title: Semiconductor quantum dot scintillation under gamma-ray irradiation.
abstract: We recently demonstrated the ability of semiconductor quantum dots to convert alpha radiation into visible photons. In this letter, we report on the scintillation of quantum dots under gamma irradiation and compare the energy resolution of the 59 keV line of americium-241 obtained with our quantum dot-glass nanocomposite to that of a standard sodium iodide scintillator. A factor 2 improvement is demonstrated experimentally and interpreted theoretically using a combination of energy-loss and photon-transport models.
authors.affiliation: Chemistry and Materials Science Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, California, 94550, USA. letant1@llnl.gov
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Létant
authors.forename: T-F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000576:Americium; D015902:Gamma Cameras; D005720:Gamma Rays; D005898:Glass; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D017785:Photons; D045663:Quantum Dots; D011868:Radioisotopes; D012666:Semiconductors
chemical_list: D011868:Radioisotopes; D000576:Americium