Abstract: A scintillator can include a monocrystalline compound having a general formula Na(1-y)LiyX, where 0<y<1 and X is at least one halogen or any combination of halogens. In an embodiment, the scintillator can have a Pulse Shape Discrimination Figure of Merit of at least 1 at a temperature of 25° C., at a temperature of 150° C., or both.

Abstract: A scintillation crystal can include a sodium halide that is co-doped with thallium and another element. In an embodiment, the scintillation crystal can include NaX:Tl, Me, wherein X represents a halogen, and Me represents a Group 1 element, a Group 2 element, a rare earth element, or any combination thereof. In a particular embodiment, the scintillation crystal has a property including, for radiation in a range of 300 nm to 700 nm, an emission maximum at a wavelength no greater than 430 nm; or an energy resolution less than 6.4% when measured at 662 keV, 22° C., and an integration time of 1 microsecond. In another embodiment, the co-dopant can be Sr or Ca. The scintillation crystal can have lower energy resolution, better proportionality, a shorter pulse decay time, or any combination thereof as compared to the sodium halide that is doped with only thallium.

Abstract: A radiation detector can include a scintillator having opposing end surfaces and a plurality of discrete photosensors disposed on an end surface of the scintillator. In an embodiment, the photosensors are disposed at the corners or along the peripheral edge of the end surface, as opposed to being disposed at the center of the end surface. In an embodiment, the plurality of discrete photosensors may cover at most 80% of a surface area of the end surface of the scintillator and may not cover a center of the end surface of the scintillator. In a further embodiment, an aspect ratio of the monolithic scintillator can be selected to improve energy resolution.

Abstract: A scintillation crystal can include a sodium halide that is co-doped with thallium and another element. In an embodiment, the scintillation crystal can include NaX:Tl, Me, wherein X represents a halogen, and Me represents a Group 1 element, a Group 2 element, a rare earth element, or any combination thereof. In a particular embodiment, the scintillation crystal has a property including, for radiation in a range of 300 nm to 700 nm, an emission maximum at a wavelength no greater than 430 nm; or an energy resolution less than 6.4% when measured at 662 keV, 22° C., and an integration time of 1 microsecond. In another embodiment, the co-dopant can be Sr or Ca. The scintillation crystal can have lower energy resolution, better proportionality, a shorter pulse decay time, or any combination thereof as compared to the sodium halide that is doped with only thallium.

Abstract: A radiation detector can include a scintillator having opposing end surfaces and a plurality of discrete photosensors disposed on an end surface of the scintillator. In an embodiment, the photosensors are disposed at the corners or along the peripheral edge of the end surface, as opposed to being disposed at the center of the end surface. In an embodiment, the plurality of discrete photosensors may cover at most 80% of a surface area of the end surface of the scintillator and may not cover a center of the end surface of the scintillator. In a further embodiment, an aspect ratio of the monolithic scintillator can be selected to improve energy resolution.

Abstract: A scintillator can include a monocrystalline compound having a general formula Na(1-y)LiyX, where 0<y<1 and X is at least one halogen or any combination of halogens. In an embodiment, the scintillator can have a Pulse Shape Discrimination Figure of Merit of at least 1 at a temperature of 25° C., at a temperature of 150° C., or both.

Abstract: A scintillator can include an elpasolite scintillator compound. The scintillator can be doped with a Group 2 element, and may also include an activator. The scintillator has an improved core valence luminescence at room temperature as compared to a corresponding elpasolite scintillator compound without the Group 2 dopant. The elpasolite scintillator compound can have significant core valance luminescence at a temperature higher than 125° C. In a particular embodiment, the elpasolite scintillator compound can include Cl and may or may not also include another halide, such as Br or I. The scintillator can be part of an apparatus that detects gamma radiation and neutrons and may allow a relatively simpler pulse discrimination technique to be used to a higher temperature, such as 125° C. to 150° C. before a relatively more complex pulse discrimination technique would be used.

Abstract: A scintillator can include an elpasolite scintillator compound. The scintillator can be doped with a Group 2 element, and may also include an activator. The scintillator has an improved core valence luminescence at room temperature as compared to a corresponding elpasolite scintillator compound without the Group 2 dopant. The elpasolite scintillator compound can have significant core valance luminescence at a temperature higher than 125° C. In a particular embodiment, the elpasolite scintillator compound can include Cl and may or may not also include another halide, such as Br or I. The scintillator can be part of an apparatus that detects gamma radiation and neutrons and may allow a relatively simpler pulse discrimination technique to be used to a higher temperature, such as 125° C. to 150° C. before a relatively more complex pulse discrimination technique would be used.

Abstract: Mixed halide scintillation materials of a first general formula A4B(1-y)MyX?6(1-z)X?6z and a second general formula A(4-y)BMyX?6(1-z)X?6z are disclosed. In the general formulas, A is an alkali metal, B is an alkali earth metal, and X? and X? are two different halogen atoms. Scintillation materials of the first general formula include a divalent external activator M such as Eu2+ or Yb2+ or a trivalent external activator M such as Ce3+. Scintillation materials of the second general formula include a monovalent external activator M such as In+, Na+, or Tl+ or a trivalent external activator such as Ce3+.

Abstract: A radiation detection apparatus can include a scintillator, a photosensor optically coupled to the scintillator, and a control module electrically coupled to the photosensor. The control module can be configured to receive a pulse from the photosensor and identify a cause of noise corresponding to the pulse. Such information can be useful in determining failure modes and potentially predict future failures of radiation detection apparatuses. In another embodiment, the wavelet discrimination can be used to determine whether or not the pulse corresponds to a scintillation pulse, and potentially to identify a type of radiation or a radiation source. The technique is robust to work over a variety of temperatures, and particularly, at temperatures significantly higher than room temperature.

Abstract: A control module for a radiation detector can be configured to use a first pulse shape discrimination technique at a first state, and use a second pulse shape discrimination technique at a second state.

Abstract: A halide scintillator material is disclosed where the halide may comprise chloride, bromide or iodide. The material is single-crystalline and has a composition of the general formula ABX3 where A is an alkali, B is an alkali earth and X is a halide which general composition was investigated. In particular, crystals of the formula ACa1-yEuyI3 where A=K, Rb and Cs were formed as well as crystals of the formula CsA1-yEuyX3 (where A=Ca, Sr, Ba, or a combination thereof and X=Cl, Br or I or a combination thereof) with divalent Europium doping where 0?y?1, and more particularly Eu doping has been studied at one to ten mol %. The disclosed scintillator materials are suitable for making scintillation detectors used in applications such as medical imaging and homeland security.

Abstract: An improved scintillation detector capable of withstanding harsh operating environments includes a scintillator in a sealed casing having an atmosphere with an oxygen content not greater than about 100 ppb and an oxygen scavenger in the atmosphere within the sealed casing. The scintillator can include a material that may be damaged by exposure to oxygen. The oxygen scavenger can include an oxidizable compound.

Abstract: A scintillation crystal can include a sodium halide that is co-doped with thallium and another element. In an embodiment, the scintillation crystal can include NaX:Tl, Me, wherein X represents a halogen, and Me represents a Group 1 element, a Group 2 element, a rare earth element, or any combination thereof. In a particular embodiment, the scintillation crystal has a property including, for radiation in a range of 300 nm to 700 nm, an emission maximum at a wavelength no greater than 430 nm; or an energy resolution less than 6.4% when measured at 662 keV, 22° C., and an integration time of 1 microsecond. In another embodiment, the co-dopant can be Sr or Ca. The scintillation crystal can have lower energy resolution, better proportionality, a shorter pulse decay time, or any combination thereof as compared to the sodium halide that is doped with only thallium.

Abstract: A scintillator can include an elpasolite scintillator compound. The scintillator can be doped with a Group 2 element, and may also include an activator. The scintillator has an improved core valence luminescence at room temperature as compared to a corresponding elpasolite scintillator compound without the Group 2 dopant. The elpasolite scintillator compound can have significant core valance luminescence at a temperature higher than 125° C. In a particular embodiment, the elpasolite scintillator compound can include Cl and may or may not also include another halide, such as Br or I. The scintillator can be part of an apparatus that detects gamma radiation and neutrons and may allow a relatively simpler pulse discrimination technique to be used to a higher temperature, such as 125° C. to 150° C. before a relatively more complex pulse discrimination technique would be used.

Abstract: A radiation detection apparatus can include a scintillator, a photosensor optically coupled to the scintillator, and a control module electrically coupled to the photosensor. The control module can include a pulse shape analysis module that is configured to discern or discriminate between different types of radiation or radiation sources. The scintillator can include a base composition with a particular dopant that aids in the pulse shape analysis. In one embodiment, the radiation detection analysis module can more readily discriminate different types of radiation or radiation sources, such as gamma radiation from background alpha particles or neutrons. The dopant may include a monovalent or divalent metal, and the pulse shape analysis may involve transforming data.

Abstract: A scintillator stack includes a neutron-sensitive particulate material and a scintillator particulate material dispersed in separate layers. The scintillator stack can be included in a scintillator device. The scintillator stack can be made using a co-extrusion method.

Abstract: A control module for a radiation detector can be configured to use a first pulse shape discrimination technique at a first state, and use a second pulse shape discrimination technique at a second state.

Abstract: In an embodiment, scintillator can have a Figure of Merit of 0.4 at a temperature greater than 120° C., a Figure of Merit of at least 0.05 at a temperature of at least 160° C., or both. In another embodiment, a scintillator can include a Br-containing or an I-containing elpasolite. Either scintillator can be used in a radiation detection apparatus that include a photosensor and a radiation detection apparatus. Such an apparatus can be used to detect and discriminate two different types of radiation over a wide range of temperatures. The radiation detection apparatus can be useful in drilling, well logging, or as a portal detector.

Abstract: A radiation detection system can include a scintillator capable of emitting scintillating light in response to capturing radiation, a photosensor optically coupled to the scintillator, and an analyzer device electrically coupled to the photosensor. The analyzer device can include a plurality of circuits and can be configured to receive a pulse from the photosensor, analyze a pulse shape of the pulse, and adjust a pulse parameter based on the pulse shape, wherein the plurality of circuits is configured to perform the analysis of the pulse or the adjustment of the pulse. In an embodiment, the analyzer device can determine a rise time of the pulse, an integration of intensity over time, a pulse height of the pulse, a depth-of-interaction, or any combination thereof. In a further embodiment, the analyzer device can generate a compensation coefficient based on the rise time of the pulse to adjust the pulse height.