Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A method for detecting the presence of a radioactive element or a source of radiation, comprising:a) receiving radiation from a radiation source, the radiation impinging upon a scintillator having the formula:AxB2-xO3 wherein A is an element chosen from La, Y, Lu or Sc;B is an element chosen from La, Y, Lu or Sc;provided that A and B are not the same element;the index x is greater than 0 and less than 2 (0<x<2);wherein the impinging radiation causes the scintillator to emit electromagnetic radiation; andb) measuring the resulting electromagnetic emission. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the radiation impinging upon the scintillator is from an ultraviolet source and the electromagnetic emission is photoluminescence. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the radiation impinging upon the scintillator is from an X-ray source and the electromagnetic emission is X-ray induced luminescence or fluorescence. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the scintillator has the formula LaxY2-xO3. 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the scintillator is chosen from La0.05Y1.95O3, La0.1Y1.9O3; La0.2Y1.8O3; La0.3Y1.7O3; La0.4Y1.6O3; La0.5Y1.5O3; and La0.6Y1.4O3. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the scintillator has the formula LaxSc2-xO3. 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the scintillator is chosen from La0.05Sc1.95O3, La0.1Sc1.9O3; La0.2Sc1.8O3; La0.3Sc1.7O3; La0.4Sc1.6O3; La0.5Sc1.5O3; and La0.6Sc1.4O3. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the scintillator has the formula LaxLu2-xO3. 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the scintillator is chosen from La0.05Lu1.95O3, La0.1Lu1.9O3; La0.2Lu1.8O3; La0.3Lu1.7O3; La0.4Lu1.6O3; La0.5Lu1.5O3; and La0.6Lu1.4O3. 10. A method for detecting the presence of a source of radiation, comprising:a) receiving radiation from an ultraviolet radiation source, the radiation impinging upon a scintillator having the formula:AxB2-xO3 wherein A is chosen from La, Y, Lu or Sc;B is chosen from La, Y, Lu or Sc;provided that A and B are not the same element;the index x is greater than 0 and less than 2 (0<x<2);wherein the impinging radiation causes photoluminescence; andb) measuring the resulting photoluminescence. 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the scintillator has the formula LaxY2-xO3. 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the scintillator is chosen from La0.05Y1.95O3, La0.1Y1.9O3; La0.2Y1.8O3; La0.3Y1.7O3; La0.4Y1.6O3; La0.5Y1.5O3; and La0.6Y1.4O3. 13. A device for detecting the presence of radiation, comprising:a) a scintillator having the formula:AxB2-xO3 wherein A is chosen from La, Y, Lu or Sc;B is chosen from La, Y, Lu or Sc;provided that A and B are not the same element;the index x is greater than 0 and less than 2 (0<x<2); andb) a detector for receiving emitted electromagnetic radiation. 14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the scintillator has the formula LaxY2-xO3. 15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the scintillator is chosen from La0.05Y1.95O3, La0.1Y1.9O3; La0.2Y1.8O3; La0.3Y1.7O3; La0.4Y1.6O3; La0.5Y1.5O3; and La0.6Y1.4O3. 16. A method for detecting the presence of a radiation source, comprising:a) contacting a scintillator having the formula:AxB2-xO3 wherein A is chosen from La, Y, Lu or Sc;B is chosen from La, Y, Lu or Sc;provided that A and B are not the same element;the index x is greater than 0 and less than 2 (0<x<2) with a suspected source of radiation; andb) observing whether induced luminescence or X-ray fluorescence florescence occurs. 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the scintillator has the formula LaxY2-xO3. 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the scintillator is chosen from La0.05Y1.95O3, La0.1Y1.9O3; La0.2Y1.8O3; La0.3Y1.7O3; La0.4Y1.6O3; La0.5Y1.5O3; and La0.6Y1.4O3. 19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the suspected radiation is in a container. 20. The method according to claim 16, wherein a person has possession of the suspected radiation.