Radiation detection apparatus and related method
A method and an apparatus for detecting photons are disclosed. The apparatus includes a scintillator single crystal and an avalanche photodiode coupled to the scintillator single crystal. The scintillator single crystal is at a temperature greater than about 175° C. and at a shock level in a range from about 20 Grms to about 30 Grms. The scintillator single crystal includes a praseodymium doped composition selected from (La x Y 1-x )2Si 2 O 7 :Pr, ABCl 3-y X y :Pr, A 2 (Li,Na)LaCl 6-y X y :Pr, or any combinations thereof. As used herein A is cesium, rubidium, potassium, sodium, or a combination thereof, B is calcium, barium, strontium, magnesium, cadmium, zinc, or a combination thereof, and X is bromine, iodine, or a combination thereof. Further, (0<x<1), and (0<y<3).
1. A method for detecting a high-energy radiation in a harsh environment, the method comprising:
exposing a scintillator single crystal to the high energy radiation at a temperature greater than about 175° C.; and
detecting the high energy radiation with an avalanche photodiode coupled to the scintillator single crystal, wherein the scintillator single crystal is CsCaCl3-yBry:Pr and (0<y≤1);
wherein a luminescence intensity of the scintillator single crystal at a temperature greater than 200° C. is greater than about 60% of the luminescence intensity of the scintillator single crystal at room temperature;
wherein the scintillator single crystal produces photons in an emission wavelength ranging from about 275 nm to about 350 nm;
wherein the amount of praseodymium present in the scintillator single crystal composition ranges from about 0.5 mol % to about 10 mol %; and
wherein the scintillator single crystal is exposed to the high energy radiation at a shock level greater than about 20 Grms.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a luminescence intensity of the scintillator single crystal at a temperature greater than 200° C. is greater than about 75% of the luminescence intensity of the scintillator single crystal at room temperature.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the high-energy radiation is a gamma radiation.
4. An apparatus for detecting a high-energy radiation in a harsh environment, the apparatus comprising:
a scintillator single crystal; and
an avalanche photodiode coupled to the scintillator single crystal, wherein the scintillator single crystal is configured to operate at a temperature greater than about 175° C. and at a shock level in the range from about 20 Grms to 30 Grms, and comprises a praseodymium doped composition comprising CsCaCl3-yBry:Pr and (0<y≤1);
wherein a luminescence intensity of the scintillator single crystal at a temperature greater than 200° C. is greater than about 60% of the luminescence intensity of the scintillator single crystal at room temperature;
wherein the scintillator single crystal has an emission wavelength in a range from about 275 nm to about 350 nm; and
wherein the amount of praseodymium present in the scintillator single crystal ranges from about 0.5 atomic % to about 10 atomic %.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein a luminescence intensity of the scintillator single crystal at a temperature greater than 200° C. is greater than about 75% of the luminescence intensity of the scintillator single crystal at room temperature.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the amount of praseodymium present in the scintillator single crystal ranges from about 0.5 atomic % to about 3 atomic %.