Fast and efficient detection of 511 keV photons using Cherenkov light in PbF<sub>2</sub> crystal, coupled to a MCP-PMT and SAMPIC digitization module

Canot, Clotilde; Alokhina, M.; Abbon, P.; Bard, J-P.; Bretón, D.; Delagnes, É.; Maalmi, Jihane; Tauzin, G.; Yvon, D.; Sharyy, Viatcheslav

doi:10.1088/1748-0221/14/12/p12001

Cited by 11 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…If the interacting γ has lower energy it results in further lower energy of the recoil electron. An electron with kinetic energy of 200 keV will produce on average about 4 times lower number of Cherenkov photons compared to a kinetic energy of 400 keV (Canot et al 2019). Hence gammas which are scattered in the body having less energy, produce fewer Cherenkov photons and are therefore less likely detected compared to non scattered gammas.…”

Section: Energy Resolutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A roadmap for sole Cherenkov radiators with SiPMs in TOF-PET

2021

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Time of flight positron emission tomography can strongly benefit from a very accurate time estimator given by Cherenkov radiation, which is produced upon a 511 keV positron-electron annihilation gamma interaction in heavy inorganic scintillators. While time resolution in the order of 30 ps full width at half maximum (FWHM) has been reported using MCP-PMTs and black painted Cherenkov radiators, such solutions have several disadvantages, like high cost and low detection efficiency of nowadays available MCP-PMTs. On the other hand, silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) are not limited by those obstacles and provide high photon detection efficiency with a decent time response. Timing performance of PbF 2 crystals of various lengths and surface conditions coupled to SiPMs was evaluated against a reference detector with an optimized test setup using high-frequency readout and novel time walk correction, with special attention on the intrinsic limits for one detected Cherenkov photon only. The average number of detected Cherenkov photons largely depends on the crystal surface state, resulting in a tradeoff between low photon time spread, thus good timing performance, and sensitivity. An intrinsic Cherenkov photon yield of 16.5 ± 3.3 was calculated for 2 × 2 × 3 mm 3 sized PbF 2 crystals upon 511 keV γ-deposition. After time walk correction based on the slew rate of the signal, assuming two identical detector arms in coincidence, and using all events, a time resolution of 215 ps FWHM (142 ps FWHM) was obtained for 2 × 2 × 20 mm 3 (2 × 2 × 3 mm 3 ) sized PbF 2 crystals, compared to 261 ps (190 ps) without correction. Selecting on one detected photon only, a single photon coincidence time resolution of 113 ps FWHM for black painted and 166 ps for Teflon wrapped crystals was measured for 3 mm length, compared to 145 ps (black) and 263 ps (Teflon) for 20 mm length.

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Section: Energy Resolutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A roadmap for sole Cherenkov radiators with SiPMs in TOF-PET

2021

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“…By imaging a point 511 keV gamma source placed in the center of the scanner, we obtained the timing resolution of Cherenkov scanners from a histogram of differences in the detection times (t 2 − t 1 ) of the coincidence events. The histogram of detection time differences could not be well fitted with a single Gaussian, as was also observed by other groups performing timing measurements on PbF 2 [6], [46] and BGO [22], [24]. To account for "long tails", the distribution of time differences was modeled with a double Gaussian model:…”

Section: ) Image Reconstructionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Exploring the Potential of a Cherenkov TOF PET Scanner: A Simulation Study

Razdevsek

Pestotnik²,

Križan

et al. 2023

IEEE Trans. Radiat. Plasma Med. Sci.

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The detection of annihilation photons in PET is based on scintillation light detection, but an interesting alternative is detection based on Cherenkov photons. Dense Cherenkov radiators provide an opportunity for high gamma detection efficiency -due to their high stopping power and photofraction -and excellent coincidence time resolution (CTR). However, because only a few tens of Cherenkov photons follow a gamma interaction in the radiator, the detection efficiency and the energy resolution of a pure Cherenkov detector are an issue. This work explores gamma detection efficiency and CTR of PbF2 based detectors with different surface treatments and photo-detectors covering one, two, or all crystal faces. Following the detector simulation analysis, we investigate the potential performance of a full-size Cherenkov PET scanner and quantitatively compare image quality with a commercial clinical PET scanner. We demonstrate that even though pure Cherenkov scanners have basically no energy resolution, the scatter fraction of around 50% is not prohibitively large, and images comparable to the stateof-the-art clinical PET scanner can be achieved due to improved efficiency and CTR attainable with PbF2.

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“…The RFPMT is an excellent candidate to achieve such performance when combined with a Cherenkov radiator such as crystalline PbF 2 [32,33] or TMBi liquid [34]. High resolution could also be achieved by using fast scintillator and an RFPMT with a spiral scanning system and pixelated anode [35].…”

Section: Jinst 19 C02014mentioning

confidence: 99%

Advanced picosecond precision Radio Frequency Timer

Zhamkochyan,

Kakoyan,

Abrahamyan

et al. 2024

J. Inst.

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A new type of radio frequency (RF) timing technique is presented. It is based on a helical deflector, which performs circular or elliptical sweeps of photo- or secondary electrons, accelerated to keV energies, by means of RF fields in the 500–1000 MHz range. By converting a time distribution of the electrons to a hit position distribution on a circle or ellipse, this device achieves extremely precise timing, similar to streak cameras. Detection of the scanned electrons, using a position sensitive detector based on microchannel plates and a delay line anode, resulted in a timing resolution of 10 ps, which can be potentially improved to 1 ps. RF-Timer-based single photon and heavy ion detectors have potential applications in different fields of science and industry, which include high energy nuclear physics and imaging technologies. This technique could play a crucial role in developing of sub 10 ps Time-of-Flight Positron Emission Tomography.

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Fast and efficient detection of 511 keV photons using Cherenkov light in PbF₂ crystal, coupled to a MCP-PMT and SAMPIC digitization module

Cited by 11 publications

References 55 publications

A roadmap for sole Cherenkov radiators with SiPMs in TOF-PET

A roadmap for sole Cherenkov radiators with SiPMs in TOF-PET

Exploring the Potential of a Cherenkov TOF PET Scanner: A Simulation Study

Advanced picosecond precision Radio Frequency Timer

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Fast and efficient detection of 511 keV photons using Cherenkov light in PbF2 crystal, coupled to a MCP-PMT and SAMPIC digitization module

Cited by 11 publications

References 55 publications

A roadmap for sole Cherenkov radiators with SiPMs in TOF-PET

A roadmap for sole Cherenkov radiators with SiPMs in TOF-PET

Exploring the Potential of a Cherenkov TOF PET Scanner: A Simulation Study

Advanced picosecond precision Radio Frequency Timer

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Fast and efficient detection of 511 keV photons using Cherenkov light in PbF₂ crystal, coupled to a MCP-PMT and SAMPIC digitization module