https://doi.org/10.1140/epjs/s11734-025-01471-9
Regular Article
Thickness optimization of granular phosphor scintillators for use in low activity ionizing radiation spectrometers: the Gd2O2S:Tb theoretical paradigm
Radiation Physics, Materials Technology and Biomedical Imaging Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of West Attica, Egaleo, 12210, Athens, Greece
Received:
21
June
2024
Accepted:
20
January
2025
Published online:
31
January
2025
Ionizing radiation energy characterization is used in various applications such as medical imaging, environmental measurements and for security purposes. In these applications the detector material type where the initial radiation absorption occurs should have high density to enhance radiation absorption and high secondary carriers yield so as to assure the maximum signal throughput to the electronics. Gd2O2S:Tb scintillator, also mentioned as phosphor has a decay time of 600 µs and that has been extensively studied as an X-ray imaging detector. The PenEasy software package was used to calculate the radiation absorption properties within the mass of the scintillator for different energies and thicknesses. The optical photon output was determined by the use of an analytical formula. The results were examined in the prospect of using Gd2O2S:Tb as part of a spectrometer. In addition, the same procedure was applied to a the faster Gd2O2S: (Pr,Ce,F) phosphor. It was found that for energies above 141 keV an optimum scintilllator thickness is that of 0.3 cm. By considering their corresponding decay time and sensitivity Gd2O2S:(Pr,Ce,F) was found a more effective choice that can detect radioactivity up to 67 kBq, while Gd2O2S:Tb may be a choice for detecting low energy radioisotopes in a low background environment.
© The Author(s) 2025
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