γ-ray coincidence and fast-timing measurements using LaBr3(Ce) detectors and gammasphere

The performance of new scintillator detectors based on LaBr{sub 3}(Ce) technology was evaluated in conjunction with the Gammasphere spectrometer. Specifically, the lifetimes of states between 50 ps and 1 ns, populated in the decay of the {sup 177m}Lu isomeric state (T{sub 1/2} = 160 d), have been measured. Even though the decay scheme is rather complex, it is possible to perform precise measurements because of the superior energy resolution of the LaBr{sub 3}(Ce) detectors, compared to that of BaF{sub 2} scintillators, when used in combination with the power of the Gammasphere array to isolate a specific {gamma} cascade