E. V. D. van Loef, P. Dorenbos, C. W. E. van Eijk, K. W. Krämer and H. U. Güdel
Scintillation properties of LaBr3:Ce3+ crystals: fast, efficient and high-energy-resolution scintillators
Nucl. Instr. and Methods Phys. Res. A 486, 254-258 (2002)
Abstract:
The scintillation properties of LaBr3 doped with different Ce
concentrations, studied by means of optical, X-ray, and g-ray
excitation are presented. Under optical and g-ray
excitation, Ce3+ emission is observed peaking at 356 and 387 nm. For
pure LaBr3 and LaBr3 doped with 0.5%, 2%, 4% and 10%
Ce3+ we measured a light yield of 17,000±2000, 61,000±5000,
48,000±5000, 48,000±5000 and 45,000±5000 photons per MeV (ph/MeV) of absorbed
s-ray
energy, respectively. The scintillation decay curve of
LaBr3:Ce3+ can be described by a single exponential decay
function with a decay time of 30±5 ns. It represents over 90% of the total light
yield. An energy resolution (FWHM over peak position) for the 662 keV full
energy peak of, respectively, 2.9±0.1%, 3.8±0.4%, 3.5±0.4% and 3.9±0.4% was
observed for LaBr3:0.5%, 2%, 4% and 10% Ce3+.