Sub-millimeter precise photon interaction position determination in large monolithic scintillators via convolutional neural network algorithms.

In this work, we present the development and application of a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based algorithm to precisely determine the interaction position of-quanta in large monolithic scintillators. Those are used as an absorber component of a Compton camera (CC) system under development for ion beam range verification via prompt-gamma imaging. We examined two scintillation crystals: LaBr:Ce and CeBr.

Comparative Characterization Study of a LaBr3(Ce) Scintillation Crystal in Two Surface Wrapping Scenarios: Absorptive and Reflective.

The properties of a 50 mm × 50 mm × 30 mm monolithic LaBr3:Ce scintillator crystal coupled to a position-sensitive multi-anode photomultiplier (PMT, Hamamatsu H9500), representing the absorbing detector of a Compton camera under study for online ion (proton) beam range verification in hadron therapy, was evaluated in combination with either absorptive or reflective crystal surface coating. This study covered an assessment of the energy and position-dependent energy resolution, exhibiting a factor of 2.5-3.