Cerium-doped Lanthanum Chloride (Ce:LaCl₃) is a high-performance inorganic scintillation crystal recognized for its very high light output, fast decay time, and excellent energy resolution. By combining the lanthanum chloride host with cerium activator ions, Ce:LaCl₃ delivers high sensitivity and precise radiation detection, making it ideal for nuclear medicine, radiation monitoring, and scientific research.
Like other halide scintillators, Ce:LaCl₃ is hygroscopic and therefore requires hermetic sealing to ensure long-term stability and performance.
Key Properties of Ce:LaCl₃
- High Light Yield: Produces strong scintillation signals, enabling excellent signal-to-noise performance.
- Fast Scintillation Decay: Short decay time supports high count-rate applications and rapid signal processing.
- Excellent Energy Resolution: Enables accurate identification and discrimination of gamma-ray energies.
- Good Linearity & Temperature Stability: Maintains consistent performance across a wide operating range.
- Hygroscopic Material: Requires sealed packaging to protect against moisture absorption.
Crystal & Scintillation Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Density | 3.67 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 859 °C |
| Refractive Index | 1.9 |
| Emission Peak | 350 nm |
| Decay Constant | ~28 ns |
| Light Yield | ~48 photons/keV |
| Light Output | 80% – 95% (relative) |
| Energy Resolution | 4.2% – 5.1% |
| Thermal Expansion | 11 × 10⁻⁶ /°C (‖ c-axis) |
| Cleavage Plane | (100) |
| Hygroscopic | Yes |
Advantages of Ce:LaCl₃ Crystals
- Superior energy resolution
- Fast scintillation decay
- Excellent linearity response
- Stable performance over temperature
- High count-rate capability
Typical Applications of Ce:LaCl₃
- Radiation detection & monitoring (environmental monitoring, nuclear security, radiation protection)
- Medical imaging (gamma cameras, SPECT, and nuclear medicine instrumentation)
- Scientific research (gamma-ray spectroscopy and high-energy physics experiments)
- Industrial & safety applications (non-destructive testing and radioactive material management)
- Geological exploration (gamma-ray detection and surveying)
Shape Optics Ce:LaCl₃ Capabilities
Shape Optics Technologies supplies high-quality Ce:LaCl₃ scintillation crystals, crystal blanks, and hermetically sealed detector assemblies, supported by over 20 years of optical and crystal-processing expertise.
Product & Service Offering
- Ce:LaCl₃ scintillation crystals
- Crystal blanks for custom detector fabrication
- OEM and custom detector solutions
- Fast delivery and volume supply
Available Sizes
- Standard sizes: Ø50 × 50 mm, Ø50 × 25 mm, Ø30 × 30 mm, Ø25 × 25 mm
- Maximum size: Ø50 × 180 mm
- Custom sizes available upon request
Sealing Options
- Aluminum alloys
- Stainless steel
- Titanium alloys
Why Choose Cerium-Doped Lanthanum Chloride (Ce:LaCl₃)?
Ce:LaCl₃ is an excellent choice when applications demand:
- High sensitivity and excellent energy resolution
- Fast timing performance
- Reliable operation in high count-rate environments
Its combination of high light output and fast decay makes Ce:LaCl₃ especially attractive for nuclear medical imaging, radiation detection, and scientific spectroscopy.