Novel plastic scinitllators for the fully digital and MRI compatible J-PET scanner

Abstract

Jagiellonian Postitron Emission Tomography (J-PET) scanner based on plastic scintillators has been developed at the Jagiellonian University. This innovative solution enables cost effective construction of PET detector with large field of view. At present we are working on the solution which would allow for the simultaneous PET and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). For that purpose we will use silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) readout which can be applied in the strong magnetic field of the MRI scanner. In this talk we will present results of the development of a novel scintillator material (referred to as the J-PET scintillator). The purpose of the development was the elaboration of scintillator with optical properties allowing for more efficient registration of photons with SiPM array with respect to the presently available plastics scintillators and at the same time with the superior timing characteristics. The novelty of the elaborated concept lies in usage of 2-(4-styrylphenylbenzoxazole) as a scintillation additive – wavelength shifter. The substance has been used for the first time as a scintillator dopant. J-PET scintillators were manufactured via bulk polymerization of styrene or vinyltoluene and the optimal concentration of the 2-(4-styrylphenylbenzoxazole) was set by maximizing the light output and timing properties. In the talk properties of J-PET scintillators will be presented and discussed in view of its application for the PET/MR imaging, and the performance of the developed material will be compared to the properties of commercially available scintillators. Disclosure Authors disclose any relationship that may bias the presentation