[ RadSafe ] New Method for Making Improved Radiation Detectors

[Jim Hardeman]

Peter --
 
Canberra does indeed offer an LaBr3 detector w/ the InSpector 1000 and
we just ordered one of these systems for our use (disclaimer: this is
NOT a commercial product endorsement!). It was my understanding that
they also have a standalone LaBr3 detector than can be paired with
pretty much any MCA.
 
As for pricing, some vendors seemed to be placing a near 100% premium
of their LaBr3 systems as compared with their comparable NaI systems,
while for other vendors, the premium is more on the order of 50%. I'm
sure as LaBr3 systems become more popular, the gap between NaI and LaBr3
will narrow somewhat.
 
As I indicated to Dimiter, our experience in comparing LaBr3 detector
systems to NaI and CZT systems has been favorable -- efficiency
essentially the same as (if not slightly superior to) NaI, and
resolution ~3% at 662 keV vs. 6.5% - 7% for NaI. I've got some spectra
comparisons for various radionuclides as well as for our HpGe charcoal
standard that I can make available if desired.
 
My $0.02 worth ...
 
Jim

>>> Peter Bossew <peter.bossew at jrc.it> 6/4/2007 07:04 >>>
About LaCl_3 :Ce and LaBr_3 :Ce scintillators:

The leading manufacturer seems to be Saint-Gobain, 
www.detectors.saint-gobain.com/ . The LaHal line is called Brillance by

Saint Gobain, some documents on the performance of these detectors can

be downloaded from their website.

Currently these crystals are still very expensive (a multiple of NaI),

but resolution (more than twice of NaI) and efficiency make them a 
potentially interesting alternative to NaI. One serious problem, to my

opinion, is the inevitable internal BG due to ^138 La (a natural, 
primordial isotope of La, 1.05e11 y, 1436 keV (66%) and 489 keV (34%) 
according to the LUND database). Since this BG is known and constant it

can be subtracted, but it inevitably increases the LLD.

Also Canberra has a LaBr detector, called IPROL-1 and part of a
modified 
Inspector 1000 monitor. (Apparently no web information about this 
product is available.)

Reports on experience with LaHal scintillators would be appreciated.


Peter Bossew


-----------------------------------------------------
Peter Bossew 

European Commission (EC) 
Joint Research Centre (JRC) 
Institute for Environment and Sustainability (IES) 

TP 441, Via Fermi 1 
21020 Ispra (VA) 
ITALY 
  
Tel. +39 0332 78 9109 
Fax. +39 0332 78 5466 
Email: peter.bossew at jrc.it 

WWW: http://rem.jrc.cec.eu.int ( http://rem.jrc.cec.eu.int/ ) 
  
"The views expressed are purely those of the writer and may not in any
circumstances be regarded as stating an official position of the
European
Commission."


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