Imaging for Physicists

Radiation detection

Desired for PET: 1. High stopping efficiency 2. Good energy resolution

Scintillation detectors

• Inorganic crystal that emits visible light photons after interaction of photons with detector. • # of scintillation photons is proportional to the energy deposited in the crystal. • Important properties for application in PET: • Stopping power for 511 keV photons • Signal decay time • Light output • Intrinsic energy resolution

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ESTRO Teaching Course Advanced Imaging: PET – Basic Principles