Study of the LaBr3 Scintillator Response Function to High Energy Helium Ions

Abstract

The space radiation environment is a very complex mixed field composed of neutral and charged particles such as protons, alpha, neutrons, and other particles. The mixture of these different particles creates a challenge for any accurate measurement with radiation detection devices. Lanthanum Bromide scintillator detector (LaBe₃:Ce) has been successfully used as a gamma spectrometer inside space crafts, however, its response to other particles such as charged particles are not very well characterized. From a radiation protection perspective, it is important to understand the response of the LaBe₃ scintillator in the presence of heavy ions to provide more accurate measurements of the gamma field. To study the response of the scintillator to charged particles, a series of Monte-Carlo simulations have been performed along with a series of experiments using a 1.5x1.5 inch ² lanthanum bromide detector at the Heavy Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba, Japan (HIMAC). Measurements with Helium ions have been carried out with various incident energies and the light output curve of the scintillator has been measured. The results from both simulations and experiments are presented and discussed.