Optimization of a mini-gamma camera based on a 2×2 array of Hamamatsu H8500 PSPMTs

We present the results of a comparative study between several scintillation sensors with the goal of optimizing the spatial resolution of a practical mini-gamma camera based on a 2×2 array of Hamamatsu H8500 flat panel position sensitive photomultiplier tubes (PSPMTs) with 64 anode pads per PSPMT. The readout of this 256 pad imager was achieved by a special in-house designed and optimized pad-decoupling strip readout reducing the number of readout channels to 32. Pixellated NaI(Tl) and CsI(Tl) scintillator arrays, as well as thin continuous GSO, GSOZ, CsI(Na) and CsI(Tl) scintillator plates were coupled to this PSPMT array to form a compact mini-gamma camera. This round of tests, following extensive prior experience with this type of imager, was intended to investigate the possibility of achieving an intrinsic spatial resolution of under 1.0 mm FWHM across the whole surface of the mini-gamma camera. We confirmed the results of our previous studies that the best overall performance is achieved with pixellated NaI(Tl) arrays. The present resolution limit attainable with the H8500 PSPMT array is approaching 1.2 mm FWHM, which is equivalent to the smallest available pixel pitch of these arrays.