NaI(T1) scintillator read out with SiPM array for gamma spectrometer

作者：Huang, Tuchen; Fu, Qibin; Lin, Shaopeng; Wang, Biao^*

来源：Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment , 2017, 851: 118-124.

DOI：10.1016/j.nima.2017.01.068

• Gamma spectrometry
• SiPM
• NaI(TI)
• Energy resolution

The Nal(T1) scintillator is widely used in gamma spectrometer with photomultiplier tube (PMT) readout. Recently developed silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) offers gain and efficiency similar to those of PMT, but with merits such as low bias voltage, compact volume, low cost, high ruggedness and magnetic resonance compatibility. In this study, 2 -in. and 1 -in. Na!(T1) scintillators were readout with SiPM arrays, which were made by tiling multiple SiPMs each with an active area of 6x6 mm(2) on a printed circuit board. The energy resolutions for 661.6 keV gamma rays, obtained with phi 2x2 in. scintillator coupled to 6x6 ch SiPM array and phi 1 x1 in. scintillator coupled to 4x4 ch SiPM array were 7.6% and 7.8%, respectively, and were very close to the results obtained with traditional bialkali PMT (7.3% and 7.6%, respectively). Scintillator coupled to photodetector with smaller area was also studied by adding a light guide or using scintillator with tapered head. The latter showed better performance than using light guide. The 1 -in. NaI(T1) scintillator with tapered head coupled. to 2x2 ch SiPM array achieved 7.7% energy resolution at 661.6 keV, the same as that obtained with standard Phi 21x1 in. scintillator coupled to 4x4 ch SiPM array. While the 2-in. scintillator with similar geometry showed degraded energy resolution, 10.2% at 661.6 keV, but could still be used when high efficiency is preferred over energy resolution.

• 单位
  中山大学