Evaluation of Cerium-Doped Lanthanum Bromide (LaBr<sub>3</sub>:Ce) Single-Crystal Scintillator’s Luminescence Properties under X-ray Radiographic Conditions

Stavros Tseremoglou; Christos Michail; Ioannis Valais; Konstantinos Ninos; Athanasios Bakas; Ioannis Kandarakis; George Fountos; Nektarios Kalyvas

doi:10.3390/app13010419

Applied Sciences (Dec 2022)

Evaluation of Cerium-Doped Lanthanum Bromide (LaBr<sub>3</sub>:Ce) Single-Crystal Scintillator’s Luminescence Properties under X-ray Radiographic Conditions

Stavros Tseremoglou,
Christos Michail,
Ioannis Valais,
Konstantinos Ninos,
Athanasios Bakas,
Ioannis Kandarakis,
George Fountos,
Nektarios Kalyvas

Affiliations

Stavros Tseremoglou: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Radiation Physics, Materials Technology and Biomedical Imaging Laboratory, University of West Attica, Ag. Spyridonos, 12210 Athens, Greece
Christos Michail: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Radiation Physics, Materials Technology and Biomedical Imaging Laboratory, University of West Attica, Ag. Spyridonos, 12210 Athens, Greece
Ioannis Valais: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Radiation Physics, Materials Technology and Biomedical Imaging Laboratory, University of West Attica, Ag. Spyridonos, 12210 Athens, Greece
Konstantinos Ninos: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of West Attica, Ag. Spyridonos, 12210 Athens, Greece
Athanasios Bakas: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of West Attica, Ag. Spyridonos, 12210 Athens, Greece
Ioannis Kandarakis: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Radiation Physics, Materials Technology and Biomedical Imaging Laboratory, University of West Attica, Ag. Spyridonos, 12210 Athens, Greece
George Fountos: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Radiation Physics, Materials Technology and Biomedical Imaging Laboratory, University of West Attica, Ag. Spyridonos, 12210 Athens, Greece
Nektarios Kalyvas: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Radiation Physics, Materials Technology and Biomedical Imaging Laboratory, University of West Attica, Ag. Spyridonos, 12210 Athens, Greece

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/app13010419
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13, no. 1
p. 419

Abstract

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In the present study, the response of the crystalline scintillator LaBr3:Ce when excited with X-rays at tube voltages from 50 kVp to 150 kVp was investigated, for possible use in hybrid medical-imaging systems. A single crystal (10 × 10 × 10 mm3) was irradiated by X-rays within the aforementioned tube-voltage range, and the absolute efficiency (AE), as well as the detective quantum efficiency for zero spatial-frequency (DQE(0)), were measured. The energy-absorption efficiency (EAE), the quantum-detection efficiency (QDE) and the spectral compatibility with various optical photodetectors were also calculated. The results were compared with the published data for the LaCl3:Ce, Bi4Ge3O12 (BGO), Lu2SiO5:Ce (LSO), and CdWO4 single crystals of equal dimensions. The AE values of the examined crystal were found to be higher than those of the compared crystals across the whole X-ray tube-voltage range. Regarding the EAE, LaBr3:Ce demonstrated a comparatively better performance than the LaCl3:Ce crystal. The emitted-light spectrum of LaBr3:Ce was found to be compatible with various types of photocathodes and silicon photomultipliers. Moreover, the LaBr3:Ce crystal exhibited excellent performance concerning its DQE(0). Considering these properties, the LaBr3:Ce crystal could be considered as a radiation-detector option for hybrid medical-imaging modalities, such as PET/CT and SPECT/CT.

Published in Applied Sciences

ISSN: 2076-3417 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology: Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General); Science: Biology (General); Science: Physics; Science: Chemistry
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci

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