OPTICAL CERAMIC SCINTILLATORS FOR DIGITAL RADIOGRAPHY

我们建议开发一种数字射线成像传感器，基于完全的 掺Au_2O_3致密透明光学陶瓷 适当发光的稀土离子。我们已经捏造了， 热压技术，掺Eu或Tb的透明样品，以及 表明它们各自的红色和绿色排放强烈 由X射线辐射激发的。氧化物的密度为9.5g/cm3，并且 在10到kev之间的平滑吸收(无K边)，好于 任何已知材料，如CSI或Gd2O2S。它具有理想的特性 与牙科X光管相匹配。探测器层的厚度 将在100到200微米之间。同样的材料，但不同的材料 几何构型也可用于X射线CAT扫描仪 超越当今材料的性能。第一阶段将寻求 改善陶瓷制造(可能探索替代烧结 技术)并表征性能(光输出、衰减、 发射光谱)。在第一阶段之外，我们看到了两种不同的推力，一种 对于牙科应用，另一种是针对CAT。对数据进行分割 陶瓷将是一个重要的方面。我们认为，拟议中的工作 将产生比现在更好的X射线闪烁体材料 可用。 建议的商业应用 因为目前可用的X射线荧光屏不能提供 必要的空间分辨率，医学放射成像已无法利用 充分发挥数字技术在数据采集和管理方面的潜力 正在处理。一种能够满足这种需求的材料的开发将 革命性的放射学技术，大大提高了他们的 诊断能力。眼下的市场包括牙科和牙科 层析成像，并有可能扩展到几乎每一条X射线 现在正在使用的机器。

We propose to develop a digital radiography sensor, based on a fully dense transparent optical ceramic consisting of Lu2O3 doped with an appropriate luminescent lanthanide ion. We have already fabricated, by hot pressing techniques, transparent samples doped with Eu or Tb, and demonstrated that their respective red and green emissions are strongly excited by X-ray irradiation. The oxide has a density of 9.5 g/cm3 and a smooth absorption (free of K edges) between 10 and 64 keV, better than any known material, such as CsI or Gd2O2S. It has ideal characteristics for a match to a dental X-ray tube. The thickness of the detector layer will be between 100 and 200 microns. The same material but of different geometrical configuration can be used for X-ray CAT scanners, also surpassing the performance of present day materials. Phase I will seek to improve ceramic fabrication (possibly exploring alternative sintering techniques) and to characterize performance (light output, decay, emission spectra). Beyond Phase I we see two different thrusts, one towards dental applications, the other towards CAT. Segmentation of the ceramic will be an important aspect. We believe that the proposed work will result in better X-ray scintillator materials than any now available. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION Because currently available X-ray phosphor screens cannot provide the necessary spatial resolution, medical radiography has been unable to tap the full potential of digital techniques for data acquisition and processing. The development of a material that can fill this need will revolutionize radiological techniques and greatly enhance their diagnostic power. The immediate market includes both dental and tomographic imaging, and potentially extends to virtually every X-ray machine now in use.