A scintillation crystal can include Ln.sub.(1-y)RE.sub.yX.sub.3, wherein Ln represents a rare earth element, RE represents a different rare earth element, y has a value in a range of 0 to 1, and X represents a halogen. In an embodiment, RE is Ce, and the scintillation crystal is doped with Sr, Ba, or a mixture thereof at a concentration of at least approximately 0.0002 wt. %. In another embodiment, the scintillation crystal can have unexpectedly improved linearity and unexpectedly improved energy resolution properties. In a further embodiment, a radiation detection system can include the scintillation crystal, a photosensor, and an electronics device. Such a radiation detection system can be useful in a variety of radiation imaging applications.

The invention relates to a multifunctional nanomaterial comprising a nanorod comprising 1) a noble metal, wherein the nanorod exhibits surface plasmon resonance absorption in the near-infrared spectrum; 2) an up-conversion phosphor that absorbs infrared light and emits visible luminescence; and optionally 3) a biomolecule targeting moiety. The invention further relates to methods of detecting and treating cancer using the multifunctional nanomaterials of the invention.

The present disclosure discloses, in one arrangement, a scintillator material made of a metal halide with one or more additional group-13 elements. An example of such a compound is Ce:LaBr.sub.3 with thallium (Tl) added, either as a codopant or in a stoichiometric admixture and/or solid solution between LaBr.sub.3 and TlBr. In another arrangement, the above single crystalline iodide scintillator material can be made by first synthesizing a compound of the above composition and then forming a single crystal from the synthesized compound by, for example, the Vertical Gradient Freeze method. Applications of the scintillator materials include radiation detectors and their use in medical and security imaging.

The present invention relates to a scintillator, a method for manufacturing the same, and an application for the same. The scintillator according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a matrix material including, as a main component, thallium, lanthanum, and a halogen element; and an activator doped onto the matrix material. The scintillator according to an embodiment of the present invention has a formula TlaLabXc:yCe, and in the formula: X is a halogen element; a=1, b=2, c=7, or a=2, b=1, c=5, or a=3, b=1, c=6; and y>0 and y0.5. The scintillator according to an embodiment of the present invention has a high efficiency of detecting radiations, a greater light yield, and an excellent fluorescence decay time characteristic.

The present invention relates to a rare earth halide scintillating material. The material has a general chemical formula La.sub.1-xCe.sub.xBr.sub.3+y, wherein 0.001x1, and 0.0001y0.1. The rare earth halide scintillating material involved in the present invention has excellent scintillation properties of high light output, high energy resolution, and fast decay.

A heterogeneous scintillator material is provided comprising core/shell nanoparticles having a highly hygroscopic or deliquescent halide-based core activated with trivalent Ln.sup.3+ or divalent Ln.sup.2+ lanthanide ions (Ln=La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu) and a stable non-hygroscopic shell thereon. The heterogeneous nanoparticles can comprise highly hygroscopic lanthanide halide (LaBr.sub.3, LuI.sub.3) cores protected with stable non-hygroscopic LaF.sub.3 shells. The heterogeneous nanoparticles can comprise deliquescent alkaline earth halide (SrI.sub.2, BaI.sub.2) cores protected with stable non-hygroscopic (SrF.sub.2, BaF.sub.2) shells.

CaF.sub.2 translucent ceramics includes at least two rare earth elements selected from a group consisting of La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu.

A core material (102) is contained in a cylindrical container (101) (first step). The container (101) is formed from a thermoplastic cladding material. The container (101) can be formed from a heat resistant glass such as a borosilicate glass, for example. The core material (102) is a halide having a lower melting point than the cladding material. Next, the container (101) containing the core material (102) is heated using a heater (151) and stretched, thereby forming an optical fiber emitter (105) comprising a core (103) formed from a halide crystal, and a cladding (104) formed from the cladding material.

Scintillator materials, as well as related systems, and methods of detection using the same, are described herein. The scintillator material composition may comprise a Tl-based scintillator material. For example, the composition may comprise a thallium-based halide. Such materials have been shown to have particularly attractive scintillation properties and may be used in a variety of applications for detection radiation.

Scintillator materials, as well as related systems, and methods of detection using the same, are described herein. The scintillator material composition may comprise a Tl-based scintillator material. For example, the composition may comprise a thallium-based halide. Such materials have been shown to have particularly attractive scintillation properties and may be used in a variety of applications for detection radiation.