Preliminary Investigation of Lanthanum-Cerium Bromide Self-Activity Removal
Conference
·
· Proceedings of SPIE Volume 8144, Penetrating Radiation Systems and Applications XII
It has been reported that detectors made of lanthanum-cerium halides (LaBr3:Ce and CeBr3) have superior energy resolution for gamma-radiation detection compared to what is offered by conventional sodium iodide (NaI:T1) detectors1–6. Although superior energy resolution may be observed, one major barrier that has hindered the rapid adaptation of lanthanum halides is their self-activity, due primarily to the presence of isotope 138La, and the α contamination, due to the trace amount of actinides6–8. It has also been observed that the lanthanum-cerium halides contain a substantial amount of self-activity caused by the radioactive isotope 138La. Additionally, LaBr3:Ce spectra are also affected by β contaminations in the low-energy region. To use either LaBr3:Ce or CeBr3 for high-sensitivity gamma detection, it may be necessary to have the self-activity as well as α and β contaminations removed or reduced. This paper describes a novel algorithmic approach for self-activity and contamination reduction for LaBr3:Ce and CeBr3 detectors using a third reference NaI:T1 detector. We present a computational procedure for separating self-activity from the gamma spectra obtained by LaBr3:Ce detectors. With the self-activity spectra precalculated, it is possible to perform real-time self-activity removal. This procedure can be implemented as an automatic self-activity subtraction module for gamma-radiation detectors made of LaBr3:Ce and/or CeBr3 crystals. With this approach, it is possible to develop a new generation of LaBr3:Ce detectors capable of producing spectra as clean as those obtained by conventional NaI:T1 detectors, but with much improved energy resolutions.
- Research Organization:
- Nevada Test Site/National Security Technologies, LLC (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC52-06NA25946
- OSTI ID:
- 1055581
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/NV/25946--1266
- Conference Information:
- Journal Name: Proceedings of SPIE Volume 8144, Penetrating Radiation Systems and Applications XII Journal Issue: 1 Journal Volume: 8144
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Computational Removal of Lanthanum-Cerium Bromide Self-Activity
CeBr3 as a High-Resolution Gamma-Ray Detector
Self-Correction of Lanthanum-Cerium Halide Gamma Spectra (pre-print)
Journal Article
·
Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2011
· Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
·
OSTI ID:1136187
CeBr3 as a High-Resolution Gamma-Ray Detector
Conference
·
Wed Nov 12 23:00:00 EST 2008
·
OSTI ID:948005
Self-Correction of Lanthanum-Cerium Halide Gamma Spectra (pre-print)
Conference
·
Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 EDT 2009
·
OSTI ID:992611