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 3 :Ce scintillation detector array has been developed. The energy markers for this calibration are the selfactivity lines inherently existing inside the LaBr 3 crystal. Five energy markers were used in this technique. Two lines are from the radioactive isotope of lanthanum, 138 La, at 789 and 1436 keV while the other three are from the 227 Ac which is thought to be the source of the self-activity of LaBr 3 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 56 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 3 :Ce detectors. L 978-1-4799-0534-8/13/$31.00 ©2013 IEEE