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. 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.
2. The inorganic scintillator material according to claim 1 , wherein (z+v) is greater than or equal to 0.0002.
3. The inorganic scintillator material according to claim 1 , wherein (z+v) is less than or equal to 0.05.
4. The inorganic scintillator material according to claim 1 , wherein (z+v) is less than or equal to 0.01.
5. The inorganic scintillator material according to claim 1 , wherein (z+v) is less than 0.001.
6. The inorganic scintillator material according to claim 1 , wherein x is greater than 0.0001 and less than 0.001.
7. The inorganic scintillator material according to claim 1 , wherein z is at least 0.0001.
8. 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.
9. The inorganic scintillator material according to claim 8 , wherein (z+v) is greater than or equal to 0.0002.
10. The inorganic scintillator material according to claim 8 , wherein (z+v) is less than or equal to 0.05.
11. The inorganic scintillator material according to claim 8 , wherein (z+v) is less than or equal to 0.01.
12. The inorganic scintillator material according to claim 8 , wherein (z+v) is less than 0.001.
13. The inorganic scintillator material according to claim 8 , wherein x is greater than 0.0001 and less than 0.001.
14. The inorganic scintillator material according to claim 8 , wherein z is at least 0.0001.
15. 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.
16. The radiation detector according to claim 15 , wherein an inorganic scintillator material is a single crystal.
17. The radiation detector according to claim 15 , wherein the radiation detector is a positron emission tomography detector.
18. The radiation detector according to claim 15 , wherein the radiation detector is a time-of-flight positron emission tomography detector.
19. The radiation detector according to claim 15 , 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.