Hybrid luminescent device and method for imaging penetrating radiation

A device for imaging penetrating radiation comprising:

• a) a fiber optic thick screen composed of a drawn bundle of light conducting glass fibers fashioned into a face plate and wherein each fiber includes:
• i) an inner fiber core containing a scintillating material for converting radiation into light, said inner fiber core for conducting converted light to an output end thereof;
• ii) a primary cladding layer of transparent glass material surrounding said inner fiber core and effective to reflect light back into said inner fiber core;
• and
• iii) a secondary cladding layer of opaque white glass material surrounding said primary cladding layer and effective to capture stray light which escapes said primary cladding layer and channel said stray light as a halo of additional light adjacent said output end of said inner fiber core to provide enhanced luminescent output, contrast sensitivity and image resolution.

A luminescent system for imaging penetrating radiation comprising:

• a) a first thin screen having a first selected particulate scintillative material and a first index of refraction, said first selected particulate material effective to convert penetrating radiation into light;
• b) a second fiber optic thick screen containing a second scintillative material and a second index of refraction which is lower than the first index of refraction of the first thin screen, the second fiber optic thick screen having an input end and an output end, said second scintillative material effective to convert penetrating radiation into light;
• c) optical coupling means for optically coupling an interface region between said first thin screen and said input end of said second fiber optic thick screen in a closely stacked manner such that substantially no air gaps are permitted to form at said interface region;
• d) said first thin screen having reflective properties effective to redirect backwardly directed light generated in said second fiber optic thick screen toward said output end;
• and
• e) said optical coupling means having an index of refraction selected to closely match the respective indexes of refraction for each of said first thin screen and said second fiber optic thick screen such that light refraction, light reflection and light scattering at said interface region is reduced and transmission efficiency of light from said first thin screen to said second fiber optic thick screen is increased.