A New Type of Multi-element Photomultiplier Tube

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is an important fundamental tool for both clinical diagnosis and medical research. It is noninvasive medical imaging technique which provides an image of the distribution of a positron emitting radio pharmaceutical in the body. At the present time, the performance of this important instrument is limited by the properties of the available sensors. Future advances in PET system technology can only come about by performing research to improve the sensors. In the program proposed, a new PMT concept will be explored which uses a fundamentally new operating mechanism while taking advantage of some of the strengths of photomultiplier tubes. The concept combines silicon avalanche photodiode technology with PMT technology. The result should be a APD/PMT hybrid which inherently has the potential for achieving better energy resolution than standard PMT. More importantly, this serves as the foundation of the construction of multi-element APD/PMT position sensitive sensors can serve as the basis for the next generation of position sensitive PMTs.