Semiconductor scintillation detector

A radiation detection device for detecting gamma or x-ray radiation quanta comprising:

• a semiconductor scintillator element having two mutually opposing faces, a first side face, and a second side face, wherein the first side face and the second side face are disposed between the two mutually opposing faces;
• at least one photodetector that is in optical communication with the scintillator element;
• wherein the at least one photodetector has a photodetector electrical output that is configured to generate a first electrical signal at the photodetector electrical output that is indicative of the time of reception of a detected gamma or x-ray radiation quantum;
• at least one cathode in electrical communication with at least a portion of one of the two scintillator element faces;
• at least one anode in electrical communication with at least a portion of the other of the two scintillator element faces;
• wherein at least one of the at least one cathode or the at least one anode is configured to generate a second electrical signal that is indicative of the energy of the detected gamma or x-ray radiation quantum;
• and
• a plurality of inductive sensing electrodes embedded within the scintillator element in the region between the at least one anode and the at least one cathode;
• wherein the plurality of inductive sensing electrodes includes a first layer of elongate conductors which extend in a first direction from the first side face of the scintillator element and are each electrically isolated from the scintillator element by means of an insulating region which surrounds each elongate conductor, and a second layer of elongate conductors which extend in a second direction from the second side face of the scintillator element and are each electrically isolated from the scintillator element by means of an insulating region which surrounds each elongate conductor;
• wherein the first layer, the second layer and the scintillator element face having the anode each lie in planes that are mutually parallel, and wherein the first direction and the second direction are mutually transverse.

A radiation detection device for detecting gamma or x-ray radiation quanta comprising:

• a semiconductor scintillator element having two mutually opposing faces;
• at least one photodetector that is in optical communication with the scintillator element;
• wherein the at least one photodetector is configured to generate a first electrical signal indicative of a time of reception of a detected gamma or x-ray radiation quantum;
• at least one cathode in electrical communication with at least a portion of one of the two scintillator element faces;
• at least one anode in electrical communication with at least a portion of the other of the two scintillator element faces;
• wherein at least one of the at least one cathode or the at least one anode is configured to generate a second electrical signal that is indicative of an energy of the detected gamma or x-ray radiation quantum;
• wherein at least one anode or at least one cathode is formed from a transparent conductive layer;
• and
• wherein the at least one photodetector is in optical communication with the scintillator element by means of an optical interface that includes at least a portion of the transparent conductive layer.