Low pass X-ray scintillator system
A scintillated CCD detector system for imaging x rays uses x-rays having a photon energy in the range of 1 to 20 keV. The detector differs from existing systems in that it provides extremely high resolution of better than a micrometer, and high detection quantum efficiency of up to 95%. The design of this detector also allows it to function as an energy filter to remove high-energy x-rays. This detector is useful in a wide range of applications including x-ray imaging, spectroscopy, and diffraction. The scintillator optical system has scintillator material with a lens system for collecting the light that is generated in the scintillator material. A substrate is used for spacing the scintillator material from the lens system.
1. A scintillator optical system, comprising:
scintillator material for producing light from X-rays, the scintillator material being single crystal and having a thickness in direction of an optical axis that is less than 15 micrometers to function as a low pass filter of the X-rays by only converting lower energy X-rays to the light; and
a substrate, to which the scintillator material is bonded, the substrate having a refractive index that is matched to the scintillator material.
2. A scintillator optical system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the scintillator material is thallium doped CsI or LSO.
3. A scintillator optical system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the scintillator material is less than 10 micrometers thick.
4. A scintillator optical system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the substrate is glass.
5. A scintillator optical system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the substrate is sapphire.
6. A scintillator optical system, comprising scintillator material for producing light from X-rays, the scintillator material being doped with thallium through a surface of the scintillator material to a depth of less than 15 micrometers in a direction of an optical axis selected to function as a low pass filter of the X-rays by only converting lower energy X-rays to the light.
7. A scintillator optical system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the scintillator material is crystalline.
8. A scintillator optical system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the scintillator material is thallium doped CsI or LSO.
9. A scintillator optical system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein depth of the doping is less than 10 micrometers thick.
10. A method for configuring a scintillator optical system, comprising:
selecting a single crystal scintillator material;
selecting a thickness of the scintillator material for producing light from X-rays in direction of an optical axis to be less than 15 micrometers to function as a low pass filter of the X-rays by only converting lower energy X-rays to the light; and
bonding the scintillator material to a substrate having a refractive index that is matched to the scintillator material.
11. A method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the scintillator material is less than 10 micrometers thick.
12. A method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the substrate is glass.
13. A method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the substrate is sapphire.
14. A method for configuring a scintillator optical system, comprising:
selecting scintillator material for producing light from X-rays; and
doping through a surface of the scintillator material with thallium to a depth, which is less than a thickness of the scintillator material, in a direction of an optical axis selected to function as a low pass filter of the X-rays by only converting lower energy X-rays to the light.