Properties of Garnet Ceramic Scintillators

Garnet-based ceramics have applications as downconverters in LED lighting, laser media, and as scintillators for the detection of high energy photons.  In this presentation, we will discuss the properties of Ce³⁺-doped garnet ceramics within the context of their applicability in computerized tomography (CT) scanners.  CT scintillator requirements are different versus those for PET and applications that require energy resolution due to the need to reducing both afterglow at various timeframes and radiation damage while having reduced transparency requirements.  Therefore, we will discuss how we can modify garnet composition and processing in order to meet some of these requirements.  These modifications in process and composition can also give some insight towards some of the potential defects that are responsible for worse (or better) garnet scintillators.  Finally, we will address some of the potential paths for future research and development.