X-ray luminescence of ZnSCdS : Au,Cu phosphor using X-ray beams for medical applications

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the X-ray luminescence and imaging performance of phosphor screens prepared from ZnSCdS:Au,Cu. Absolu te efficiency, X-ray luminescence efficiency, detector optical gain, and ga in transfer function were experimentally determined. Theoretical models wer e also employed to fit experimental data and to determine optical propertie s of the phosphor material. Additionally, the emission spectrum of ZnSCdS:A u,Cu was measured and its compatibility with the spectral sensitivity of ra diographic optical detectors (films, photodiodes) was determined. Results s howed that ZnSCdS:Au,Cu is an efficient phosphor exhibiting high intrinsic X-ray to light conversion efficiency (0.17) and an excellent spectral compa tibility (0.9) with amorphous silicon photodiodes, used in optical detector s of modern digital radiography systems. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.