Evaluation of CeF/sub 3/ as a scintillator for high speed dynamic PET imaging

A group of experimental tests and a set of computer simulations were run to evaluate the feasibility of building PET detector modules (blocks) with CeF/sub 3/ crystals. The experimental tests were conducted (1) to compare the light collection efficiencies of photomultiplier tubes with different types of entrance windows (i.e. quartz, UV glass and borosilicate glass); (2) to evaluate the light collection efficiency using different types of reflective materials; and (3) to evaluate how many crystals could realistically be decoded using CeF/sub 3/ and a block design. Monte Carlo computer simulations were run to determine the coincidence aperture functions for different CeF/sub 3/ crystal configurations (with and without intercrystal septa). Overall, a detector block built with CeF/sub 3/ will have a speed advantage over an equivalently designed BGO detector block. However because of the relatively low light output of CeF/sub 3/, the recommended crystal block geometries would be either a 4/spl times/4 or a 5/spl times/5 crystal block coupled to two R1548 dual photocathode PMTs. Furthermore even with these relatively conservative decoding configurations, UV glass window PMTs would be required in order to collect enough light for energy thresholding and position decoding.<>