METHOD OF FORMING A SCINTILLATION CRYSTAL AND A RADIATION DETECTION APPARATUS INCLUDING A SCINTILLATION CRYSTAL INCLUDING A RARE EARTH HALIDE
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- placing into a crucible precursors including;
a rare earth halide precursor; and
a dopant precursor that includes a halide of a Group 1 element or a Group 2 element;
melting the precursors to form a melt, wherein a concentration of all Group 1 and Group 2 halides is at least approximately 0.02 wt. %; and
forming 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
optically coupling an optical interface to the scintillation crystal.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
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.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method, comprising:
-
placing into a crucible precursors including; a rare earth halide precursor; and a dopant precursor that includes a halide of a Group 1 element or a Group 2 element; melting the precursors to form a melt, wherein a concentration of all Group 1 and Group 2 halides is at least approximately 0.02 wt. %; and forming 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 optically coupling an optical interface to the scintillation crystal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A method, comprising:
-
placing into a crucible precursors including; a rare earth halide precursor; and a dopant precursor that includes a strontium halide, a barium halide, or any combination thereof; melting the precursors; forming a scintillation crystal including 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%; and optically coupling an optical interface to the scintillation crystal. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
Specification