Thin substrate powder scintillator screens for use in digital X-ray medical imaging applications

• Published in: 2011 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record pp. 2997 - 3000
• Main Authors: Valais, I. G., Fountos, G. P., Michail, C. M., Seferis, I., Kalyvas, N. I., Mytafidis, A. K., Kandarakis, I. S., Panayiotakis, G. S.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 01-10-2011
• Subjects: CMOS integrated circuits; Electron tubes; Luminescence; Optical fiber sensors; Optical fibers; Phosphors; Stimulated emission
• ISBN: 1467301183; 9781467301183
• ISSN: 1082-3654; 2577-0829
• DOI: 10.1109/NSSMIC.2011.6152537

The aim of the present study is to investigate the absolute luminescence efficiency (AE) and the effective luminescence efficiency (EE) of thin substrate Gd 2 O 2 S:Eu powder scintillating screens, for possible use in digital radiography detectors. To this aim two relatively thin screens with thicknesses (coating density) 32.1 mg/cm 2 and 64.9 mg/cm 2 were prepared on Borosilicate glass substrate 22×22 mm 2 . For the determination of the AE, X-ray tube voltages ranging from 50 to 133 kVp were used. The effective efficiency was examined for four optical sensors, currently adapted in diagnostic medical systems, namely S100AB SITe, passivated a-Si:H photodiode, CMOS hybrid with blue AR coating and CMOS RadEye photodiode array. The absolute luminescence efficiency of the thin substrate Gd 2 O 2 S:Eu powder phosphors was relatively high. The spectral compatibility and the overall efficiency (effective efficiency) with the optical detectors examined in our study was higher than that of a corresponding thickness Gd 2 O 2 S:Tb powder phosphors. Our preliminary results indicate that thin substrate Gd 2 O 2 S:Eu powder phosphors can be used adequately with detectors for digital X-ray Imaging.