Title :
A prototype BaF2/TMAE low pressure multiwire proportional chamber for PET
Author :
Suckling, J. ; Ott, R.J. ; Marsden, P.K. ; Bateman, J.E. ; Connelly, J.F. ; Stephenson, R.
Author_Institution :
Inst. of Cancer Res., R. Marsden Hosp., Sutton, UK
fDate :
4/1/1991 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
A prototype annihilation photon detector combining a 50 mm×50 mm×8 mm BaF2 scintillator with an MWPC (multiwire proportional chamber) filled with a photoionizing vapor (TMAE) at low pressure has been constructed. The structure of the detector is currently undergoing optimization but its present performance includes 8 mm FWHM (full width at half maximum) spatial resolution, 12-ns timing resolution, and 19% efficiency. It is intended that this technology, once proven, should form the basis for a clinical PET (positron emission tomography) system. In order to cover the large active areas (600 mm×400 mm) of a clinical system, it will be necessary to use tiles of BaF2. Crystal boundary effects on image quality, studied using Monte Carlo methods, show degraded spatial resolution by 40% axially and 27% radially/tangentially for a 6×4 array of 16 mm-thick crystals replacing a hypothetical large single crystal. Further studies to characterize the distribution of scattered events in the proposed camera are described
Keywords :
biomedical equipment; computerised tomography; proportional counters; radioisotope scanning and imaging; 12 ns; 16 mm; 400 mm; 600 mm; BaF2 scintillator; BaF2/TMAE low pressure multiwire proportional chamber; Monte Carlo methods; active area; clinical system; crystal boundary effects; efficiency; full width at half maximum; image quality; nuclear medicine; photoionizing vapor; positron emission tomography; scattered events distribution; spatial resolution; timing resolution; Crystals; Degradation; Detectors; Electromagnetic scattering; Image quality; Positron emission tomography; Prototypes; Spatial resolution; Tiles; Timing;
Journal_Title :
Nuclear Science, IEEE Transactions on
