Advanced Scintillation Detector for Synchrotron Facilities

Recent developments in synchrotron radiation sources have enabled the growth of powerful techniques, such as time-resolved X-ray diffraction for understanding dynamic biological phenomena and the Multi-wavelength Anomalous Dispersion (MAD) method for recovering phase information in X-ray crystallography. However, for protein studies, new, efficient, high-throughput detectors are needed to enhance the quality of the molecular model that is the end product of the macromolecular crystallography process. Although novel detectors based on new designs of charge coupled devices (CCDs) have been developed, their performance is significantly limited by current X-ray-to-light converters, which provide low light conversion efficiency, low X-ray absorption, slow response, and a tradeoff between spatial resolution and efficiency. This project will develop a novel semiconductor scintillator that offers the promise of a three-fold increase in light yield, high X-ray absorption due to high density and high effective atomic number, fast decay with no afterglow, light emission in the wavelength range most suitable for CCD-type devices, and orders-of-magnitude higher radiation resistance compared to current scintillators. Phase I will demonstrate the feasibility of developing this novel scintillator structure using vapor deposition techniques. After fabrication, films will be subjected to detailed characterization in terms of their morphology, scintillation properties, optical properties, and imaging performance. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: A scintillator with very bright emission, high spatial resolution, high X-ray absorption efficiency, and rapid decay time with no afterglow should have application to macromolecular crystallography, medical imaging, nondestructive testing, and polymer research.