Positron emission particle tracking using the new Birmingham positron camera

Since 1985 a positron camera consisting of a pair of multi-wire proportional chambers has been used at Birmingham for engineering studies involving positron emitting radioactive tracers. The technique of positron emission particle tracking (PEPT), developed at Birmingham, whereby a single tracer particle can be tracked at high speed, has proved particularly powerful. The main limitation of the original positron camera was its low sensitivity and correspondingly low data rate. A new positron camera has recently been installed; it consists of a pair of NaI (Tl) gamma camera heads with fully digital readout and offers an enormous improvement in data rate and data quality. The performance of this camera, and in particular the improved capabilities it brings to the PEPT technique, are summarised.