Measurement of NORM samples with CeBr₃ detectors

This paper discusses the use of CeBr₃ detectors for the analysis of NORM samples. These detectors have a number of characteristics that make them suitable to field measurements: they can work at ambient temperatures, have better energy resolution than NaI(Tl) detectors for energies over 100keV and do not present the radioactive contamination typical of the lanthanum halides detectors. Results of the measurements made at the laboratory for three reference materials are compared to those made using a conventional HPGe gamma-ray spectrometer system. Spectra from both measurement systems are presented and discussed.