Abstract: Disclosed herein is a material, comprising a first metal halide that is operative to function as a scintillator; where the first metal halide excludes cesium iodide (ScI), strontium iodide (SrI2), cesium bromide (CsBr), thallium doped cesium iodide (CsI:Tl), europium doped strontium iodide (SrI2:Eu), europium doped barium iodide (BaI2;EU), cerium doped strontium iodide (SrI2:Ce), cerium doped barium iodide (BaI2:Ce), cerium doped lanthanum bromide (LaBr3:Ce), and cerium doped lutetium iodide (LuI3:Ce); and a surface layer comprising a second metal halide that is disposed on a surface of the first metal halide; where the second metal halide has a lower water solubility than the first metal halide.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses, in one arrangement, a scintillator material made of a metal halide with one or more additional group-13 elements. An example of such a compound is Ce:LaBr3 with thallium (Tl) added, either as a codopant or in a stoichiometric admixture and/or solid solution between LaBr3 and TlBr. In another arrangement, the above single crystalline iodide scintillator material can be made by first synthesizing a compound of the above composition and then forming a single crystal from the synthesized compound by, for example, the Vertical Gradient Freeze method. Applications of the scintillator materials include radiation detectors and their use in medical and security imaging.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising discharging a slurry from a vessel to a conduit; where the slurry comprises a liquid and a composition comprising at least two materials having different densities-a first material having a higher density and a second material having a lower density than that of the first material; creating a surge in velocity in slurry flow as it is transported through the conduit; separating the first material from the second material; where the first material is disposed on an inner surface of the conduit and where the second material flows through the conduit to a container; and removing the first material from the inner surface of the conduit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a material, comprising a first metal halide that is operative to function as a scintillator; where the first metal halide excludes cesium iodide, strontium iodide, and cesium bromide; and a surface layer comprising a second metal halide that is disposed on a surface of the first metal halide; where the second metal halide has a lower water solubility than the first metal halide.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses rare earth metal halide scintillators compositions with reduced hygroscopicity. Compositions in specific implementations include three group of elements: Lanthanides, (La, Ce, Lu, Gd or V), elements in group 17 of the periodic table of elements (CI, Br and I) and elements of group 13 (B, AI, Ga, In, TI), and any combination of these elements. Examples of methods for making the compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a material, comprising a first metal halide that is operative to function as a scintillator; where the first metal halide excludes cesium iodide, strontium iodide, and cesium bromide; and a surface layer comprising a second metal halide that is disposed on a surface of the first metal halide; where the second metal halide has a lower water solubility than the first metal halide.

Abstract: Example embodiments of a radiation detection system including a detector is described. The detector can include a scintillator, a sensor, and a light source. The radiation detection system can further include a controller programmed to control the light source to expose the scintillator to a light to saturate traps in the scintillator. In some embodiments, the detector can further include a second light source, and the controller is programmed to control the second light source to expose the scintillator to a second light to detrap afterglow traps in the scintillator.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method including manufacturing a powder having a composition of formula (1), M1aM2bM3cM4dO12??(1) where O represents oxygen, M1, M2, M3, and M4 represents a first, second, third, and fourth metal that are different from each other, where the sum of a+b+c+d is about 8, where “a” has a value of about 2 to about 3.5, “b” has a value of 0 to about 5, “c” has a value of 0 to about 5 “d” has a value of 0 to about 1, where “b” and “c”, “b” and “d”, or “c” and “d” cannot both be equal to zero simultaneously, where M1 is a rare earth element comprising gadolinium, yttrium, lutetium, scandium, or a combination of thereof, M2 is aluminum or boron, M3 is gallium, and M4 is a dopant; and heating the powder to a temperature of 500 to 1700° C. in an oxygen containing atmosphere to manufacture a crystalline scintillator.

Abstract: A method of growing a rare-earth oxyorthosilicate crystal, and crystals grown using the method are disclosed. The method includes preparing a melt by melting a first substance including at least one first rare-earth element and providing an atmosphere that includes an inert gas and a gas including oxygen.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising discharging a slurry from a vessel to a conduit; where the slurry comprises a liquid and a composition comprising at least two materials having different densities-a first material having a higher density and a second material having a lower density than that of the first material; creating a surge in velocity in slurry flow as it is transported through the conduit; separating the first material from the second material; where the first material is disposed on an inner surface of the conduit and where the second material flows through the conduit to a container; and removing the first material from the inner surface of the conduit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising discharging a slurry from a vessel to a conduit; where the slurry comprises a liquid and a composition comprising at least two materials having different densities-a first material having a higher density and a second material having a lower density than that of the first material; creating a surge in velocity in slurry flow as it is transported through the conduit; separating the first material from the second material; where the first material is disposed on an inner surface of the conduit and where the second material flows through the conduit to a container; and removing the first material from the inner surface of the conduit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method including manufacturing a powder having a composition of formula (1), M1aM2bM3cM4dO12??(1) where O represents oxygen, M1, M2, M3, and M4 represents a first, second, third, and fourth metal that are different from each other, where the sum of a+b+c+d is about 8, where “a” has a value of about 2 to about 3.5, “b” has a value of 0 to about 5, “c” has a value of 0 to about 5 “d” has a value of 0 to about 1, where “b” and “c”, “b” and “d”, or “c” and “d” cannot both be equal to zero simultaneously, where M1 is a rare earth element comprising gadolinium, yttrium, lutetium, scandium, or a combination of thereof, M2 is aluminum or boron, M3 is gallium, and M4 is a dopant; and heating the powder to a temperature of 500 to 1700° C. in an oxygen containing atmosphere to manufacture a crystalline scintillator.

Abstract: A method of growing a rare-earth oxyorthosilicate crystal, and crystals grown using the method are disclosed. The method includes preparing a melt by melting a first substance including at least one first rare-earth element and providing an atmosphere that includes an inert gas and a gas including oxygen.

Abstract: A method of growing a rare-earth oxyorthosilicate crystal, and crystals grown using the method are disclosed. The method includes preparing a melt by melting a first substance including at least one first rare-earth element and providing an atmosphere that includes an inert gas and a gas including oxygen.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method including manufacturing a powder having a composition of formula (1), M1aM2bM3cM4dO12??(1) where O represents oxygen, M1, M2, M3, and M4 represents a first, second, third, and fourth metal that are different from each other, where the sum of a+b+c+d is about 8, where “a” has a value of about 2 to about 3.5, “b” has a value of 0 to about 5, “c” has a value of 0 to about 5 “d” has a value of 0 to about 1, where “b” and “c”, “b” and “d”, or “c” and “d” cannot both be equal to zero simultaneously, where M1 is a rare earth element comprising gadolinium, yttrium, lutetium, scandium, or a combination of thereof, M2 is aluminum or boron, M3 is gallium, and M4 is a codopant; and heating the powder to a temperature of 500 to 1700° C. in an oxygen containing atmosphere to manufacture a crystalline scintillator.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a material, comprising a first metal halide that is operative to function as a scintillator; where the first metal halide excludes cesium iodide, strontium iodide, and cesium bromide; and a surface layer comprising a second metal halide that is disposed on a surface of the first metal halide; where the second metal halide has a lower water solubility than the first metal halide.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a scintillator comprising a plurality of garnet compositions in a single block having the structural formula (1): M1aM2bM3cM4dO12??(1) where O represents oxygen, M1, M2, M3, and M4 represents a first, second, third and fourth metal that are different from each other, where the sum of a+b+c+d is about 8, where “a” has a value of 2 to 3.5, “b” has a value of 0 to 5, “c” has a value of 0 to 5 “d” has a value of 0 to 1, where “b” and “c”, “b” and “d” or “c” and “d” cannot both be equal to zero simultaneously, where M1 is rare earth element including gadolinium, yttrium, lutetium, or a combination thereof, M2 is aluminum or boron, M3 is gallium and M4 is a codopant; wherein two compositions having identical structural formulas are not adjacent to each other and wherein the single block is devoid of optical interfaces between different compositions.

Abstract: A halide material, such as scintillator crystals of LaBr3:Ce and SrI2:Eu, with a passivation surface layer is disclosed. The surface layer comprises one or more halides of lower water solubility than the scintillator crystal that the surface layer covers. A method for making such a material is also disclosed. In certain aspects of the disclosure, a passivation layer is formed on a surface of a halide material such as a scintillator crystal of LaBr3:Ce of SrI2:Eu by fluorinating the surface with a fluorinating agent, such as F2 for LaBr3:Ce and HF for SrI2:Eu.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses, in one arrangement, a scintillator material made of a metal halide with one or more additional group-13 elements. An example of such a compound is Ce:LaBr3 with thallium (Tl) added, either as a codopant or in a stoichiometric admixture and/or solid solution between LaBr3 and TlBr. In another arrangement, the above single crystalline iodide scintillator material can be made by first synthesizing a compound of the above composition and then forming a single crystal from the synthesized compound by, for example, the Vertical Gradient Freeze method. Applications of the scintillator materials include radiation detectors and their use in medical and security imaging.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes forming a powder having a composition with the formula: AhBiCjO12, where h is 3±10%, i is 2±10%, j is 3±10%, A includes one or more rare earth elements, B includes aluminum and/or gallium, and C includes aluminum and/or gallium. The method additionally includes consolidating the powder to form an optically transparent ceramic, and applying at least one thermodynamic process condition during the consolidating to reduce oxygen and/or thermodynamically reversible defects in the ceramic. In another embodiment, a scintillator includes (Gd3-a-cYa)x(Ga5-bAlb)yO12Dc, where a is from about 0.05-2, b is from about 1-3, x is from about 2.8-3.2, y is from about 4.8-5.2, c is from about 0.003-0.3, and D is a dopant, and where the scintillator is an optically transparent ceramic scintillator having physical characteristics of being formed from a ceramic powder consolidated in oxidizing atmospheres.