# A High Count-Rate and Depth-of-Interaction Resolving Single Layered One-Side Readout Pixelated Scintillator Crystal Array for PET Applications

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel pixelated scintillator crystal array design for PET that enhances count-rate and spatial resolution, optimized through in-silico modeling, with minimal impact on energy and time resolution.

## Contribution

A new two-axis patterned reflector foil pixelated scintillator array design for PET improves count-rate and spatial resolution, validated via Monte Carlo simulations.

## Key findings

- Optimized reflector patterns enhance spatial resolution or count rate.
- Minimal impact on energy and time resolution.
- Balanced performance detector design demonstrated.

## Abstract

Organ-specific, targeted Field-of-View (FoV) Positron Emission Tomography (PET)/Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) inserts are viable solutions for a number of imaging tasks where whole-body PET/MRI systems lack the necessary sensitivity and resolution. To meet the required PET detector performance of these systems, high count-rates and effective spatial resolutions on the order of a few mm, a novel two-axis patterned reflector foil pixelated scintillator crystal array design is developed and its proof-of-concept illustrated in-silico with the Monte Carlo radiation transport modelling toolkit Geant4. It is shown that the crystal surface roughness and phased open reflector cross-section patterns could be optimised to maximise either the PET radiation detector's effective spatial resolution, or count rate before event pile up. In addition, it was illustrated that these two parameters had minimal impact on the energy and time resolution of the proposed PET radiation detector design. Finally, it is shown that a PET radiation detector with balance performance could be constructed using ground crystals and phased open reflector cross-section pattern corresponding to the middle of the tested range.