Russian Far Eastern Federal University Develops Ultrafast Ceramic Scintillators for Rapid Ionizing Radiation Detection

On August 21, 2026, scientists at the Russian Far Eastern Federal University, with support from the Russian Science Foundation, are developing ceramic materials for ultrafast detection of ionizing radiation. The results could be used in the future for medical diagnostics, baggage and cargo security screening, radiation monitoring, and scientific equipment requiring fast, precise radiation detection.

The project, titled “Ultrafast Ceramic Scintillators for Ionizing Radiation Detection,” is led by Anastasia Vonovskikh, a researcher at the Research and Education Center for Advanced Ceramic Materials, Department of Industrial Safety, Polytechnic Institute, Far Eastern Federal University.

Scintillators are a class of materials that emit light when exposed to ionizing radiation. Detectors record these light signals to determine radiation intensity and energy. Currently, most related equipment uses single-crystal scintillators, but their production typically requires significant energy and resource inputs. The Far Eastern Federal University team proposes special ceramic materials as an alternative, aiming to improve detection speed and efficiency, making them more suitable for detecting trace amounts of radiation.

Vonovskikh noted that the research team aims to produce a material that responds rapidly to radiation stimuli. To this end, the researchers will add magnesium ions to the material composition to shorten luminescence time and reduce unwanted afterglow, thereby improving trace radiation detection and data transmission efficiency.

The material the team plans to develop must not only emit light quickly when exposed to radiation but also stop emitting promptly once radiation ceases. This property is particularly important for systems that need to process large volumes of data at high speed. For example, in security screening, high-speed detectors can accelerate ionizing radiation scanning of baggage and cargo; in medical diagnostics, precise identification of trace radiation also holds application value. Additionally, the material could be used in electron microscopes and scientific instruments employing accelerated particles.

During the project, researchers will focus on how the composition and internal structure of ceramic materials affect their radiation detection performance, and accordingly explore methods for tuning material properties and suitable fabrication techniques. The findings are expected to advance the development of ultrafast scintillators and high-precision ionizing radiation detector technologies.

This project builds on the Far Eastern Federal University's existing research foundation in scintillating ceramics. Previously, Vonovskikh led the Russian Science Foundation project “Scintillating Ceramics Based on Gadolinium Aluminum Gallium Garnet (Ce) for Gamma-Ray Detection,” spanning from 2024 to 2026. Far Eastern Federal University doctoral student Zlata Priimak also participated in this research, and the results will be incorporated into her doctoral dissertation.