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 scintillator material of formula Lu (2-y) Y (y-z-x) Ce x Ca z SiO 5 , wherein:
Z is greater than or equal to 0.0001 and less than 0.05;
x is greater than or equal to 0.0001 and less than 0.1; and
y ranges from (x+z) to 1.
2. The material as claimed in claim 1 , wherein z is less than 0.01.
3. The material as claimed in claim 1 , wherein z is between 0.0002 and 0.001.
4. The material as claimed in claim 1 , wherein x is greater than 0.0001 and less than 0.001.
5. An inorganic LYSO-type scintillator material comprising Lu, Si, O, Y and M or M′ in which M represents a divalent alkaline earth metal ion and M′ represents a trivalent metal wherein M or M′ reduces an afterglow.
6. The material as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said inorganic scintillator material is a single-crystal material.
7. The material as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the material has 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) is greater than or equal to 0.0001 and less than or equal to 0.2;
z is greater than or equal to 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 ranges from (x+z) to 1.
8. The material as claimed in claim 7 , wherein (z+v) is greater than or equal to 0.0002.
9. The material as claimed in claim 7 , wherein (z+v) is less than or equal to 0.05.
10. The material as claimed in claim 7 , wherein (z+v) is less than or equal to 0.01.
11. The material as claimed in claim 7 , wherein (z+v) is less than 0.001.
12. The material as claimed in claim 7 , wherein x is greater than 0.0001 and less than 0.001.
13. An inorganic LYSO-type scintillator material comprising Lu, Si, O, Y and Ca, wherein Ca reduces an afterglow.
14. An inorganic LYSO-type scintillator material comprising Lu, Si, O, Y and Al, wherein Al reduces an afterglow.
15. An inorganic LYSO-type scintillator material comprising a trivalent rare earth ion, Si, O, Y and M or M′ in which M represents a divalent alkaline earth metal ion and M′ represents a trivalent metal wherein M or M′ reduces an afterglow.
16. A method for growing the single-crystal scintillator material of claim 6 , comprising growing the single crystal according to the Czochralski method.
17. A method for reducing the afterglow of an inorganic LYSO-type scintillator material comprising Lu, Si, O wherein a divalent alkaline earth metal ion M, or a trivalent metal M′ selected from the group consisting of Al, Ga, and In is added to said material.
18. A scintillation detector comprising the inorganic scintillator material of claim 5 .
19. A CT (Computed Tomography) scanner comprising the detector of claim 18 .
20. A scintillation detector comprising the inorganic scintillator material of claim 15 .
21. A CT (Computed Tomography) scanner comprising the detector of claim 20 .
22. A scintillation detector comprising the inorganic scintillator material of claim 1 .
23. A CT (Computed Tomography) scanner comprising scintillator of claim 22 .