO or LYSO scintillation material, wherein a divalent alkaline earth metal ion, M, or Al is added to said material to reduce an afterglow.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the scintillation material comprises Lu, Si, O, and M, wherein M is Ca, Mg, or Sr, and M reduces an afterglow.
25. The method of claim 23 , wherein the scintillation material comprises Lu, Si, O, and Al, wherein Al reduces an afterglow.
26. The method of claim 23 , wherein the scintillation material comprises Lu, Si, O, and Ca, wherein the Ca reduces an afterglow.
27. The method of claim 23 , wherein the scintillation material comprises Lu, Si, O, and Al, wherein the Al reduces an afterglow.
28. The method of claim 23 , wherein the scintillation material is a single-crystal material.