Advanced Detectors for PET

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a functional imaging technique with the potential to quantify the rates of biological processes in vivo. PET imaging can provide diagnosis for symptoms of diseases such as Alzheimer¿s disease, head trauma, cancer, and stroke. However, the performance of existing PET systems is limited by the properties of the detectors available at present. This project will investigate a new solid state photodetector that appears to be very promising, due to its high gain, fast response, and low noise. In Phase I, the proposed photodetector was built and then coupled to scintillation crystals. The performance of these detector modules was evaluated, and energy, timing, and depth-of-interaction (DOI) resolution studies were conducted. Phase II will be aimed at the optimization of the proposed detector design to achieve high DOI resolution, along with good energy and timing resolution. Multiple modules with the proposed design will be built and evaluated Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: Over and above the use in nuclear medicine, the new detectors should be applicable to nuclear and high energy physics, space research, homeland security, and nuclear non-proliferation