Development of an ultrahigh resolution 1 mm Si-PM array based GGAG alpha particle imaging detector with gamma or X-ray separation capability

Abstract

For precise distribution measurements of alpha particles, as required in alpha radionuclide therapy research, a high-resolution alpha particle imaging detector is desirable. While combining a thin scintillator with a photodetector array, such as a position-sensitive photomultiplier (PSPMT), is a potential method to develop an event-by-event-based alpha particle imaging detector, the spatial resolution is currently limited to around 0.8 mm FWHM. To overcome this limitation, we utilized a small-sized Si-PM array combined with a thin GGAG plate to create an alpha particle imaging detector and evaluated its performance. In the developed alpha particle imaging detector, a Si-PM array with a channel size of 1 mm × 1 mm arranged in an 8 × 8 configuration was optically coupled to a 1 mm thick GGAG plate, with a 1-mm-thick light guide between them. Since the decay times of GGAG differ between alpha particles and gamma photons or X-rays, we were able to separately measure the distributions of alpha particles and gamma photons using pulse shape discrimination. The spatial resolution of the developed alpha particle imaging detector was 0.19 mm FWHM, and the energy resolution was 11% FWHM for 5.5 MeV alpha particles. Additionally, we were able to separately measure the distributions of alpha particles and gamma photons for simultaneously irradiated phantoms using pulse shape discrimination. The developed imaging detector shows promise for distribution measurements of alpha particles, as well as gamma photons or X-rays, where high spatial resolution and separation of gamma photons or X-rays are required.