Gamma-ray spectroscopy with MAPD array in the readout of LaBr3:Ce scintillator

Abstract

This paper presented a new detector module consisting of a micropixel avalanche photodiode (MAPD-3NM), LaBr3:Ce scintillator, and a compact read-out interface system for detecting gamma-rays in a wide energy range. The MAPD array (4 x 4 channels) was assembled using a single MAPD-3NM characterized by its high photon detection efficiency (similar to 25%), pixel density (10000 pixel s/mm(2)), low operation voltage (74.5 V), and low dark current. An active area of a single MAPD-3NM was 3.7 x 3.7 mm(2), while this value was 17 x 17 mm(2) for the assembled array with pixel density of 2190000. The size of the tested LaBr3:Ce scintillator was 15 x 15 x 15 mm(3). According to the characteristics of the detector module, a compact read-out interface device (SPECTRIG MAPD) was developed. SPECTRIG MAPD was designed as a miniature device with low power consumption, which continues to provide a wide spectrum of functions needed for measurement and test silicon photomultipliers (SiPM) and scintillation detectors on their basis. The various experiments were implemented to test the detection performance of a detector module to gamma radiation in the range from 30 keV to 4400 keV.