Systems and methods for detecting x-rays
AssigneeUniversities Research Association, Inc.
InventorsAlan D. Bross, Kerry L. Mellott, Anna Pla-Dalmau
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Abstract
Systems and methods for detecting x-rays are disclosed herein. One or more x-ray-sensitive scintillators can be configured from a plurality of heavy element nano-sized particles and a plastic material, such as polystyrene. As will be explained in greater detail herein, the heavy element nano-sized particles (e.g., PbWO4) can be compounded into the plastic material with at least one dopant that permits the plastic material to scintillate. X-rays interact with the heavy element nano-sized particles to produce electrons that can deposit energy in the x-ray sensitive scintillator, which in turn can produce light.
Claims20
A system for detecting x-rays, said system comprising:
- at least one x-ray sensitive scintillator having a hole therein, wherein said at least one x-ray sensitive scintillator is configured from a plurality of heavy element nano-sized particles compounded into a plastic material with at least one dopant that permits said plastic material to scintillate;
- and
- a wavelength-shifting fiber located within said hole, wherein said wavelength-shifting fiber absorbs scintillation light having a wavelength thereof and remits said light at a longer wavelength.
An integrated radiation detection-identification system, said integrated radiation detection-identification system comprising:
- an x-ray sensitive scintillator layer comprising a plurality of x-ray sensitive scintillators, wherein each x-ray scintillator thereof is configured from a plurality of heavy element nano-sized particles compounded into a plastic material with at least one dopant that permits said plastic material to scintillate;
- and
- a plurality of radiation scintillator layers associated with said neutron-only scintillator layer.
A method for detecting x-rays, said method comprising the steps of:
- forming at least one x-ray sensitive scintillator from a plurality of heavy element nano-sized particles and a plastic material;
- associating at least one x-ray sensitive scintillator, wherein said x-ray sensitive scintillator is configured to include a central hole thereof;
- locating a wavelength-shifting fiber within said hole, wherein said wavelength-shifting fiber absorbs scintillation light having a wavelength thereof and remits said light at a longer wavelength.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.