A Monte Carlo study of two Compton camera’s first plane detectors

Abstract

Purpose: The suitability of two possible detectors, silicon and germanium as the Compton camera’s first plane detector has been investigated using a robust Monte Carlo approach. Methods: The GEANT4 simulation software was used to simulate the radiation transport and interactions with matter. Investigations were first done by relating the impact of Doppler broadening on the Compton camera angular uncertainty, energy spectra and reconstructed source image. Then, the impact of geometry and interaction type on the Compton camera performance was evaluated as well. Results: Analyses suggest that silicon of about 1 cm thickness would be suitable as the Compton camera first plane detector. The choice of silicon is however not completely flawless, Doppler broadening for this detector material contributes as much as 7.3 mm and 2.4 mm to full-width-half-maximum image resolution at 140.5 keV and 511 keV respectively. Conclusions: It is envisioned that with improved reconstruction technique, silicon would be the best first plane detector for the Compton camera.