DRAGON seeks to replace its BGO detectors with LaBr3:Ce detectors. The Geant4 simulation estimates gamma ray capture efficiency values of 3.384±0.011% and 1.113±0.007% for the BGO detector and the LaBr3:Ce detector, respectively for 0.6617 MeV gamma rays at 5 cm distance. The latter achieves an experimental efficiency of 1.102±0.042% and an experimental energy resolution of 3.282±0.036% for these gamma rays. The experimental and simulated LaBr3:Ce detector efficiency results agree within error. However, the simulation may overestimate the detector efficiency at high gamma ray energies, as observed at 4.44 MeV and 6.131 MeV. Furthermore, the timing method is performed to utilize its high time resolution. The average resonance energy is 0.47428±0.00815 MeV/u which agrees with the true value of 0.475 MeV/u. Therefore, the energy and time resolution of the LaBr3:Ce detector improve DRAGON’S ability to study radiative capture reactions, with its lower efficiency being its only drawback.
