Optimization of Parameters for a CsI(Tl) Scintillator Detector Using GEANT4-Based Monte Carlo Simulation Including Optical Photon Transport

Abstract

GEANT4-based Monte Carlo simulation has been performed for a 2"φ × 2" L cylindrical CsI(Tl) single-crystal scintillator. The simulation includes transport of incident gamma photons as well as generation and transport of optical photons in the crystal up to the coupled photodetector. An optical photon detection spectrum was generated from the number of optical photons detected at the photodetector surface per incident primary gamma photon. This spectrum is equivalent to a conventional pulse-height spectrum, apart from the fact that its abscissa is only proportional, but not equal, to the actual pulse height (volts). This has an energy resolution of about 6.5% at 662 keV arising from the light generation and transport statistics. This spectrum was compared with an experimentally recorded pulse-height spectrum (after the abscissa of both the spectra were converted to energy scale) from a gamma spectrometer based on an in-house grown 2"φ × 2" L cylindrical CsI(Tl) crystal, thereby validating the simulation code. The effects of variation of scintillation and optical properties as well as physical and surface parameters on the simulated spectrum were subsequently studied in order to identify the important parameters. The quantum efficiency of the photodetector and the matching of its spectral response with the emission spectrum of the scintillator, reflectivity of the scintillator coating material, and the absolute light yield of the scintillator were identified as the parameters that influence the pulse-height spectrum in the most dominant way. Results of simulation presented in this paper are likely to facilitate the optimization of future detector setups.