PETALO, a new concept for a Positron Emission TOF Apparatus based on Liquid xenOn

TL;DR

This thesis introduces PETALO, a novel PET detector using liquid xenon with superior energy, spatial, and timing resolution, promising significant improvements over current systems for medical imaging.

Contribution

The work presents the design and performance of a liquid xenon-based scintillating cell that achieves unprecedented resolution and timing in PET imaging.

Findings

Energy resolution of 5% FWHM achieved

Interaction point resolution of 1 mm

Coincidence resolution time of 100-200 ps

Abstract

This master thesis presents a new type of Positron Emission TOF Apparatus using Liquid xenOn (PETALO). The detector is based in the Liquid Xenon Scintillating Cell (LXSC). The cell is a box filled with liquid xenon (LXe) whose transverse dimensions are chosen to optimize packing and with a thickness optimized to contain a large fraction of the incoming photons. The entry and exit faces of the box (relative to the incoming gammas direction) are instrumented with large silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs), coated with a wavelength shifter, tetraphenyl butadiene (TPB). The non-instrumented faces are covered by reflecting Teflon coated with TPB. In this thesis we show that the LXSC can display an energy resolution of 5% FWHM, much better than that of conventional solid scintillators such as LSO/LYSO. The LXSC can measure the interaction point of the incoming photon with a resolution in the three coordinates of 1 mm. The very fast scintillation time of LXe (2 ns) and the availability of suitable sensors and electronics permits a coincidence resolution time (CRT) in the range of 100-200 ps, again much better than any current PET-TOF system. The LXSC constitutes the core of a high-sensitivity, nuclear magnetic resonance compatible, PET device, with enhanced Time Of Flight (TOF) sensitivity.