The sensitivity of scintillation based detectors is maximized with increased photon yields. These are critically limited by total internal reflection within the crystal, leading to an undesirable decrease in the energy resolution of the counter. In this work we studied the use of photonic crystals (PhCs) to minimize total internal reflection in high refractive index scintillators. Efficient light extraction is achieved through periodic 2-dimensional nanoscale patterns, which inhibit light propagation along directions along the surface. A computational technique was used to design a PhC pattern to produce a photonic band gap in an indium tin oxide / bismuth germinate system. A convenient and low-cost approach was used for the preparation of a large-area PhC by adopting highly-ordered porous anodic alumina membranes as selective dry-etching masks for pattern transfer. The light output yield of a PhC-modified scintillator was characterized using ? and x-ray sources relative to flat surface and random-patterned crystals.

Photonic crystals for enhanced light outcoupling of scintillation based detectors

245th National Meeting (2013)

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