title: Gamma-gamma coincidence performance of LaBr3:Ce scintillation detectors vs HPGe detectors in high count-rate scenarios.
abstract: A radiation detection system consisting of two cerium doped lanthanum bromide (LaBr3:Ce) scintillation detectors in a gamma-gamma coincidence configuration has been used to demonstrate the advantages that coincident detection provides relative to a single detector, and the advantages that LaBr3:Ce detectors provide relative to high purity germanium (HPGe) detectors. Signal to noise ratios of select photopeak pairs for these detectors have been compared to high-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors in both single and coincident detector configurations in order to quantify the performance of each detector configuration. The efficiency and energy resolution of LaBr3:Ce detectors have been determined and compared to HPGe detectors. Coincident gamma-ray pairs from the radionuclides152Eu and133Ba have been identified in a sample that is dominated by137Cs. Gamma-gamma coincidence successfully reduced the Compton continuum from the large137Cs peak, revealed several coincident gamma energies characteristic of these nuclides, and improved the signal-to-noise ratio relative to single detector measurements. LaBr3:Ce detectors performed at count rates multiple times higher than can be achieved with HPGe detectors. The standard background spectrum consisting of peaks associated with transitions within the LaBr3:Ce crystal has also been significantly reduced. It is shown that LaBr3:Ce detectors have the unique capability to perform gamma-gamma coincidence measurements in very high count rate scenarios, which can potentially benefit nuclear safeguards in situ measurements of spent nuclear fuel.
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas at Austin, Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory, Pickle Research Campus R-9000, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Drescher
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas at Austin, Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory, Pickle Research Campus R-9000, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoho
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas at Austin, Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory, Pickle Research Campus R-9000, Austin, TX 78712, USA. Electronic address: s.landsberger@mail.utexas.edu.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Landsberger
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas at Austin, Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory, Pickle Research Campus R-9000, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Durbin
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas at Austin, Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory, Pickle Research Campus R-9000, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Biegalski
authors.affiliation: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 01 Battelle Blvd, Richland, WA 99352, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.affiliation: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 01 Battelle Blvd, Richland, WA 99352, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schwantes
keywords: Gamma spectroscopy; Gamma-gamma coincidence; HPGe; High count rate; LaBr(3):Ce scintillation