2D-sensitive hpxe gas proportional scintillation counter concept for nuclear medical imaging purposes

The operation and first images of a high pressure xenon Gas Proportional Scintillation Counter (GPSC) are presented. In this setup, primary electrons produced by the absorption of X- or γ-rays in the gas medium drift to a region where the electric field is set to a value above the gas scintillation threshold, the scintillation region. The primary ionization signal is amplified through the electroluminescence produced along the electron drift in this region. A Micro-Hole and Strip Plate covered with CsI (CsI-MHSP) is used as the photosensor for the scintillation readout. The 2D capability of the CsI-MHSP photosensor is achieved by means of two orthogonal resistive lines interconnecting the strips patterned on both surfaces of the MHSP. The interaction position of the incident radiation can be obtained by determining the centroid of the photosensor area irradiated by the electroluminescence pulse. This centroid is obtained from the amplitude of the charge pulses collected at both ends of the resistive lines. Preliminary analyses of the first images obtained with electroluminescence signals at xenon pressures up to 3 bar indicate a position resolution capability of about 1.2 mm at 2.9 bar, for 59.6 keV γ-photons.