Three dimensional radiation detector

摘要

A pixelated detector assembly comprising a stack of thin detector crystals, each detector crystal having a pair of planar surfaces bound by edges substantially thinner than the dimensions of the surfaces. The stack is disposed such that the radiation to be detected is incident on one set of edges of the stack of detector crystals. The dimension of the planar surfaces in the general direction of incidence of the radiation incidence is sufficient to ensure that substantially all of the high energy photons to be detected are absorbed within the depth of the detector assembly. Each of the detector crystals has a two-dimensional pixelated anode array formed on one of its planar surfaces. A cathode is formed on its opposite planar surface, preferably covering substantially all of the surface. The position of interaction of a photon in the plane perpendicular to the direction of the incident radiation, is determined by which of the detector crystals in the stack detects the absorption, and by which of the rows of pixelated anodes in that crystal detects the absorption. The depth of interaction of a photon is determined by the location of the particular anode pixel in the above-mentioned row of pixelated anodes where the photon absorption is detected. The detector assembly is thus able to detect the point of interaction of a photon in all three dimensions.