Mixed garnet oxide scintillators and corresponding systems and methods
Scintillator materials based on mixed garnet compositions, as well as corresponding methods and systems, are described.
1 . A scintillator comprising a garnet composition comprising O, Gd, Lu, Al and Ga, wherein the ratio of (Gd, Lu):(Ga, Al) is greater than 3:5 and the ratio of O:(Ga, Al) is greater than 12:5 and less than or equal to 12.06:5, wherein the scintillator has a polycrystalline structure that includes grain boundaries defining grains having a size of 1 micron or less.
2 . The scintillator of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises between 0.5-45 weight percent Gd, 12-60 weight percent Lu, 1-20 weight percent Al, and 1-35 weight percent Ga.
3 . The scintillator of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises an activator.
4 . The scintillator of claim 3 , wherein the activator is Ce or Pr.
5 . The scintillator of claim 1 , wherein Lu is present in amounts in the range of 1 mol % to 50 mol %.
6 . The scintillator of claim 1 , wherein Ga is present in amounts in the range of 1 mol % to 50 mol %.
7 . The scintillator of claim 1 , wherein the scintillator is transparent.
8 . The scintillator of claim 1 , wherein the scintillator has a cubic crystal structure.
9 . The scintillator of claim 1 , wherein the scintillator has a cross-sectional area of greater than 16 in 2 .
10 . A detection system comprising:
the scintillator of claim 1 ; and
a detector assembly coupled to the scintillator to detect a light pulse luminescence from the scintillator as a measure of a scintillation event.
11 . A detection method comprising:
providing the detection system of claim 10 ; and
positioning the detection system such that a radiation source is within a field of view of the detection assembly so as to detect emissions from the source; and,
measuring a scintillation event luminescence signal from the scintillator with the detection assembly.