High energy resolution scintillation spectrometers

In this paper, we report on cerium doped scintillator-LaBr/sub 3/ : 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 LaBr/sub 3/ : Ce emission is at 360 nm. LaBr/sub 3/ : Ce shows excellent energy resolution for gamma ray detection. For 662 keV gamma rays (/sup 137/Cs source), energy resolution of 2.6% (full-width at half-maximum) has been recorded at room temperature for LaBr/sub 3/ : 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 LaBr/sub 3/ : Ce scintillators is presented. Energy resolution of LaBr/sub 3/ : Ce crystals coupled to silicon avalanche photodiodes is also discussed.