Unidimensional array 3-D position sensitive ionization detector
First Claim
1. A method for determining the position of energetic particle interactions within a detector, the method comprising:
- providing a drift medium within the detector;
allowing an energetic particle to interact with the drift medium and thereby produce ionization electrons at an interaction location;
generating an interaction signal indicating that an interaction between the energetic particle and the drift medium has occurred;
establishing a drift field within the drift medium whereby the ionization electrons are directed toward an induction array and a collector; and
detecting the ionization electrons at the induction array for determining at least one coordinate corresponding to the interaction location.
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Abstract
The present invention provides an improved gamma ray detector module and a method of operating such a detector module for more accurately determining the position of a gamma ray interaction within the detector. The detector module includes an induction array arranged at an offset angle relative other arrays utilized in the detector, whereby the relative timing of the detection of ionization electrons by the induction array and a collector or anode indicate at least one coordinate corresponding to the location of the interaction that produced the ionization electron. This secondary locating apparatus and method supplements or replaces conventional locating apparatus and methods for improving the accuracy or reducing the complexity of the detection apparatus.
55 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for determining the position of energetic particle interactions within a detector, the method comprising:
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providing a drift medium within the detector;
allowing an energetic particle to interact with the drift medium and thereby produce ionization electrons at an interaction location;
generating an interaction signal indicating that an interaction between the energetic particle and the drift medium has occurred;
establishing a drift field within the drift medium whereby the ionization electrons are directed toward an induction array and a collector; and
detecting the ionization electrons at the induction array for determining at least one coordinate corresponding to the interaction location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A gamma ray detector for determining the position of gamma ray interaction comprising:
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an active region containing a drift medium that will emit ionization electrons in response to an interaction between the drift medium and a gamma ray at an interaction location;
a device for detecting the interaction for setting an initial time in response to the interaction;
an energizable array for inducing a drift field in the drift medium, the drift field being sufficient to induce the ionization electrons to move through the drift medium at a drift velocity toward a selective shield array, an induction array and a collector, wherein the induction array is arranged in an offset alignment relative to the shield array and the collector; and
a processor for calculating at least one coordinate of the interaction location based on detection of the ionization electrons by the induction array. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification