Lanthanum Bromide [LaBr3(Ce)] scintillation material has been the reference for exceptional energy resolution as well as having good linearity and fast emission.
Saint-Gobain Crystals now offers a new Enhanced Lanthanum Bromide [LaBr3(Ce+Sr)] scintillation crystal, which sets a new standard for energy resolution. Enhanced Lanthanum Bromide scintillator material upholds the majority of the exceptional properties of the standard Lanthanum Bromide and boosts the energy resolution.
An outstanding energy resolution for a scintillator is offered by Lanthanum Bromide scintillator. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) for a 2" diameter x 2" long crystal measures at 2.6%. FWHM of the Enhanced Lanthanum Bromide scintillation detector measures at 2.2% at 662 keV.
An aspect of LaBr that is unique is the background peak that can be used as a built in reference for stabilization. 1436 + 32 keV can be used as a calibration peak or as a constant and known activity that can be subtracted to get K40 yield.
Applications
- Medical SPECT (Organ Specific)
- Physics
- Oil and Gas Exploration - well logging
- Industrial - Coal/mineral assay
- Security
Benefits
- Best energy resolution
- High count rate capabilities
- Higher light output than NaI(Tl)
- Excellent light output stability with T°
- Fast emission
- Exceptional linearity
Lanthanum Bromide scintillation crystals are available integrated designs. Light sensor integration and selection, and the use of specific electronics, are crucial to optimizing performance.
Lanthanum Bromide is hygroscopic and has to be hermetically packaged with a light-sensing device, for example, a photomultiplier tube (PMT) or silicon photomultiplier (SiPM). The correct packaging and integration of scintillation crystals is a science combining advanced design and engineering skills with established assembly techniques and materials to produce stable, high-resolution radiation detectors.
Saint-Gobain Crystals offers a range of detector designs to achieve most radiation counting applications. It can also be packaged for high temperature, rugged environments for oil well logging use.
Typical Sizes
- Standard integrated designs are available with up to a 3" diameter x 3" long
- Have achieved 97 mm (3.8") dia. X 244 mm (9.7") length with standard LaBr3(Ce)
- Standard sizes; 1" diameter x 1", 1.5" dia. x 1.5", 2" dia. x 2", 3" dia. x 3" cylinders
Properties
| Properties |
Lanthanum Bromide |
Enhanced Lanthanum Bromide |
| Photoelectron yield [% of NaI(Tl)] (for γ-rays)) |
165 |
>190 |
| Energy resolution [%] @ 662 keV |
2.6% |
2.2% |
| Wavelength of emission max [nm] |
380 |
385 |
| Refractive index @ emission max |
~1.9 |
~2.0 |
| Primary decay time [µs] |
0.016 |
0.025 |
| Light yield [photons/keVγ] |
63 |
73 |
| Density [g/cm3] |
5.08 |
5.08 |
| Hygroscopic |
yes |
yes |