Lanthanum Bromide, or LaBr3(Ce), is one of the new generation of inorganic scintillation gamma-ray detectors. Lanthanum Bromide scintillation material has been the reference for excellent energy resolution combined with fast emission and good linearity. Its comprehensive performance beyond the traditional high output with platinum nai scintillation crystals, is one of the best so far found flashing performance crystal, can be widely used in nuclear medicine imaging, geological exploration, oil well logging, space physics and nuclear radiation detection field.
LaBr3:Ce is a promising scintillator for gamma-ray spectroscopy.
LaBr3 introduces an enhanced set of capabilities to a range of gamma spectroscopy radioisotope detection and identification systems used in the homeland security market. Important requirements for the scintillation crystals used in these applications include high light output, high stopping efficiency, fast response, low cost, good linearity, and minimal afterglow. LaBr3 has attractive scintillation properties such as very high light output (~60,000 photons/MeV), and fast principle decay constant (30 ns). Based on these properties, LaBr3:Ce is a promising scintillator for γ-ray spectroscopy
Parameter
Materials | LaBr3 |
Coordination geometry | Tricapped trigonal prismatic |
Crystal structure | hexagonal |
Space group | P63/m, No. 176 |
Appearance | white solid, hygroscopic |
Density (g/cm3) | 5.2 |
Melting point (℃) | 1116 |
Hardness (Mohs) | 3 |
Molar mass | 378.62 g/mol |
Melting point | 783 °C (1,441 °F; 1,056 K) |
Boiling point | 1,577 °C (2,871 °F; 1,850 K |
Solubility in water | Very soluble |
Decay time (ns) | 25 |
Light yield (photons/keV) | 63 |
Radiation length (cm) | 1.881 |
Attenuation(mm)@511keV | 22 |
Emission peak wavelength(nm) | 370 |
Refractive index @ emission max | ~1.9 |
Reflection loss/surface (%) | 6.8 |
Radiation Length(g·cm-2) | 9.95 |
Moliere Radius(cm) | 2.816 |
Energy resolution(%)@662keV | 2.9 |
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LaBr3 Emission Spectra | LaBr3 attenuation with coherent scattering |
- Fast decay times – 25nsec
- High light outputs – 63,000 Photons/MeV
- The capability to achieve excellent Energy Resolution(e.g. c.2.6%@662keV, 2” Dia./2” Long)
- Optical outputs with good linearity with temperature
- The capacity to deal with high count rates
- Excellent radiation hardness
- Security – cargo inspection
- Medical – SPECT
- Industrial – Well logging
- Nuclear and high energy physics – specialist applications
- Oil & Gas Exploration – well logging
- Industrial – Coal/mineral assay
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