A Megapixel Gamma Camera for Arms Control Verification

Lexitek proposes to develop an imaging gamma-ray detector with 1024 x 1024 pixels for arms control verification. The proposed detector significantly enhances the resolution of fissionable material distribution without compromising energy resolution. The detector consists of a scintillating crystal and associated sensors which determine the energy and position of the scintillation with high spatial, temporal, and energy resolution. The position sensing is done with a PAPA photon-counting detector. The camera can achieve sub-millimeter resolution and the position determination is performed at MHz measurements using prototype sub-systems. In Phase II, we will construct and test a standalone gamma camera. The proposed detector will have greatly improved spatial resolution. It should have application to nuclear medical imaging, gamma ray astronomy, bomb detection, and nuclear weapons monitoring.