Fracture-resistant lanthanide scintillators
US7863572B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 17, 2008 |
| Grant date | Jan 4, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 9, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01T1/2023
- WIPO fieldEnvironmental technology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Lanthanide halide alloys have recently enabled scintillating gamma ray spectrometers comparable to room temperature semiconductors (<3% FWHM energy resolutions at 662 keV). However brittle fracture of these materials upon cooling hinders the growth of large volume crystals. Efforts to improve the strength through non-lanthanide alloy substitution, while preserving scintillation, have been demonstrated. Isovalent alloys having nominal compositions of comprising Al, Ga, Sc, Y, and In dopants as well as aliovalent alloys comprising Ca, Sr, Zr, Hf, Zn, and Pb dopants were prepared. All of these alloys exhibit bright fluorescence under UV excitation, with varying shifts in the spectral peaks and intensities relative to pure CeBr3. Further, these alloys scintillate when coupled to a photomultiplier tube (PMT) and exposed to 137Cs gamma rays.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.