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In this paper we present results from measurements of prompt gamma rays from the thermal neutron induced fission of U-235. Photons were measured in coincidence with fission fragments with cerium-doped LaCl3 and LaBr3 as well as CeBr3 scintillation detectors, which offer an intriguing combination of excellent timing resolution and good resolving power. The spectra measured with all employed detectors are in excellent agreement with respect to their shapes. Characteristic parameters were extracted for a gamma-energy range from 0.1 to 6.0 MeV and the results obtained with several detectors were averaged. From that, the average emission yield of prompt-fission gamma rays was determined to be (nu) over bar (gamma) = (8.19 +/- 0.11) per fission, the average energy per photon to be epsilon(gamma) = (0.85 +/- 0.02) MeV, and the total energy to be E-gamma,E-tot = (6.92 +/- 0.09) MeV. The uncertainties are much lower than the 7.5% requested for the modeling of advanced nuclear reactor cores. Estimating the influence of gamma rays with energies between 6 and 10 MeV on the values determined in this work revealed a negligible deviation of the order of the found uncertainties.

In this paper we report on the measurement of gamma-rays using a 2 in. x 2 in. LaBr3:Ce scintillation detector. The gamma-rays were emitted in the spontaneous fission of Cf-252 and detected in coincidence with fission fragments. After presenting some of the properties of the detector, we show how well gamma-rays produced in different reactions may easily be distinguished by their characteristic time-of-flight. Then we focus on the analysis of gamma-rays from inelastically scattered neutrons in the scintillation crystal and demonstrate how this information may be used for neutron spectroscopy. We determine the neutron detection efficiency and compare it to the result of calculations based on existing reaction cross-sections. Finally, we discuss the detection performance in relation to other detector systems commonly used for neutron monitoring.

In this paper we demonstrate the employment of LaCl3 : Ce scintillation detectors for the identification of prompt fission gamma-rays from gamma-radiation in contrast to other reactions. We present the properties of cylindrical 1.5 in. x 1.5 in. detectors in terms of intrinsic activity, energy resolution, intrinsic full peak efficiency and intrinsic timing resolution. In addition, we show results from the measurement of gamma-rays emitted in coincidence with the spontaneous fission of Cf-252, which lead us to the conclusion that the properties of the detectors used in this work, in particular the good timing resolution and a reasonably good energy resolution, are more than just sufficient for the assessment of prompt gamma-heat in future nuclear reactors as requested by the OECD. Hence, in our opinion, LaCl3 : Ce detectors, compared to those made out of LaBr3 : Ce crystals, represent an appropriate and quasi low-cost choice for the above mentioned applications.