Patent ID: 8350218
Filing Date: 2013-01-08
Classification: G01T

Abstract:
1. A radiation detector comprising: a) a scintillator that emits light of a first wavelength in response to being struck by radiation of a characteristic energy level, the scintillator having a light output face of a first area; b) a solid state photomultiplier having a light receiving face of a second area optically coupled to the scintillator by an index matching material, the light receiving face of the solid state photomultiplier being smaller than the light output face of the scintillator such that a portion of the first wavelength light emitted by the scintillator travels through the scintillator directly to the light receiving face of the solid state photomultiplier; c) reflective material disposed facing portions of the scintillator not optically coupled to the solid state photomultiplier light receiving face, the reflective material reflecting another portion of the light emitted by the scintillator back into the scintillator; and, d) a wavelength shifting material disposed between the scintillator and the reflective material, the wavelength shifting material shifting the wavelength of the light reflected by the reflective material to a shifted wavelength to which the solid state photomultiplier is more sensitive, such that the shifted wavelength light undergoes at least one reflection before traveling to the light receiving face of the solid state photomultiplier.