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REVIEW article
Front. Detect. Sci. Technol.
Sec. Detector Physics
Volume 3 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fdest.2025.1551948
Gamma-ray and high-energy X-ray detection with large area scintillating crystals: a hands-on review
Provisionally accepted- 1 National Institute of Nuclear Physics of Milano Bicocca, Milano, Italy
- 2 University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Lombardy, Italy
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 at the place of alkali-halides ones. Development are under way for the production of non-hygroscopic scintillating crystals, such as PrLuAg and Ce: GAAG. At the end of this review, examples of experimenta 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 consequences of the different choices will be discussed. The emphasis will be put on the LaBr 3 : Ce based detectors that are the present "golden standard" in gamma ray spectroscopy.The focus of this review will be 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.
Keywords: gamma-rays, Muonic X-rays, SiPM, PMT, Crystals, LaBr 3 :Ce
Received: 26 Dec 2024; Accepted: 31 Mar 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Bonesini. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Maurizio Bonesini, National Institute of Nuclear Physics of Milano Bicocca, Milano, Italy
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