Performance tests of a large volume cerium tribromide (CeBr3) scintillation detector

The response of a large cylindrical 76mm×76mm (height×diameter) cerium tribromide (CeBr3) detector was measured for prompt gamma rays. The total intrinsic activity of the CeBr3 detector, which was measured over 0.33–3.33MeV range, was found to be 0.022±0.001 counts/s/cm3. The partial intrinsic activity ( due to 227Ac contamination), was measured over a energy range of 1.22–2.20MeV energy, was found to be 0.007±0.001 counts/s/cm3. Compared to intrinsic activities of LaBr3:Ce and LaCl3:Ce detectors of equivalent volume, the CeBr3 detector has 7–8 times less total intrinsic activity. The detector response for low energy prompt gamma rays was measured over 0.3–0.6MeVgamma energy range using a portable neutron generator-based Prompt Gamma Neutron Activation Analysis (PGNAA) setup. The experimental yield of boron, cadmium and mercury prompt gamma-rays was measured from water samples contaminated with 0.75–2.5wt% mercury, 0.31–2.50wt% boron, and 0.0625–0.500wt% cadmium, respectively. An excellent agreement has been observed between the calculated and experimental yields of the gamma rays. Also minimum detection limit (MDC) of the CeBr3 detector was measured for boron, cadmium and mercury samples. The CeBr3 detector has 23% smaller value of MDCB and 18% larger value of MDCCd than those of a LaBr3:Ce detector of equivalent size. This study has shown that CeBr3 detector has an excellent response for the low energy prompt gamma-rays with almost an order of magnitude low intrinsic activity as compared to LaCl3:Ce and LaBr3:Ce detectors of equivalent volume. •Pulse height tests of large diameter CeBr3 detector for low energy gamma rays using portable neutron generator based PGNAA setup.•CeBr3 detector has 7–8 times less total intrinsic activity than that of a LaBr3:Ce or LaCl3:Ce detector.•The CeBr3 detector has 23% smaller MDCB and 18% larger MDCCd than those of a LaBr3:Ce detector.