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 . (canceled)
2 . An inorganic LYSO-type scintillator material comprising Lu, Y, Si, O, Ce, M, and optionally M′ wherein:
the relative amounts of Lu, Y, Si, O, Ce, M, and M′ satisfy formula (1):
Lu (2-y) Y (y-z-x) Ce x M z Si (1-v) M′ v O 5 (1);
M represents a divalent alkaline earth metal and M′ represents 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 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 from (x+z) to 1.
3 . The inorganic scintillator material according to claim 2 , wherein (z+v) is greater than or equal to 0.0002.
4 . The inorganic scintillator material according to claim 2 , wherein (z+v) is less than or equal to 0.05.
5 . The inorganic scintillator material according to claim 2 , wherein (z+v) is less than or equal to 0.01.
6 . The inorganic scintillator material according to claim 2 , wherein (z+v) is less than 0.001.
7 . The inorganic scintillator material according to claim 2 , wherein x is greater than 0.0001 and less than 0.001.
8 . The inorganic scintillator material according to claim 2 , wherein z is at least 0.0001.
9 . An inorganic LYSO-type scintillator material comprising Lu, Y, Si, O, Ce, M, and optionally M′ wherein:
the relative amounts of Lu, Si, O, Y, Ce, and M or M′ satisfy formula (1):
Lu (2-y) Y (y-z-x) Ce x M z Si (1-v) M′ v O 5 (1);
M represents a divalent alkaline earth metal and M′ represents 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 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;
y is from (x+z) to 1; and
the inorganic scintillator material is a single crystal.
10 . The inorganic scintillator material according to claim 9 , wherein (z+v) is greater than or equal to 0.0002.
11 . The inorganic scintillator material according to claim 9 , wherein (z+v) is less than or equal to 0.05.
12 . The inorganic scintillator material according to claim 9 , wherein (z+v) is less than or equal to 0.01.
13 . The inorganic scintillator material according to claim 9 , wherein (z+v) is less than 0.001.
14 . The inorganic scintillator material according to claim 9 , wherein x is greater than 0.0001 and less than 0.001.
15 . The inorganic scintillator material according to claim 9 , wherein z is at least 0.0001.
16 . A radiation detector comprising an inorganic LYSO-type scintillator material comprising Lu, Y, Si, O, Ce, M, and optionally M′ wherein:
the relative amounts of Lu, Si, O, Y, Ce, and M or M′ satisfy formula (1):
Lu (2-y) Y (y-z-x) Ce x M z Si (1-v) M′ v O 5 (1);
M represents a divalent alkaline earth metal and M′ represents 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 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 from (x+z) to 1.
17 . The radiation detector according to claim 16 , wherein an inorganic scintillator material is a single crystal.
18 . The radiation detector according to claim 16 , wherein the radiation detector is a positron emission tomography detector.
19 . The radiation detector according to claim 16 , wherein the radiation detector is a time-of-flight positron emission tomography detector.
20 . The radiation detector according to claim 16 , wherein the inorganic scintillator material is coupled to a light detector which produces an electrical signal proportional to a number of light pulses received by the light detector and the intensity of the light pulses received by the light detector.