Transparent Ceramic Scintillator Fabrication, Properties and Applications

Conference · Sun Aug 24 04:00:00 EDT 2008

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1117/12.797398· OSTI ID:945752

Cherepy, N J; Kuntz, J D; Roberts, J J; Hurst, T A; Drury, O B; Sanner, R D; Tillotson, T M; Payne, S A

Transparent ceramics offer an alternative to single crystals for scintillator applications such as gamma ray spectroscopy and radiography. We have developed a versatile, scaleable fabrication method, using Flame Spray Pyrolysis (FSP) to produce feedstock which is readily converted into phase-pure transparent ceramics. We measure integral light yields in excess of 80,000 Ph/MeV with Cerium-doped Garnets, and excellent optical quality. Avalanche photodiode readout of Garnets provides resolution near 6%. For radiography applications, Lutetium Oxide offers a high performance metric and is formable by ceramics processing. Scatter in transparent ceramics due to secondary phases is the principal limitation to optical quality, and afterglow issues that affect the scintillation performance are presently being addressed.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 945752
• Report Number(s): LLNL-PROC-406543
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AFTERGLOW
CERAMICS
FABRICATION
FLAMES
GARNETS
LUTETIUM OXIDES
METRICS
MONOCRYSTALS
NEUTRON DETECTORS
PHOSPHORS
PHOTODIODES
PHYSICS
PYROLYSIS
RESOLUTION
SCINTILLATIONS
SPECTROSCOPY