Scintillation Crystals
Custom Scintillation Crystals for Radiation Detection
ATR Crystal supplies custom inorganic scintillation crystals for gamma-ray detection, X-ray imaging, spectroscopy, nuclear medicine, high-energy physics, security inspection, and industrial measurement. This guide helps engineers compare common scintillator materials and connect each material to the correct product page.
Scintillation crystal selection depends on density, light yield, decay time, emission wavelength, energy resolution, hygroscopicity, intrinsic background, mechanical behavior, and readout method. A material that is excellent for TOF-PET may not be the best choice for low-background spectroscopy, while a high-light-output material may need more careful packaging if it is hygroscopic.
Scintillation Crystal Selection Guide
| Material | Typical Strength | Key Data | Recommended Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| LYSO(Ce) | Fast timing, PET, TOF-PET, compact gamma detection | High density, about 36 ns decay, 420 nm emission, non-hygroscopic | LYSO(Ce) Crystal |
| NaI(Tl) | Gamma spectroscopy and general radiation detection | High light yield, about 250 ns decay, hygroscopic and normally hermetically sealed | NaI(Tl) Crystal |
| CsI(Tl) | X-ray imaging and photodiode readout | Green emission around 550 nm, high light output, slight hygroscopicity | CsI(Tl) Crystal |
| BGO | High stopping power and no intrinsic background | Density about 7.13 g/cm3, 480 nm emission, about 300 ns decay | BGO Crystal |
| GAGG(Ce) | High light output with non-hygroscopic handling | Density about 6.6 g/cm3, 520 nm emission, type-dependent decay | GAGG(Ce) Crystal |
| CdWO4 | CT, security inspection, low-afterglow scanning systems | Density about 7.9 g/cm3, very low afterglow, slow decay | CdWO4 Crystal |
| LaBr3(Ce) | High-resolution gamma spectroscopy | Fast decay and excellent energy resolution; hygroscopic, encapsulation required | LaBr3(Ce) Crystal |
Related Scintillator Product Families
- View all scintillation crystal products
- Pixellated scintillator arrays for PET, CT, SPECT, and radiation imaging
- Encapsulated scintillators for moisture-sensitive materials such as NaI(Tl) and LaBr3(Ce)
- Scintillation detector assemblies with crystal, PMT or SiPM, housing, and connector options
Application Fit
For TOF-PET and compact gamma modules, LYSO(Ce) is usually the first material to evaluate. For high light output with no Lu-176 intrinsic background, GAGG(Ce) can be attractive. For cost-effective gamma spectroscopy, NaI(Tl) remains widely used when proper encapsulation is included. For very high stopping power and low-background shielding, BGO is useful. For CT and security scanning where afterglow matters, CdWO4 and selected CsI(Tl) or GAGG(Ce) arrays should be compared against the final readout method.
Custom Manufacturing Options
- Crystal size, thickness, pixel size, and tolerance
- Surface finish, polishing, wrapping, reflector, and coating
- Hermetic encapsulation, optical windows, and housing materials
- PMT, SiPM, photodiode, or custom optical readout matching
- Prototype samples and repeat production according to drawing
Frequently Asked Questions
Which scintillation crystal is best for PET?
LYSO(Ce) is commonly selected for PET and TOF-PET because it combines high density, fast decay, and non-hygroscopic handling. GAGG(Ce) may be considered when high light output and no Lu-176 background are important.
Which scintillation crystal has the highest stopping power?
CdWO4, BGO, and LYSO(Ce) are high-density materials. The best choice depends on timing, light output, afterglow, intrinsic background, and cost constraints.
Can ATR Crystal make custom scintillator sizes?
Yes. ATR Crystal can review drawings for custom crystals, arrays, encapsulated scintillators, and detector assemblies.
