October 1, 2011
Journal Article

LaCl3:Ce Coincidence Signatures to Calibrate Gamma-ray Detectors

Abstract

Abstract Calibrating the gamma-ray detection efficiency of radiation detectors in a field environment is difficult under most circumstances. To counter this problem we have developed a technique that uses a Cerium doped Lanthanum-Tri-Chloride (LaCl3:Ce) scintillation detector to provide gated gammas[ , ]. Exploiting the inherent radioactivity of the LaCl3:Ce due to the long-lived radioactive isotope 138La (t1/2 = 1.06 x 1011 yrs) allows the use of the 788 and 1436-keV gammas as a measure of efficiency. In this paper we explore the effectiveness of using the beta-gamma coincidences radiation LaCl3:Ce detector to calibrate the energy and efficiency of a number of gamma-ray detectors.

Revised: October 7, 2011 | Published: October 1, 2011

Citation

McIntyre J.I., B.T. Schrom, M.W. Cooper, A.R. Day, J.C. Hayes, T.R. Heimbigner, and C.W. Hubbard, et al. 2011. LaCl3:Ce Coincidence Signatures to Calibrate Gamma-ray Detectors. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment 652, no. 1:201-204. PNNL-SA-73663. doi:10.1016/j.nima.2011.02.072