LaBr₃ (lanthanum bromide) crystal scintillators are inorganic halide materials recognized for excellent energy resolution and fast emission characteristics. These properties make them effective for applications requiring clear separation of gamma-ray peaks in complex spectra.

Key Properties of LaBr₃ Scintillation Detectors

• Energy Resolution: Typically 3% FWHM at 662 keV (Cs-137); some detectors achieve ~2.8% above ~100 keV, with best material showing enhanced performance down to 80–90 keV.
• Fast Timing Response: Short decay time supports high count rates and coincidence measurements.
• Superior Peak Separation: Clearly resolves closely spaced gamma lines, such as the three defining peaks near 375 keV from weapons-grade plutonium—lines that often merge into a single broad peak with NaI(Tl) detectors.
• Background from La-138: Trace natural radioactivity (~0.09% La-138) produces a low-energy line around 32 keV; this is managed in BNC SAM III and SAM 940 systems by subtracting background spectra during acquisition.
• High-Energy Advantage: Performance excels above 100 keV, outweighing limited low-energy response in many practical gamma spectroscopy scenarios.

LaBr₃ detectors are incorporated into BNC’s SAM III generation and SAM 940 portable radiation identifiers, where their resolution supports accurate nuclide identification in mixed or low-activity sources.

For specifications on energy resolution, crystal sizes, integration with SAM systems, or to discuss LaBr₃ scintillation detectors for your gamma spectroscopy needs, contact us or complete our brief detector survey form. We can help determine the right configuration for your application.