Performance of Europium-Doped Strontium Iodide, Transparent Ceramics and Bismuth-loaded Polymer Scintillators

Recently discovered scintillators for gamma ray spectroscopy - single-crystal SrI 2 (Eu), GYGAG(Ce) transparent ceramic and Bismuth-loaded plastics - offer resolution and fabrication advantages compared to commercial scintillators, such as NaI(Tl) and standard PVT plastic. Energy resolution at 662 keV of 2.7% is obtained with SrI 2 (Eu), while 4.5% is obtained with GYGAG(Ce). A new transparent ceramic scintillator for radiographic imaging systems, GLO(Eu), offers high light yield of 70,000 Photons/MeV, high stopping, and low radiation damage. Implementation of single-crystal SrI 2 (Eu), Gd-based transparent ceramics, and Bi-loaded plastic scintillators can advance the state-of-the art in ionizing radiation detection systems.