Engineering Overview

LYSO(Ce) Scintillation Crystal for PET & TOF-PET

LYSO(Ce) scintillation crystal is a high-density, fast-decay inorganic scintillator used in PET, TOF-PET, SPECT, gamma detection, high-energy physics, and compact radiation detector modules. With 7.1 g/cm3 density, 36 ns decay time, and an emission peak around 420 nm, LYSO(Ce) provides strong stopping power and timing performance for PMT and SiPM-based detector designs.

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LYSO(Ce) Scintillation Crystal for PET & TOF-PET

LYSO crystal, also known as LYSO(Ce) scintillation crystal, is a high-performance inorganic scintillator used in PET, TOF-PET, SPECT, gamma detection, high-energy physics, security imaging, and compact radiation detector modules. It combines high density, fast decay time, useful light output, and non-hygroscopic handling for demanding detector designs.

ATR Crystal supplies custom LYSO(Ce) scintillation crystals as polished pixels, bars, slabs, 1D arrays, 2D pixelated arrays, and detector-ready components. Dimensions, reflector material, surface finish, tolerance, photosensor matching, and packaging can be reviewed according to your drawing or application.

For broader material selection, you can also review our scintillation crystals, LYSO(Ce) scintillator arrays, and related detector materials such as BGO scintillation crystal, NaI(Tl) scintillation crystal, and GAGG(Ce) scintillation crystal.

Applications of LYSO Crystal

PET and time-of-flight PET detector modules

SPECT and gamma camera detector designs

High-energy physics calorimeters and timing detectors

Cargo, baggage, and security inspection systems

Nuclear radiation detection and spectroscopy modules

Space physics and astroparticle detector systems

Well logging and geological exploration tools

Environmental monitoring and compact gamma instruments

Advantages of LYSO(Ce) Crystal

Fast decay time36 ns decay supports TOF-PET, high count-rate detection, and timing-sensitive gamma measurement.
High stopping power7.1 g/cm3 density helps reduce detector size while maintaining gamma-ray absorption efficiency.
Useful light outputApprox. 33,000 photons/MeV provides practical signal strength for imaging and detector resolution.
SiPM and PMT compatible420 nm emission is well matched to common bialkali PMTs and silicon photomultipliers.
Non-hygroscopic materialLYSO(Ce) can usually be handled without hermetic encapsulation in standard use environments.
Custom geometry supportAvailable as pixels, bars, slabs, 1D arrays, 2D arrays, and drawing-defined detector assemblies.

Specifications of LYSO(Ce) Crystal

The following specification table summarizes typical LYSO(Ce) scintillation crystal properties for detector design review.

Parameter	Typical Value
Chemical formula	Lu2(1-x)Y2xSiO5:Ce
Crystal structure	Monoclinic
Density	7.1 g/cm3
Melting point	Approx. 2,050 C
Mohs hardness	5.8
Cleavage plane	None
Hygroscopicity	Non-hygroscopic
Light yield	Approx. 33,000 photons/MeV
Decay time	36 ns
Emission peak	420 nm
Refractive index	1.82 at 420 nm
Energy resolution	Approx. 8% at 662 keV
Intrinsic background	Low intrinsic background from natural Lu-176

Available LYSO crystal formats and customization options.

Format	Details
Polished pixels / bars	Custom dimensions; typical sizes from 1 x 1 x 10 mm to 25 x 25 x 30 mm
Polished slabs / plates	Up to 90 mm diameter or custom rectangular format
1D pixelated arrays	1 x 8, 1 x 16, 1 x 32, 1 x 64, or customized layouts
2D pixelated arrays	4 x 4, 8 x 8, 16 x 16, 32 x 32, 64 x 64, or customized layouts
Minimum pixel size	Down to 0.5 x 0.5 mm depending on geometry
Reflector options	BaSO4, ESR, E60, Teflon / PTFE, or application-specific reflector
Surface finish	All-side polished, white-painted, roughened, or as-cut on request
Coupling window	One or two optical-quality polished faces

LYSO Crystal vs. BGO vs. NaI(Tl)

This comparison helps position LYSO crystal against common scintillation materials. For project selection, compare this page with BGO, NaI(Tl), and GAGG(Ce) according to timing, density, light output, intrinsic background, and packaging requirements. Exact performance depends on crystal quality, size, wrapping, photosensor, electronics, and test conditions.

Property	LYSO(Ce)	BGO	NaI(Tl)
Density	7.1 g/cm3	7.13 g/cm3	3.67 g/cm3
Decay time	36 ns	300 ns	250 ns
Light yield	Approx. 33,000 photons/MeV	Approx. 8,500 photons/MeV	Approx. 38,000 photons/MeV
Energy resolution at 662 keV	Approx. 8%	Approx. 12%	Approx. 6-7%
Emission peak	420 nm	480 nm	415 nm
Hygroscopicity	No	No	Yes
TOF-PET suitability	Excellent	Limited	Limited
Intrinsic background	Low, from natural Lu-176	None	None

How to Request a Custom LYSO(Ce) Quote

For a fast quotation, send the target application, crystal or array dimensions, pixel size, reflector material, surface finish, tolerance, quantity, photosensor type, and any detector packaging requirements. ATR Crystal can review your drawing or datasheet and recommend a practical manufacturing route.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is LYSO(Ce) used for TOF-PET?

LYSO(Ce) combines fast 36 ns decay, high density, and useful light output. This balance supports high stopping efficiency and good timing performance in PET detector modules.

How does LYSO(Ce) compare with BGO?

LYSO(Ce) and BGO have similar density, but LYSO(Ce) is much faster and has higher light output. BGO remains useful where intrinsic background or cost is a priority.

Is LYSO(Ce) hygroscopic?

No. LYSO(Ce) is non-hygroscopic and can usually be handled without hermetic encapsulation in standard use environments.

Can ATR Crystal make custom LYSO(Ce) arrays?

Yes. ATR Crystal supplies individual pixels, polished bars, slabs, 1D arrays, 2D pixelated arrays, custom reflectors, and drawing-defined assemblies.

Does LYSO(Ce) have intrinsic background?

LYSO(Ce) contains natural Lu-176, which creates intrinsic background. This is usually acceptable for PET and many imaging systems, but low-background spectroscopy may require another material such as GAGG(Ce).