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 2 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.