Photodetection in the LHC experiments Joram, C.
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
12/2012, Letnik:
695
Journal Article
Recenzirano
The challenging requirements on photodetection in the LHC experiments have motivated large-scale R&D efforts on various detector technologies, which started already in the 1990s. The state-of-the-art ...of the LEP era would not have allowed satisfying the demanding needs, particularly from calorimetry and particle identification. After almost two decades of intense development, construction and integration efforts, the LHC and its four major experiments are performing in a just exemplary manner, in many respects exceeding the expectations. Hundreds of thousands of photodetectors with millions of readout channels contribute to this success story. This article aims at reviewing the main activities in photodetection, the initial achieved performance as well as some consolidation and first upgrade efforts.
The axial arrangement of long scintillation crystals is a promising concept in PET instrumentation to address the need for optimized resolution and sensitivity. Individual crystal readout and arrays ...of wavelength shifter strips placed orthogonally to the crystals lead to a 3D-detection of the annihilations photons. A fully operational demonstrator scanner, developed by the AX-PET collaboration, proved the potential of this concept in terms of energy and spatial resolution as well as sensitivity. This paper describes a feasibility study, performed on axial prototype detector modules with 100mm long LYSO crystals, read out by the novel digital Silicon Photomultipliers (dSiPM) from Philips. With their highly integrated readout electronics and excellent intrinsic time resolution, dSiPMs allow for compact, axial detector modules which may extend the potential of the axial PET concept by time of flight capabilities (TOF-PET). A coincidence time resolution of 211ps (FWHM) was achieved in the coincidence of two axial modules read out by dSiPMs, fully maintaining the demonstrated performance of the AX-PET detector.
One of the presumed pathways linking negative emotions to adverse somatic health is an overactive HPA-axis, usually indicated by elevated cortisol levels. Traditionally, research has focused on ...consciously reported negative emotions. Yet, given that the majority of information processing occurs without conscious awareness, stress physiology might also be influenced by affective processes that people are not aware of. In a 24-h ambulatory study we examined whether cortisol levels were associated with two implicit measures. Implicit affect was assessed using the Implicit Positive and Negative Affect Test, and implicit negative memory bias was assessed with the word fragment completion tasks. In 55 healthy participants, we measured subjective stress levels, worries, implicit, and explicit affect each hour during waking hours. Also, saliva samples were collected at three fixed times during the day, as well as upon waking and 30 min thereafter (cortisol awakening response). Multilevel analyses of the daytime cortisol levels revealed that the presence of an implicit negative memory bias was associated with increased cortisol levels. Additionally, implicit PA and, unexpectedly, implicit NA were negatively associated with cortisol levels. Finally, participants demonstrating higher levels of implicit sadness during the first measurement day, had a stronger cortisol rise upon awakening at the next day. Contrary to previous research, no associations between explicit affect and cortisol were apparent. The current study was the first to examine the concurrent relation between implicit measures and stress physiology in daily life. The results suggest that the traditional focus on consciously reported feelings and emotions is limited, and that implicit measures can add to our understanding of how stress and emotions contribute to daily physiological activity and, in the long term, health problems.
The AX-PET demonstrator—Design, construction and characterization Beltrame, P.; Bolle, E.; Braem, A. ...
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
10/2011, Letnik:
654, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Axial PET is a novel geometrical concept for Positron Emission Tomography (PET), based on layers of long scintillating crystals axially aligned with the bore axis. The axial coordinate is obtained ...from arrays of wavelength shifting (WLS) plastic strips placed orthogonally to the crystals. This article describes the design, construction and performance evaluation of a demonstrator set-up which consists of two identical detector modules, used in coincidence. Each module comprises 48 LYSO crystals of 100
mm length and 156 WLS strips. Crystals and strips are readout by Geiger-mode Avalanche Photo Diodes (G-APDs). The signals from the two modules are processed by fully analog front-end electronics and recorded in coincidence by a VME-based data acquisition system. Measurements with point-like
22Na sources, with the modules used both individually and in coincidence mode, allowed for a complete performance evaluation up to the focal plane reconstruction of point sources. The results obtained are in good agreement with expectations and proved the set-up to be ready for the next evaluation phase with PET phantoms filled with radiotracers.
Proof of principle of G-APD based hybrid photodetectors Joram, C.; Rudge, A.; Séguinot, J.
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
09/2010, Letnik:
621, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
We performed a proof of principle experiment which demonstrates the suitability of pixelized Geiger mode avalanche photodiodes (G-APD) for the detection of photoelectrons at energies in the 10
keV ...range. A pumped UHV set-up with CsI photocathode, illuminated by a UV flash lamp, is used to generate photoelectrons of defined energy. The results indicate that G-APDs can be considered as anodes in hybrid photodetectors with the potential of improved performance when compared to conventional photomultiplier tubes. The concept of a G-APD based HPD has advantages but also clear drawbacks. We discuss the particular case of the X-HPD where a G-APD based anode could lead to improved detection efficiency and timing as well as to a more cost-effective production process.
The measurements presented in this paper are related to the development of a PET camera based on a 3-D axial geometry with excellent 3-D spatial, timing and energy resolution. The detector modules ...consist of matrices of long axially oriented scintillation crystal bars, which are individually coupled to photodetectors. The axial coordinate is derived from wavelength shifting (WLS) plastic strips orthogonally interleaved between the crystal bars and readout by G-APD arrays. We report on results from measurements with two LYSO crystal bars, read with PMTs, and two WLS strips readout with G-APD devices from Hamamatsu (called MPPC). The WLS strips are positioned orthogonally underneath the LYSO bars. Yields of about 80 photoelectrons from the WLS strips for an energy deposition in the LYSO crystals equivalent to the absorption of 511
keV photons are observed. The axial coordinate in the LYSO bars is reconstructed with a precision of about 1.9
mm (FWHM) using a digital reconstruction method. The resolution of an analog coordinate reconstruction method, which uses the pulse height measurement from the WLS strips is 2.8
mm (FWHM). This resolution is still compromised by the availability of only two WLS strips and will improve with a full stack of LYSO crystals interleaved with WLS strip arrays, which is presently under development for a PET demonstrator set-up.
A novel concept for a positron emission tomography (PET) camera module is proposed, which provides full 3D reconstruction with high resolution over the total detector volume, free of parallax errors. ...The key components are a matrix of long scintillator crystals and hybrid photon detectors (HPDs) with matched segmentation and integrated readout electronics. The HPDs read out the two ends of the scintillator package. Both excellent spatial (x, y, z) and energy resolution are obtained. The concept allows enhancing the detection efficiency by reconstructing a significant fraction of events which underwent Compton scattering in the crystals. The proof of concept will first be demonstrated with yttrium orthoaluminate perovskite (YAP):Ce crystals, but the final design will rely on other scintillators more adequate for PET applications (e.g. LSO:Ce or LaBr3:Ce). A promising application of the proposed camera module, which is currently under development, is a high resolution 3D brain PET camera with an axial field-of-view of approximately 15 cm dedicated to brain research. The design philosophy and performance predictions based on analytical calculations and Monte Carlo simulations are presented. Image correction and reconstruction tools required to operate this transmissionless device in a research environment are also discussed. Better or similar performance parameters were obtained compared to other known designs at lower fabrication cost. The axial geometrical concept also seems to be promising for applications such as positron emission mammography.
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