Cesium and sodium-containing scintillator compositions

Abstract

The present invention relates to scintillator compositions and related devices and methods. The scintillator compositions may include, for example, a scintillation compound and a dopant, the scintillation compound having the formula x 1 -x 2 -x 3 -x 4 and x 1 is Cs; x 2 is Na; x 3 is La, Gd, or Lu; and x 4 is Br or I. In certain embodiments, the scintillator composition can include a single dopant or mixture of dopants.

1 . A scintillator composition, comprising a scintillation compound and a dopant, the scintillation compound having the formula, Cs 2 NaMX 6 , wherein:
 M is La, Gd, or Lu; and,   X is Br or I.   
     
     
         2 . The scintillator composition of  claim 1 , wherein the scintillator composition is a fast scintillator. 
     
     
         3 . The scintillator composition of  claim 2 , wherein the scintillator composition comprises a fast decay-time constant is less than about 60 ns. 
     
     
         4 . The scintillator composition of  claim 1 , wherein the scintillator composition comprises a light output of greater than about 10,000 Photons/MeV. 
     
     
         5 . The scintillator composition of  claim 1 , wherein M is Gd. 
     
     
         6 . The scintillator composition of  claim 1 , wherein the dopant comprises Ce, Lu, La, Eu, Pr, Sm, Sr, Tl, Cl, F, or I. 
     
     
         7 . The scintillator composition of  claim 6 , wherein the dopant is present at less than about 20% by molar weight. 
     
     
         8 . The scintillator composition of  claim 1 , wherein the dopant is Ce and present at equal to or less than about 5% by molar weight. 
     
     
         9 . The scintillator composition of  claim 1 , wherein the scintillation composition comprises Cs 2 NaGdI 6 :Ce, Cs 2 NaLaI 6 :Ce, or Cs 2 NaLuI 6 :Ce. 
     
     
         10 . A radiation detection device, comprising the scintillator composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the photodetector assembly comprises a photomultiplier tube, a photodiode, a PIN detector, charge-coupled device, or an avalanche detector. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising a radiation source. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising a computer system coupled to the photodetector assembly so that the computer outputs image data in response to detected radiation. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the computer comprises instructions for constructing an image from detected radiation. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the device is configured to detect x-rays, gamma-rays, neutron emissions, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . A gamma-ray and neutron detection device, comprising:
 a scintillator composition of  claim 1 ;   a photodetector assembly optically coupled to the scintillator; and   electronics configured for performing pulse-shape analysis to differentiate gamma-ray detections from neutron detections.