CeBr/sub 3/ scintillators for gamma-ray spectroscopy

Abstract

In this paper, we report on a new scintillator, cerium bromide (CeBr <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</sub> ), for gamma-ray spectroscopy. Crystals of this scintillator have been grown using Bridgman process. In this material Ce <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3+</sup> is an intrinsic constituent as well as a luminescence center for the scintillation process. Samples of CeBr <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</sub> showed high light output (~68000 photons/MeV) and fast decay constant (~17 ns). Furthermore, they exhibited excellent energy resolution for gamma-ray detection. For example, energy resolution of <4% full width at half maximum (FWHM) has been achieved using this scintillator for 662 keV photons ( <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">137</sup> Cs source) at room temperature. High timing resolution (<200 ps-FWHM) has been recorded with CeBr <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</sub> -photomultiplier (PMT) and BaF <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> -PMT detectors operating in coincidence using 511 keV positron annihilation gamma-ray pairs