Liquid Xenon Detectors for Positron Emission Tomography

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel liquid xenon PET system using time projection chambers with avalanche photodiodes, significantly enhancing spatial resolution, image quality, and sensitivity for preclinical imaging.

Contribution

It presents a new PET design with liquid xenon TPCs and avalanche photodiodes, achieving improved resolution and sensitivity through simultaneous ionization and scintillation measurements.

Findings

Energy resolution <10% (FWHM) achievable

Sensitivity of 15% demonstrated in simulations

Prototype tests show <1 mm position resolution

Abstract

PET is a functional imaging technique based on detection of annihilation photons following beta decay producing positrons. In this paper, we present the concept of a new PET system for preclinical applications consisting of a ring of twelve time projection chambers filled with liquid xenon viewed by avalanche photodiodes. Simultaneous measurement of ionization charge and scintillation light leads to a significant improvement to spatial resolution, image quality, and sensitivity. Simulated performance shows that an energy resolution of <10% (FWHM) and a sensitivity of 15% are achievable. First tests with a prototype TPC indicate position resolution <1 mm (FWHM).