SCINTILLATION CRYSTAL INCLUDING A RARE EARTH HALIDE, AND A RADIATION DETECTION APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SCINTILLATION CRYSTAL
First Claim
1. A scintillation crystal comprising:
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Ln(1-y)REyX3;
Me,wherein;
Ln represents a rare earth element;
RE represents a different rare earth element;
y has a value in a range of 0 to 1;
X represents a halogen;
Me represents a Group 1 element, a Group 2 element, or any mixture thereof; and
the scintillation crystal is formed from a melt having a Me concentration of at least approximately 0.02 wt. %.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A scintillation crystal can include Ln(1-y)REyX3, wherein Ln represents a rare earth element, RE represents a different rare earth element, y has a value in a range of 0 to 1, and X represents a halogen. In an embodiment, the scintillation crystal is doped with a Group 1 element, a Group 2 element, or a mixture thereof, and the scintillation crystal is formed from a melt having a concentration of such elements or mixture thereof of at least approximately 0.02 wt. %. In another embodiment, the scintillation crystal can have unexpectedly improved proportionality and unexpectedly improved energy resolution properties. In a further embodiment, a radiation detection apparatus can include the scintillation crystal, a photosensor, and an electronics device. Such a radiation detection apparatus can be useful in a variety of applications.
16 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A scintillation crystal comprising:
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Ln(1-y)REyX3;
Me,wherein; Ln represents a rare earth element; RE represents a different rare earth element; y has a value in a range of 0 to 1; X represents a halogen; Me represents a Group 1 element, a Group 2 element, or any mixture thereof; and the scintillation crystal is formed from a melt having a Me concentration of at least approximately 0.02 wt. %. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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2. A radiation detection apparatus comprising:
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a scintillation crystal including Ln(1-y)REyX3;
Me, wherein;Ln represents a rare earth element; RE represents a different rare earth element; y has a value in a range of 0 to 1; X represents a halogen; Me represents a Group 1 element, a Group 2 element, or any mixture thereof; and the scintillation crystal is formed from a melt having a Me concentration of at least approximately 0.02 wt. %; and a photosensor optically coupled to the scintillation crystal. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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3. A scintillation crystal comprising:
a rare earth halide, wherein; for a radiation energy range of 11 keV to 30 keV, the scintillation crystal has an nPRdev average of no greater than approximately 8.0%;
orfor a radiation energy range of 30 keV to 60 keV, the scintillation crystal has the nPRdev average of no greater than approximately 3.6%.
Specification