Inorganic scintillators are playing an ever increasing role in the search for rare events. Progress in the use of cryogenic phonon-scintillation detectors (CPSD) has allowed for a rapid increase in sensitivity and resolution of experiments using this technique. It is likely that CPSD will be used in future dark matter searches with multiple scintillator materials. Further improvements in the performance of CPSD can be expected if the amount of light collected is increased. In this thesis, two approaches are used to look at ways of maximising the amount of light collected in CPSD modules. The first approach is to obtain a detailed understanding of the spectroscopic properties in the crystal to identify ways of increasing their scintillation intensity. The second is to simulate the light collection properties using a Monte-Carlo simulation program. This requires a detailed understanding of the optical properties of inorganic scintillators and obtaining this information is the focus of the current work. Two new methods have been developed to evaluate the scintillation decay time and the intrinsic light yield of scintillators. These methods are tested on CRESST CaWO₄ crystals so that all the input parameters necessary for the simulation of CRESST modules is available. These input parameters are used to successfully explain features of the light collection in CRESST CPSD modules and to suggest possible improvements to the design of the modules. In summary, the current work has contributed to the development of a standardised method to maximise the light yield that can be obtained from CPSD for application to rare event searches.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 2009. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 86-90). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2008. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 161 p. : ill. (some col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 152-158).

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X-ray imaging scintillators and detectors play a critical role in numerous everyday life applications, including medical radiography, high-energy physics research, and security inspections. Despite its importance, current X-ray imaging technologies are not fully equipped to meet the growing demands for flexible, cost-efficient, and environment-friendly solutions. To overcome the limitations associated with traditional imaging scintillators, recent research efforts have focused on developing lead-free luminescent materials. Of particular interest are Cu(I) complexes, which exhibit excellent photoluminescence behavior, a facile synthesis process, and a high atomic number, making them an ideal candidate for X-ray imaging applications. Our work focuses on developing a low-dimensional Cu(I) organometallic halide and utilizing it as an imaging scintillator for real-life X-ray imaging. By utilizing the 0D Cu(I)-based imaging scintillators, we successfully obtained detailed images of both biological and non-biological objects, with a low detection limit of 458.3 nGy/s and high resolution of 16.8 lp/mm. This study not only provides a design roadmap for Cu(I) luminescent materials, but also highlights their potential for high-impact real-life X-ray imaging applications. Overall, our findings represent a significant step forward for X-ray imaging technology and its widespread applications in fields such as medicine and security.

Es werden die Entdeckung der organischen Szintillatoren durch Hartmut Kallmann und seine anderen Arbeiten, insbesondere die Entwicklung der flüssigen Szillitatoren beschrieben. / The discovery of organic scintillators by Hartmut Kallmann and his further work, especially the development of liquid scintillators are described.

Submitted by Ronan Geraldo Ferreira null (ronangf@hotmail.com) on 2017-10-03T15:35:46Z No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertação.pdf: 5250871 bytes, checksum: d36c87eede9dd24c78834e601f6fe208 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Monique Sasaki (sayumi_sasaki@hotmail.com) on 2017-10-03T16:50:50Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 ferreira_rg_me_araiq.pdf: 5250871 bytes, checksum: d36c87eede9dd24c78834e601f6fe208 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-10-03T16:50:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ferreira_rg_me_araiq.pdf: 5250871 bytes, checksum: d36c87eede9dd24c78834e601f6fe208 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-09-19 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Os cintiladores são compostos que podem absorver radiações ionizantes e convertê-las eficientemente em radiações UV-VIS. Avanços na tecnologia de detecção, a busca por novos cintiladores com alta eficiência e a compreensão do mecanismo de cintilação ainda é o foco de várias pesquisas nesta área. Os compostos GdP3O9 dopados com Eu3+, Tb3+ e Sm3+ são materiais cintiladores promissores, os átomos de Terras raras na estrutura de GdP3O9 são isolados um do outro a uma grande distância (5 a 7 Å) , aumentando o concentração máxima necessária para atingir a supressão por concentração e melhores propriedades de luminescência, uma vez que eles têm alta densidade, valores elevados de coeficiente de atenuação de massa e propriedades espectroscópicas relevantes, como emissão brilhante, vida útil de mili ou microssegundos e transferência de energia eficiente de íons Gd3+ para os ativadores. Este trabalho descreve a preparação de GdP3O9 nominalmente puro e dopado com Eu3+, Tb3+ e Sm3+ pelo método de precipitação homogênea (utilizando o precursor nanoparticulado Gd(OH)CO3) e o estudo de suas propriedades estruturais e espectroscópicas (fotoluminescência e excitação por raios X ). O perfil espectral da emissão de GdP3O9 dopado com Eu3+ indica a ocupação de dois locais diferentes pelos íons dopantes, um sitio de alta simetria e um sitio de baixa simetria. A intensidade de emissão aumenta ao incorporar Eu3+ e Tb3+ no hospedeiro GdP3O9 até a concentração de 8%, enquanto que na amostra dopada com Sm3+ observa-se uma supressão por concentração em concentrações superiores a 4%. / Scintillators materials are compounds that can absorb ionizing radiations and efficiently convert them into UV-VIS radiations. Advances in the technology of detection, the search for new scintillators materials with high efficiency and for the understanding of the scintillation mechanism is still the focus of research in this area. The compounds GdP3O9 doped with Eu3+, Tb3+ and Sm3+ are promising scintillators materials, The RE atoms in GdP3O9 structure are isolated from each other for a big distance(5 to 7 Å) , which may lead to a higher quenching concentration and better luminescence properties, since they have high density, high values of mass attenuation coefficient and relevant spectroscopic properties, such as bright emission, lifetime of milli or microseconds and the efficient energy transfer from Gd3+ ions to the activators. This work describes the preparation of GdP3O9 nominally pure and doped with Eu3+, Tb3+ e Sm3+ by the homogeneous precipitation method (using the nanoparticulate precursor Gd(OH)CO3) and the study of their structural and spectroscopic (photoluminescence and X-rays excited optical luminescence) properties. Emission spectral profile of Eu3+- doped GdP3O9 indicates the occupation of two different sites by the dopant ions, a high symmetry site and a low symmetry site. The emission intensity increases by incorporating Eu3+ and Tb3+ in the GdP3O9 host until the concentration of 8 at.%, while in the Sm3+ doped sample a quenching concentration is observed at concentrations greater than 4. %.