Low-temperature perovskite scintillators and devices with low temperature perovskite scintillators

Abstract

Disclosed embodiments include perovskite scintillators configured to be operated at a low temperature, detectors with perovskite scintillators configured to be operated at a low temperature, scanners with perovskite scintillators configured to be operated at a low temperature, methods of cooling a perovskite scintillator to a low temperature, and methods of configuring a perovskite scintillator to be operated at a low temperature.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a perovskite scintillator configured to be irradiated by ionizing radiation at an operating temperature below 277 K to yield a light output with:
 (i) a maximum fast component amplitude, A1, that is at least two times greater than a maximum slow component amplitude, A2, 
 (ii) an afterglow, y0, that is at least two times less than the amplitude of the maximum slow component amplitude, A2, and 
 (iii) a fast decay time constant, t1, and a slow decay time constant, t2, that are each less than 10 nanoseconds. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the perovskite scintillator includes an organic-inorganic trihalide perovskite (“OTP”) scintillator. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a timing resolution of the perovskite scintillator is less than 200 ps. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a light yield of the perovskite scintillator is at least 50000 ph/MeV. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cooling system configured to cool the perovskite scintillator to the operating temperature.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the operating temperature is between 10 K and 160 K. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the operating temperature is about 77 K. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 encapsulation material in which the perovskite scintillator is encapsulated.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a scintillation light yield to decay time ratio of the perovskite scintillator in response to the ionizing radiation is greater than 8000 ns −1  at the operating temperature. 
     
     
         10 . A detector comprising:
 a source of ionizing radiation;   at least one perovskite scintillator configured to be irradiated by ionizing radiation at a first frequency from the source of ionizing radiation and emit photons responsive thereto at a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency, the perovskite scintillator configured to be operated at an operating temperature below 277K;   a cooling system configured to cool the perovskite scintillator to the operating temperature; and   a photodetector configured to detect photons emitted by the perovskite scintillator,   wherein, the perovskite scintillator is configured to yield a light output in response to irradiation by the ionizing radiation that has:
 (i) a maximum fast component amplitude, A1, that is at least two times greater than a maximum slow component amplitude, A2, 
 (ii) an afterglow, y0, that is at least two times less than the amplitude of the maximum slow component amplitude, A2, and 
 (iii) a fast decay time constant, t1, and a slow decay time constant, t2, that are each less than 10 nanoseconds. 
   
     
     
         11 . The detector of  claim 10 , wherein a scintillation light yield to fast decay time ratio of the perovskite scintillator in response to irradiation by the ionizing radiation is greater than 8000 ns −1  at the operating temperature. 
     
     
         12 . The detector of  claim 10 , wherein the source of ionizing radiation includes a source chosen from a group comprising an X-ray source and a gamma ray source. 
     
     
         13 . A scanner comprising:
 a perovskite scintillator configured to be irradiated by pairs of ionizing gamma photons at a first frequency and emit photons responsive thereto at a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency, the perovskite scintillator being further configured to be operated at an operating temperature below 277 K;   a cooling system configured to cool the perovskite scintillator to the operating temperature; and   a photodetector configured to detect photons emitted by the perovskite scintillator,   wherein, the perovskite scintillator is configured to yield a light output in response to irradiation by the ionizing radiation that has:
 (i) a maximum fast component amplitude, A1, that is at least two times greater than a maximum slow component amplitude, A2, 
 (ii) an afterglow, y0, that is at least two times less than the amplitude of the maximum slow component amplitude, A2, and 
 (iii) a fast decay time constant, t1, and a slow decay time constant, t2, that are each less than 10 nanoseconds. 
   
     
     
         14 . The scanner of  claim 13 , wherein the photodetector is configured to be cooled to a cooled temperature. 
     
     
         15 . The scanner of  claim 14 , wherein the cooled temperature is different from the operating temperature. 
     
     
         16 . The scanner of  claim 14 , wherein the cooled temperature is higher than the operating temperature. 
     
     
         17 . The scanner of  claim 13 , wherein the photodetector has a coincidence resolving time of less than 1,000 ps. 
     
     
         18 . The scanner of  claim 17 , wherein the photodetector has a coincidence resolving time of less than 10 ps. 
     
     
         19 . The scanner of  claim 13 , further comprising at least one non-perovskite scintillator disposed adjacent the perovskite scintillator, wherein the non-perovskite scintillator is configured to be irradiated by ionizing radiation at a third frequency from the source of ionizing radiation and emit photons responsive thereto at a fourth frequency that is lower than the third frequency, the photodetector being further configured to detect photons emitted by the non-perovskite scintillator. 
     
     
         20 . The scanner of  claim 19 , wherein the non-perovskite scintillator includes a high atomic number scintillator. 
     
     
         21 . The scanner of  claim 19 , wherein the first frequency and the third frequency are the same. 
     
     
         22 . The scanner of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a plurality of perovskite scintillators; and   a plurality of non-perovskite scintillators,   wherein single ones of the plurality of perovskite scintillators are disposed adjacent single ones of the plurality of non-perovskite scintillators.   
     
     
         23 . The scanner of  claim 13 , wherein the scanner includes a tomography scanner.