Photon energy response, scatter characterisation and NEC rate performance for a unique BaF2-TMAE PET system

A prototype BaF₂-TMAE detector for use in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) has been built and fully characterised. A detailed investigation has been carried out into the physical processes involved in the detector´s operation and performance. The results have confirmed the shape of the detector´s energy response and shown that the chamber geometry used in this prototype is sensitive to single photoelectrons. A Monte Carlo simulation of a proposed dual headed PET system, based on detectors of the same technology, has been used to investigate the effect of the detector energy response on the scatter fraction of such a system. Using the simulation it was demonstrated that the contribution of this factor to the overall scatter fraction will be <10% for brain imaging increasing to 20% for imaging in the torso, where the probability of multiple Compton interactions in the object increases. Finally using these scatter estimates the Noise Equivalent Count rates for the whole body system were calculated in order to provide a means of assessing the expected image quality