• 한국방사선학회논문지
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• 제14권5호
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• pp.511-515
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• 2020

본 연구의 목적은, 새롭게 제안된 Gadolinium Aluminum Gallium Garnet (GAGG) 기반 감마카메라를 Geant 4 Application for Tomographic Emission (GATE) 모사 도구(simulation tool)를 통해 설계하고, National Electrical Manufacturers Association International Electrotechnical Commission에서 제작한 몸통 팬텀 모사를 통해 기존의 사용되고 있는 NaI(Tl) 섬광체 기반 감마카메라 시스템과 99mTc 방사성동위원소를 이용해 900 초 동안 영상을 획득했다. Contrast to noise ratio (CNR) 과 Coefficient of variation (COV) 의 정량분석 방법을 사용해 해당 관심영역에 대해 영상을 평가하였다. CNR 과 COV 결과에 따라, 결과적으로 GAGG 기반 감마 영상의 질이 우수함을 확인하였다.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제52권11호
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• pp.2572-2580
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• 2020

Emerging gamma ray detection applications that utilize neutron-based interrogation result in the prompt emission of high-energy (>2 MeV) gamma-rays. Rapid imaging is enabled by scintillators that possess high density, high atomic number, and excellent energy resolution. In this paper, we evaluate the bright (50,000 photons/MeV) oxide scintillator, cerium-doped Gd₂Al₂Ga₃O₁₂ (GAGG(Ce)). A silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) array is coupled to a GAGG(Ce) scintillator array (12 × 12 pixels) and integrated into a coded-aperture based gamma-ray imaging system. A resistor-based symmetric charge division circuit was used reduce the multiplicity of the analog outputs from 144 to 4. The developed system exhibits 9.1%, 8.3%, and 8.0% FWHM energy resolutions at 511 keV, 662 keV, and 1173.2 keV, respectively. In addition, a pixel-identification resolution of 602 ㎛ FWHM was obtained from the GAGG(Ce) scintillator array.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.73-78
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• 2015

본 연구에서는 실리콘 광 증배소자(Silicon photomultiplier)와 Ce:GAGG 섬광체 단결정을 이용한 섬광검출기를 제작하고, 감마선 분광특성 분석을 통해 기존에 상용화된 LYSO, CsI:Tl 섬광체와의 분광특성을 비교하였다. 섬광체 단결정의 크기는 $3{\times}3{\times}20mm^3$ 이며 $3{\times}3mm^2$ 실리콘 광 증배소자를 이용하여 섬광검출기를 제작한 후, 표준 감마선원인 $^{133}Ba$, $^{22}Na$, $^{137}Cs$, $^{60}Co$에 대한 에너지 분해능을 각각 측정하고 비교하였다. 그 결과 Ce:GAGG 섬광검출기의 감마선에 대한 에너지 분해능은 $^{133}Ba$ 0.356 MeV에서 13.5%, $^{22}Na$ 0.511 MeV에서 6.9%, $^{137}Cs$ 0.662 MeV에서 5.8% 그리고 $^{60}Co$ 1.33 MeV에서 2.3%의 분광 특성을 확인 할 수 있었다.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제52권10호
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• pp.2306-2312
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• 2020

Here we report on the first results of sensitivity evaluation of the gadolinium-aluminum-gallium- garnet (GAGG) scintillation detector with SiPM readout to fast and slow neutrons and, to the natural background and Co-60 γ-radiation as well. Data on sensitivity were obtained using certified dosimetry benches, so it can be utilized in the calculation of detection limits of neutron flux with such type of detectors. It was concluded that use of GAGG scintillator has a good prospect for neutron monitoring in different parts of nuclear research reactors and power plants.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
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• 제44권5호
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• pp.459-464
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• 2021

The detector performance is important role in acquiring the gamma rays from patients. Among parameters of detector performances, there is density, which relates to respond to gamma rays. Therefore, we confirm the detection efficiency according to various detector materials based on the density parameter using GATE (geant4 application for emission tomography) simulation tool. The NaI (density: 3.67 g/cm³), CZT (Cadimium Zinc Telluride) (density: 5.80 g/cm³), CdTe (Cadmium Telluride) (5.85 g/cm³), and GAGG (Gadoinium Aluminum Gallium Garnet) (density g/cm³) were used as detector materials. In addition, the point source and quadrant bar phantom, which is modeled for 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mm thicknesses, were modeled to confirm the quatitative analysis using sensitivity (cps/MBq) and the full width at half maximum (FWHM, mm) at the 2.0 mm bar thickness containing visual evaluation. Based on the results, the sensitivity for NaI, CZT, CdTe, and GAGG detector materials were 0.12, 0.15, 0.16, and 0.18 cps/MBq. In addition, the FWHM for quadrant bar phantom in the 2.0 mm bar thickness is 3.72, 3.69, 3.70, and 3.73 mm for NaI, CZT, CdTe, and GAGG materials, respectively. Compared with performance of detector materials according to density, the high density can improve detection efficiency in terms of sensitivity and mean count. Among these detector materials, the GAGG material is efficient for detection of gamma rays.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제53권2호
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• pp.626-636
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• 2021

Boron-neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a cancer treatment method that exploits the high neutron reactivity of boron. Monitoring the prompt gamma rays (PGs) produced during neutron irradiation is essential for ensuring the accuracy and safety of BNCT. We investigate the imaging of PGs produced by the boron-neutron capture reaction through Monte Carlo simulations of a gamma camera with a SrI₂ scintillator and parallel-hole collimator. GAGG scintillator is also used for a comparison. The simulations allow the shapes of the energy spectra, which exhibit a peak at 478 keV, to be determined along with the PG images from a boron-water phantom. It is found that increasing the size of the water phantom results in a greater number of image counts and lower contrast. Additionally, a higher septal penetration ratio results in poorer image quality, and a SrI₂ scintillator results in higher image contrast. Thus, we can simulate the BNCT process and obtain an energy spectrum with a reasonable shape, as well as suitable PG images. Both GAGG and SrI₂ crystals are suitable for PG imaging during BNCT. However, for higher imaging quality, SrI₂ and a collimator with a lower septal penetration ratio should be utilized.

• 한국방사선학회논문지
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• 제12권7호
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• pp.929-934
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• 2018

영상의 질 향상과 물질 분석 등을 위해 엑스선을 카운팅하여 검출하기 위한 연구가 활발하다. 본 연구에서는 MPPC 어레이를 사용하여 엑스선 포톤 카운팅을 위한 검출기를 설계하였고, 시뮬레이션을 통해 검출기 특성을 평가하였다. GATE를 사용하여 엑스선과 섬광체와 반응한 위치 정보를 획득하였고, 이 정보를 DETECT2000의 빛 발생 위치로 사용하였다. 0.5 mm와 1 mm 두께의 GAGG 섬광체를 사용하였으며, $4{\times}4$ 어레이의 MPPC를 통해 발생된 빛을 획득하였다. 각 채널별로 획득한 빛의 신호를 통해 영상을 재구성하여 설계한 검출기의 분해능을 확인하였다. 0.5 mm와 1 mm 두께의 GAGG 섬광체에서 모두 2 lp/mm 이상의 영상을 획득하였다. 본 검출기를 엑스선 시스템에 사용할 경우 포톤 카운팅이 가능한 저비용의 시스템을 구축할 수 있을 것이다.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제47권4호
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• pp.214-225
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• 2022

Background: The conventional cerium-doped Gd₂Al₂Ga₃O₁₂ (GAGG(Ce)) scintillator-based gamma-ray imager has a bulky detector, which can lead to incorrect positioning of the gammaray source if the shielding against background radiation is not appropriately designed. In addition, portability is important in complex environments such as inside nuclear power plants, yet existing gamma-ray imager based on a tungsten mask tends to be weighty and therefore difficult to handle. Motivated by the need to develop a system that is not sensitive to background radiation and is portable, we changed the material of the scintillator and the coded aperture. Materials and Methods: The existing GAGG(Ce) was replaced with Bi₄Ge₃O₁₂ (BGO), a scintillator with high gamma-ray detection efficiency but low energy resolution, and replaced the tungsten (W) used in the existing coded aperture with lead (Pb). Each BGO scintillator is pixelated with 144 elements (12 × 12), and each pixel has an area of 4 mm × 4 mm and the scintillator thickness ranges from 5 to 20 mm (5, 10, and 20 mm). A coded aperture consisting of Pb with a thickness of 20 mm was applied to the BGO scintillators of all thicknesses. Results and Discussion: Spectroscopic characterization, imaging performance, and image quality evaluation revealed the 10 mm-thick BGO scintillators enabled the portable gamma-ray imager to deliver optimal performance. Although its performance is slightly inferior to that of existing GAGG(Ce)-based gamma-ray imager, the results confirmed that the manufacturing cost and the system's overall weight can be reduced. Conclusion: Despite the spectral characteristics, imaging system performance, and image quality is slightly lower than that of GAGG(Ce), the results show that BGO scintillators are preferable for gamma-ray imaging systems in terms of cost and ease of deployment, and the proposed design is well worth applying to systems intended for use in areas that do not require high precision.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제50권5호
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• pp.801-805
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• 2018

In this study, an underwater radiation detector was built using a GAGG(Ce) scintillator and silicon photomultiplier to establish an underwater radiation exposure monitoring system. The GAGG(Ce) scintillator is suitable for small radiation detectors as it strongly absorbs gamma rays and has a high light emission rate with no deliquescent properties. Additionally, the silicon photomultiplier is a light sensor with characteristics such as small size and low applied voltage. Further, a program and mobile app were developed to monitor the radiation coefficient values generated from the detector. According to the results of the evaluation of the characteristics of the underwater radiation monitoring system, when tested for its responsiveness to radiation intensity and reactivity, the system exhibited a coefficient of determination of at least 0.99 with respect to the radiation source distance. Additionally, when tested for its underwater environmental temperature dependence, the monitoring system exhibited an increase in the count rate up to a certain temperature because of the increasing dark current and a decrease in the count rate because of decreasing overvoltage. Extended studies based on the results of this study are expected to greatly contribute to immediate and continuing evaluation of the degree of radioactive contamination in underwater environments.

• 센서학회지
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.96-100
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• 2015

In the present study, we developed a real-time radiation-monitoring sensor for an underwater radiation-monitoring system and evaluated its effectiveness using reference radiation sources. The monitoring sensor was designed and miniaturized using a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) and a cerium-doped-gadolinium-aluminum-gallium-garnet (Ce:GAGG) scintillator, and an underwater wireless monitoring system was implemented by employing a remote Bluetooth communication module. An acrylic water tank and reference radiation sources ($^{137}Cs$, $^{90}Sr$) were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the monitoring sensor. The underwater monitoring sensor's detection response and efficiency for gamma rays and beta particles as well as the linearity of the response according to the gammaray intensity were verified through an evaluation. This evaluation is expected to contribute to the development of base technology for an underwater radiation-monitoring system.