Scintillation Crystals - Hilger Crystals

Scintillation Crystals

Hilger Crystals is a leading manufacturer of a wide range of scintillation crystal materials for X-ray, gamma-ray and neutron detection and X-ray imaging.

Scintillation crystals are used in detectors to convert X-rays or gamma rays into light pulses that are subsequently detected by either a Photomultiplier Tube (PMT) or a Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM).

Pixelated crystal X-ray imaging arrays can be either linear or two dimensional with individual pixels as small as 0.5mm depending on material and thickness.

Hilger Crystals produces an extensive range of scintillation crystals carefully selected for their high density and brightness, excellent light output, and short decay constants. These crystals are are used in X- and gamma-ray detection and non-destructive testing such as baggage scanning, medical applications, and academic research. Manufactured to exacting and extremely tight specifications and micron-level tolerances, crystals can be supplied as single units, imaging arrays, or packaged as a complete detector.

Other materials available on request.

Crystal Materials Index

Bismuth Germanate

Bi4Ge3O12

A relatively hard, high density, non-hygroscopic crystal with good gamma ray absorption. Often used for PET imaging and high energy physics applications as Compton shields.

Cadmium Tungstate

CdWO4

A non-hygroscopic scintillator offering good light yield. Often used for CT applications. High radiopurity and low background.

Cerium-doped Yttrium Aluminium Garnet

YAG(Ce)

Widespread application as a non-hygroscopic crystal with application for low energy and particle detection.

Cerium-doped Yttrium Aluminium Perovskite

YAP(Ce)

Widespread application as a non-hygroscopic crystal with application for low energy and particle detection.

CLYC

Cs2LiYCl6(Ce)

CLYC offers good Pulse Shape Discrimination (PSD) for neutron detection and better gamma-ray resolution than NaI (Sodium Iodide) or CsI (Cesium Iodide) making CLYC an ideal solution for several classes of handheld instruments, including Personal Radiation Detectors aka PRDs.

Europium doped Calcium Fluoride

CaF2(Eu)

Widespread application as a non-hygroscopic crystal with application for low energy and particle detection.

GLuGAG

(Gd,Lu)3,(GaAl)5,O12(Ce)

Supplied as a sintered ceramic the material has high light yield and low afterglow.

Lutetium Yttrium Oxyorthosilicate

LYSO(Ce)

A non-hygroscopic scintillator that is both bright and fast. Finds application where fast timing is needed such as PET and TOF PET.

Sodium Iodide

NaI

The material is hydroscopic and emits at short wavelengths. Finds applications in research areas such as Dark Matter as it can be produced very radiopure.

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Sodium-doped Caesium Iodide

CsI(Na)

A rugged material with high light output often used for geophysical applications. Does exhibit moisture sensitive properties.

Thallium doped Caesium Iodide

CsI(Tl)

CsI(Tl) is a useful scintillator offering high light yield and emits at a wavelength suitable for silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs). Typical applications include arrays of this material used in security imaging systems, such as baggage scanners.

Thallium doped Sodium Iodide

NaI(Tl)

Crystals are available in a wide range of standard sizes and configurations either as separate crystals or in complete assemblies. Maximum light transfer is achieved by employing a high efficiency reflector chosen to suit the particular application for which the crystal is required. Materials used are selected to ensure low background count.

Zinc Tungstate

ZnW0₄

A high density crystal with good radiation resistance and low afterglow properties. Typically used for particle physics and dark matter research.

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Caesium Iodide

CsI

The material with the deepest known IR transmission, CsI is often used for components in wide range spectrophotometers. A soft material that is rugged and shock resistant, slightly hydroscopic. Doped with thallium, CsI(Tl) is a useful scintillator.

Calcium Fluoride

CaF2

Widespread IR and near UV application as spectroscopic windows, prisms and lenses. Useful application in the UV as Eximer laser windows.

Lithium Fluoride

LiF

Lithium fluoride is used as a diffracting crystal in X-ray spectrometry. It has a large energy gap and its crystals are transparent to short wavelength ultraviolet radiation.

Potassium Bromide

KBr

Potassium Bromide is one of the most useful materials for general purpose spectroscopic windows and applications where sensitivity to moisture is unimportant. KBr is the most commonly used beamsplitter material for IR spectrophotometers.

Potassium Chloride

KCl

Potassium Chloride finds application for IR laser windows due to its high laser damage threshold.

Potassium Iodide

KI

Potassium Iodide has few specific applications and is useful in very deep IR.

Sodium Chloride

NaCl

Sodium Chloride, common rock salt, is one of the most useful materials for general purpose spectroscopic windows and applications where sensitivity to moisture is unimportant.