The comparison of large scintillators for high energy gamma-rays detection

The quest for finding the suitable detector for application in neutron activation analysis triggered us to investigate the properties of three 3"× 3" cylindrical scintillation detectors. The emphasis was put on the detectors´ properties in the multi-MeV energy region as well as their response to neutron radiation. In this work we compare energy resolution efficiency and timing properties of BGO, LaBr3 and NaI(Tl) scintillation detectors coupled to Photonis spectrometric photomultiplier tubes.