Scintillator compositions, and related processes and articles of manufacture
First Claim
1. A scintillator composition, comprising the following, and any reaction products thereof:
- (a) a halide-lanthanide matrix material selected from the group consisting of (i) a solid solution of at least two lanthanide halides; and
(ii) lanthanum iodide, substantially free of lanthanum oxyiodide; and
(b) an activator for the matrix material, comprising an element selected from the group consisting of cerium, praseodymium, and mixtures of cerium and praseodymium.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Scintillator materials based on certain types of halide-lanthanide matrix materials are described. In one embodiment, the matrix material contains a mixture of lanthanide halides, i.e., a solid solution of at least two of the halides, such as lanthanum chloride and lanthanum bromide. In another embodiment, the matrix material is based on lanthanum iodide alone, which must be substantially free of lanthanum oxyiodide. The scintillator materials, which can be in monocrystalline or polycrystalline form, also include an activator for the matrix material, e.g., cerium. Radiation detectors that use the scintillators are also described, as are related methods for detecting high-energy radiation.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A scintillator composition, comprising the following, and any reaction products thereof:
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(a) a halide-lanthanide matrix material selected from the group consisting of (i) a solid solution of at least two lanthanide halides; and
(ii) lanthanum iodide, substantially free of lanthanum oxyiodide; and
(b) an activator for the matrix material, comprising an element selected from the group consisting of cerium, praseodymium, and mixtures of cerium and praseodymium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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- 20. A cerium-doped scintillator composition, comprising a mixture of at least two lanthanide halides.
- 22. A cerium-doped scintillator composition,comprising lanthanum iodide, substantially free of lanthanum oxyiodide.
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24. A radiation detector for detecting high-energy radiation, comprising:
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(A) a crystal scintillator which comprises the following composition, and any reaction products thereof;
(a) a halide-lanthanide matrix material selected from the group consisting of (i) a solid solution of at least two lanthanide halides; and
(ii) lanthanum iodide, substantially free of lanthanum oxyiodide; and
(b) an activator for the matrix material, comprising an element selected from the group consisting of cerium, praseodymium, and mixtures of cerium and praseodymium; and
(B) a photodetector optically coupled to the scintillator, so as to be capable of producing an electrical signal in response to the emission of a light pulse produced by the scintillator. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for detecting high-energy radiation with a scintillation detector, comprising the steps of:
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(A) receiving radiation by an activated, halide-lanthanide-based scintillator crystal, so as to produce photons which are characteristic of the radiation; and
(B) detecting the photons with a photon detector coupled to the scintillator crystal;
wherein the scintillator crystal is formed of a composition comprising the following, and any reaction products thereof;
(a) a halide-lanthanide matrix material selected from the group consisting of (i) a solid solution of at least two lanthanide halides; and
(ii) lanthanum iodide, substantially free of lanthanum oxyiodide; and
(b) an activator for the matrix material, comprising an element selected from the group consisting of cerium, praseodymium, and mixtures of cerium and praseodymium.
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35. A method for producing an activated, halide-lanthanide-based scintillator crystal which comprises:
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(a) a halide-lanthanide matrix material selected from the group consisting of (i) a solid solution of at least two lanthanide halides; and
(ii) lanthanum iodide, substantially free of lanthanum oxyiodide;
and (b) an activator for the matrix material, comprising an element selected from the group consisting of cerium, praseodymium, and mixtures of cerium and praseodymium, said method comprising the following steps;
(i) supplying at least one lanthanide-containing reactant, at least one activator-containing reactant; and
at least one halide-containing reactant;
according to proportions which satisfy the stoichiometric requirements for the scintillator crystal;
(ii) melting the reactants at a temperature sufficient to form a molten composition; and
(iii) crystallizing a crystal from the molten composition. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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Specification