LaBr/sub 3/:Ce scintillation camera

Over the last three years, there has been a growing interest in the development of a new class of fast scintillators such as LaCl₃ :Ce and LaBr₃:Ce, or their superior energy resolution is opening an easier way to improve spatial resolution. In this paper we present the results obtained from the first LaBr₃:Ce small gamma camera. It is based on continuous 50 times 50 mm² crystal 5 mm thick integral assembled with a Hamamatsu Flat panel PMT. This detector optical configuration permits the narrowest light distribution and highest light collection to obtain the best spatial and energy resolution values respectively. At the same time 5 mm crystal thickness carries out 80% efficiency at 140 keV photon energy. Measurements of spatial resolution are also compared with the analogous ones obtained from another 50 times 50 mm² LaBr₃:Ce crystal, assembled with a 3 mm glass optical window. Energy resolution values have been furtherly compared with ones obtained from a LaBr₃:Ce one inch diameter and thickness optimized for spectrometric measurements. The first LaBr₃:Ce gamma camera shows excellent intrinsic spatial resolution values such as 0.9 mm with a best energy resolution value of 6.0% at 140 keV photon energy