Enhanced [Formula Omitted] Discrimination in Co-doped LaBr[Formula Omitted]:Ce

• Published in: IEEE transactions on nuclear science Vol. 63; no. 1; p. 416
• Main Authors: Yang, Kan, Menge, Peter R, Ouspenski, Vladimir
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE) 01-02-2016
• Subjects: Charged particles; Gamma rays
• ISSN: 0018-9499; 1558-1578
• DOI: 10.1109/TNS.2016.2515024

LaBr[Formula Omitted]:Ce crystal scintillator can be co-doped with various alkaline earth metals to improve light output and energy resolution of the basic scintillator. Another benefit is improvement of alpha/gamma discrimination via pulse shape analysis. LaBr[Formula Omitted]:Ce contains a low level of actinium contamination, which produces an alpha particle background in radiation energy spectra. This background is difficult to discriminate from gamma rays. Conversely, the addition of co-dopant into the crystal makes the alpha response much easier to distinguish. LaBr[Formula Omitted]:Ce, Sr, for example, produces a slow decay component in the scintillation pulse when excited by radiation. The amplitude of the slow decay component changes in response to a gamma ray versus a heavy charged particle. The change in pulse shape can be used to eliminate the alpha background or enable detection of neutron reaction products.