1Overview
LYSO (Lu1.8Y0.2SiO5:Ce) is a cerium-doped lutetium-yttrium oxyorthosilicate grown as a single crystal. Its defining characteristics are a density of 7.2 g/cm³ and an effective atomic number well above most competing materials. Those two properties together deliver exceptional stopping power for 511 keV annihilation photons, making LYSO the dominant scintillator in modern positron emission tomography (PET) scanners.
The 50 ns decay time is fast enough to support narrow coincidence windows in PET and time-of-flight (TOF-PET) configurations, where timing resolution directly determines image quality. LYSO is not hygroscopic, so it requires no hermetic housing and tolerates the demanding handling environments of medical and physics installations alike.
Choose LYSO when the application demands the combination of high stopping power, sub-100 ns timing, and long-term mechanical stability. It is a practical alternative to BGO where faster coincidence timing is needed, and a more rugged option than LaBr3(Ce) when background purity is less critical than density and ease of handling.
2Specifications
| Parameter | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Crystal composition | Lu1.8Y0.2SiO5:Ce | LSO-type structure |
| Ce3+ concentration | 0.5 mol % | |
| Density | 7.2 g/cm³ | High effective Z |
| Wavelength of emission maximum | 420 nm | Good match to bialkali PMT and SiPM |
| Decay time | 50 ns | Fast; suitable for coincidence timing |
| Refractive index | 1.82 (at 420 nm) | |
| Light yield | 30 photons/keV (gammas) | |
| Photoelectron yield (relative) | 76% vs. NaI(Tl) | Bialkali PMT basis |
| Energy resolution | 8.0% | Verify test conditions |
| Hygroscopic | No | No hermetic enclosure required |
| Maximum dimensions | verify | Contact BNC for current boule limits |
Note: Specifications are taken verbatim from the BNC LYSO datasheet. Energy resolution test conditions (source, temperature, shaping time) should be confirmed with your application engineer before system design. Maximum available dimensions depend on current boule production; contact us for the latest.
3Energy Resolution and Timing Performance
LYSO achieves 8.0% energy resolution (FWHM). This is sufficient to separate the 511 keV annihilation peak from Compton scatter in PET applications, where the primary goal is coincidence counting rather than isotope identification. For applications requiring better spectroscopic resolution, Berkeley Nucleonics offers CeBr3 (~4% at 662 keV) and LaBr3(Ce) (~2.7% at 662 keV) as alternatives.
The 50 ns decay time supports coincidence resolving times (CRT) in the low-nanosecond range when paired with fast SiPM or PMT readout. Time-of-flight PET systems, positron lifetime spectroscopy, and nuclear physics fast-coincidence experiments all benefit from this timing capability.
Comparison with Related Materials
| Material | Density (g/cm³) | Decay Time | Energy Resolution | Hygroscopic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LYSO(Ce) | 7.2 | 50 ns | 8.0% | No |
| BGO | 7.13 | 300 ns | ~10% (verify) | No |
| GAGG(Ce) | 6.60 | 100 ns | ~6% (verify) | No |
| LaBr3(Ce) | 5.07 | 16-20 ns | ~2.7% at 662 keV | Yes |
Comparison values from the ScintIQ material master table. Values marked "verify" should be confirmed against current datasheets before system design.
4Typical Applications
- Positron emission tomography (PET): The primary driver for LYSO adoption. High density stops 511 keV gammas efficiently, and the 50 ns decay time enables narrow coincidence windows and time-of-flight reconstruction.
- Time-of-flight PET (TOF-PET): Fast timing and high light yield support CRT values that improve image signal-to-noise ratio in clinical and preclinical scanners.
- High-energy physics: Electromagnetic calorimetry and fast-coincidence experiments where high-Z stopping power and sub-100 ns response are both needed.
- Positron lifetime spectroscopy: Precision timing measurements of positron annihilation in material science research.
- Fast-coincidence nuclear physics: Experiments requiring tight timing gates in gamma-gamma or beta-gamma coincidence setups.
- Radiation monitoring: Compact, rugged, non-hygroscopic format suits field-deployable or portal-monitor configurations where BGO-class density is required without BGO-class timing penalty.
5Available Configurations
Berkeley Nucleonics supplies LYSO crystals and assembled ScintIQ detectors in custom geometries. Standard and semi-standard formats include pixelated arrays for PET scanner rings, monolithic blocks for preclinical systems, and single-crystal cylinders for laboratory and physics work. All configurations are available with PMT or SiPM readout.
| Configuration Option | Details |
|---|---|
| Crystal form | Single crystal cylinders, rectangular slabs, pixelated arrays (verify specific geometries) |
| Readout options | Bialkali PMT (standard), SiPM (for compact / low-field MRI-compatible designs), photodiode |
| Housing | Aluminum can, custom mu-metal shielded, bare crystal for OEM integration (verify) |
| Reflector / window | PTFE reflector wrap, glass or quartz window (verify options) |
| Preamplifier / MCA | Compatible with BNC bMCA-Ethernet, bMCA-USB, bPAD, and TOPAZ-HR readout electronics |
| Maximum dimensions | verify: contact BNC for current production limits |
| Custom arrays | Available; specify pitch, pixel count, and inter-pixel gap. Contact BNC. |
6Contact and Ordering
Request a Quote or Engineering Consultation
Berkeley Nucleonics ScintIQ detectors are configured to specification. Share your application requirements, geometry, readout preference, and volume to receive a formal quotation.