Wide range automatic energy calibration of LaBr<inf>3</inf>:Ce detectors by the self-activity lines

Abstract

A real-time automatic energy calibration (RAEC) algorithm of a LaBr <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</sub> :Ce scintillation detector array has been developed. The energy markers for this calibration are the self-activity lines inherently existing inside the LaBr <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</sub> crystal. Five energy markers were used in this technique. Two lines are from the radioactive isotope of lanthanum, <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">138</sup> La, at 789 and 1436 keV while the other three are from the <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">227</sup> Ac which is thought to be the source of the self-activity of LaBr <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</sub> detectors near 2 MeV energy range. The energy calibration extracted from RAEC algorithm is evaluated by a comparison with the energy calibration that was established using <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">56</sup> Co radioactive checking source. The two energy calibrations showed a good agreement, indicating a high potential to use the self-energy calibration technique for LaBr <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</sub> :Ce detectors.