Photon-counting detector simulation: Monte-Carlo energy deposition, physics-based charge transport and current induction, and SPICE electronics

Kevin C. Zimmerman; Liang Cai; Xiaochun Lai; Richard Thompson

doi:10.1117/12.2512245

1 March 2019 Photon-counting detector simulation: Monte-Carlo energy deposition, physics-based charge transport and current induction, and SPICE electronics

Kevin C. Zimmerman, Liang Cai, Xiaochun Lai, Richard Thompson

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 10948, Medical Imaging 2019: Physics of Medical Imaging; 109484H (2019) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2512245
Event: SPIE Medical Imaging, 2019, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Photon counting detectors are an appealing approach to spectral computed tomography for their theoretical benefits over conventional detectors. Detailed modeling and simulation is important for capturing the critical aspects of the counting and spectral performance of the detector. An approach to photon counting detector simulation is presented using a custom developed software program. The software consists of Monte-Carlo energy deposition, physics-based charge transport and current induction, and SPICE electronic simulation. It utilizes behind-the-scenes Gate for the photon interactions and energy deposition and ngspice for the SPICE electronic simulations. Various sensor geometries and definitions can be defined to simulation individual detector pixels or entire anode arrays for large-scale simulations. The simulation requires the specification of x-ray planar sources and can be specified on a per-channel basis with an energy distribution and flux. Given a sensor definition and a series of x-ray sources, the program calculates the energy-bin count read-out from each anode in the sensor array. The program can be used to study the detector response of various sensor and system geometries, including in the presence of anti-scatter grids, the performance of anti-charge sharing implementations, material decomposition algorithms, etc.

Citation Download Citation

Kevin C. Zimmerman, Liang Cai, Xiaochun Lai, and Richard Thompson "Photon-counting detector simulation: Monte-Carlo energy deposition, physics-based charge transport and current induction, and SPICE electronics", Proc. SPIE 10948, Medical Imaging 2019: Physics of Medical Imaging, 109484H (1 March 2019); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2512245

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available