Integrated coupling of scintillation crystal with photomultiplier in a detector apparatus
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsKen Stephenson, Peter Wraight, Wolfgang Ziegler, Christian Stoller, Irina Molodetsky, John J. Simonetti
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A scintillator type radiation detector package is provided including a scintillation crystal directly coupled to the window of a photomultiplier. A scintillator package is also provided having a longer life at wellbore temperature with minimal deterioration of a hygroscopic scintillation crystal(s). Direct optical coupling of the scintillator to the photomultiplier reduces the amount of light lost at coupling interfaces and improved detection resolution over the conventional structures having separate packages for crystal and photomultiplier.
Claims28
An apparatus comprising:
- a scintillation radiation detector comprising:
- a photomultiplier comprising:
- a first housing;
- and
- a faceplate;
- a scintillation crystal directly contacting the faceplate;
- a second housing encompassing the scintillation crystal and the faceplate;
- and
- an intermediate flange connecting the first housing with the second housing, wherein the intermediate flange is located at an axial distance from the faceplate.
An apparatus comprising:
- a scintillation radiation detector comprising:
- a photomultiplier comprising:
- a first housing;
- and
- a faceplate;
- a scintillation crystal;
- an optical coupling material interposing and directly contacting the scintillation crystal and the faceplate;
- a second housing encompassing the scintillation crystal and the faceplate;
- and
- an intermediate flange connecting the first housing with the second housing, wherein the intermediate flange is located at an axial distance from the faceplate.
A scintillation radiation detector comprising:
- a photomultiplier comprising a first housing, a faceplate, a photocathode located on the faceplate, and a focusing electrode;
- a scintillation crystal contacting the faceplate directly or via an optical coupling material interposing and directly contacting the scintillation crystal and the faceplate;
- a second housing hermetically sealing the scintillation crystal and the faceplate;
- an intermediate flange connecting the first housing with the second housing;
- and
- a faceplate flange disposed at least partially within the second housing, wherein the faceplate flange extends between and connects the faceplate with the intermediate flange to maintain the faceplate against the scintillation crystal or the optical coupling material;
- wherein the intermediate flange is located at an axial distance from the faceplate that is at least twice a thickness of the faceplate, the intermediate flange is located closer to the focusing electrode than the photocathode, and the intermediate flange comprises:
- a first flange portion connected with the first housing;
- a second flange portion connected with the second housing;
- and
- a third flange portion connected with the faceplate flange and located radially inwards from the second flange portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.