The system has been shown to be a promising scintillator for medical imaging devices. Recently, efforts were focused on the improvement of its scintillating properties. Several large crystals with various cerium concentrations were grown. Absorption and excitation spectra were measured in a range extending from the visible to the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV). Emission spectra, fluorescence decay times and light yields, both under -ray and x-ray excitation, were measured under various experimental conditions. A reabsorption process is shown to take place in this material. This process is responsible for the observed decrease of the light yield when increasing the size of the sample.

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When using ionising radiation for medical diagnosis or treatment of patients, understanding of relevant radiation protection principles and issues is indispensable. In Belgium, nurses and paramedical staff are required to acquire knowledge for protecting the patient against the detrimental effects of ionising radiation by means of a vocational training course. The experience with and challenges for this training course are presented here from a lecturer's point of view, together with a proposal for a future approach that harmonises the training content, its level and quality, according to European recommended standards.