Radiation detector materials: An overview
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Radiation detector materials: An overview B.D. Milbrath,a) A.J. Peurrung, M. Bliss, and W.J. Weberb) Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352 (Received 20 March 2008; accepted 24 June 2008)
Due to events of the past two decades, there has been new and increased usage of radiation-detection technologies for applications in homeland security, nonproliferation, and national defense. As a result, there has been renewed realization of the materials limitations of these technologies and greater demand for the development of next-generation radiation-detection materials. This review describes the current state of radiation-detection material science, with particular emphasis on national security needs and the goal of identifying the challenges and opportunities that this area represents for the materials-science community. Radiation-detector materials physics is reviewed, which sets the stage for performance metrics that determine the relative merit of existing and new materials. Semiconductors and scintillators represent the two primary classes of radiation detector materials that are of interest. The state-of-the-art and limitations for each of these materials classes are presented, along with possible avenues of research. Novel materials that could overcome the need for single crystals will also be discussed. Finally, new methods of material discovery and development are put forward, the goal being to provide more predictive guidance and faster screening of candidate materials and thus, ultimately, the faster development of superior radiation-detection materials. I. INTRODUCTION
Radiation detectors have broad applications in today’s world. These include the obvious uses for scientific research in high-energy physics, astrophysics, radiochemistry, nuclear physics, medical research, and other sciences. Detectors are also used in both research and industrial facilities that use x-rays, neutrons, electron beams, or ion beams for diagnostics or characterization and are used extensively in the commercial nuclear energy sector. Other commercial applications include medical and dental diagnostics involving digital imaging of x-rays and use of ionization detectors in many common smoke detectors. While radiation-detection technology has evolved to address these scientific and industrial applications, world events have created new challenges and demands on radiation-detection technology for nonproliferation and national security applications,1–4 and new materials are needed to meet these challenges. Numerous textbooks provide a broad background for
a)
Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: [email protected] b) This author was an editor of this journal during the review and decision stage. For the JMR policy on review and publication of manuscripts authored by editors, please refer to http://www. mrs.org/jmr_policy. DOI: 10.1557/JMR.2008.0319
the reader on radiation detector physics, different radiation detector types, and their applications.5–7 Radiation detection is more than just a
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