Low-delayed luminescence dense and rapid scintillator material
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 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 ion 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.
2. The material as claimed in claim 1 , wherein (z+v) is greater than or equal to 0.0002.
3. The material as claimed in claim 1 , wherein (z+v) is less than or equal to 0.05.
4. The material as claimed in claim 3 , wherein (z+v) is less than or equal to 0.01.
5. The material as claimed in claim 4 , wherein (z+v) is less than 0.001.
6. The material as claimed in claim 1 , wherein x is greater than 0.0001 and less than 0.001.
7. The material as claimed in claim 1 , wherein M is at least one from the group consisting of Ca, Mg and Sr.
8. The material as claimed in claim 1 , wherein M′ is at least one selected from the group consisting of Al, In and Ga.
9. The material as claimed in claim 1 , wherein v is zero.
10. The material as claimed in claim 1 , wherein M is Ca.
11. The material as claimed in claim 1 , wherein z is zero.
12. The material as claimed in claim 1 , wherein M′ is Al.
13. The material as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said inorganic scintillator material is a single-crystal material.
14. A method for growing the single-crystal scintillator material of claim 13 , comprising growing the single crystal according to the Czochralski method.
15. A scintillation detector comprising the inorganic scintillator material of claim 1 .
16. A CT (Computed Tomography) scanner comprising the detector of claim 15 .
17. A method for the detection of gamma rays, X-rays, cosmic rays or particles having an energy of 1 keV or greater, comprising measuring at least one of gamma rays, X-rays, cosmic rays and particles having an energy of 1 keV or greater with the scintillation detector according to claim 15 .
18. A scanner selected from the group consisting of a CT scanner, a PET (positron emission tomography) scanner, and a time-of-flight scanner PET scanner, comprising the inorganic scintillator material of claim 1 .