Final answer:
The X-ray scintillator layer in direct flat-panel digital detectors is typically made of cesium iodide (CsI) or gadolinium oxysulfide (Gd2O2S), which convert radiation energy into light. These light flashes are then transformed into electrical signals by photomultipliers, allowing for the creation of diagnostic images.
Step-by-step explanation:
The X-ray scintillator layer used in the direct flat-panel digital detectors is usually either cesium iodide (CsI) or gadolinium oxysulfide (Gd2O2S). These materials are known as scintillators and play an essential role in radiation detection methods, where they serve to convert radiation energy into light. The light flashes produced by the scintillators are brief and can be used to detect a wide array of particles in short periods of time.
This light output from scintillators is then converted to an electrical signal by photomultipliers. Specialized computer software analyzes the electrical signal to construct an image that can be used for various diagnostic applications, including medical imaging. This conversion process is an example of how solid-state radiation detectors, such as semiconductors, operate, where incident radiation is directly converted into an electrical current for imaging or analysis.