Rare-earth oxyorthosilicates with improved growth stability and scintillation characteristics

US9328288B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Peter Carl Cohen · Knoxville, US
• A. Andrew Carey · Lenoir City, US
• Mark S. Andreaco · Knoxville, US
• Matthias J. Schmand · Lenoir City, US
• Brant Quinton · Knoxville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 10, 2014
• Grant date: May 3, 2016
• Expiry date: Nov 10, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C30B29/34
• WIPO field: Surface technology, coating
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A method for making a rare-earth oxyorthosilicate scintillator single crystal includes growing a single crystal from a melt of compounds including a rare-earth element (such as Lu), silicon and oxygen, a compound including a rare-earth activator (such as Ce), and a compound of a Group-7 element (such as Mn). The method further includes selecting an scintillation performance parameter (such as decay), and based on the scintillation performance parameter to be achieved, doping activator and Group-7 element at predetermined levels, or relative levels between the two, so as to achieve stable growth of the single-crystalline scintillator material from the melt.