Nuclear Engineering and Technology

Korean Nuclear Society (한국원자력학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Improving light collection efficiency using partitioned light guide on pixelated scintillator-based γ-ray imager

  • Hyeon, Suyeon (Department of Nuclear and Energy Engineering, Jeju National University) ;
  • Hammig, Mark (Department of Nuclear Engineering & Rad. Sci., University of Michigan-Ann Arbor) ;
  • Jeong, Manhee (Department of Nuclear and Energy Engineering, Jeju National University)
  • Received : 2021.08.20
  • Accepted : 2021.12.01
  • Published : 2022.05.25
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

When gamma-camera sensor modules, which are key components of radiation imagers, are derived from the coupling between scintillators and photosensors, the light collection efficiency is an important factor in determining the effectiveness with which the instrument can identify nuclides via their derived gamma-ray spectra. If the pixel area of the scintillator is larger than the pixel area of the photosensor, light loss and cross-talk between pixels of the photosensor can result in information loss, thereby degrading the precision of the energy estimate and the accuracy of the position-of-interaction determination derived from each active pixel in a coded-aperture based gamma camera. Here we present two methods to overcome the information loss associated with the loss of photons created by scintillation pixels that are coupled to an associated silicon photomultiplier pixel. Specifically, we detail the use of either: (1) light guides, or (2) scintillation pixel areas that match the area of the SiPM pixel. Compared with scintillator/SiPM couplings that have slightly mismatched intercept areas, the experimental results show that both methods substantially improve both the energy and spatial resolution by increasing light collection efficiency, but in terms of the image sensitivity and image quality, only slight improvements are accrued.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This research was supported by the 2021 scientific promotion program funded by Jeju National University.

References

  1. G. Amoyal, V. Schoepff, F. Carrel, M. Michel, N.B. de Lanaute, J.C. Angelique, Development of a hybrid gamma camera based on Timepix3 for nuclear industry applications, Nucl. Instrum. Methods A. 987 (2021), 164838, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2020.164838.
  2. Y. Sato, K. Minemoto, M. Nemoto, T. Torii, Construction of virtual reality system for radiation working environment reproduced by gamma-ray imagers combined with SLAM technologies, Nucl. Instrum. Methods A. 976 (2020), 164286, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2020.164286.
  3. Y. Sato, K. Minemoto, M. Nemoto, T. Torii, Automatic data acquisition for visualizing radioactive substances by combining a gamma-ray imager and an autonomous mobile robot, J. Instrum. 16 (1) (2021), P01020, https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221/16/01/P01020.
  4. Y. Sato, K. Minemoto, M. Nemoto, T. Torii, Remote radiation imaging system using a compact gamma-ray imager mounted on a multicopter drone, J. Nucl. Sci. Technol. 55 (2017) 90-96, https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2017.1383211.
  5. T. Lazna, P. Gabrlik, T. Jilek, L. Zalud, Cooperation between an unmanned aerial vehicle and an unmanned ground vehicle in highly accurate localization of gamma radiation hotspots, Int. J. Adv. Robot. 15 (1) (2018) 1-16, https://doi.org/10.1177/1729881417750787.
  6. T.B. Cochran, C.E. Paine, The Amount of Plutonium and Highly-Enriched Uranium Needed for Pure Fission Nuclear Weapons, 1995. NRDC.
  7. J. Dreyer, M. Burks, E. Hull, Next Generation Germanium Systems for Safeguards Applications (IAEA-CN-220), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), 2015, p. 46.
  8. M. Jeong, B. Van, B.T. Wells, L.J. D'Aries, M.D. Hammig, Scalable gamma-ray camera for wide-area search based on silicon photomultipliers array, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 89 (2018), 033106, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5016563.
  9. M. Jeong, M. Hammig, Development of hand-held coded-aperture gamma ray imaging system based on GAGG (Ce) scintillator coupled with SiPM array, Nucl. Eng. Technol. 52 (2020) 2572-2580, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.net.2020.04.009.
  10. S. Park, J. Boo, M. Hammig, M. Jeong, Impact of aperture-thickness on the real-time imaging characteristics of coded-aperture gamma cameras, Nucl. Eng. Technol. 53 (2020) 1266-1276, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.net.2020.09.012.
  11. J. Boo, M.D. Hammig, M. Jeong, Row-column readout method to mitigate radiographic-image blurring from multipixel events in a coded-aperture imaging system, IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci. 68 (5) (2021) 1175-1183, https://doi.org/10.1109/TNS.2021.3066414.
  12. H3D, H100 Gamma-ray Imaging Spectrometer, Available on http://h3dgamma.com/H100Specs.pdf.
  13. Mirion Technologies, Inc., IPIX Ultra Portable Gamma-Ray Imaging System, Available on, http://mirion.s3.amzonaws.com/cms4_mirion/files/pdf/specsheets/doc010883en-d_ipix-ultra-portable-gamma-ray-imaging-system.pdf?1578316587.
  14. M.P. Taggart, M. Nakhostin, P.J. Sellin, Investigation into the potential of GAGG:Ce as a neutron detector, Nucl. Instrum. Methods 931 (2019) 121-126, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2019.04.009.
  15. M. Jeong, B. Van, B.T. Wells, L.J. D'Aries, M.D. Hammig, Comparison between pixelated scintillators: CsI(Tl), LaCl3(Ce) and LYSO(Ce) when coupled to a silicon photomultipliers array, Nucl. Instrum. Methods A. 893 (2018) 75-83, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2018.03.024.
  16. S. Kumar, M. Herzkamp, S. van Waasen, Nonlinearity simulation of digital SiPM response for inhomogeneous light, IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci. 68 (3) (2021) 354-358, https://doi.org/10.1109/TNS.2021.3049675.
  17. M. Jeong, M.D. Hammig, Comparison of gamma ray localization using system matrixes obtained by either MCNP simulations or ray-driven calculations for a coded-aperture imaging system, Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. 954 (2020), 161353, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2018.10.031.
  18. J-series SiPM Sensors: Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPM), High PDE and Timing Resolution Sensors in a TSV Package. Available on https://www.onsemi.com/pdf/datasheet/microj-series-d.pdf.
  19. C-series SiPM Sensors: Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPM), Low-Noise, BlueSensitive C-Series SiPM Sensors. Available on https://www.onsemi.com/pdf/datasheet/microc-series-d.pdf.
  20. Y.A. Syahbana, Herman, A.A. Rahman, K.A. Baker, Aligned-PSNR(APSNR) for Objective Video Quality Measurement (VQM) in Video Stream over Wireless and Mobile Network, World Congress on Information and Communication Technologies (WCIT), 2011, pp. 330-335, https://doi.org/10.1109/WICT.2011.6141267.
  21. A. Hore, D. Ziou, Image quality metrics: PSNR vs. SSIM, Proc. ICPR 34 (2010) 2366-2367, https://doi.org/10.1109/ICPR.2010.579.
  22. C. Zhao, et al., Development of a modular high-sensitivity high-uniformity gamma camera for radiation monitoring applications, Nucl. Instrum. Methods 1003 (2021), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2021.165340.
  23. Technical Capability Standard for Handheld instruments used for the detection and identification of radionuclides, Document #: 500-DNDO-117250v0.00, Domestic nuclear detection Office (DNDO), Oct. 2011. https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/dndo-tcs-for%20handheld.pdf.
  24. O. Gal, C. Izac, F. Jean, F. Laine, C. Leveque, A. Nguyen, CARTOGAM - a portable gamma camera for remote localization of radioactive sources in nuclear facilities, Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. 460 (2001) 138-145, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-9002(00)01108-6.
  25. O. Gal, F. Jean, The cartogam portable gamma imaging system, IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci. 47 (2000) 952-956, https://doi.org/10.1109/23.856725.
  26. O. Gal, B. Dessus, F. Jean, F. Laine, C. Leveque, Operation of the CARTOGAM portable gamma camera in a photon-counting mode, IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci. 48 (2001) 1198-1204, https://doi.org/10.1109/23.958750.
  27. M. Gmar, M. Agelou, F. Carrel, V. Schoepff, GAMPIX: a new generation of gamma camera, Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. 652 (1) (2011) 638-640, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2010.09.003.
  28. Y. Ueno, et al., Development of a high sensitivity pinhole type gamma camera using semiconductors for low dose rate fields, Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. 893 (2018) 15-25, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2018.03.008.
  29. O.P. Ivanov, L.A. Semin, V.N. Potapov, V.E. Stepanov, Extra-light Gamma-Ray Imager for Safeguards and Homeland Security, 2015 4th Int. Conf. Adv. Nucl. Instrum. Meas. Methods Their Appl. (ANIMMA 2015), Institute of Electronics Engineers Inc., 2015, https://doi.org/10.1109/ANIMMA.2015.7465584.