Evaluation of Cerium-Doped Lanthanum Bromide (LaBr3:Ce) Single-Crystal Scintillator’s Luminescence Properties under X-ray Radiographic Conditions

In the present study, the response of the crystalline scintillator LaBr3:Ce when excited with X-rays at tube voltages from 50 kVp to 150 kVp was investigated, for possible use in hybrid medical-imaging systems. A single crystal (10 × 10 × 10 mm3) was irradiated by X-rays within the aforementioned tube-voltage range, and the absolute efficiency (AE), as well as the detective quantum efficiency for zero spatial-frequency (DQE(0)), were measured. The energy-absorption efficiency (EAE), the quantum-detection efficiency (QDE) and the spectral compatibility with various optical photodetectors were also calculated. The results were compared with the published data for the LaCl3:Ce, Bi4Ge3O12 (BGO), Lu2SiO5:Ce (LSO), and CdWO4 single crystals of equal dimensions. The AE values of the examined crystal were found to be higher than those of the compared crystals across the whole X-ray tube-voltage range. Regarding the EAE, LaBr3:Ce demonstrated a comparatively better performance than the LaCl3:Ce crystal. The emitted-light spectrum of LaBr3:Ce was found to be compatible with various types of photocathodes and silicon photomultipliers. Moreover, the LaBr3:Ce crystal exhibited excellent performance concerning its DQE(0). Considering these properties, the LaBr3:Ce crystal could be considered as a radiation-detector option for hybrid medical-imaging modalities, such as PET/CT and SPECT/CT.