Gd2SiO5:Ce (GSO:Ce) is a high-Z, nonhygroscopic
fast emitting scintillator used in detectors of
some positron tomography systems. The purpose of this
study was to evaluate the luminescence of GSO:Ce
scintillator at lower photon energies employed in other fields
of medical imaging (e.g. x-ray computed tomography,
general x-ray imaging, low energy gamma ray imaging). To
this aim the absolute luminescence efficiency (emitted light
flux over x-ray exposure), the matching factor (spectral
compatibility to optical detectors) and the effective efficiency
(combination of absolute efficiency with spectral
compatibility) were experimentally determined. Various xray
tube voltages ranging from 20 to 140 kV (employed in xray
mammography, general radiography, and computed
tomography) were used. In addition the behaviour of GSO:
Ce under low energy gamma irradiation could be estimated
from these data. Measurements were performed using an
experimental set-up based on a photomultiplier coupled to
an integration sphere. The GSO:Ce optical emission
spectrum was measured under x-ray excitation using an
optical grating monochromator. The efficiency of GSO:Ce
was found to increase with increasing x-ray tube voltage,
while the GSO:Ce spectrum, peaking at 440 and 490 nm,
was found compatible with most optical detectors
(photodiodes, photocathodes, charge coupled devices).
However the spectral compatibility (0.77) and the effective
efficiency were found highest for GSO coupled to
photodiode.