Optical observation of energy loss distribution and practical range of positrons from a {sup 18}F water solution in a water-equivalent phantom
- Allied Health Sciences, Kitasato University, Kitasato 1-15-1, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 228-8555 (Japan)
The energy loss distribution of {beta}{sup +} particles is closely related to their maximum penetration depth distribution and annihilation point distribution. The latter is of practical importance for positron emission tomography. Experimental data related to the energy loss distribution are important for comprehensive validation of physics and simulation models of {beta}{sup +} interactions. In this paper the authors present a new experimental approach that allows them to visually observe the {beta}{sup +} energy loss distribution of a solution of nuclear medicine radioisotopes in a plastic scintillator using an optical camera. The authors also report a set of the first experimental results. A water solution of {sup 18}F was localized in a small hole in a plastic scintillator (BC430). Optical imaging of the scintillator yielded visual images of the energy loss distribution with a submillimeter resolution. The radial dependence in the energy distribution was quantitatively measured by analysis of the images, and exponential fitting parameters were obtained. The authors observed that the results of Monte Carlo simulation with EGS5 (version 1.0.2) and GEANT4 (version 4.9.01.p01) were consistent with those obtained experimentally. The results of the Monte Carlo simulation indicated that for a linear scale, the energy loss distribution in the scintillator was approximately the same as that in water, and the relative shape of the energy loss distribution was close to those of the maximum penetration depth distribution and annihilation point distribution. This paper also presents discussions about the further possibilities of this optical imaging approach. Thus, optical observation of the {beta}{sup +} energy loss distribution in a scintillator is a promising technique for visual and quantitative experimental studies of {beta}{sup +} emission from a solution of radioisotopes that are used in nuclear medicine.
- OSTI ID:
- 22098426
- Journal Information:
- Medical Physics, Vol. 36, Issue 2; Other Information: (c) 2009 American Association of Physicists in Medicine; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-2405
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ANNIHILATION
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
BETA PARTICLES
BETA-PLUS DECAY
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
ENERGY LOSSES
ENERGY SPECTRA
FLUORINE 18
MONTE CARLO METHOD
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
PENETRATION DEPTH
PHANTOMS
POSITRON COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY
POSITRONS
SOLID SCINTILLATION DETECTORS
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
VALIDATION