Design considerations for application of SiPMs in nuclear imaging

Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM) detectors are attractive candidates for the replacement of Photomultipliers in nuclear imaging. They are compact, provide high gain with low Vbias and have fast response. In addition, SiPMs are not influenced by strong magnetic fields, allowing their use in the emerging field of PET-MRI. The development of small prototypes based on SiPMs posses several design challenges, since it is necessary to optimize scintillator and SiPM coupling, as well as signal amplification and digitization. The aim of this work is the characterization of two SiPM modules, in terms of energy resolution using 3 different scintillator materials and variable Vbias. We have used SensL's SPMM3020 and SPMM3035 combined with LYSO, CsI:Tl and BGO, irradiated with99mTc and 137Cs sources The best energy resolution for Tc was 18% and achieved for the SPMM3020, coupled to CsI:Tl at 31V. For 137Cs energy resolution was 10.0% and achieved for the SPMM3020 coupled to CsI(Tl) at 32.5V. © 2010 IEEE