Ce3+-doped crystalline garnet films – scintillation characterization using α-particle excitation

Scintillating properties of Ce³⁺-doped (Lu,Y) aluminum garnet single crystalline films (SCF) were investigated. Thin SCF films of thickness between 1 and 30 μm were grown by a liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) method in various fluxes. The α-particle excitation (mainly 5.4857 MeV line of ²⁴¹Am) of pulse height spectra is used to measure scintillation response of SCF, especially peak of those α-rays which are totally absorbed in the films. Detailed studies and evaluation of scintillation measurements of large sets of Ce³⁺-doped SCF (Lu,Y) aluminum garnets showed that at present time (i) YAG:Ce SCF have comparable scintillation properties as YAG:Ce single crystals, especially their N_phels photoelectron yields are the same while (ii) scintillation properties of LuAG:Ce SCF do not reach those of LuAG:Ce single crystal.     

Nd-doped Lu3Al5O12 single-crystal scintillator for X-ray imaging

The optical and scintillation properties of Nd-doped Lu₃Al₅O₁₂ (Nd:LuAG) crystals grown by the Czochralski (Cz) method were examined under X-ray excitation. Their applicability for X-ray imaging was also inspected. The radioluminescence spectrum induced by X-rays showed a broad host emission and sharp Nd³⁺ 4f–4f emission peaks in the UV to visible wavelengths. The light output current of the Nd:LuAG was 85% of that of a standard CdWO₄ X-ray scintillator. The afterglow value measured 20 ms after X-ray irradiation was 1.5%. An X-ray radiographic image was successfully obtained using the Nd:LuAG scintillator coupled with the charge coupled device (CCD) photodetector.     

Luminescent properties and energy transfer processes in Ce–Tb doped single crystalline film screens of Lu-based silicate,perovskite and garnet compounds

The work is dedicated to the development of scintillating screens based on the single crystalline films (SCF) of Ce,Tb doped Lu-based silicates, perovskites and garnets grown by the liquid phase epitaxy method. We confirm in this work the presence of the Ce → Tb energy transfer in LSO and LuAP hosts. We also show that in Ce–Tb doped LuAG SCF, the effective Tb → Ce energy transfer is observed. This results in increasing the light yield of the luminescence of double doped LuAG:Ce,Tb SCF up to 25–30% with respect to single Ce doped (Y,Lu)AG SCF counterparts at optimal ratio of Ce/Tb ions.     

Potential of GAGG:Ce scintillation crystals for synchrotron X-Ray micro-imaging

We examined the use of cerium-doped gadolinium aluminum gallium garnet (GAGG:Ce) as a material for scintillation screens in synchrotron X-ray radiography (SXR). Highlighted for gamma-ray detection, GAGG:Ce is also an attractive material for SXR because of its high X-ray stopping power and the high light yield at around 530?nm. A thin and transparent screen prepared from our grown ingot of GAGG:Ce was compared with commonly used scintillators of CdWO₄ and YAG:Ce in terms of image quality under monochromatic X-ray illumination. Micron spatial resolutions were achieved with comparable image quality, suggesting that a single crystal of GAGG:Ce is competent scintillation material for SXR.     

Luminescent and scintillation properties of YAG:Dy and YAG:Dy,Ce single crystalline films

The paper is devoted to investigation of the luminescent properties of Dy³⁺ and Dy³⁺-Ce³⁺ doped single crystalline films (SCF) grown by LPE method from PbO–B₂O₃ flux. We have found that the YAG:Dy and YAG:Dy,Ce SCFs possess bright cathodoluminescence in the visible range and good scintillation figure of merit. For this reason LPE grown YAG:Dy and YAG:Dy,Ce SCF are proposed for different applications, namely, as cathodoluminescence screens or screens for microimaging. The Dy³⁺ co-doping can be also proposed for improvement of the scintillation efficiency of the Ce³⁺ doped garnet compounds in the SCF form due to Dy³⁺→ Ce³⁺ energy transfer and removing the trap related centers in the above RT range.     

Scintillation response of Ce-doped or intrinsic scintillating crystals in the range up to 1 MeV

A hybrid photomultiplier (HPMT) was used to study the scintillation response {N_phels(E) photoelectron and L.Y.(E) light yields and energy resolutions} of various known or newly developed scintillators—namely, Ce-doped crystals (perovskites or garnets), CsI(Tl) and the intrinsic BGO crystal—at different energies in the range 8 keV–1.33 MeV. Detailed comparative studies of the scintillation properties of these crystals are presented. A newly developed fast and heavy LuAG:Ce scintillator is characterized by about a 50% higher L.Y. compared to that of well-known and popular BGO (roughly 12 500 ph/MeV against 8080 ph/MeV, respectively).     

Light emission efficiency and imaging performance of Y3Al5O12: Ce (YAG: Ce) powder screens under diagnostic radiology conditions

In this study Y₃Al₅O₁₂: Ce powder scintillator was evaluated for use in X-ray imaging detectors. This phosphor, also known as YAG: Ce scintillator or P-46 phosphor, is a non-hygroscopic, emitting green light with very short decay time. These properties are very attractive for X-ray imaging. Y₃Al₅O₁₂: Ce powder was used to prepare various test screens (33–166 mg/cm²). Absolute luminescence efficiency measurements were performed for various X-ray tube voltages (50–130 kVp). In addition parameters related to image quality such as the modulation transfer function and the detective quantum efficiency were examined. A theoretical model, describing radiation and light transfer, was employed to fit experimental data and to estimate values of optical parameters. Absolute efficiency was found to decrease with X-ray tube voltage. Highest efficiency was obtained for the 107 mg/cm² screen. Light attenuation coefficients were close to those of green emitting rare earth scintillators. At low spatial frequencies the detective quantum efficiency was high for the 107–166 mg/cm² screens. The light emission efficiency and imaging performance of Y₃Al₅O₁₂: Ce was not better than currently employed scintillators. However due to its very fast response and high spectral compatibility to optical sensors it may be considered for use in digital imaging detectors.     

Study of X-ray Kirkpatrick-Baez imaging with single layer

The X-ray Kirkpatrick-Baez （KB） imaging experiment with single layer is implemented. Based on the astigmatism aberration and residual geometric aberration of a single mirror, a KB system with 16^x mean magnification and approximately 0.45°grazing incidence angle is designed. The mirrors are deposited with an Ir layer of 20-am thickness. Au grids backlit by X-ray tube of 8 keV are imaged via the KB system on scintillator charge-coupled device （CCD）. In the ±80 #m field, resolutions of less than 5 #m are measured. The result is in good agreement with the simulated imaging.     

白光LED用新型Ce,Pr掺杂的YAG单晶荧光材料的光谱性能研究

为了改善白光LED用荧光材料效率低、均匀性差、光衰大、寿命短及物化性能差等不足,本文采用单晶荧光材料取代荧光粉来制备白光LED,并对白光LED用新型YAG单晶荧光材料的制备和光谱性能进行了研究.采用提拉法生长了白光LED用Ce∶YAG及Pr,Ce∶YAG晶体,并通过吸收光谱,激发、发射光谱对晶体材料的光谱特性进行表征.研究表明,Ce∶YAG单晶荧光材料可以被发射波长460 nm左右的蓝光芯片有效激发,产生一个范围为480~650 nm宽峰发射.通过Pr3+,Ce3+离子共掺杂可以有效补偿Ce3+离子单掺杂YAG荧光材料发光中的红色发光成分.     

An experimental study of the relative response of plastic scintillators to photons and beta particles

A scintillation counting system has been constructed with the use of BC-400 and EJ-212 series plastic scintillators along with a subminiature photomultiplier tube to investigate the effect of increasing plastic scintillator thickness on system-integrated counts. Measurements have been carried out using four different gamma sources with different energies ranging from 6 keV to 1.332 MeV and a Ni-63 beta source with a maximum energy of 66 keV. Scintillator thicknesses ranged from 10 μm to 2500 μm. The response of the system was determined by measuring the integrated counts as a function of scintillator thickness. These experimental findings were used to empirically determine the optimum thickness of scintillator material with which to build a low energy beta detector which discriminates against high energy gamma photons in a mixed radiation field environment.     

Luminescence of excitons and antisite defects in Lu<Subscript>3</Subscript>Al<Subscript>5</Subscript>O<Subscript>12</Subscript>:Ce single crystals and single-crystal films

The luminescence of excitons and antisite defects (ADs) was investigated, as well as the specific features of the excitation energy transfer from excitons and ADs to the activator (Ce³⁺ ion) in phosphors based on Lu₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce (LuAG:Ce) single crystals and single-crystalline films, which are characterized by significantly different concentrations of ADs of the Lu _Al ³⁺ type and vacancy-type defects. The luminescence band with λ_max = 249 nm in LuAG:Ce single-crystal films is due to the luminescence of self-trapped excitons (STEs) at regular sites of the garnet lattice. The excited state of STEs is characterized by the presence of two radiative levels with significantly different transition probabilities, which is responsible for the presence of two excitation bands with λ_max = 160 and 167 nm and two components (fast and slow) in the decay kinetics of the STE luminescence. In LuAG:Ce single crystals, in contrast to single-crystal films, the radiative relaxation of STEs in the band with λ_max = 253.5 nm occurs predominantly near Lu _Al ³⁺ ADs. The intrinsic luminescence of LuAG:Ce single crystals at 300 K in the band with λ_max = 325 nm (τ = 540 ns), which is excited in the band with λ_max = 175 nm, is due to the radiative recombination of electrons with holes localized near Lu _Al ³⁺ ADs. In LuAG:Ce single crystals, the excitation of the luminescence of Ce³⁺ ions occurs to a large extent with the participation of ADs. As a result, slow components are present in the luminescence decay of Ce³⁺ ions in LuAG:Ce single crystals due to both the reabsorption of the UV AD luminescence in the 4f-5d absorption band of Ce³⁺ ions with λ_max = 340 nm and the intermediate localization of charge carriers at ADs and vacancy-type defects. In contrast to single crystals, in phosphors based on LuAG:Ce single-crystal films, the contribution of slow components to the luminescence of Ce³⁺ ions is significantly smaller due to a low concentration of these types of defects.     

Luminescence and ESR characteristics of γ-irradiated Lu3Al5O12:Ce single crystalline film scintillators

The influence of γ-irradiation with a dose of ～10⁴ Gy on the characteristics of LuAG:Ce single crystalline films (SCF) was investigated using ESR and time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy under excitation by synchrotron radiation with the energies ranging from 3.7 to 12 eV. The origin of γ-ray induced radiation defects in LuAG:Ce SCF is discussed.     

Single-crystalline films of Ce-doped YAG and LuAG phosphors: advantages over bulk crystals analogues

Luminescent properties of phosphors based on single-crystalline films (SCF) of Y₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce (YAG:Ce) and Lu₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce (LuAG:Ce) garnet have been analyzed in comparison with single-crystal (SC) analogues. It has been shown that the main peculiarity of luminescent properties of YAG:Ce and LuAG:Ce SCF as compared to SC is determined by the extremely low concentration of Y_Al³⁺ and Lu_Al³⁺ antisite defects (AD) in SCF. The advantages of phosphors based on YAG:Ce and LuAG:Ce SCF are caused by the absence in these SCF the additional channels for dissipation of excitation energy connected with AD and vacancy-type defects.     

Studying the luminescence efficiency of Lu<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>:Eu nanophosphor material for digital X-ray imaging applications

Scintillator materials are widely used in X-ray medical imaging detector applications, coupled with available photoreceptors like radiographic film or photoreceptors suitable for digital imaging like a-Si, charge-coupled devises (CCD), complementary metal-oxide-semiconductors (CMOS) and GaAs). In addition, scintillators can be utilized in non-medical imaging detectors such as industrial detectors for non-destructive testing (NDT) and detectors used for security purposes (i.e. airport luggage control). Image quality and dose burden in the above applications is associated with the amount of optical photons escaping the scintillator as well as the amount of optical photons captured by the photoreceptor. The former is characterized by the scintillator efficiency and the latter by the spectral matching between the emission spectrum of the scintillator and the spectral response of the photoreceptor. Recently, a scintillator material, europium-activated lutetium oxide (Lu₂O₃:Eu), has shown improved scintillating properties. Lu₂O₃:Eu samples of compact nanocrystalline non-agglomerated powder were developed in our laboratory using homogeneous precipitation from a water-toluene solution in the presence of polyvinyl alcohol as a surfactant. In order to test their light-emission properties, experimental measurements under the excitation of X-ray spectra with X-ray tube voltages between 50 kVp and 140 kVp were performed. This range of applied voltages is appropriate for X-ray radiology, NDT and security applications. Lu₂O₃:Eu was evaluated with respect to output yield and spectral compatibility of digital imaging photoreceptors (CCD-based, CMOS-based, amorphous silicon a:Si flat panels, ES20 and GaAs). High light yield and spectral compatibility increase the performance of the medical detector and reduce the dose burden to the personnel involved. In addition a theoretical model was used to determine the values for the Lu₂O₃:Eu optical photon light propagation parameters. The inverse diffusion length was found to be equal to 33 cm²/g. In addition Lu₂O₃:Eu was found to match well with several photoreceptors capable of digital imaging (i.e. GaAs).     

1.319μm连续YAG激光束对可见光面阵CCD系统的干扰研究

 利用1.319μm连续钇铝石榴石激光对可见光面阵CCD系统进行干扰实验，分析了该CCD系统发生干扰饱和的原因，计算了1.319μm激光辐照面阵可见光CCD的干扰饱和阈值，利用实验数据在定量上验证了计算结果。当像面上激光功率密度达到10²W/cm²量级时，CCD出现饱和串音，达到10²W/cm²量级时，出现全屏饱和。     

γ光闪烁体阵列的非均匀响应相对校正方法

 闪烁体阵列常用于辐射图像探测,基于闪烁体阵列存在严重的响应非均匀性,提出了相对校正方法,在无需知道光源参数、CCD相机参数及光学系统参数的前提下,利用本底图像、空场图像和被测样品辐射图像,得到被测物体对γ光的衰减分布。并进行了验证实验,结果表明：此方法不但可以消除响应的非均性的影响,而且可以消除辐射源固有分布的影响。     

Comparative study of LD-pumped Tm:YAG and Tim:LuAG lasers

Widely tunable performances of Tm:YAG and Tm:LuAG lasers near 2 μm are demonstrated. The emission spectra of Tm³⁺ in these two single crystals are reported and analyzed. The lifetimes of the ³ F ₄ state in thulium-doped YAG and LuAG are 10.1 and 9.2 ms, respectively. In addition, it is proven that the Tm:YAG crystal with two bonded undoped YAG ends is promising for high-efficient operation.     

Giant light extraction enhancement of medical imaging scintillation materials using biologically inspired integrated nanostructures

We have utilized biologically inspired (bio-inspired), moth-eye nanostructures and further improved this biomimetic structure to enhance the scintillator materials external quantum efficiency significantly. As a proof of concept, we have demonstrated very high light output efficiency enhancement for Lu(2)SiO(5):Ce(3+) (LSO:Ce) film in large area, the X-ray mammographic instrument was employed to demonstrate the light output enhancement of the Lu(2)SiO(5):Ce thin film with biologically inspired (bio-inspired) moth-eye-like nanophotonic structures. Our work could be extended to other thin film scintillator materials and is promising to achieve lower patient dose, higher resolution images of human organs and even smaller scale medical imaging.     

基于Ce:YAG单晶的白光发光二极管性能研究

以Ce:YAG单晶取代传统Ce:YAG荧光粉用于制备白光发光二极管(LED),研究了Ce:YAG单晶厚度及驱动电压的变化对其发射光谱、色坐标、亮度、光视效能和色温的影响。研究结果表明,在基于Ce:YAG单晶的白光LED中,发射光的色坐标以及蓝光与黄绿光之间的相对强度可通过对Ce:YAG单晶片厚度的改变进行调整。在恒定电压驱动下,白光LED样品的亮度、光视效能和色温均随单晶片厚度的减小而增加。当Ce:YAG单晶厚度为0.6mm时,可获得较纯的白发射光,并且其色坐标具有较高的可靠性和稳定性,基本不受驱动电压变化的影响。研究结果表明Ce:YAG单晶是一种可用于新型白光LED的理想荧光材料。     

Imaging performance and light emission efficiency of Lu<Subscript>2</Subscript> SiO<Subscript>5</Subscript>:Ce (LSO:Ce) powder scintillator under X-ray mammographic conditions

The aim of the present study was to measure the imaging transfer characteristics and the luminescence efficiency (XLE) of a Lu₂SiO₅:Ce (LSO:Ce) powder scintillator for use in X-ray mammography detectors. An LSO:Ce powder scintillating screen, with a coating thickness of 25 mg/cm², was prepared in our laboratory. The imaging performance of the screen was assessed by experimental determination of the modulation transfer function (MTF) and the detective quantum efficiency (DQE) as well as single index image quality parameters such as noise equivalent pass band (Ne) and informational efficiency (n _I). A theoretical model, describing radiation and light transfer, was fitted to experimental MTF values in order to estimate optical properties of the scintillator. Screen irradiation was performed under exposure conditions employed in mammographic applications (27 kVp, 63 mAs). MTF was determined by the square wave response function (SWRF) method. Results showed that LSO:Ce exhibits high MTF and DQE values, which are comparable to those of the commercially used Gd₂O₂S:Tb. Considering our image quality parameters and luminescence efficiency results as well as the fast response of the LSO:Ce scintillator screen (40 ns), this material can be considered for use in X-ray mammographic detectors.