Modelling Monolithic Scintillator Detectors for Positron Emission Tomography

This volume investigates the use, design and modelling of monolithic scintillation detectors as an alternative for high resolution Positron Emission Tomography (PET). Many detectors currently used for high resolution PET utilize scintillating crystals coupled to photo-multiplier tubes. But such detectors tend not to be sufficiently sensitive, neither do they correct for depth of interaction. Monolithic scintillation detectors offer a promising alternative which overcomes these problems. They potentially have both a higher sensitivity and improved resolution. This work examines the performance of such detectors and seeks to attain a qualitative and quantitative understanding of the relationship between the properties shape, dimensions, materials used etc. - and the performance of the detector. For this reason, a major part of the book is devoted to the modeling of detectors, outlining both the use of Monte Carlo simulations and alternative modeling methods.