Detailed simulation for the ClearMind prototype detection module and event reconstruction using artificial intelligence

TL;DR

This paper presents a detailed Geant4 simulation of the ClearMind TOF-PET detection module, comparing statistical and machine learning methods for event reconstruction to achieve millimeter-scale spatial resolution.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive simulation framework for the ClearMind detector and evaluates machine learning algorithms for improved event reconstruction accuracy.

Findings

Simulation includes photon propagation, photocathode response, and electrical signal modeling.

Machine learning algorithms outperform statistical methods in reconstruction precision.

Projected spatial resolution is a few millimeters (FWHM).

Abstract

The ClearMind project aims to develop the TOF-PET position sensitive detection module optimized for the time resolution, spatial resolution, and detection efficiency. For this, the ClearMind project uses a large (59 $\times$ 59 mm$^2$) monolithic PbWO$_4$ (PWO) scintillating crystal with a bialkali photo-electric layer deposited directly on the crystal. Scintillation and Cherenkov photons result together from the 511 keV gamma-ray interation into the PWO crystal. A micro-channel plate photomultiplier tube (MCP-PMT) encapsulating the PWO crystal amplifies photoelectrons generated at the photocathode, and the corresponding anode signals are collected through the transmission lines read out at both ends and digitized by a SAMPIC module. In this work, we present a realistic Geant4 simulation of the ClearMind prototype detector, including the propagation of the visible photons in the crystal, the modelling of a realistic response of the photocathode and of the PMT, and the propagation of the electrical signals over the transmission lines. The reconstruction of the gamma conversion in the detector volume is performed from the signals registered at both ends of the transmission lines. We compare the reconstruction precision of a statistical algorithm against machine learning algorithms developed using the TMVA package. We expect to reach a spatial resolution down to a few mm$^3$ (FWHM). Finally, we will discuss prospects for the ClearMind detector.