LaBr crystal scintillators, also known as Lanthanum Bromide crystal scintillators are inorganic halide salt crystal. It has been a key reference for excellent energy resolution and fast emission.
High-resolution lanthanum bromide (LaBr3) detectors are presently available for BNC’s SAM III generation and SAM 940 products. These scintillation detectors typically give an energy resolution of 3% at Cs137. Somewhat better resolution (2.8%) has been observed on some detectors but this performance only holds for energies nominally above 100 keV. Some of the best detector material shows enhanced resolution as low as 80 or 90 keV.
The advantages of superior resolution above 100 keV out-weigh the limited low energy performance. This is seen in the ability of LaBr3 to separate three defining energy lines centered near 375 keV of weapons-grade plutonium. The three energy lines are not separated when using NaI detectors (they are typically observed as one wide photo peak with NaI detectors).
LaBr3 detectors have a trace of naturally occurring La138 (~0.09%). The most noticeable indication of La138 is an energy line at about 32 keV. This should not cause a problem in BNC’s SAM III and SAM 940 products since it will be subtracted out when taking and storing a background.
Properties of Lanthanum Bromide Scintillators
| Photoelectron yield [% of NaI(Tl)] (for γ-rays)) | 165 |
| Energy resolution [%] @ 662 keV | 2.6% |
| Wavelength of emission max [nm] | 380 |
| Refractive index @ emission max | ~1.9 |
| Primary decay time [μs] | 0.016 |
| Light yield [photons/keVγ] | 63 |
| Density [g/cm3] | 5.08 |
| Hygroscopic | yes |
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