Gamma-ray and high-energy X-ray detection with large area scintillating crystals: a hands-on review

TL;DR

This review discusses the use of large-area scintillating inorganic crystals for high-energy photon detection, highlighting recent developments, practical detector construction, and emphasizing LaBr3:Ce-based detectors as the current standard.

Contribution

It provides a practical overview of scintillating crystal detectors for high-energy photons, focusing on recent advances and hands-on insights into detector design and performance.

Findings

Energy resolutions up to 2% at 662 keV achieved

Fast decay times around 20 ns demonstrated

LaBr3:Ce detectors are the current gold standard

Abstract

Detection of photons with scintillating inorganic crystals in the high-energy range (> 0.1 MeV) will be discussed, making a comparison with other available methods. Energy resolutions up to 2 % at 662 keV and fast decay time of the order of 20 ns are within reach, with the introduction of Ce-doped crystals instead of alkali halide ones. Development is underway for the production of non-hygroscopic scintillating crystals, such as PrLuAg and CE:GAAG. At the end of this review, examples of experimental devices based on scintillating inorganic crystals will be discussed. Practical hands-on experience is emphasized at the expense of a more comprehensive description of all available and possible options. Detectors' construction details and the consequences of the different choices will be discussed. Emphasis will be put on the LaBr3:Ce-based detectors that are the present ''golden standard'' in gamma ray spectroscopy. This review will focus on photon detection in the high-energy region: mainly 0.1-2 MeV, including both gamma rays and high-energy X-rays, even if many considerations may be applied to the detection of low-energy X-rays.