Title :
High energy resolution scintillation spectrometers
Author :
Shah, K.S. ; Glodo, J. ; Klugerman, M. ; Higgins, W. ; Gupta, T. ; Wong, P.
Author_Institution :
Radiat. Monitoring Devices Inc., Watertown, MA, USA
Abstract :
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 2.7% (FWHM) 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(TI) scintillators. Analysis of the energy resolution of LaBr3:Ce scintillators is presented and the performance of this scintillator at other gamma ray energies is covered. Energy resolution of LaBr3:Ce crystals coupled to silicon avalanche photodiodes is discussed. Potential applications of this material are addressed.
Keywords :
avalanche photodiodes; cerium; gamma-ray detection; gamma-ray spectrometers; lanthanum compounds; photomultipliers; solid scintillation detectors; Bridgman process; LaBr3:Ce; LaBr3:Ce crystals; LaBr3:Ce emission; LaBr3:Ce scintillators; cerium doped scintillator; energy resolution; gamma ray detection; gamma ray energies; gamma ray spectroscopy; high energy resolution scintillation spectrometers; light output; photomultiplier; principal decay constant; room temperature; silicon avalanche photodiodes; Cerium; Crystalline materials; Energy resolution; Gamma ray detection; Gamma rays; Performance analysis; Photomultipliers; Photonic crystals; Spectroscopy; Temperature;
Conference_Titel :
Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record, 2003 IEEE
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-8257-9
DOI :
10.1109/NSSMIC.2003.1352682