High performance $\gamma$-camera concept for PET based on liquid xenon and a gaseous photomultiplier

présenté par D. ThersThe lXe-PET project aims at initiating an international scientific cooperation to study a new generation of γ-cameras for Positron Emission Tomography (PET). Our approach consists of coupling a liquid Xe converter with an advanced large-area, fast gas-avalanche imaging photomultiplier (GPM). The foreseen method is based on detecting both the ionization and Xe scintillation signals, to provide the three coordinates and the energy of the converted γ. For that purpose, we will develop ionization detectors based on Micromegas or PIM (Parallel Ionization Multiplier) operating in liquid Xenon and cryogenic GPMs with CsI photocathodes for the detection of the scintillation signal; these will include: multi-GEMs (Gas Electron Multipliers), Thick GEM-like multipliers (THGEM), PIM, glass capillary plates and wire-type. Expected characteristics of such γ-camera will be presented