A Portable Compton Gamma-Ray Camera Design

The purpose of this research is to investigate the angular resolution, efficiency, and energy resolution possible from a portable Compton camera gamma ray imaging system for possible use in the field of nuclear nonproliferation. The proposed device uses room temperature semiconductor and position sensitive scintillation detectors. The position and energy resolution (and their energy dependence) of a room temperature lithium drifted silicon (Si(Li)) detector and a position sensitive thallium -doped sodium iodide (NaI(Tl)) scintillation detector are investigated. The position and energy resolution of the position sensitive scintillation detector is also modeled computationally, and the results compared to measured data. An efficiency model is also presented. The angular resolution, efficiency, and energy resolution of the proposed system are calculated. The same computational methods are then applied to a hypothetical position sensitive Thallium doped cesium iodide (CsI(Tl)) scintillator. Based on the results, the angular resolution and energy resolution of a system employing this type of position sensitive detector coupled to the same room temperature Si(Li) detector is predicted