High rate read-out of LaBr(Ce) scintillator with a fast digitizer

The energy resolution of a LaBr(Ce) detector has been studied as a function of the count rate up to 340 kHz by using a 12 bit 250 MS/s V1720 digitizer. The time resolution achieved by processing off line the digitized signals has been also determined. It appears that the energy resolution obtained with the digitizer is better than that achievable using standard NIM electronics. The time resolution yielded by the digitizer with a software CFTD is about δt=0.8 ns (FWHM), slightly worse with respect to δt=0.65 ns (FWHM) obtained from standard NIM. However, this time resolution lies well within the requirements for applications in Non-Destructive Analysis of large objects with tagged neutron beams.