Experimental tests of a hybrid pixellated detector for gamma imaging

In the framework of the MEDIPIX Collaboration, a hybrid pixel detector has been developed primarily for X-ray radiography. This detector consists of a 64×64 pixel photon counting chip (PCC), bump bonded to a 200 μm thick GaAs substrate. The PCC is optimised for energy depositions in the range of a few keV to a few tens of keV. The aim of this study is to evaluate the detector for applications in decommissioning of nuclear power plants where typical sources have energies in range of a few hundred keV. Tests were realised using a 137Cs gamma source (660 keV). At this energy, Monte-Carlo simulations predict that, on average, for more than 60% of primary interactions, there is at least one pixel on which the deposited energy exceeds 100 keV. Simulations also allow modelling of the spatial energy spreading. The comparison of the simulation results with experimental data should indicate if there is a significant contribution of electrical cross-coupling between pixels to the cluster size of the detected hits. The results obtained demonstrate promising perspectives for this kind of detector towards gamma imaging applications.