Development of Simultaneous Beta-and-Coincidence-Gamma Imager for Plant Imaging Research

Technical Report · Fri Sep 30 00:00:00 EDT 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1329073· OSTI ID:1329073

Tai, Yuan-Chuan ^[1]

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1. Washington Univ., St. Louis, MO (United States). School of Medicine

The goal of this project is to develop a novel imaging system that can simultaneously acquire beta and coincidence gamma images of positron sources in thin objects such as leaves of plants. This hybrid imager can be used to measure carbon assimilation in plants quantitatively and in real-time after C-11 labeled carbon-dioxide is administered. A better understanding of carbon assimilation, particularly under the increasingly elevated atmospheric CO₂ level, is extremely critical for plant scientists who study food crop and biofuel production. Phase 1 of this project is focused on the technology development with 3 specific aims: (1) develop a hybrid detector that can detect beta and gamma rays simultaneously; (2) develop an imaging system that can differentiate these two types of radiation and acquire beta and coincidence gamma images in real-time; (3) develop techniques to quantify radiotracer distribution using beta and gamma images. Phase 2 of this project is to apply technologies developed in phase 1 to study plants using positron-emitting radionuclide such as ¹¹C to study carbon assimilation in biofuel plants.

• Research Organization: Washington Univ., St. Louis, MO (United States). School of Medicine
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
• DOE Contract Number: SC0005157
• OSTI ID: 1329073
• Report Number(s): DOE-WUSM-0005157-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
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