A BGO detector using a new encoding scheme for a high resolution positron emission tomograph

Abstract A new encoding scheme was preliminary evaluated on which is applicable to bismuth germanate(BGO) detector for a high resolution positron emission tomograph(PET). The detector is composed of eight equal size, 3 mm wide BGO crystals coupled to a dual moduled square photomultiplier tube(PMT) through a pair of light guides. The light guides divide the scintillation light into either module of the dual PMT, proportional to the position of scintillation. A prototype detector was assembled and tested. The positional signal distribution was better than 5.5 mm fwhm, the energy resolution was 24% fwhm, and the timing resolution with the plastic scintillation detector was 4.9 ns fwhm.