The LSO scintillator crystal commonly used in PET scanners contains a low level of intrinsic radioactivity due to a small amount of Lu-176. This is not usually a concern in routine scanning but can become an issue in small animal imaging, especially when imaging low tracer activity levels. Previously there had been no systematic validation of simulations of this activity; this thesis discusses the validation of a GATE model of intrinsic Lu-176 against results from a bench-top pair of detectors and a Siemens Inveon preclinical PET system. The simulation results matched those from the bench-top system very well, but did not agree as well with results from the complete Inveon system due to a drop-off in system sensitivity at low energies that was not modelled. With this validation the model can now be used with confidence to predict the effects of Lu-176 activity in future PET systems.

The LSO scintillator crystal commonly used in PET scanners contains a low level of intrinsic radioactivity due to a small amount of Lu-176. This is not usually a concern in routine scanning but can become an issue in small animal imaging, especially when imaging low tracer activity levels. Previously there had been no systematic validation of simulations of this activity; this thesis discusses the validation of a GATE model of intrinsic Lu-176 against results from a bench-top pair of detectors and a Siemens Inveon preclinical PET system. The simulation results matched those from the bench-top system very well, but did not agree as well with results from the complete Inveon system due to a drop-off in system sensitivity at low energies that was not modelled. With this validation the model can now be used with confidence to predict the effects of Lu-176 activity in future PET systems.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:28:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T13:56:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Fisica, Universidade de Sao Paulo - IF/USP

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Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:28:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T13:56:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Fisica, Universidade de Sao Paulo - IF/USP

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For efficient beta detection in a mixed beta gamma field, Monte Carlo simulation models have been built to optimize the thickness of a plastic scintillator, used in whole body monitor. The simulation has been performed using MCNP/X code and different thicknesses of plastic scintillators ranging from 150 to 600 um have been used. The relationship between the thickness of the scintillator and the efficiency of the detector has been analyzed. For 150 m thickness, an experimental investigation has been conducted with different beta sources at different positions on the scintillator and the counting efficiency of the unit has been measured. Evaluated data along with experimental ones have been discussed. A thickness of 300 um to 500 um has been found to be an optimum thickness for better beta detection efficiency in the presence of low energy gamma ray. / UOIT

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:48:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T13:59:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 09304.pdf: 9069440 bytes, checksum: 9b629151d743bf36f1cfe4b92c5a25b2 (MD5) / Tese (Doutoramento) / IPEN/T / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP

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