Energy resolution and efficiency measurements of a 1.5 inches x 1.5 inches CeBr₃ scintillator

The availability of new generation scintillators, with much better energy resolution compared to other fast scintillators, such as, BaF₂, along with reasonably good time resolution, has created the opportunity to measure both energy and lifetime of nuclear excited states. In particular, the CeBr₃, LaBr₃(Ce) and other Lanthanum halide scintillators, coupled with suitable PMT offer the measurements of lifetime of nuclear excited states from few hundred picosecond to nanosecond range using various techniques. A combined coincidence setup of high resolution HPGe detectors and these fast scintillators has been utilized in recent times for such measurements. The CeBr₃ scintillators, having similar properties as that of LaBr₃(Ce), are less costly and also do not suffer from the intrinsic radioactivity, typical for Lanthanum Halide detectors. The present paper reports some of the basic characteristics, such as, energy resolution and efficiency, of CeBr₃ scintillator detectors with diameter 1.5 inches and height 1.5 inches. CeBr₃ crystal has a density of 5.2 gm/cc, emission wavelength 380 nm and decay time 17 ns