LaBr3 : Ce scintillators for gamma-ray spectroscopy

In this paper, we report on a relatively new scintillator - LaBr3:Ce for gamma-ray spectroscopy. -Crystals of this scintillator have. been grown using Bridgman process. This material when doped with cerium has high light output (similar to 60000 photons/MeV) and fast principal decay constant (less than or equal to 25 ns). Furthermore, it shows excellent energy resolution for gamma-ray detection. Energy resolution of 3.2% (FWHM) has been achieved for 662 keV photons (Cs-137 source) at room temperature. High timing resolution (260 ps - FWHM) has been recorded with LaBr3:Ce-PMT and BaF2-PMT detectors operating in coincidence mode using 511-keV positron annihilation gamma-ray pairs. Details of its scintillation properties, and variation of these properties with changing cerium concentration are reported. Potential applications of this material are also addressed.