Scintillator including an elpasolite scintillator compound and apparatus including the scintillator

Abstract

A scintillator can include an elpasolite scintillator compound. The scintillator can be doped with a Group 2 element, and may also include an activator. The scintillator has an improved core valence luminescence at room temperature as compared to a corresponding elpasolite scintillator compound without the Group 2 dopant. The elpasolite scintillator compound can have significant core valance luminescence at a temperature higher than 125° C. In a particular embodiment, the elpasolite scintillator compound can include Cl and may or may not also include another halide, such as Br or I. The scintillator can be part of an apparatus that detects gamma radiation and neutrons and may allow a relatively simpler pulse discrimination technique to be used to a higher temperature, such as 125° C. to 150° C. before a relatively more complex pulse discrimination technique would be used.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A scintillator, comprising an elpasolite scintillator compound represented by a general formula of M 1+   3 RE (1+s) X 6 , wherein:
 M 1+  comprises a monovalent metal element;   RE comprises a rare earth element;   X comprises a halogen; and   −0.15<s<+0.15.   
     
     
         2 . The scintillator of  claim 1 , wherein the elpasolite scintillator compound further comprises an activator that is different from the rare earth element. 
     
     
         3 . The scintillator of  claim 2 , wherein the activator includes Ce, Pr, or Tb. 
     
     
         4 . The scintillator of  claim 1 , wherein the elpasolite scintillator compound further comprises a first dopant including a Group II element. 
     
     
         5 . The scintillator of  claim 4 , wherein the first dopant includes Sr. 
     
     
         6 . The scintillator of  claim 4 , wherein the first dopant includes Ca or Ba. 
     
     
         7 . The scintillator of  claim 4 , wherein a concentration of the first dopant is in a range of 5×10 −3  mol % to 0.5 mol %. 
     
     
         8 . The scintillator of  claim 1 , wherein the monovalent metal element comprises Cs, Na, K, Rb, Li, or any combination thereof 
     
     
         9 . The scintillator of  claim 1 , wherein the monovalent metal element includes naturally occurring Li. 
     
     
         10 . The scintillator of  claim 9 , wherein the monovalent metal element includes Li enriched with  6 Li. 
     
     
         11 . A radiation detection apparatus, comprising:
 the scintillator of  claim 1 ;   a photosensor optically coupled to the scintillator; and   an analyzer device,   wherein the analyzer device is configured to discriminate between gamma radiation and neutrons.