Large-scale Compton-camera simulations, validation experiments, and image reconstruction

Recent efforts in nonproliferation and homeland security areas have focused on designing systems to accurately detect and locate radioactive material. This task is especially challenging when trying to locate material at large distances. One solution that has been under investigation is the Compton camera. In this work, the performance of a large-scale, two-plane Compton camera is investigated using different imaging reconstruction methods on simulated data. The simulation methodology is being validated by measurements conducted using a small-scale prototype of the system in the laboratory environment. The geometry consists of two planar arrays of scintillation detectors.