GAMMA DETECTOR BASED ON GEIGERMODE AVALANCHE PHOTODIODES

• US 20140246594A1
• Filed: 11/08/2013
• Published: 09/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen
• Original Assignee: Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen
• Inventors: PICHLER, Bernd, KOLB, Armin, LORENZ, Eckart
• Application Number:
  US14/075,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20140246594A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/366
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/1644 using an array of optically separate scintillation elements permitting direct location of scintillations G01T1/1645 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/20183 Arrangements for preventing or correcting crosstalk, e.g. optical or electrical arrangements for correcting crosstalk
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/20185 Coupling means between the photodiode and the scintillator, e.g. optical couplings using adhesives with wavelength-shifting fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/20186 Position of the photodiode with respect to the incoming radiation, e.g. in the front of, below or sideways the scintillator
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/202 the detector being a crystal
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/208 Circuits specially adapted for scintillation detectors, e.g. for the photo-multiplier section
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/248 Silicon photomultipliers [SiPM], e.g. an avalanche photodiode [APD] array on a common Si substrate

Abstract

A Gamma Detector (25) comprises a scintillation crystal block (26) and a set of Geigermode Avalanche Photodiode (G-APD) sensor elements (11) optically coupled to at least a first surface (27) of the scintillation crystal block (26). The G-APD sensor elements (11) are arranged in at least one elongate strip (10) of G-APD sensor elements (11), said G-APD strip (10) coupled to a readout circuit at one, preferably at both of its ends (FIG. 2).

Claims

1-13. -13. (canceled)

14. A Gamma Detector comprising a scintillation crystal block having at least a first surface, a set of Geigermode Avalanche Photodiode (G-APD) sensor elements optically coupled to said first surface of the scintillation crystal block, and a first readout circuit,

the G-APD sensor elements being arranged in at least one elongate strip of G-APD sensor elements, said elongate strip having a first and a second end, and

said G-APD strip being coupled to said first readout circuit at its first end.

15. The Gamma Detector of claim 14, wherein a second readout circuit is provided and said G-APD strip is coupled to said second readout circuit at its second end.

16. The Gamma Detector of claim 14, said at least one G-APD strip comprising an arrangement of G-APD sensor elements lying side by side in a row of sensor elements, adjacent sensor elements being electrically connected to each other.

17. The Gamma Detector of claim 15, said at least one G-APD strip comprising an arrangement of G-APD sensor elements lying side by side in a row of sensor elements, adjacent sensor elements being electrically connected to each other.

18. The Gamma Detector of claim 16, said adjacent sensor elements being integral with each other.

19. The Gamma Detector of claim 17, said adjacent sensor elements being integral with each other.

20. The Gamma Detector of claim 18, said at least one G-APD strip being a monolithic strip having a length and a width, said width corresponding to at least five times, preferably to at least ten times said width.

21. The Gamma Detector of claim 19, said at least one G-APD strip being a monolithic strip having a length and a width, said width corresponding to at least five times, preferably to at least ten times said width.

22. The Gamma Detector of claim 16, said at least one G-APD strip including at least five G-APD sensor elements.

23. The Gamma Detector of claim 17, said at least one G-APD strip including at least five G-APD sensor elements.

24. The Gamma Detector of claim 14, two G-APD stripes being arranged in an elongate row with their second ends facing each other, each of the two G-APD strips having connected a first readout circuit at its first end, the second ends of the G-APD strips being electrically connected to each other.

25. The Gamma Detector of claim 14, wherein the set of G-APD sensor elements is arranged in an array of parallel G-APD strips.

26. The Gamma Detector of claim 25, the scintillation crystal block having a second surface running parallel to said first surface, wherein a second array of parallel G-APD strips is optically coupled to said second surface.

27. The Gamma Detector of claim 26, the G-APD strips in said two arrays thereof being arranged perpendicular to each other.

28. The Gamma Detector of claim 14, wherein the scintillation crystal block is a monolithic crystal block.

29. The Gamma Detector of claim 14, wherein the scintillation crystal block comprises a matrix of single scintillation crystals arranged in a matrix of rows and columns.

30. The Gamma Detector of claim 29, wherein the single crystals are optically separated from each other, preferably by interposing a reflective foil or an air gap.

31. The Gamma Detector of claim 29, within the first and second surface a single crystal having a width perpendicular to a length of the G-APD strips that is equal or less than a width of the G-APD strip.

32. The Gamma Detector of claim 30, within the first and second surface a single crystal having a width perpendicular to a length of the G-APD strips that is equal or less than a width of the G-APD strip.

33. A Gamma Detector comprising a scintillation crystal block having a first surface and a second surface running parallel to said first surface, a set of Geigermode Avalanche Photodiode (G-APD) sensor elements, and first readout circuits,

the set of G-APD sensor elements being arranged in a first and second array of parallel elongate strips of G-APD sensor elements, each said elongate strip having a first and a second end, and each said G-APD strip being coupled to a first readout circuit at its first end,

said first array of G-APD sensor elements being optically coupled to said first surface, and

said second array of parallel G-APD strips being optically coupled to said second surface,

the G-APD strips in said first and second arrays thereof being arranged perpendicular to each other.

34. The Gamma Detector of claim 33, wherein second readout circuits are provided and each said G-APD strip is coupled to a second readout circuit at its second end.

35. The Gamma Detector of claim 33, each two G-APD stripes in an array thereof being arranged in an elongate row with their second ends facing each other, each of the two G-APD strips having connected a first readout circuit at its first end, the second ends of the G-APD strips being electrically connected to each other.