Dense high-speed scintillator material of low afterglow

Abstract

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 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An inorganic LYSO-type scintillator material comprising Lu, Y, Si, O, Ce, and Ca wherein:
 the relative amounts of Lu, Y, Si, O, Ce, and Ca satisfy formula (2):
   Lu (2-y) Y (y-z-x) Ce x Ca z SiO 5   (2),
 
 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 is from (x+z) to 1. 
   
     
     
         3 . The inorganic scintillator material according to  claim 2 , wherein z is less than to 0.01. 
     
     
         4 . The inorganic scintillator material according to  claim 2 , wherein z is between 0.0002 and 0.001. 
     
     
         5 . The inorganic scintillator material according to  claim 2 , wherein x is greater than 0.0001 and less than 0.001. 
     
     
         6 . An inorganic LYSO-type scintillator material comprising Lu, Y, Si, O, Ce, and Ca wherein:
 the relative amounts of Lu, Y, Si, O, Ce, and Ca satisfy formula (2):
   Lu (2-y) Y (y-z-x) Ce x Ca z SiO 5   (2),
 
 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; 
 y is from (x+z) to 1; and 
   the inorganic scintillator material is a single crystal.   
     
     
         7 . The inorganic scintillator material according to  claim 6 , wherein z is less than to 0.01. 
     
     
         8 . The inorganic scintillator material according to  claim 6 , wherein z is between 0.0002 and 0.001. 
     
     
         9 . The inorganic scintillator material according to  claim 6 , wherein x is greater than 0.0001 and less than 0.001. 
     
     
         10 . A radiation detector comprising an inorganic LYSO-type scintillator material comprising Lu, Y, Si, O, Ce, and Ca wherein:
 the relative amounts of Lu, Y, Si, O, Ce, and Ca satisfy formula (2):
   Lu (2-y) Y (y-z-x) Ce x Ca z SiO 5   (2),
 
 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 is from (x+z) to 1. 
   
     
     
         11 . The radiation detector according to  claim 10 , wherein an inorganic scintillator material is a single crystal. 
     
     
         12 . The radiation detector according to  claim 10 , wherein the radiation detector is a positron emission tomography detector. 
     
     
         13 . The radiation detector according to  claim 10 , wherein the radiation detector is a time-of-flight positron emission tomography detector. 
     
     
         14 . The radiation detector according to  claim 10 , wherein the inorganic scintillator material is coupled to a light detector which produces an electrical signal proportional to a number of light pulses received by the light detector and the intensity of the light pulses received by the light detector. 
     
     
         15 . The radiation detector according to  claim 10 , wherein z is less than to 0.01. 
     
     
         16 . The radiation detector according to  claim 10 , wherein z is between 0.0002 and 0.001. 
     
     
         17 . The radiation detector according to  claim 10 , wherein x is greater than 0.0001 and less than 0.001. 
     
     
         18 . The radiation detector according to  claim 12 , wherein z is less than to 0.01. 
     
     
         19 . The radiation detector according to  claim 12 , wherein z is between 0.0002 and 0.001. 
     
     
         20 . The radiation detector according to  claim 12 , wherein x is greater than 0.0001 and less than 0.001.