Detection of x-ray and gamma-ray photons

Researcher:
Dr. Ido Kaminer | Electrical and Computer Engineering

Categories:

Medical Devices | Physics and Electro-Optics

The Technology

Detection of high energy photons (x-rays and gamma rays) is of great importance for applications in medical radiography, security inspection, radiation exposure monitoring, and high energy physics.

Scintillation, which is the ability of certain materials to absorb high-energy (KeV scale) X-ray photons and convert the absorbed energy into lower energy visible photons, is the standard method by which most current X-ray detectors operate. An ongoing challenge with this technology is rooted in the relatively slow response of scintillators (often tens of nanoseconds), their low conversion efficiencies (typically a few percent) and resolution-conversion inherited tradeoff.

Enhancements of the energy conversion can be achieved by coupling a fast and light emitter with a heavy material into a hybrid metamaterial, these two materials are fabricated in a form of a nano photonic structure.

Advantages

  • Enhance detectivity and lessen harmful radiation doses to patients
  • Improve temporal and spatial resolution
  • Higher sensitivity for detection
  • Directional emission

Applications and Opportunities

  • Medical radiography
  • Security inspection, night vision devices
  • Radiation exposure monitoring
arrow Business Development Contacts
Shikma Litmanovitz
Director of Business Development, Physical Science