Research and development of a high-energy radiation imaging system based on SiPM and coding aperture

Abstract

A high-energy radiation imaging system is presented which is based on the scintillation method. To detect and visualize high-energy radiation, a SiPM array is used together with a CsI(Tl) scintillation crystal. At the current stage of development, gamma or X-ray sources are not used to verify the operation of the system and initiate scintillation. Instead of them, vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation is used. The possibility of using a VUV lamp as a source of high-energy radiation has been proven computationally and experimentally. This allows eliminating the use of sources of gamma or X-ray radiation and special protective equipment at the initial stage of development. A coded aperture is used as an imaging device. It is made by laser evaporation of titanium sputtering from the surface of a transparent substrate. The results of this study show methods and materials which allow investigating the high-energy radiation imaging system at the initial stage without using sources of hazardous radiation.