Novel imaging technique for $\alpha$-particles using a fast optical camera

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel optical imaging method for alpha particles using a fast camera and scintillator, enabling high-resolution detection and localization of alpha interactions.

Contribution

The paper presents a new imaging technique combining a fast optical camera with a scintillator and a custom algorithm for alpha particle detection and localization.

Findings

High spatial resolution of alpha particle detection

Single photon sensitivity achieved by the camera

Effective discrimination of photon interactions

Abstract

A new imaging technique for $\alpha$-particles using a fast optical camera focused on a thin scintillator is presented. As $\alpha$-particles interact in a thin layer of LYSO fast scintillator, they produce a localized flash of light. The light is collected with a lens to an intensified optical camera, Tpx3Cam, with single photon sensitivity and excellent spatial & temporal resolutions. The interactions of photons with the camera is reconstructed by means of a custom algorithm, capable of discriminating single photons using time and spatial information.