An Efficient, Solid State Detector for Nuclear Medicine

80498S06 Nuclear medicine techniques such as Positron Emission Tomography and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography have become powerful new tools for imaging biological processes in small laboratory animals. However, the performance of these systems is limited by the properties of the detectors available at present. This project will investigate a new solid state detector that offers the potential to provide high efficiency, high signal-to-noise ratio, and excellent energy resolution. Large crystals of the new material will be grown, detectors will be fabricated, and their properties will be extensively examined. In Phase I, single crystals of the proposed material were grown, and detector performance was evaluated. Energy and timing resolution studies were conducted. During Phase II, larger crystals of the proposed solid state detector material will be grown, position sensitive detectors will be built, and performance evaluation studies will be carried out. Finally, multiple detectors will be tiled to create PET modules with very high spatial resolution for small animal imaging, and these PET modules will be evaluated. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: Beyond the use in nuclear medicine, the new detectors should be applicable to particle physics, homeland defense, geological exploration, industrial imaging, and nuclear remediation.