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. Absolute efficiency, X-ray luminescence efficiency, detector optical gain, and gain transfer function were experimentally determined. Theoretical models were also employed to fit experimental data and to determine optical properties of the phosphor material. Additionally, the emission spectrum of ZnSCdS:Au,Cu was measured and its compatibility with the spectral sensitivity of radiographic optical detectors (films, photodiodes) was determined. Results showed that ZnSCdS:Au,Cu is an efficient phosphor exhibiting high intrinsic X-ray to light conversion efficiency (0.17) and an excellent spectral compatibility (0.9) with amorphous silicon photodiodes, used in optical detectors of modern digital radiography systems. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.