Preliminary investigation of lanthanum-cerium bromide self-activity removal

Ding Yuan; Paul Guss

doi:10.1117/12.890903

22 September 2011 Preliminary investigation of lanthanum-cerium bromide self-activity removal

Ding Yuan, Paul Guss

Proceedings Volume 8144, Penetrating Radiation Systems and Applications XII; 814402 (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.890903
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2011, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

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) detectors. 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 actinides. 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.

Citation Download Citation

Ding Yuan and Paul Guss "Preliminary investigation of lanthanum-cerium bromide self-activity removal", Proc. SPIE 8144, Penetrating Radiation Systems and Applications XII, 814402 (22 September 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.890903

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
8 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Sensors

Crystals

Contamination

Lanthanum

Cerium

Manufacturing

Data processing

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years