Three-dimensional position-sensitive radiation detector and method of identifying radiation detected positions therein

摘要

A three-dimensional position-sensitive radiation detector is provided which has a three-dimensional array of photodetectors disposed on the surface of a scintillator block and which is capable of three-dimensionally identifying the position of light emission at which radiation has been detected within the detector. The three-dimensional position-sensitive radiation detector includes: a scintillator block including a central portion which restricts the direction of diffusion of light so as to direct the light in three axial directions and which has an optically discontinuous region, and an outer portion which is disposed on the outside of the central portion and which does not restrict the direction of diffusion of light; and photodetectors disposed on at least two outer circumferential surfaces of the scintillator block. The detector identifies three-dimensionally the position of light emission, thereby preventing deterioration in position discrimination performance even when inner scintillator elements are smaller than the photodetectors.

主权项

1. A three-dimensional position-sensitive radiation detector, comprising:
a scintillator block having a central portion and an outer portion, the central portion restricting a direction of diffusion of light so as to guide the light in three axial directions and having an optically discontinuous region, the outer portion being disposed outside the central portion and not restricting the direction of diffusion of light; and photodetectors disposed on at least two outer circumferential surfaces of the scintillator block, wherein a position of light emission is three-dimensionally identified, and wherein the central portion is provided with an array of a plurality of scintillator elements, and the outer portion is made up of scintillator plates.