LYSO (Lu₁₋ₓYₓSiO₅) Scintillator Crystal – Full Specifications & Advantages

Key Advantages

Exceptional Light Output (33,200 Photons/MeV)

Emits intense blue light (peak wavelength: 420 nm) with one of the highest photon yields among scintillators, ensuring superior signal-to-noise ratios. This enables precise energy measurement and enhances image contrast in PET applications.
Ultra-Fast Decay Time (36–38 ns)

Significantly faster than BGO or NaI(Tl), minimizing signal pile-up even in high-count-rate environments (e.g., busy clinical PET centers). Critical for time-of-flight (TOF) PET, where temporal resolution directly improves image quality and reduces scan time.
High Density (7.35 g/cm³)

Maximizes stopping power for gamma rays and energetic particles, ensuring efficient absorption and reducing radiation penetration—ideal for compact detectors and high-energy radiation (e.g., 511 keV positron annihilation photons in PET).
Superior Energy Resolution

Combined with its high light output, LYSO offers excellent energy discrimination, enabling clear separation of multiple radiation sources (e.g., distinguishing radiotracers in multi-isotope studies).
Non-Hygroscopic & Chemically Stable

Unlike NaI(Tl), LYSO is completely non-hygroscopic (no moisture absorption) and resistant to chemical attack, eliminating the need for complex sealing. This simplifies device design and ensures long-term stability in humid or harsh environments.
High Radiation Hardness (>10⁸ rad)

Withstands intense radiation fields without performance degradation, making it suitable for high-dose applications like particle colliders and industrial radiation monitoring.
Mechanical Durability

A Mohs hardness of 5.8 ensures resistance to scratching and handling damage during detector assembly, while a high melting point (2323 K / 2050°C) guarantees stability in high-temperature environments.

Core Physical Properties

Density: 7.35 g/cm³
Melting point: 2323 K (2050°C)
Effective atomic number: 65
Hardness: 5.8 Mohs
Refractive index: 1.82
Decay time: 36–38 ns
Radiation length: 1.15 cm
Emission wavelength: 420 nm (blue)
Light yield: 33,200 photons/MeV
Radiation hardness: >10⁸ rad
Hygroscopicity: Non-hygroscopic

Q&A Summary

Q: How does LYSO compare to BGO?

A: LYSO offers 3–4× higher light output and 10× faster decay time than BGO, making it superior for TOF-PET and high-resolution imaging—though at a higher cost, it reduces scan time and improves image quality.
Q: Is LYSO suitable for TOF-PET?

A: Yes—its fast decay time (36–38 ns) is a key advantage for TOF-PET, where it enables precise time differences between photon detections, improving image contrast and reducing artifacts.
Q: What is the shelf life of LYSO crystals?

A: Indefinite under proper storage (dry, room temperature). LYSO is chemically stable and does not degrade over time.

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Photonics Materials