Title :
High energy resolution scintillation spectrometers
Author :
Shah, K.S. ; Glodo, J. ; Klugerman, M. ; Higgins, W.M. ; Gupta, T. ; Wong, P.
Author_Institution :
Radiat. Monitoring Devices Inc., Watertown, MA, USA
Abstract :
In this paper, we report on cerium doped scintillator-LaBr3 : Ce for gamma ray spectroscopy. Crystals of this scintillator have been grown using the Bridgman process. This material when doped with cerium has high light output (>60 000 photons/MeV) and fast principal decay constant (<30 ns). The peak of LaBr3 : Ce emission is at 360 nm. LaBr3 : Ce shows excellent energy resolution for gamma ray detection. For 662 keV gamma rays (137Cs source), energy resolution of 2.6% (full-width at half-maximum) has been recorded at room temperature for LaBr3 : Ce crystals coupled to a photomultiplier. This energy resolution is over two times better than that of NaI(Tl) scintillators. Analysis of the energy resolution of LaBr3 : Ce scintillators is presented. Energy resolution of LaBr3 : Ce crystals coupled to silicon avalanche photodiodes is also discussed.
Keywords :
avalanche photodiodes; crystal growth from melt; gamma-ray detection; gamma-ray spectrometers; gamma-ray spectroscopy; nuclear electronics; photomultipliers; radioactive sources; silicon radiation detectors; solid scintillation detectors; 137Cs source; Bridgman process; LaBr3:Ce; NaI(Tl) scintillators; cerium doped scintillator; cerium doping; crystal growth; fast principal decay constant; full-width at half-maximum; gamma ray detection; gamma ray spectroscopy; high energy resolution scintillation spectrometers; high light output; photomultiplier; room temperature; silicon avalanche photodiodes; Cerium; Crystalline materials; Energy resolution; Gamma ray detection; Gamma rays; Photomultipliers; Photonic crystals; Silicon; Spectroscopy; Temperature;
Journal_Title :
Nuclear Science, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TNS.2004.832616
