Performances and potentialities of a LaCl3:Ce scintillator

The performances and the potentialities of applications of a LaCl3:Ce scintillator have been investigated deep underground in the Gran Sasso Laboratory of the I.N.F.N. In particular, the light response, the α/β ratio, the α/β discrimination capability and the radioactive contaminations have been studied. The results of an experimental search for spontaneous cluster decay in La isotopes are also presented.