The scintillation detector is a widely used radiation detector which converts high energy radiation into visible light. Applications include the rapidly expanding market for next generation, large area imaging systems with higher sensitivity and spatial resolution approaching or even exceeding that of conventional photographic film. This project will develop novel transparent scintillator thin films via an innovative low cost film fabrication process. Phase I demonstrated a very high resolution (a few microns) x-ray image using newly developed, highly efficient scintillator thin films. The growth of high quality scintillator films was achieved by using a Metalorganic Chemical Liquid Deposition (MOCLD) technique. Phase II will optimize the excitation and emission characteristics of the scintillator films in order to obtain material with maximum performance. The ultimate goal is to fabricate fast and efficient x-ray imaging device using these novel single crystalline scintillator thin films.

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee. This technology should have an enormous impact on the design of the compact, fast, high resolution x-ray detection, medical scanning, non-destructive testing and security systems.