Semiconductor scintillator based on photon recycling

Direct-bandgap semiconductor with high quantum radiative efficiency can operate as a scintillator despite being “opaque” to its own luminescence. An interband absorption does not finish off the luminescence but merely creates a new minority carrier, which in turn recombines in a predominately radiative fashion. To take full advantage of this “photon recycling” effect, optically-tight integration of photoreceivers on both sides of the semiconductor scintillator wafer is desirable.