Use of a YAP:Ce matrix coupled to a position-sensitive photomultiplier for high resolution positron emission tomography

A new scintillation detector system has been designed for application in high resolution Positron Emission Tomography (PET). The detector is a bundle of small YAlO/sub 3/:Ce (YAP) crystals closely packed (0.2/spl times/0.2/spl times/3.0 cm/sup 3/), coupled to a position sensitive photomultiplier tube (PSPMT). The preliminary results obtained for spatial resolution, time resolution, energy resolution and efficiency of two such detectors working in coincidence are presented. These are 1.2 mm for the FWHM spatial resolution, 2.0 ns for the FWHM time resolution and 20% for the FWHM energy resolution at 511 keV. The measured efficiency is (44/spl plusmn/3)% with a 150 keV threshold and (20/spl plusmn/2)% with a 300 keV threshold.