Evaluation of Modular J-PET sensitivity

Abstract

The Modular J-PET represents the latest advancement in the Jagiellonian-PET series, utilizing extended plastic scintillator strips. This prototype's modular design enables cost-effective imaging of multi-photon annihilation and positronium, allowing for easy assembly, portability, and versatility. Additionally, its lightweight construction facilitates static bed examinations with a mobile detection system that can be positioned conveniently alongside the patient, negating the requirement for spacious clinical settings. Comprising 24 modules arranged in regular 24-sided polygons circumscribing a 73.9 cm diameter circle, each module integrates 13 scintillator strips, measuring 50 cm in length and 6 mm × 24 mm in cross-section. Scintillation light is captured at both ends through analog Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs). This research presents Sensitivity of the Modular J-PET tomograph, adhering to the NEMA_NU 2-2018 standards. Sensitivity measurement was performed with ⁶⁸Ge line source inside the 5 sleeves aluminium phantom placed at center of the detector`s field-of-view (FOV) and 10 cm offset from the center of detector. Analyzing the gathered data involved employing the specialized J-PET Framework software, developed within the C++ architecture. To validate the experimental findings, comparisons were made with GATE simulations, wherein the source and phantom were emulated in the same configuration as employed in the actual experiment. The system sensitivity of the Modular J-PET was assessed to be 1.03 0.02 cps/kBq in the center of the detector`s FOV with the peak sensitivity of 2.1 cps/kBq. However, the simulations indicate that at the center of the detector's FOV, the Modular J-PET achieves a system sensitivity of 1.32 0.03 cps/kBq, with a peak sensitivity of 2.9 cps/kBq.