Monte Carlo Based Study on Influence of SiPM Specification on Detector Performance for PET/MR

by Jozef Pulko (TUM - Klinikum Rechts der Isar)

Wednesday 7 Dec 2011, 11:00 → 12:30 Europe/Berlin

3268 (E18 Seminar Room)

The silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) is a photodetector consisting of an array of single-channel APDs (cells) operated in limited Geiger-mode. SiPMs are attractive for combined PET/MR imaging because they offer a number of advantages compared to other photodetectors. But, the characteristics of their signal is complicated due to dark counts, strong temperature dependence, nonlinear response, optical inter-pixel crosstalk, after pulses, and wavelength and operation voltage dependent sensitivity. Some of these effects can be reduced during production and some can be optimized with carefully chosen operating parameters. Different SiPMs are available at the moment and there is a strong ongoing development towards improving current SiPMs. Precise models of SiPM signal generation are necessary to find the optimal parameters for a specific task. In this study, we validated a realistic model describing the signal of a SiPM, which includes all important characteristics of a SiPM. The model was compared with experimental data of a dark count spectrum of SiPM and SiPM illuminated with blue LED. A good agreement between the model and the experimental data has been shown. The model offers the opportunity to study the influence of the specific parameters of the detector on its performance. Manufacturers could get important results for SiPM parameters which would direct the production and also the users could optimize the operating parameters for specific application with the help of this model.