High resolution Time of Flight determination based on reconfigurable logic devices for future PET/MR systems

Abstract This contribution shows how to perform Time of Flight (TOF) measurements in PET systems using low-cost Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) devices with a resolution better of 100 ps. This is achieved with a proper management of the FPGA internal resources and with an extremely careful device calibration process including both temperature and voltage compensation. Preliminary results are reported.

Interobserver variability in rectum contouring in high-dose-rate brachytherapy for prostate cancer: A multi-institutional prospective analysis

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the interobserver variability (KW) of rectum contouring, and its dosimetric consequences, for high-dose-rate brachytherapy in patients with prostate cancer across multiple institutions. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Five radiation oncologists contoured rectums in 10 patients on transperineal ultrasound image sets after establishing a delineation consensus. The D-0.1cc, D-1cc, and D-2cc rectum volume parameters were determined. The mean, standard deviation, and range of each dose-volume histogram parameter were evaluated for each patient. The JOY was determined using the coefficient of variation, and the dosimetric impacts on the total dose were analyz…

Depth of /spl gamma/-ray interaction within continuous crystals from the width of its scintillation light-distribution

We have studied a new and inexpensive method of measuring the depth of interaction (DOI) in /spl gamma/-ray detectors with large-sized scintillation crystals. This method takes advantage of the strong correlation between the width of the undisturbed light-distribution in continuous crystals and the /spl gamma/-ray's DOI. In order to quantify the dependence of the distribution's width with respect to the DOI, we first studied an analytical model of the light-distribution and tested it by means of Monte Carlo (MC) simulations of the light transport inside the crystal. Further we present an inexpensive modification of the commonly used charge division circuit that allows analog and instantaneo…

Detector blockbased on arrays of 144 SiPMs and monolithic scintillators: A performane study

[EN] We have developed a detector block composed by a monolithic LYSO scintillator coupled to a custom made 12 12 SiPMs array. The design is mainly focused to applications such as Positron Emission Tomography. The readout electronics is based on 3 identical and scalable Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC). We have determined the main performance of the detector block namely spatial, energy, and time resolution but also the system capability to determine the photon depth of interaction, for different crystal surface treatments. Intrinsic detector spatial resolution values as good as 1.7 mm FWHM and energies of 15% for black painted crystals were measured. & 2014 Elsevier B.V. All…

Measurement of the lifetime of tau-lepton

The tau lepton lifetime is measured with the L3 detector at LEP using the complete data taken at centre-of-mass energies around the Z pole resulting in tau_tau = 293.2 +/- 2.0 (stat) +/- 1.5 (syst) fs. The comparison of this result with the muon lifetime supports lepton universality of the weak charged current at the level of six per mille. Assuming lepton universality, the value of the strong coupling constant, alpha_s is found to be alpha_s(m_tau^2) = 0.319 +/- 0.015(exp.) +/- 0.014 (theory). The tau lepton lifetime is measured with the L3 detector at LEP using the complete data taken at centre-of-mass energies around the Z pole resulting in τ τ =293.2 ± 2.0 (stat) ± 1.5 (syst) fs . The c…

Impact of the scattering coefficient of scintillation crystals (LYSO and LSO) on depth of interaction resolution

Intrinsic parameters in scintillation crystals play a crucial role in the measured spatial and energy resolutions. In many cases the measurement of these intrinsic parameters is difficult to be carried out or even there are parameters that need a specific setup to be measured directly, e.g. the intrinsic light yield and the absorption and scattering coefficients. These uncertainties in the parametrization of the characteristics of the scintillation crystals make it quite difficult to evaluate the quality and characteristics of the scintillation crystals and their impact on the resolutions. Results of measurements of depth of interaction and its resolutions for three different scintillation …

A search for neutral higgs particles in Z$^0$ decays

Abstract The search in DELPHI data for neutral Higgs bosons is described. No candidate for the Standard Model Higgs is seen in Z0 decays to H 0 ν ν , H 0 μ + μ − or H0τ+τ− after selections that proved efficient for finding simulated H0. One remaining candidate for Z0 → H0e+e− is consistent with background. Together with our earlier studies, these results restrict the H0 mass to be above 38 GeV/c2 at the 95% confidence level. No signal is found for decays of Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model neutral Higgs bosons to τ+τ−. Limits are obtained for their decays to produce four jets.

Impact of crystal quality, geometry and surface finish for 3D impact position measurements in gamma ray detection systems

We have studied several ways of optimizing the 3D impact position measurements for gamma ray imaging detectors based on continuous monolithic large sized and thick scintillation crystals. The readout of such detectors is performed with position sensitive photo multipliers and with a depth of interaction (DOI) enhanced charge division readout. We have studied the effect of the crystal truncation angle, the reflective covering and the absorption and scattering mean free paths of the crystal. In particular, we have simulated and measured the impact on the energy resolution and the 3D spatial resolution. The results show that by optimization of the accessible crystal parameters we can enhance t…

A Search for Sleptons and Gauginos in Z0 Decays

Using a data sample corresponding to 10 000 hadronic Z0 decays, we have searched for the production of sleptons and gauginos in the two-prong decays of Z0. No candidate remains after straightforward selections. For neutralinos, we use selection methods developed in our previous search for neutral Higgs particles. The negative results are translated into improved mass limits and parameter constraints on the minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model.

Search for heavy charged scalars in Z$^0$ Decays

Using a sample of Z0's corresponding to about 12 000 events, we have searched for the production of charged scalars, primarily charged Higgs particles, decaying into c̄scs̄, τν+jets, and τντν. The average detection efficiency is 20%. No candidate was found in the leptonic modes. Masses in the range up to 30-36 GeV/c2 are excluded, extending the mass domain covered by previous e+e- machines.

Position sensitive scintillator based detector improvements by means of an integrated front-end

PESIC is an integrated front-end for multianode photomultiplier based nuclear imaging devices. Its architecture has been designed to improve position sensitive detectors behavior by equalizing its response over its whole area. Its preamplying stage introduces two main benefits: digitally programmable gain adjustment for every photomultiplier output, and isolation from other front-end electronics by means of current buffers. This last feature allows to use different types of photomultipliers and optimizes front-end deadtime, reducing impact position dependent output delay. PESIC also includes an indirect measurement of the depth of interaction of the gamma ray inside the scintillator crystal…

A comparison of jet production rates on the Z0 resonance to perturbative QCD

The production rates for 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-jet hadronic final states have been measured with the DELPHI detector at the e+e- storage ring LEP at centre of mass energies around 91.5 GeV. Fully corrected data are compared to O(αs 2) QCD matrix element calculations and the QCD scale parameter ΛMS is determined for different parametrizations of the renormalization scale μ2. Including all uncertainties our result is αs(MZ 2)=0.114±0.003[stat.]±0.004[syst.]±0.012[theor.] .

Timing results using an FPGA-based TDC with large arrays of 144 SiPMs

Silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) have become an alternative to traditional tubes due to several features. However, their implementation to form large arrays is still a challenge especially due to their relatively high intrinsic noise, depending on the chosen readout. In this contribution, two modules composed of SiPMs with an area of roughly mm mm are used in coincidence. Coincidence resolving time (CRT) results with a field-programmable gate array, in combination with a time to digital converter, are shown as a function of both the sensor bias voltage and the digitizer threshold. The dependence of the CRT on the sensor matrix temperature, the amount of SiPM active area and the crystal type…

Assessing the Relationship Between Dose-Volume Histogram Parameters and Late Rectal Toxicity in HDR Brachytherapy for Prostate Cancer

Next generation of the Albira small animal PET based on high density SiPM arrays

A new design of the small animal PET Albira system which detectors are based on arrays of SiPMs and monolithic LYSO scintillator is presented here. The system is made out of 3 rings of 8 detectors each, resulting on an axial and transaxial FOVs of 148 and 80 mm, respectively. The scanner is thermally stabilized using air-cooling. Working temperatures around 22–25°C are reached with individual detector variations around 0.2°C minimizing dark count rates and gain drifts. One of the most significant improvements of the current system is the accurate photon impact determination within the crystal volume, specially its depth of interaction. This allows the calculation of the true line of respons…

DOI measurement with monolithic scintillation crystals: A primary performance evaluation

We report a first assessment of image quality enhancement achieved by the implementation of depth of interaction detection with monolithic crystals. The method of interaction depth measurement is based on analogue computation of the standard deviation with an enhanced charge divider readout. This technique of depth of interaction detection was developed in order to provide fast and determination of this parameter at a reasonable increase of detector cost. The detector consists of an large-sized monolithic scintillator coupled to a position sensitive photomultiplier tube. A special design feature is the flat-topped pyramidal shape of the crystal. This reduces image compression near the edges…

Searches for heavy neutrinos from Z decays

We have searched for possible fourth family heavy neutrinos, pair produced in Z0 decays, in a sample of about 112 000 hadronic Z0 final states collected with the DELPHI detector. For all mixing matrix elements we exclude a new Dirac neutrino lighter than 44.5 GeV at a 95% confidence level, if the neutrino couples to the electron or muon family, and lighter than 44.0 GeV, if the neutrino couples to the tau family. Depending on the values of the mixing element and to which lepton family the neutrino couples, we obtain mass limits up to 46.2 GeV. For all mixing matrix elements we exclude a new Majorana neutrino lighter than 39.0 GeV, if it couples to the electron or the muon family, and lighte…

Search For Light Neutral Higgs Particles Produced In Z0-decays

A search for the neutral Higgs boson in Z0-decays has been performed using the DELPHI detector at the Large Electron Positron collider (LEP) at CERN. We looked for the decay of Z0 into a neutral Higgs particle and a pair of fermions. No events fulfilled the criteria for H0-production. Our results, which are based on an integrated luminosity of 530 nb-1, exclude a minimal Standard Model Higgs boson with a mass in the range 210 MeV/c2 to 14 GeV/c2 at 95% confidence level.

Maximum likelihood positioning for gamma-ray imaging detectors with depth of interaction measurement

Abstract The center of gravity algorithm leads to strong artifacts for gamma-ray imaging detectors that are based on monolithic scintillation crystals and position sensitive photo-detectors. This is a consequence of using the centroids as position estimates. The fact that charge division circuits can also be used to compute the standard deviation of the scintillation light distribution opens a way out of this drawback. We studied the feasibility of maximum likelihood estimation for computing the true gamma-ray photo-conversion position from the centroids and the standard deviation of the light distribution. The method was evaluated on a test detector that consists of the position sensitive …

Time response of avalanche photodiodes as a function of the internal gain

Abstract Using a red LED and a blue laser as a light source, time response of avalanche photodiodes and Metal-Resistive Silicon (MRS) layer avalanche photodiodes [1] has been measured. A strong dependence of the time resolution on the internal gain has been observed. The obtained results show that the increase of the internal gain improves the time resolution. However, there exists a critical value for the internal gain. Beyond this value a deterioration of the time resolution is observed.

A study of intermittency in Hadronic Z$^0$ Decays

The correlations in rapidity in hadron production from e+e- annihilation near the Z0 resonance were studied by means of the method of factorial moments, using data taken with the DELPHI detector at LEP. The parton shower hadronization model was found to be in quantitative agreement with the data, in contrast with previous results at lower energies. © 1990.

Time of flight measurements based on FPGA using a breast dedicated PET

In this work the implementation of a Time-to-Digital Converter (TDC) using a Nutt delay line FPGA-based and applied on a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) device is going to be presented in order to check the system’s suitability for Time of Flight (TOF) measurements. In recent years, FPGAs have shown great advantages for precise time measurements in PET. The architecture employed for these measurements is described in detail. The system developed was tested on a dedicated breast PET prototype, composed of LYSO crystals and Positive Sensitive Photomultipliers (PSPMTs). Two distinct experiments were carried out for this purpose. In the first test, system linearity was evaluated in order to …

QR-Factorization Algorithm for Computed Tomography (CT): Comparison With FDK and Conjugate Gradient (CG) Algorithms

[EN] Even though QR-factorization of the system matrix for tomographic devices has been already used for medical imaging, to date, no satisfactory solution has been found for solving large linear systems, such as those used in computed tomography (CT) (in the order of 106 equations). In CT, the Feldkamp, Davis, and Kress back projection algorithm (FDK) and iterative methods like conjugate gradient (CG) are the standard methods used for image reconstruction. As the image reconstruction problem can be modeled by a large linear system of equations, QR-factorization of the system matrix could be used to solve this system. Current advances in computer science enable the use of direct methods for…

Position sensitive photosensors based on SiPM arrays

A precise measurement of the Z resonance parameters through its hadronic decays

A measurement of the cross section for e+e-→ hadrons using 11 000 hadronic decays of the Z boson at ten different center-of-mass energies is presented. A three-parameter fit gives the following values for the Z mass MZ, the total width ΓZ, the product of the electronic and hadronic partial widths ΓeΓh, and the unfolded pole cross section σ0: MZ = 91.171 ± 0.030 (stat.) ± 0.030 (beam) GeV, ΓZ = 2.511 ± 0.065 GeV, ΓeΓh = 0.148 ± 0.006 (stat.) ± 0.004 (syst.) GeV2, σ0 = 41.6 ± 0.7 (stat.) ± 1.1 (syst.) nb, Good agreement with the predictions of the standard model is observed. From a two-parameter fit the number of massless neutrino generations is found to be Nv = 2.91 ± 0.26. Thus the hypothes…

Time of flight measurements based on FPGA and SiPMs for PET–MR

Coincidence time measurements with SiPMs have shown to be suitable for PET/MR systems. The present study is based on 3 x 3 mm(2) SiPMs, LSO crystals and a conditioning signal electronic circuit. A Constant Fraction Discriminator (CFD) is used to digitalize the signals and a TDC FPGA-implemented is employed for fine time measurements. TDC capability allows processing the arrival of multiple events simultaneously, measuring times under 100 ps. The complete set-up for time measurements results on a resolution of 892 +/- 41 ps for a pair of detectors. The details of such implementation are exposed and the trade-offs of each configuration are discussed. (C) 2013 Elsevier By, All rights reserved,

Study of the leptonic decays of the Z0 boson

Measurements are presented of the cross section ratios Rℓ = σℓ(e+e-→ℓ+ℓ -)/σhh(e+e-→hadrons) for ℓ = e, μ and τ using data taken from a scan around the Z0. The results are Re = (5.09±0.32±0.18)%, Rμ = (4.96±0.35±0.17)% and Rτ,=(4.72±0.38± 0.29)% where, for the ratio Re, the t-channel contribution has been subtracted. These results are consistent with the hypothesis of lepton universality and test this hypothesis at the energy scale s ∼ 8300 GeV2. The absolute cross sections σℓ(e+e-→ℓ +ℓ-) have also been measured. From the cross sections the leptonic partial widths Γe = (83.2±3.0±2.4) MeV, (ΓeΓμ) 1/2=(84.6±3.0±2.4) MeV and (ΓeΓτ) 1/2=(82.6±3.3±3.2) MeV have been extracted. Assuming lepton un…

Optimization of a Time-to-Digital Converter and a coincidence map algorithm for TOF-PET applications

This contribution describes the optimization of a multichannel high resolution Time-to-Digital Converter (TDC) in a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) initially capable of obtaining time resolutions below 100ps for multiple channels. Due to its fast propagation capability it has taken advantage of the FPGA internal carry logic for accurate time measurements. Furthermore, the implementation of the TDC has been performed in different clock regions and tested with different frequencies as well, achieving improvements of up to 50% for a pair of channels. Moreover, since the TDC is potentially going to be used in a trigger system for Positron Emission Tomography (PET), the algorithm for coinci…

High-dose-rate brachytherapy boost for prostate cancer: Analysis of dose-volume histogram parameters for predicting late, rectal toxicity

PURPOSE: To determine the significance of dose-volume histogram parameters for predicting late rectal toxicity (LRT) after single-fraction high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDRBT) boost and external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) in prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three hundred patients with intermediate- or high-risk prostate cancer were included between August 2010 and March 2015. Treatment comprised a single-fraction HDRBT boost of 15.0 Gy plus EBRT (46.0 Gy delivered in 23 fractions) or an HDRBT boost of 9.5 Gy plus EBRT (60.0 Gy delivered in 30 fractions) if the seminal vesicles were infiltrated using real-time transrectal ultrasound-based planning. LRT was evaluated every 3 months after…

Macrolides May Prevent Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Entry into Cells: A Quantitative Structure Activity Relationship Study and Experimental Validation

The global pandemic caused by the emerging severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is threatening the health and economic systems worldwide. Despite the enormous efforts of scientists and clinicians around the world, there is still no drug or vaccine available worldwide for the treatment and prevention of the infection. A rapid strategy for the identification of new treatments is based on repurposing existing clinically approved drugs that show antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this study, after developing a quantitative structure activity relationship analysis based on molecular topology, several macrolide antibiotics are identified as promising SARS-…

Search for scalar quarks in Z0 decays

A search has been made for pairs of scalar quarks (squarks) produced in e+e- annihilations at LEP (√s≃MZ0), and decaying into a standard quark and a neutral, non-interacting, stable, massive particle (the lightest supersymmetric particle, LSP). The search has been conducted for differences in the mass of the squark and LSP of 2 GeV/c2 and above. Up squarks with masses below 42 GeV/c2 and down squarks below 43 GeV/c2 were excluded. Six squark flavours degenerate in mass were excluded below 45 GeV/c2.

Multiplicity dependence of mean transverse momentum in $e^+e^-$ annihilations at LEP energies

A strong increase of the mean transverse momentum [p(t)] with the number of charged particles n(ch) is observed in e+e- annihilations into hadrons at LEP energies, The effect resembles correlations observed in hadron-hadron interactions. In e+e- annihilations the [p(t)] and n(ch) correlations can be accounted for by gluon radiation.

Charged particle multiplicity distributions in restricted rapidity intervals in Z0 hadronic decays.

The multiplicity distributions of charged particles in restricted rapidity intervals in Z0 hadronic decays measured by the DELPHI detector are presented. The data reveal a shoulder structure, best visible for intervals of intermediate size, i.e. for rapidity limits around ±1.5. The whole set of distributions including the shoulder structure is reproduced by the Lund Parton Shower model. The structure is found to be due to important contributions from 3-and 4-jet events with a hard gluon jet. A different model, based on the concept of independently produced groups of particles, "clans", fluctuating both in number per event and particle content per clan, has also been used to analyse the pres…

Determination of 55-155-155-1in second order QCD from hadronic Z decays

Distributions of event shape variables obtained from 120600 hadronic Z decays measured with the DELPHI detector are compared to the predictions of QCD based event generators. Values of the strong coupling constant αs are derived as a function of the renormalization scale from a quantitative analysis of eight hadronic distributions. The final result, αs(MZ), is based on second order perturbation theory and uses two hadronization corrections, one computed with a parton shower model and the other with a QCD matrix element model. © 1992 Springer-Verlag.

Spectral characterization of laser-accelerated protons with CR-39 nuclear track detector

CR-39 nuclear track material is frequently used for the detection of protons accelerated in laser-plasma interactions. The measurement of track densities allows for determination of particle angular distributions, and information on the kinetic energy can be obtained by the use of passive absorbers. We present a precise method of measuring spectral distributions of laser-accelerated protons in a single etching and analysis process. We make use of a one-to-one relation between proton energy and track size and present a precise calibration based on monoenergetic particle beams. While this relation is limited to proton energies below 1 MeV, we show that the range of spectral measurements can b…

High-resolution multichannel Time-to-Digital Converter core implemented in FPGA for ToF measurements in SiPM-PET

In this contribution, Coincidence Resolving Time (CRT) results with the developed multichannel FPGA-TDC are showed as a function of different configurations for both, the sensor bias voltage and the digitizer threshold. The dependence of the CRT with the sensor matrix temperature, the amount of SiPM active area and the crystal type are also analyzed. Preliminary measurements carried out with a crystal array of 2 mm pixel size and 10 mm height have shown time resolutions for the entire 144 SiPM two-detectors ensemble as good as 800 ps.

PESIC: An Integrated Front-End for PET Applications

An ASIC front-end has been developed for multi-anode photomultiplier based nuclear imaging devices. Its architecture has been designed to improve resolution and decrease pile-up probability in Positron Emission Tomography systems which employ continuous scintillator crystals. Analog computation elements are isolated from the photomultiplier by means of a current sensitive preamplifier stage. This allows digitally programmable adjustment of every anode gain, also providing better resolution in gamma event position calculation and a shorter front-end deadtime. The preamplifier stage also offers the possibility of using other types of photomultiplier devices such as SiPM. The ASIC architecture…

Measurement of the partial width of the decay of the Z0 into charm quark pairs

A determination of the partial width Γc̄ of the Z0 boson into charm quark pairs is presented, based on a total sample of 36 900 Z0 hadronic decays measured with the DELPHI detector at the LEP collider. The production rate of cc events is derived from the inclusive analysis of charged pions coming from the decay of charmed meson D*+-→D0π+ and D*-→D̄0π- where the π± is constrained by kinematics to have a low pT with respect to the jet axis. The probability to procedure these π± from D*± decay in cc events is taken to be 0.31±0.05 as measured at √S = 10.55 GeV. The measured relative partial width Γ∞/Γh = 0.162± 0.030(stat.) ± 0.050(syst.) is in good agreement with the standard model value of 0…

Dependency of Energy-, Position- and Depth of Interaction Resolution on Scintillation Crystal Coating and Geometry

Options for optimizing the energy and spatial resolution of gamma-ray imaging detectors based on thick, monolithic crystals shaped like flat-topped pyramids were studied. Monte Carlo simulations were made of the scintillation light transport for evaluating the effect of four parameters on the energy resolution, the spatial resolutions, and the depth of interaction (DOI) resolution of the gamma-ray imaging detector. These four parameters are: the reflectivity of the surface coating; the scatter mean free path; the absorption mean free path of the scintillation light; and the angle that defines the inclination of the sides of the pyramidal frustum. In real detectors, the values for the mean f…