First Positronium Lifetime Imaging using 52Mn and 55Co with a plastic-based PET scanner
Manish Das, Sushil Sharma, Ermias Yitayew Beyene, Aleksander Bilewicz, Jarosław Choiński, Neha Chug, Catalina Curceanu, Eryk Czerwiński, Jakub Hajduga, Sharareh Jalali, Krzysztof Kacprzak, Tevfik Kaplanoglu, Łukasz Kapłon, Kamila Kasperska, Aleksander Khreptak, Grzegorz Korcyl, Tomasz Kozik, Karol Kubat, Deepak Kumar, Sumit Kumar Kundu, Anoop Kunimmal Venadan, Edward Lisowski, Filip Lisowski, Justyna Medrala-Sowa, Simbarashe Moyo, Wiktor Mryka, Szymon Niedźwiecki, Anand Pandey, Piyush Pandey, Szymon Parzych, Alessio Porcelli, Bartłomiej Rachwał, Martin Rädler, Narendra Rathod, Noman Razzaq, Axel Rominger, Kuangyu Shi, Magdalena Skurzok, Maciej Słotwiński, Anna Stolarz, Tomasz Szumlak, Pooja Tanty, Keyvan Tayefi Ardebili, Satyam Tiwari, Kavya Valsan Eliyan, Rafał Walczak, Ewa Ł. Stępień, Paweł Moskal
abstract
This study demonstrates applicability of 52Mn and 55Co radionuclides for positronium imaging. Positronium Lifetime Imaging
(PLI) extends positron emission tomography by using the lifetime of positronium atoms as a probe of tissue molecular
architecture. However, its practical use requires ?+ emitters that also provide an additional prompt ? ray to mark the positron creation time. In this work, we report the first PLI measurements performed with 52Mn and 55Co using the modular J-PET. Four samples were studied in each experiment: two Certified Reference Materials (polycarbonate and fused silica) and two
human tissues (cardiac myxoma and adipose). The selection of PLI events was based on the registration of two 511 keV
annihilation photons and one prompt gamma in triple coincidence. From the resulting lifetime spectra we extracted the mean
ortho-positronium lifetime ?oPs and the mean positron lifetime ?Tmean for each sample. The measured values of ?oPs in
polycarbonate using both isotopes matches well with the certified reference values. Furthermore, 55Co reproduced identical
results for fused-silica measurements at their respective uncertainty levels. In contrast, measurements with 52Mn in fused silica show a minor deviation, which could be caused by the Parafilm spacer. In myxoma and adipose tissue, the reduced ?oPs values are mainly linked to the long storage history of the samples rather than to the choice of isotope. Comparing peak-to-background ratios and spectral purity, 55Co provides cleaner PLI data under the same experimental conditions. Although 52Mn offers a longer half-life and a multi gamma cascade enhancing ?+ + ? coincidences, but at the expense of higher background. In this study, we demonstrate that the applied selection criteria on the data measured with the modular J-PET can be used for PLI studies even with radionuclides with complex decay patterns.
Studies of CPT symmetry in positronium decays with 192 plastic strip J-PET detector
N. Chug, S. D. Bass, E. Y. Beyene, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Das, K. V. Eliyan, M. Gorgol, J. Hajduga, S. Jalali, B. Jasińska, K. Kacprzak, T. Kaplanoglu, Ł. Kapłon, K. Kasperska, A. Khreptak, A. Kierys, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, K. Kubat, D. Kumar, A. Kunimmal Venadan, E. Lisowski, F. Lisowski, J. Mędrala-Sowa, S. Moyo, W. Mryka, S. Niedźwiecki, P. Pandey, S. Parzych, E. Pérez del Río, A. Porcelli, B. Rachwał, M. Rädler, A. Sienkiewicz, S. Sharma, M. Skurzok, E. Ł. Stępień, T. Szumlak, P. Tanty, K. Tayefi Ardebili, S. Tiwari, P. Moskal
abstract
Accepted in Phys. Rev. D.
Classification of Signal Events for Entanglement Studies with J-PET Using Machine Learning Techniques
D. Kumar, S. Sharma, P. Moskal
abstract
Understanding the entangled polarization of photons produced in positron?electron annihilation remains experimentally challenging. Recently, it has been proposed to utilize this correlation in positron emission tomography imaging to suppress the random background and as a diagnostic parameter. Conventional positron emission tomographs rely on the registration of the two annihilation photons from positron annihilation. However, measuring polarization correlations requires scattering of annihilation photons in the detector volume and the registration of their corresponding scatters. Such a 4-hit event topology inherently suffers from low efficiency and high background. Therefore, translating this quantum information into medical imaging requires a method to overcome the inherent limitations of conventional geometric cuts. We present a machine learning classification framework trained on simulated detector events. This approach enables a high-purity separation of polarization-correlated signal from background and simultaneously achieves a significant improvement in computational efficiency.
Feasibility Study of Using Detector-Scattered Photons for Attenuation Correction in CT-less PET Imaging
S. Tiwari, S. Sharma and P. Moskal
abstract
Objective: Quantitative PET requires accurate attenuation correction (AC), which is conventionally achieved using CT-derived maps, incurring extra dose and complexity. This study explores a CT-less AC approach for the plastic scintillator-based J-PET scanner by investigating whether detector-scattered photons (DS-LORs) can serve as an intrinsic transmission source.
Methods:
Simulation Setup: The study utilized GATE v9.1 software to simulate the modular J-PET scanner, which consists of plastic scintillator strips where 511 keV photons predominantly undergo Compton scattering. Two configurations were evaluated: a uniform water cylinder and a NEMA IQlike phantom containing a cold lung insert and six hot spheres to simulate heterogeneous activity.
Analysis & reconstruction: The study isolated triple-hit coincidences to analyze angular deviations. DS-LORs were identified using a specific scatter test metric based on interaction positions and detection times. Attenuation maps were reconstructed using Filtered Back Projection (FBP) applied to the ratio of water-to-air sinograms.
Results: Due to the properties of plastic scintillators, DS-LORs constituted approximately 50% of all detected prompts, providing a substantial dataset for analysis. In a simulated 10-minute acquisition, the noise propagation analysis yielded a Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) of ? 33.9 for water. This is significantly higher than conventional crystal-based PET, which yields only ? 5% DS-LORs and a lower SNR. Reconstructions successfully resolved the NEMA phantom features, including the cold lung insert and hot spheres, particularly when phantom-scattered events were rejected.
Conclusions and future directions: This study confirms that DS-LORs retain sufficient attenuation information to estimate ?-maps, demonstrating the potential for fully CT-less PET imaging. While the current implementation faces limitations like reliance on blank scans and activity-attenuation crosstalk, the high statistics of DS-LORs are a foundation for developing joint reconstruction algorithms aiming towards clinical application.
First Positronium Imaging Using 44Sc With the J-PET Scanner: a Case Study on the NEMA-Image Quality Phantom
Manish Das, Sushil Sharma, Ermias Yitayew Beyene, Aleksander Bilewicz, Jarosław Choiński, Neha Chug, Catalina Curceanu, Eryk Czerwiński, Kavya Valsan Eliyan, Jakub Hajduga, Sharareh Jalali, Krzysztof Kacprzak, Tevfik Kaplanoglu, Łukasz Kapłon, Kamila Kasperska, Aleksander Khreptak, Grzegorz Korcyl, Tomasz Kozik, Karol Kubat, Deepak Kumar, Anoop Kunimmal Venadan, Edward Lisowski, Filip Lisowski, Justyna Medrala Sowa, Simbarashe Moyo, Wiktor Mryka, Szymon Niedźwiecki, Piyush Pandey, Szymon Parzych, Alessio Porcelli, Bartłomiej Rachwał, Elena Perez del Rio, Martin Rädler, Axel Rominger, Kuangyu Shi, Magdalena Skurzok, Anna Stolarz, Tomasz Szumlak, Pooja Tanty, Keyvan Tayefi Ardebili, Satyam Tiwari, Rafał Walczak, Ewa Ł. Stępień, Paweł Moskal
abstract
Positronium Lifetime Imaging (PLI), an emerging extension of conventional positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, offers a novel window for probing the submolecular properties of biological tissues by imaging the mean lifetime of the positronium atom. Currently, the method is under rapid development in terms of reconstruction and detection systems. Recently, the first in vivo PLI of the human brain was performed using the J-PET scanner utilizing the 68Ga isotope. However, this isotope has limitations due to its comparatively low prompt gamma yields, which is crucial for positronium lifetime measurement. Among alternative radionuclides, 44Sc stands out as a promising isotope for PLI, characterized by a clinically suitable half-life (4.04 hours) emitting 1157 keV prompt gamma in 100% cases after the emission of the positron. This study reports the first experimental demonstration of PLI with 44Sc, carried out on a NEMA-Image Quality (IQ) phantom using the Modular J-PET tomograph?the first plastic scintillators-based PET scanner.
Positronium Imaging: History, Current Status, and Future Perspectives
Paweł Moskal, Aleksander Bilewicz, Manish Das, Bangyan Huang, Aleksander Khreptak, Szymon Parzych, Jinyi Qi, Axel Rominger, Robert Seifert, Sushil Sharma, Kuangyu Shi, William Steinberger, Rafał Walczak, Ewa Stępień
abstract
Positronium imaging was recently proposed to image the properties of positronium atoms in the patient body. Positronium properties depend on the size of intramolecular voids and oxygen concentration; therefore, they deliver information different and complementary to the anatomic, morphological, and metabolic images. Thus far, the mean ortho-positronium lifetime imaging has been at the center of research interest. The first ex vivo and in vivo positronium lifetime images of humans have been demonstrated with the dedicated J-PET scanner enabling simultaneous registration of annihilation photons and prompt gamma from beta+gamma emitters. Annihilation photons are used to reconstruct the annihilation place and time while prompt gamma is used to reconstruct the time of positronium formation. This review describes recent achievements in the translation of positronium imaging into clinics. The first measurements of positronium lifetime in humans with commercial PET scanners modernized to register triple coincidences are reported. The in vivo observations of differences in ortho-positronium lifetime between tumor and healthy tissues and between different oxygen concentrations are discussed. So far, the positronium lifetime measurements in humans were completed with clinically available 68Ga, 82Rb, and 124I radionuclides. Status and challenges in developing positronium imaging on a way to a clinically useful procedure are presented and discussed.
Quality control of plastic scintillators for the total-body J-PET scanner
Ł. Kapłon, E. Beyene, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Das, K. Eliyan, K. Kacprzak, T. Kaplanoglu, G. Korcyl, K. Kubat, D. Kumar, E. Lisowski, F. Lisowski, J. Mędrala-Sowa, G. Moskal, W. Mryka, S. Niedźwiecki, P. Pandey, S. Parzych, E. Pérez del Rio, S. Sharma, M. Skurzok, P. Tanty, K. Tayefi, A. Venadan, E. Stępień and P. Moskal
abstract
The construction of the total-body Jagiellonian positron emission tomography scanner requires component verification before detector assembly. The purpose of this research is to verify the quality of BC-408 plastic scintillators with dimensions 6 mm × 30 mm × 330 mm. The scintillators were inspected for optical and mechanical defects and all dimensions were measured. Scratches, mechanically damaged corners and edges, as well as encapsulated dust and fibers within the scintillators, were identified under ceiling lamp illumination. Line defects on the as-cast surfaces were easily visible in a plane polariscope setup consisting of crossed horizontal and vertical polarizer foils. The transmittance at the wavelength of maximum emission through 6 mm thick scintillator samples and the technical attenuation length along 330 mm long scintillator samples were measured on a linear CCD array spectrometer for randomly selected scintillators from each delivered batch. Selected properties of the emission spectra, such as their FWHM and the values of the emission maxima as a function of the distance between the excitation point and the spectrometer fiber, were measured. Additionally, the scintillators optical homogeneity was measured on a light transfer setup consisting of an LED and photodiode matrix. The majority of the obtained plastic scintillators meets the transparency criteria and falls within the dimensional tolerances.
muPPET: Investigating the Muon Puzzle with J-PET Detectors
A. Porcelli, K. Valsan Eliyan, G. Moskal, N. Nasrin Protiti, D. L. Sirghi, E. Yitayew Beyene, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Das, M. Gorgol, J. Hajduga, S. Jalali, B. Jasińska, K. Kacprzak, T. Kaplanoglu, Ł. Kapłon, K. Kasperska, A. Khreptak, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, D. Kumar, K. Kubat, E. Lisowski, F. Lisowski, J. Mędrala-Sowa, W. Mryka, S. Moyo, S. Niedźwiecki, S. Parzych, P. Pandey, E. Perez del Rio, B. Rachwał, M. Rädler, S. Sharma, M. Skurzok, E. Ł. Stępień, T. Szumlak, P. Tanty, K. Tayefi Ardebili, S. Tiwari, and P. Moskal
abstract
The muPPET [muon Probe with J-PET] project aims to investigate the Muon
Puzzle seen in cosmic ray air showers. This puzzle arises from the observation of a significantly
larger number of muons on Earth's surface than that predicted by the current
theoretical models. The investigated hypothesis is based on recently observed asymmetries
in the parameters for the strong interaction cross-section and trajectory of an outgoing particle
due to projectile-target polarization. The measurements require detailed information
about muons at the ground level, including their track and charge distributions. To achieve
this, the two PET scanners developed at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow (Poland),
the J-PET detectors, will be employed, taking advantage of their well-known resolution
and convenient location for detecting muons that reach long depths in the atmosphere.
One station will be used as a muon tracker, while the second will reconstruct the core of
the air shower. In parallel, the existing hadronic interaction models will be modified and
fine-tuned based on the experimental results. In this work, we present the conceptualization
and preliminary designs of muPPET.
Nonmaximal entanglement of photons from positron-electron annihilation demonstrated using a novel plastic PET scanner
P. Moskal, D. Kumar, S. Sharma, E.Y. Beyene, N. Chug, A. Coussat, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwinski, M. Das, K. Dulski, M. Gorgol, B. Jasinska, K. Kacprzak, T. Kaplanoglu, L. Kaplon, T. Kozik, E. Lisowski, F. Lisowski, W. Mryka, S. Niedzwiecki, S. Parzych, E.P. del Rio, M. Radler, M. Skurzok, E. L. Stepien, P. Tanty, K. Tayefi Ardebili, K. Valsan Eliyan
abstract
In the state-of-the-art Positron Emission Tomography (PET), information about the polarization of annihilation photons is not available. Current PET systems track molecules labeled with positron-emitting radioisotopes by detecting the propagation direction of two photons from positron-electron annihilation. However, annihilation photons carry more information than just the site where they originated. Here we present a novel J-PET scanner built from plastic scintillators, in which annihilation photons interact predominantly via the Compton effect, providing information about photon polarization in addition to information on photon direction of propagation. Theoretically, photons from the decay of positronium in a vacuum are maximally entangled in polarization. However, in matter, when the positron from positronium annihilates with the electron bound to the atom, the question arises whether the photons from such annihilation are maximally entangled. In this work, we determine the distribution of the relative angle between polarization orientations of two photons from positron-electron annihilation in a porous polymer. Contrary to prior results for positron annihilation in aluminum and copper, where the strength of observed correlations is as expected for maximally entangled photons, our results show a significant deviation. We demonstrate that in porous polymer, photon polarization correlation is weaker than for maximally entangled photons but stronger than for separable photons. The data indicate that more than 40% of annihilations in Amberlite resin lead to a non-maximally entangled state. Our result indicates the degree of correlation depends on the annihilation mechanism and the molecular arrangement. We anticipate that the introduced Compton interaction-based PET system opens a promising perspective for exploring polarization correlations in PET as a novel diagnostic indicator.
Real-time antiproton annihilation vertexing with submicrometer resolution
Michael Berghold, Davide Orsucci, Francesco Guatieri, Sara Alfaro, Marcis Auzins, Benedikt Bergmann, Petr Burian, Roberto Sennen Brusa, Antoine Camper, Ruggero Caravita, Fabrizio Castelli, Giovanni Cerchiari, Roman Jerzy Ciuryło, Ahmad Chehaimi, Giovanni Consolati, Michael Doser, Kamil Eliaszuk, Riley Craig Ferguson, Matthias Germann, Anna Giszczak, Lisa Glöggler, Łukasz Graczykowski, Malgorzata Grosbart, Natali Gusakova, Fredrik Gustafsson, Stefan Haider, Saiva Huck, Christoph Hugenschmidt, Malgorzata Anna Janik, Tymoteusz Henryk Januszek, Grzegorz Kasprowicz, Kamila Kempny, Ghanshyambhai Khatri, Łukasz Kłosowski, Georgy Kornakov, Valts Krumins, Lidia Lappo, Adam Linek, Sebastiano Mariazzi, Pawel Moskal, Dorota Nowicka, Piyush Pandey, Daniel PĘcak, Luca Penasa, Vojtech Petracek, Mariusz Piwiński, Stanislav Pospisil, Luca Povolo, Francesco Prelz, Sadiqali Rangwala, Tassilo Rauschendorfer, Bharat Rawat, Benjamin Rienäcker, Volodymyr Rodin, Ole Rohne, Heidi Sandaker, Sushil Sharma, Petr Smolyanskiy, Tomasz Sowiński, Dariusz Tefelski, Theodoros Vafeiadis, Marco Volponi, Carsten Peter Welsch, Michal Zawada, Jakub Zielinski, Nicola Zurlo, AEgIS Collaboration
abstract
Primary goal of the AEgIS experiment is to precisely measure the free fall of antihydrogen within Earth's gravitational field. To this end, cold(equivalent to 50 K) antihydrogen will traverse a two-grid moiré deflectometer before annihilating onto a position-sensitive detector, which shall determine the vertical position of the annihilation vertex relative to the grids with micrometric accuracy. Here, we introduce a vertexing detector based on a modified mobile camera sensor and experimentally demonstrate that it can measure the position of antiproton annihilations within 0.62(+0.40)(-0.22) micrometer, a 35-fold improvement over the previous state of the art for real-time antiproton vertexing. These methods are directly applicable to antihydrogen. Moreover, the sensitivity to light of the sensor enables in situ calibration of the moiré deflectometer, substantially reducing systematic errors. This sensor emerges as a breakthrough technology toward the AEgIS scientific goals and will constitute the basis for the development of a large-area detector for conducting antihydrogen gravity measurements.
Realistic total-body J-PET geometry optimization: Monte Carlo study
J. Baran, W. Krzemień, L. Raczyński, M. Bała, A. Coussat, S. Parzych, N. Chug, E. Czerwiński, C. Oana Curceanu, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, K. Eliyan, J. Gajewski, A. Gajos, B. Hiesmayr, K. Kacprzak, Ł. Kapłon, K. Klimaszewski, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, D. Kumar, S. Niedźwiecki, D. Panek, E. Perez del Rio, A. Ruciński, S. Sharma, Shivani, R.Y. Shopa, M. Skurzok, E. Stępień, F. Tayefiardebili, K. Tayefiardebili, W. Wiślicki, P. Moskal
abstract
Total-Body PET imaging is one of the most promising newly introduced modalities in the medical diagnostics. State-of-the-art PET scanners use inorganic scintillators such as L(Y)SO or BGO, however, those technologies are very expensive, prohibitng the broad total-body PET applications. We present the comparative studies of performance characteristics of the cost-effective Total-Body PET scanners using Jagiellonian PET (J-PET) technology that is based on plastic scintillators. Here, we investigated in silico five realistic Total-Body scanner geometries, varying the number of rings, scanner radius, and distance between the neighbouring rings. Monte Carlo simulations of two NEMA phantoms (2-meter sensitivity line source and image quality) and the anthropomorphic XCAT phantom, were used to assess the performance of the tested geometries. We compared the sensitivity profiles and we performed the quantitative analysis of the reconstructed images by using the quality metrics such as contrast recovery coefficient, background variability and root mean squared error. The optimal scanner design was selected for the first Total-Body J-PET scanner configuration.
Development of correction techniques for a J-PET scanner
M. Das, R. Bayerlein, S. Sharma, S. Parzych, S. Niedźwiecki, R. Badawi, E. Yitayew Beyene, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. Valsan Eliyan, B. Głowa, A. Hubalewska-Dydejczyk, K. Kacprzak, T. Kaplanoglu, K. Kasperska, G. Korcyl, A. Khreptak, K. Kubat, D. Kumar, E. Lisowski, F. Lisowski, J. Mędrala-Sowa, S. Moyo, W. Mryka, M. Opalińska, P. Pandey, M. Rädler, M. Skurzok, A. Sowa-Staszczak, B. A. Spencer, P. Tanty, K. Tayefi Ardebili, A. Kunimmal Venadan, E. Stępień, P. Moskal
abstract
Objective: Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a widely used medical imaging technique that allows for non-invasive imaging of metabolic processes. However, traditional PET scanners rely on costly inorganic scintillators, which limit their accessibility ? especially in light of emerging long axial field-of-view devices. The modular J-PET scanner, an innovative alternative, uses 50-cm long plastic scintillator strips, offering a cost-effective and modular solution. In this study, we develop and assess the PET data correction techniques required for quantitative image reconstruction. Methods: We present methods for attenuation correction, random coincidence correction using the Delayed Time Window (DTW) technique, and scatter correction based on Monte Carlo simulations. Phantom studies using the NEMA IQ phantom were performed to qualitatively evaluate these corrections. Results: The results demonstrate that our implemented corrections for attenuation, randoms, and scattered coincidences successfully improve the uniformity of tracer distribution in homogenous volumes and significantly reduce undesired activity in cold regions. Despite limitations in sensitivity and axial resolution, the applied correction techniques effectively enhance image quality, providing promising results for future applications. Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential of the modular J-PET system to offer affordable PET imaging and to pave the way towards a total-body PET scanner based on plastic scintillators. Future work will focus on quantitative validation and the implementation of these corrections for human subject imaging.
Positronium image of the human brain in vivo
P. Moskal, J. Baran, S. Bass, J. Choiński, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Dadgar, M. Das, K. Dulski, K.V. Eliyan, K. Fronczewska, A. Gajos, K. Kacprzak, M. Kajetanowicz, T. Kaplanoglu, Ł. Kapłon, K. Klimaszewski, M. Kobylecka, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, W. Krzemień, K. Kubat, D. Kumar, J. Kunikowska, J. Mączewska, W. Migdał, G. Moskal, W. Mryka, S. Niedźwiecki, S. Parzych, E. Perez del Rio, L. Raczyński, S. Sharma, Shivani, R.Y. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, F. Tayefi, K. Tayefi, P. Tanty, W. Wiślicki, L. Królicki, E. Ł. Stępień
abstract
Positronium is abundantly produced within the molecular voids of a patient?s body during positron emission tomography (PET). Its properties dynamically respond to the submolecular architecture of the tissue and the partial pressure of oxygen. Current PET systems record only two annihilation photons and cannot provide information about the positronium lifetime. This study presents the in vivo images of positronium lifetime in a human, for a patient with a glioblastoma brain tumor, by using the dedicated Jagiellonian PET system enabling simultaneous detection of annihilation photons and prompt gamma emitted by a radionuclide. The prompt gamma provides information on the time of positronium formation. The photons from positronium annihilation are used to reconstruct the place and time of its decay. In the presented case study, the determined positron and positronium lifetimes in glioblastoma cells are shorter than those in salivary glands and those in healthy brain tissues, indicating that positronium imaging could be used to diagnose disease in vivo.
Feasibility of the J-PET to monitor range oftherapeutic proton beams
J. Baran, D. Borys, K. Brzeziński, J. Gajewski, M. Silarski, N. Chug, A. Coussat, E. Czerwiński, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, K.V. Eliyan, A. Gajos, K. Kacprzak, Ł. Kapłon, K. Klimaszewski, P. Konieczka, R. Kopeć, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, W. Krzemień, D. Kumar, A.J. Lomax, K. McNamara, S. Niedźwiecki, P. Olko, D. Panek, S. Parzych, E. Perez del Rio, L. Raczyński, M. Simbarashe, S. Sharma, Shivani, R.Y. Shopa, T. Skóra, M. Skurzok, P. Stasica, E.Ł. Stępień, K. Tayefi, F. Tayefi, D.C. Weber, C. Winterhalter, W. Wiślicki, P. Moskal, A. Ruciński
abstract
Objective: The aim of this work is to investigate the feasibility of the JagiellonianPositron Emission Tomography (J-PET) scanner for intra-treatment proton beamrange monitoring. Approach: The Monte Carlo simulation studies with GATE and PET imagereconstruction with CASToR were performed in order to compare six J-PET scannergeometries (three dual-heads and three cylindrical). We simulated proton irradiationof a PMMA phantom with a Single Pencil Beam (SPB) and Spread-Out BraggPeak (SOBP) of various ranges. The sensitivity and precision of each scanner werecalculated, and considering the setup?s cost-effectiveness, we indicated potentiallyoptimal geometries for the J-PET scanner prototype dedicated to the proton beamrange assessment. Main results: The investigations indicate that the double-layer cylindrical andtriple-layer double-head configurations are the most promising for clinical application.We found that the scanner sensitivity is of the order of 10?5coincidences per primaryproton, while the precision of the range assessment for both SPB and SOBP irradiationplans was found below 1 mm. Among the scanners with the same number of detectormodules, the best results are found for the triple-layer dual-head geometry. Significance: We performed simulation studies demonstrating that the feasibilityof the J-PET detector for PET-based proton beam therapy range monitoring ispossible with reasonable sensitivity and precision enabling its pre-clinical tests in theclinical proton therapy environment. Considering the sensitivity, precision and cost-effectiveness, the double-layer cylindrical and triple-layer dual-head J-PET geometryconfigurations seem promising for the future clinical application. Experimental testsare needed to confirm these findings.
Feasibility studies for imaging e+e- annihilation with modular multi-strip detectors
S. Sharma, L. Povolo, S. Mariazzi, G. Korcyl, K. Kacprzak, D. Kumar, S. Niedzwiecki, J. Baran, E. Beyene, R. S. Brusa, R. Caravita, N. Chug, A. Coussat, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwinski, M. Dadgar, M. Das, K. Dulski, K. Eliyan, A. Gajos, N. Gupta, B. C. Hiesmayr, L. Kaplon, T. Kaplanoglu, K. Klimaszewski, P. Konieczka, T. Kozik, M. K. Kozani, W. Krzemien, S. Moyo, W. Mryka, L. Penasa, S. Parzych, E. Perez Del Rio, L. Raczynski, R. Y. Shopa, M. Skurzok, E. L. Stepien, P. Tanty, F. Tayefi, K. Tayefi, W. Wislicki, P. Moskal
abstract
Studies based on imaging the annihilation of the electron (e-) and its antiparticle positron (e+) open up several interesting applications in nuclear medicine and fundamental research. The annihilation process involves both the direct conversion of ee into photons and the formation of their atomically bound state, the positronium atom (Ps), which can be used as a probe for fundamental studies. With the ability to produce large quantities of Ps, manipulate them in long-lived Ps states, and image their annihilations after a free fall or after passing through atomic interferometers, this purely leptonic antimatter system can be used to perform inertial sensing studies in view of a direct test of Einstein equivalence principle. It is envisioned that modular multistrip detectors can be exploited as potential detection units for this kind of studies. In this work, we report the results of the first feasibility study performed on a e beamline using two detection modules to evaluate their reconstruction performance and spatial resolution for imaging ee annihilations and thus their applicability for gravitational studies of Ps.
Discrete symmetries tested at 10^-4 precision using linear polarization of photons from positronium annihilations
P. Moskal, E. Czerwiński, J. Raj, S. D. Bass, E. Beyene, N. Chug, A. Coussat, C. Curceanu, M. Dadgar, M. Das, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, M. Gorgol, B. C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, K. Kacprzak, T. Kaplanoglu, Ł. Kapłon, K. Klimaszewski, P. Konieczka, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, W. Krzemień, D. Kumar, S. Moyo, W. Mryka, S. Niedźwiecki, S. Parzych, E. Pérez del Río, L. Raczyński, S. Sharma, S. Choudhary, R. Y. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, E. Ł. Stępień, P. Tanty, F. T. Ardebili, K. T. Ardebili, K. V. Eliyan, W. Wiślicki
abstract
Discrete symmetries play an important role in particle physics with violation of CP connected to the matter-antimatter imbalance in the Universe. We report the most precise test of P, T and CP invariance in decays of ortho-positronium, performed with methodology involving polarization of photons from these decays. Positronium, the simplest bound state of an electron and positron, is of recent interest with discrepancies reported between measured hyperfine energy structure and theory at the level of 10^-4 signaling a need for better understanding of the positronium system at this level. We test discrete symmetries using photon polarizations determined via Compton scattering in the dedicated J-PET tomograph on an event-by-event basis and without the need to control the spin of the positronium with an external magnetic field, in contrast to previous experiments. Our result is consistent with QED expectations at the level of 0.0007 and one standard deviation.
Estimating the efficiency and purity for detecting annihilation and prompt photons for positronium imaging with J-PET using toy Monte Carlo simulation
M. Das, W. Mryka, E.Y. Beyene, S. Parzych, S. Sharma, E. Stępień, P. Moskal
abstract
The positronium imaging technique represents a potential enhancement of the PET imaging method. Its core principle involves employing a beta+ radiation source that emits additional gamma quanta referred to as prompt gamma. Our aim is to evaluate the capability to differentiate between annihilation and prompt gamma emissions, a vital aspect of positronium imaging. For this purpose, the selected isotopes should enable high efficiency and purity in detecting both prompt gamma and annihilation gamma. The assessment of the efficiency in identifying prompt and annihilation photons for various isotopes, which are potentially superior candidates for beta++ gamma emitters, is conducted through toy Monte-Carlo simulation utilizing the cross-section formula for photon-electron scattering. In this article, we have performed calculations for efficiency and purity values across different isotopes under ideal conditions and examined how these values evolve as we incorporate the fractional energy resolution into the analysis. Ultimately, the primary goal is to determine the energy threshold that optimizes both efficiency and purity, striking a balance between accurately identifying and recording events of interest while minimizing contamination from undesired events.
Comparative studies of the sensitivities of sparse and full geometries of Total-Body PET scanners built from crystals and plastic scintillators
M. Dadgar, S. Parzych, J. Baran, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski, K. Elyan, A. Gajos, B.C. Hiesmayr, Ł. Kapłon, K. Klimaszewski, P. Konieczka, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, W. Krzemień, D. Kumar, S. Niedźwiecki, D. Panek, E. Perez del Rio, L. Raczyński, S. Sharma, Shivani, R.Y. Shopa, M. Skurzok, E. L. Stępień, F. Tayefi Ardebili, K. Tayefi Ardebili, S. Vandenberghe, W. Wiślicki and P. Moskal
abstract
Background: Alongside the benefits of Total-Body imaging modalities, such as higher sensitivity, single-bed position, low dose imaging, etc., their final construction cost prevents worldwide utilization. The main aim of this study is to present a simulation-based comparison of the sensitivities of existing and currently developed tomographs to introduce a cost-efficient solution for
constructing a Total-Body PET scanner based on plastic scintillators.
Methods: For the case of this study, eight tomographs based on the uEXPLORER configuration with different scintillator materials (BGO, LYSO), axial field-of-view (97.4 cm and 194.8 cm), and detector configuration (full and sparse) were simulated. In addition, 8 J-PET scanners with different configurations, such as various axial field-of-view (200 cm and 250 cm), the different cross-sections of plastic scintillator, and the multiple numbers of the
plastic scintillator layers (2, 3, and 4), based on J-PET technology have been simulated by GATE software. Furthermore, Biograph Vision has been simulated to compare the results with standard PET scans. Two types of simulations have been performed. The first one with a centrally located source with a diameter of 1mm and a length of 250 cm, and the second one with the same source inside a water-filled cylindrical phantom with a diameter of 20 cm and a length of 183 cm.
Results: With regards to sensitivity, among all the proposed scanners, the ones constructed with BGO crystals give the best performance (? 350 cps/kBq at the center). The utilization of sparse geometry or LYSO crystals significantly lowers the achievable sensitivity of such systems. The J-PET design gives a similar sensitivity to the sparse LYSO crystal-based detectors while having full detector coverage over the body. Moreover, it provides uniform sensitivity over the body
with additional gain on its sides and provides the possibility for high-quality brain
imaging.
Conclusion: Taking into account not only the sensitivity but also the price of the Total-Body PET tomographs, which till now was one of the main obstacles in their widespread clinical availability, the J-PET tomography system based on plastic scintillators could be a cost-efficient alternative for Total-Body PET scanners.
Monte Carlo simulations of the underwater detection of illicit war remnants with neutron-based sensors
M. Silarski, P. Sibczyński, O. Bezshyyko, Ł. Kapłon, V. Kumar, S. Niedźwiecki, M. Nowakowski, P. Moskal, S. Sharma, F. Sobczuk
abstract
In recent years, the demand for accurate detection and identification of hazardous substances in an aquatic environment, especially in the Baltic Sea, has seen a significant rise, with a specific focus on unexploded ordnance (UXO) containing conventional explosives and various chemical agents, including, but not limited to, mustard gas, Clark I and II and other lethal compounds. These substances pose a significant threat to human health and the environment, and their identification is crucial for effective demining and environmental protection efforts. In this article, a novel approach for fast, remote, and non-destructive recognition of dangerous substances based on a SABAT sensor installed on an ROV is described. The performance of the proposed neutron-based sensor in an aquatic environment was verified based on a series of Monte Carlo simulations for mustard gas, Clark I and II, and TNT, as they are the most common chemical threats at the bottom of the Baltic Sea. The sensor?s ability to accurately discriminate hazardous and non-hazardous materials is described in the paper in terms of the ratio of chlorine to hydrogen (Cl/H), carbon to oxygen (C/O), and nitrogen to hydrogen (N/H) activation lines integrals. The authors also discussed the future directions of work to validate SABAT (Stoichiometry Analysis By Activation Techniques) sensors in the operational environment.
Transformation of PET raw data into images for event classification using convolutional neural networks
P. Konieczka, L. Raczyński, W. Wiślicki, O. Fedoruk, K. Klimaszewski, P. Kopka, W. Krzemień, R.Y. Shopa, J. Baran, A. Coussat, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, B.C. Hiesmayr, K. Kacprzak, Ł. Kapłon, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, D. Kumar, S. Niedźwiecki, S. Parzych, E. Pérez del Río, S. Sharma, S. Shivani, M. Skurzok, E.Ł. Stępień, F. Tayefi, P. Moskal
abstract
In positron emission tomography (PET) studies, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) may be applied directly to the reconstructed distribution of radioactive tracers injected into the patient's body, as a pattern recognition tool. Nonetheless, unprocessed PET coincidence data exist in tabular format. This paper develops the transformation of tabular data into -dimensional matrices, as a preparation stage for classification based on CNNs. This method explicitly introduces a nonlinear transformation at the feature engineering stage and then uses principal component analysis to create the images. We apply the proposed methodology to the classification of simulated PET coincidence events originating from NEMA IEC and anthropomorphic XCAT phantom. Comparative studies of neural network architectures, including multilayer perceptron and convolutional networks, were conducted. The developed method increased the initial number of features from 6 to 209 and gave the best precision results (79.8) for all tested neural network architectures; it also showed the smallest decrease when changing the test data to another phantom.
Detection of range shifts in proton beam therapy using the J-PET scanner: a patient simulation study
K. Brzeziński, J. Baran, D. Borys, J. Gajewski, N. Chug, A. Coussat, E. Czerwiński, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, K.V. Eliyan, A. Gajos, K. Kacprzak, Ł. Kapłon, K. Klimaszewski, P. Konieczka, R. Kopeć, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, W. Krzemień, D. Kumar, A.J. Lomax, K. McNamara, S. Niedźwiecki, P. Olko, D. Panek, S. Parzych, E. Perez del Rio, L. Raczyński, S. Sharma, Shivani, R.Y. Shopa, T. Skóra, M. Skurzok, P. Stasica, E.Ł. Stępień, K. Tayefi, F. Tayefi, D.C. Weber, C. Winterhalter, W. Wiślicki, P. Moskal, A. Ruciński
abstract
Objective. The Jagiellonian positron emission tomography (J-PET) technology, based on plastic scintillators, has been proposed as a cost effective tool for detecting range deviations during proton therapy. This study investigates the feasibility of using J-PET for range monitoring by means of a detailed Monte Carlo simulation study of 95 patients who underwent proton therapy at the Cyclotron Centre Bronowice (CCB) in Krakow, Poland. Approach. Discrepancies between prescribed and delivered treatments were artificially introduced in the simulations by means of shifts in patient positioning and in the Hounsfield unit to the relative proton stopping power calibration curve. A dual-layer, cylindrical J-PET geometry was simulated in an in-room monitoring scenario and a triple-layer, dual-head geometry in an in-beam protocol. The distribution of range shifts in reconstructed PET activity was visualized in the beam's eye view. Linear prediction models were constructed from all patients in the cohort, using the mean shift in reconstructed PET activity as a predictor of the mean proton range deviation. Main results. Maps of deviations in the range of reconstructed PET distributions showed agreement with those of deviations in dose range in most patients. The linear prediction model showed a good fit, with coefficient of determination r2 = 0.84 (in-room) and 0.75 (in-beam). Residual standard error was below 1 mm: 0.33 mm (in-room) and 0.23 mm (in-beam). Significance. The precision of the proposed prediction models shows the sensitivity of the proposed J-PET scanners to shifts in proton range for a wide range of clinical treatment plans. Furthermore, it motivates the use of such models as a tool for predicting proton range deviations and opens up new prospects for investigations into the use of intra-treatment PET images for predicting clinical metrics that aid in the assessment of the quality of delivered treatment.
Comparative studies of plastic scintillator strips with high technical attenuation length for the total-body J-PET scanner
Ł. Kapłon, J. Baran, N. Chug, A. Coussat, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, J. Gajewski, A. Gajos, B. Hiesmayr, E. Kavya Valsan, K. Klimaszewski, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, W. Krzemień, D. Kumar, G. Moskal, S. Niedźwiecki, D. Panek, S. Parzych, E. Pérez del Rio, L. Raczyński, A. Ruciński, S. Sharma, S. Shivani, R. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, E. Stępień, F. Tayefi Ardebili, K. Tayefi Ardebili, W. Wiślicki, P. Moskal
abstract
Plastic scintillator strips are considered as one of the promising solutions for the cost-effective construction of total-body positron emission tomography, (PET) system. The purpose of the performed measurements is to compare the transparency of long plastic scintillators with dimensions 6 mm x 24 mm x 1000 mm and with all surfaces polished. Six different types of commercial, general purpose, blue-emitting plastic scintillators with low attenuation of visible light were tested, namely: polyvinyl toluene-based BC-408, EJ-200, RP-408, and polystyrene-based Epic, SP32 and UPS-923A. For determination of the best type of plastic scintillator for total-body Jagiellonian positron emission tomograph (TB-J-PET) construction, emission and transmission spectra, and technical attenuation length (TAL) of blue light-emitting by the scintillators were measured and compared. The TAL values were determined with the use of UV lamp as excitation source, and photodiode as light detector. Emission spectra of investigated scintillators have maxima in the range from 420 nm to 429 nm. The BC-408 and EJ-200 have the highest transmittance values of about 90% at the maximum emission wavelength measured through a 6 mm thick scintillator strip and the highest technical attenuation length reaching about 2000 mm, allowing assembly of long detection modules for time-of-flight (TOF) J-PET scanners. Influence of the 6 mm × 6 mm, 12 mm × 6 mm, 24 mm × 6 mm cross-sections of the 1000 mm long EJ-200 plastic scintillator on the TAL and signal intensity was measured. The highest TAL value was determined for samples with 24 mm × 6 mm cross-section.
Efficiency determination of J-PET: first plastic scintillators-based PET scanner
S. Sharma, J. Baran, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, K. Eliyan, A. Gajos, N. Gupta-Sharma, B. C. Hiesmayr, K. Kacprzak, Ł. Kapłon, K. Klimaszewski, P. Konieczka, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, W. Krzemień, D. Kumar, Sz. Niedźwiecki, D. Panek, S. Parzych, E. Perez del Rio, L. Raczyński, Shivani, R. Y. Shopa, M. Skurzok, E. Ł. Stępień, F. Tayefi, K. Tayefi , W. Wiślicki and P. Moskal
abstract
Background:
The Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph is the 3-layer prototype
of the first scanner based on plastic scintillators, consisting of 192 half-metre-long strips with readouts at both ends. Compared to crystal-based detectors, plastic scintillators
are several times cheaper and could be considered as a more economical alternative to crystal scintillators in future PETs. JPET is also a first multi-photon PET prototype. For the development of multi-photon detection, with photon characterized by the continuous energy spectrum, it is important to estimate the efficiency of J-PET as a function of energy deposition. The aim of this work is to determine the registration efficiency of the J-PET tomograph as a function of energy deposition by incident photons and the intrinsic efficiency of the J-PET scanner in detecting photons of different incident energies. In this study, 3-hit events are investigated, where 2-hits are caused by 511 keV
photons emitted in e+e- annihilations, while the third hit is caused by one of the scattered photons. The scattered photon is used to accurately measure the scattering angle and thus the energy deposition. Two hits by a primary and a scattered photon are sufficient to calculate the scattering angle of a photon, while the third hit ensures
the precise labeling of the 511 keV photons.
Results:
By comparing experimental and simulated energy distribution spectra, the registration efficiency of the J-PET scanner was determined in the energy deposition range of 70-270 keV, where it varies between 20 and 100%. In addition, the intrinsic efficiency of the J-PET was also determined as a function of the energy of the incident photons.
Conclusion:
A method for determining registration efficiency as a function of energy deposition and intrinsic efficiency as a function of incident photon energy of the J-PET scanner was demonstrated. This study is crucial for evaluating the performance of the scanner based on plastic scintillators and its applications as a standard and multi-photon PET systems. The method may be also used in the calibration of Compton-cameras developed for the ion-beam therapy monitoring and simultaneous multi-radionuclide imaging in nuclear medicine.
Influence of Collectivity on Reduced Hindrance Factor of -isomers in Tantalum and Hafnium Isotopes
Y.P. Singh, V. Kumary, A. Choudhary, A. Shukla Manoj Kumar Sharma, P.K. Rath, Rohtash, P. Jain, Y. Kumar, R. Sapra, K. Jha, M. Silarski, S. Sharma
abstract
The correlations of the reduced hindrance factor F of the K-isomers
in Ta and Hf isotopes with respect to NpNn (the product of valence nucleons),
EK ????ER (the isomer excitation energy referred to a rigid rotor), and
EK(Nn)????EK(Nn????max) (the energy difference between the same configuration
at Nn and Nn????max (middle of a shell), at given spin and isotopic chain)
have been re-examined. The analysis is performed in the valence regions divided into particle?particle (p?p), particle?hole (p?h), and hole?hole (h?h) regions, based on the NpNn phenomenology. The Ta and Hf isotopes
are considered, given the availability of the same spin configuration in the
different sectors of the valence regions. In our study, we observe that the
parameter EK(Nn)????EK(Nn????max) shows a significant correlation with F,
within an isotopic chain.
J-PET detection modules based on plastic scintillators for performing studies with positron and positronium beams
S. Sharma, J. Baran, R.S. Brusa, R. Caravita, N. Chug, A. Coussat, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwinski, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, K. Eliyan, A. Gajos, B.C. Hiesmayr, K. Kacprzak, L. Kaplon, K. Klimaszewski, P. Konieczka, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, W. Krzemien D. Kumar, S. Mariazzi, S. Niedźwiecki, L. Panasa, S. Parzych, L. Povolo, E. Perez del Rio, L. Raczynski Shivani, R.Y. Shopa, M. Skurzok, E.L. Stepien, F. Tayefi, K. Tayefi, W. Wislicki and P. Moskal
abstract
The J-PET detector, which consists of inexpensive plastic scintillators, has demonstrated its potential in the study of fundamental physics. In recent years, a prototype with 192 plastic scintillators arranged in 3 layers has been optimized for the study of positronium decays. This allows performing precision tests of discrete symmetries (C, P, T) in the decays of positronium atoms. Moreover, thanks to the possibility of measuring the polarization direction of the photon based on Compton scattering, the predicted entanglement between the linear polarization of annihilation photons in positronium decays can also be studied. Recently, a new J-PET prototype was commissioned, based on a modular design of detection units. Each module consists of 13 plastic scintillators and can be used as a stand-alone, compact and portable detection unit. In this paper, the main features of the J-PET detector, the modular prototype and their applications for possible studies with positron and positronium beams are discussed. Preliminary results of the first test experiment performed on two detection units in the continuous positron beam recently developed at the Antimatter Laboratory (AML) of Trento are also reported.
TOF MLEM Adaptation for the Total-Body J-PET with a Realistic Analytical System Response Matrix
R.Y. Shopa, J. Baran, K. Klimaszewski, W. Krzemień, L. Raczyński, W. Wiślicki, K. Brzeziński, N. Chug, A. Coussat, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, J. Gajewski, A. Gajos, B.C. Hiesmayr, E. Kavya Valsan, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, D. Kumar, Ł. Kapłon, G. Moskal, S. Niedźwiecki, D. Panek, S. Parzych, E. Pérez del Rio, A. Ruciński, S. Sharma, Shivani, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, E. Stepień, F. Tayefi Ardebili, K. Tayefi Ardebili, P. Moskal
abstract
We report a study of the original image reconstruction algorithm based on the time-of-flight maximum likelihood expectation maximisation (TOF MLEM), developed for the total-body (TB) Jagiellonian PET (J-PET) scanners. The method is applicable to generic cylindrical or modular multi-layer layouts and is extendable to multi-photon imaging. The system response matrix (SRM) is represented as a set of analytical functions, uniquely defined for each pair of plastic scintillator strips used for the detection. A realistic resolution model (RM) in detector space is derived from fitting the Monte Carlo simulated emissions and detections of annihilation photons on oblique transverse planes. Additional kernels embedded in SRM account for TOF, parallax effect and axial smearing. The algorithm was tested on datasets, simulated in GATE for the NEMA IEC and static XCAT phantoms inside a 24-module 2-layer TB J-PET. Compared to the reference TOF MLEM with none or a shift-invariant RM, an improvement was observed, as evaluated by the analysis of image quality, difference images and ground truth metrics. We also reconstructed the data with additive contributions, pre-filtered geometrically and with non-TOF scatter correction applied. Despite some deterioration, the obtained results still capitalise on the realistic RM with better edge preservation and superior ground truth metrics. The envisioned prospects of the TOF MLEM with analytical SRM include its application in multi-photon imaging and further upgrade to account for the non-collinearity, positron range and other factors.
Investigation of novel preclinical Total Body PET designed with J-PET technology: A simulation study
M. Dadgar, S. Parzych, F. Tayefi Ardebili, J. Baran, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski, K. Eliyan, A. Gajos, B.C. Hiesmayr, K. Kacprzak, K. Klimaszewski, P. Konieczka, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, W. Krzemień, D. Kumar, S. Niedźwiecki, D. Panek, E. Perez del Rio, L. Raczyński, S. Sharma, R.Y. Shopa, M. Skurzok, K. Tayefi Ardebili, S. Vandenberghe, W. Wiślicki, E.Ł. Stępień, P. Moskal
abstract
The growing interest in human-grade Total Body PET systems has also application in small animal research. Due to the existing limitations in human-based studies involving drug development and novel treatment monitoring, animalbased research became a necessary step for testing and protocol preparation. In this simulation-based study two unconventional, cost effective small animal Total Body PET scanners (for mouse and rat studies) have been investigated in order to inspect their feasibility for preclinical research. They were designed with the novel technology explored by the Jagiellonian PET Collaboration (J-PET). Two main PET characteristics: sensitivity and spatial resolution were mainly inspected to evaluate their performance. Moreover, the impact of the scintillator dimension and time-offlight on the latter parameter were examined in order to design the most efficient tomographs. The presented results show that for mouse TB J-PET the achievable system sensitivity is equal to 2.35% and volumetric spatial resolution to 9.46 +- 0.54 mm3, while for rat TB J-PET they are equal to 2.6% and 14.11 ? 0.80 mm3, respectively. Furthermore, it was shown that the designed tomographs are almost parallax-free systems, hence they resolve the problem of the acceptance criterion trade-off between enhancing spatial resolution and reducing sensitivity.
ProTheRaMon - a GATE simulation framework for proton therapy range monitoring using PET imaging
D. Borys, J. Baran, K.W. Brzezinski, J. Gajewski, N. Chug, A. Coussat, E. Czerwiński, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, K. Valsan Eliyan, A. Gajos, K. Kacprzak, Ł. Kapłon, K. Klimaszewski, P. Konieczka, R. Kopec, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, W. Krzemień, D. Kumar, A. John Lomax, K. McNamara, S. Niedźwiecki, P. Olko, D. Panek, S. Parzych, E. Pérez del Río, L. Raczyński, S. Sharma, S. Shivani, R.Y. Shopa, T. Skóra, M. Skurzok, P. Stasica, E. Stępień, K. Tayefi Ardebili, F. Tayefi, D. Charles Weber, C. Winterhalter, W. Wiślicki, P. Moskal, A. Rucinski
abstract
Objective: This paper reports on the implementation and shows examples of the use of the ProTheRaMon framework for simulating the delivery of proton therapy treatment plans and range monitoring using positron emission tomography (PET). ProTheRaMon offers complete processing of proton therapy treatment plans, patient CT geometries, and intra-treatment PET imaging, taking into account therapy and imaging coordinate systems and activity decay during the PET imaging protocol specific to a given proton therapy facility. We present the ProTheRaMon framework and illustrate its potential use case and data processing steps for a patient treated at the Cyclotron Centre Bronowice (CCB) proton therapy center in Krakow, Poland. Approach: The ProTheRaMon framework is based on GATE Monte Carlo software, the CASToR reconstruction package and in-house developed Python and bash scripts. The framework consists of five separated simulation and data processing steps, that can be further optimized according to the user's needs and specific settings of a given proton therapy facility and PET scanner design. Main results: ProTheRaMon is presented using example data from a patient treated at CCB and the J-PET scanner to demonstrate the application of the framework for proton therapy range monitoring. The output of each simulation and data processing stage is described and visualized. Significance: We demonstrate that the ProTheRaMon simulation platform is a high-performance tool, capable of running on a computational cluster and suitable for multi-parameter studies, with databases consisting of large number of patients, as well as different PET scanner geometries and settings for range monitoring in a clinical environment. Due to its modular structure, the ProTheRaMon framework can be adjusted for different proton therapy centers and/or different PET detector geometries. It is available to the community via github.
Decoherence Puzzle in Measurements of Photons Originating from Electron-Positron Annihilation
S. Sharma, D. Kumar, P. Moskal
abstract
The entanglement of photons originating from electron-positron annihilation has not been experimentally proven. owever, the independent experiments performed so far unanimously confirm that the correlation between the linear polarizations of back-to-back photons from electron?positron annihilation is
consistent with the assumption that these photons are entangled in the polarization. Yet, unexpectedly,
recent experiments differ as regards the correlation of polarization direction of back-to-back photons
after the decoherence induced by the scattering of one of these photons on the electron in the scattering
material. In one of the experiments, the correlation before and after the decoherence of the photon state
is the same, and in the other experiment, the scattering of one photon leads to a significant decrease
in this correlation. Here we discuss this puzzle. Decoherent states were ensured provided by forcing
one of the annihilation photons to scatter earlier before measuring the polarization correlation based
on Compton kinematics. The comparison is made between the experimental setups used for the different measurements, and the results obtained are briefly discussed, highlighting the parameters that are
important in performing such measurements. Finally, the main features of the J-PET detector are presented, along with the schemes for performing similar studies, so that the conclusive results can be used
as remarks to solve the puzzle in question. Solving the decoherence puzzle will have crucial consequences
for basic studies of entanglement, as well as for the proposed application of the photon polarization in
positron emission tomography. If the correlation of the polarization of back-to-back photons from the
electron?positron annihilation is the same before and after the scattering of these photons, then it will
not be useful for the reduction of scatter fraction in positron emission tomography diagnostics.
Positronium imaging with the novel multiphoton PET scanner
P. Moskal, K. Dulski, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Dadgar, J. Gajewski, A. Gajos, G. Grudzień, B.C. Hiesmayr, K. Kacprzak, Ł. Kapłon, H. Karimi, K. Klimaszewski, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemień, E. Kubicz, P. Małczak, S. Niedźwiecki, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, M. Pędziwiatr, L. Raczyński, J. Raj, A. Ruciński, S. Sharma, Shivani, R.Y. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, E.Ł. Stępień, M. Szczepanek, F. Tayefi, W. Wiślicki
abstract
In vivo assessment of cancer and precise location of altered tissues at initial stages of molecular disorders are important diagnostic challenges. Positronium is copiously formed in the free molecular spaces in the patient?s body during positron emission tomography (PET). The positronium properties vary according to the size of inter- and intramolecular voids and the concentration of molecules in them such as, e.g., molecular oxygen, O2; therefore, positronium imaging may provide information about disease progression during the initial stages of molecular alterations. Current PET systems do not allow acquisition of positronium images. This study presents a new method that enables positronium imaging by simultaneous registration of annihilation photons and deexcitation photons from pharmaceuticals labeled with radionuclides. The first positronium imaging of a phantom built from cardiac myxoma and adipose tissue is demonstrated. It is anticipated that positronium imaging will substantially
enhance the specificity of PET diagnostics.
Optimisation of the event-based TOF filtered back-projection for online imaging in total-body J-PET
R.Y. Shopa, K. Klimaszewski, P. Kopka, P. Kowalski, W. Krzemień, L. Raczyński, W. Wiślicki, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, B.C. Hiesmayr, K. Kacprzak, Ł. Kapłon, D. Kisielewska, G. Korcyl, N. Krawczyk, E. Kubicz, Sz. Niedźwiecki, J. Raj, S. Sharma, Shivani, E.Ł. Stępień, F. Tayefi, P. Moskal
abstract
We perform a parametric study of the newly developed time-of-flight (TOF) image reconstruction algorithm, proposed for the real-time imaging in total-body Jagiellonian PET (J-PET) scanners. The asymmetric 3D filtering kernel is applied at each most likely position of electron-positron annihilation, estimated from the emissions of back-to-back gamma-photons. The optimisation of its parameters is studied using Monte Carlo simulations of a 1-mm spherical source, NEMA IEC and XCAT phantoms inside the ideal J-PET scan- ner. The combination of high-pass filters which included the TOF filtered back-projection (FBP), resulted in spatial resolution, 1.5 times higher in the axial direction than for the conventional 3D FBP. For real- istic 10-minute scans of NEMA IEC and XCAT, which require a trade-offbetween the noise and spatial resolution, the need for Gaussian TOF kernel components, coupled with median post-filtering, is demon- strated. The best sets of 3D filter parameters were obtained by the Nelder-Mead minimisation of the mean squared error between the resulting and reference images. The approach allows training the recon- struction algorithm for custom scans, using the IEC phantom, when the temporal resolution is below 50 ps. The image quality parameters, estimated for the best outcomes, were systematically better than for the non-TOF FBP.
Testing CPT symmetry in ortho-positronium decays with positronium annihilation tomography
P. Moskal, A. Gajos, M. Mohammed, J. Chhokar, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, M. Gorgol, J. Goworek, B. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, K. Kacprzak, Ł. Kapłon, H. Karimi, D. Kisielewska, K. Klimaszewski, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemień, T. Kozik, E. Kubicz, S. Niedźwiecki, S. Parzych, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, L. Raczyński, J. Raj, S. Sharma, S. Choudhary, R. Shopa, A. Sienkiewicz, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, E. Stepien, F. Tayefi, W. Wiślicki
abstract
Charged lepton system symmetry under combined charge, parity, and time-reversal transformation (CPT) remain scarcely tested. Despite stringent quantum-electrodynamic limits, discrepancies in predictions for the electron-positron bound state (positronium atom) motivate further investigation, including fundamental symmetry tests. While CPT noninvariance effects could be manifested in non-vanishing angular correlations between final-state photons and spin of annihilating positronium, measurements were previously limited by the knowledge of the latter. Here, we demonstrate tomographic reconstruction techniques applied to three-photon annihilations of ortho-positronium atoms to estimate their spin polarisation without a magnetic field or polarised positronium source. We use a plastic-scintillator-based positron-emission-tomography scanner to record ortho-positronium (o-Ps) annihilations with a single-event estimation of o-Ps spin and determine the complete spectrum of an angular correlation operator sensitive to CPT-violating effects. We find no violation at the precision level of 10^{-4}, with an over threefold improvement on the previous measurement.
Simulating NEMA characteristics of the modular total-body J-PET scanner - an economic total-body PET from plastic scintillators
P. Moskal, P. Kowalski, R.Y. Shopa, L. Raczyński, J. Baran, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, B.C. Hiesmayr, K. Kacprzak, Ł. Kapłon, D. Kisielewska, K. Klimaszewski, P. Kopka, G. Korcyl, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemień, E. Kubicz, Sz. Niedźwiecki, Sz. Parzych, J. Raj, S. Sharma, S. Shivani, E. Stępień, F. Tayefi, W. Wiślicki
abstract
The purpose of the presented research is the estimation of the performance characteristics of the economic total-body Jagiellonian-PET system (TB-J-PET) constructed from plastic scintillators. The characteristics are estimated according to the NEMANU-2-2018 standards utilizing the GATE package. The simulated detector consists of 24 modules, each built out of 32 plastic scintillator strips
(each with a cross-section of 6 mm times 30 mm and length of 140 or 200 cm) arranged in two layers in regular 24-sided polygon circumscribing a circle with a diameter of 78.6 cm. For the TB-J-PET with an axial field-of-view (AFOV) of 200 cm, a spatial resolution (SRs) of 3.7mm (transversal) and 4.9mm (axial) are achieved. The noise equivalent count rate (NECR) peak of 630 kcps is expected at 30 kBq cc^-1. Activity concentration and the sensitivity at the center amount to 38 cps kBq^-1. The scatter fraction (SF) is estimated to 36.2 %. The values of SF and SR are comparable to those obtained for the state-of-the-art clinical PET scanners and the first total-body tomographs: uExplorer and PennPET.With respect to the standard PET systemswithAFOVin the range from16 to 26 cm, the TBJ-PET is characterized by an increase inNECRapproximately by a factor of 4 and by the increase of the whole-body sensitivity by a factor of 12.6 to 38. The time-of-flight resolution for the TB-J-PETis expected to be at the level ofCRT=240 ps fullwidth at half-maximum. For the TB-J-PETwith an AFOVof 140 cm, an image quality of the reconstructed images of a NEMAIEC phantom was presented with a contrast recovery coefficient and a background variability parameters. The increase of the whole-body sensitivity andNECRestimated for the TB-J-PET with respect to current commercial PETsystems makes the TB-J-PET a promising cost-effective solution for the broad clinical applications of total-body PET scanners. TB-J-PETmay constitutes an economic alternative for the crystal TB-PET scanners, since plastic scintillators are much cheaper than BGO or LYSO crystals and the axial arrangement of the strips significantly reduces the costs of readout electronics and SiPMs.
The J-PET detector - a tool for precision studies of ortho-positronium decays
K. Dulski, S.D. Bass, J. Chhokar, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Dadgar, J. Gajewski, A. Gajos, M. Gorgol, R. Del Grande, B.C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, K. Kacprzak, Ł. Kapłon, H. Karimi, D. Kisielewska, K. Klimaszewski, P. Kopka, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemień, E. Kubicz, P. Małczak, M. Mohammed, Sz. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, M. Pędziwiatr, L. Raczyński7, J. Raj, A. Ruciński, S. Sharma, Shivani, R.Y. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, E. Ł. Stępień, F. Tayefi, W. Wiślicki, B. Zgardzińska, P. Moskal
abstract
The J-PET tomograph is constructed from plastic scintillator strips arranged axially in concentric cylindrical layers. It enables investigations of positronium decays by measurement of the time, position, polarization and energy deposited by photons in the scintillators, in contrast to studies conducted so far with crystal and semiconductor based detection systems where the key selection of events is based on the measurement of the photons energies. In this article we show that the J-PET tomography system constructed solely from plastic scintillator detectors is capable of exclusive measurements of the decays of ortho-positronium atoms. We present the first positronium production results and its lifetime distribution measurements. The obtained results prove the capability of the J-PET tomograph for (i) fundamental studies of positronium decays (in particular test of discrete symmetries in purely leptonic systems), (ii) positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy, as well as (iii) molecular imaging diagnostics and (iv) observation of entanglement
3D TOF-PET image reconstruction using total variation regularization
L. Raczyński, W. Wiślicki, K. Klimaszewski, W. Krzemień, P. Kopka, P. Kowalski, R. Y. Shopa, M. Bała, J. Chhokar, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwinski, K. Dulski, J. Gajewski, A. Gajos, M. Gorgol, R. Del Grande, B. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, K. Kacprzak, L. Kapłon, D. Kisielewska, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, S. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, J. Raj, K. Rakoczy, A. Ruciński, S. Sharma, S. Shivani, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, E.Ł. Stepień, B. Zgardzińska, P. Moskal
abstract
In this paper we introduce a semi-analytic algorithm for 3-dimensional image reconstruction for positron emission tomography (PET). The method consists of the back-projection of the acquired data into the most likely image voxel according to time-of-flight (TOF) information, followed by the filtering step in the image space using an iterative optimization algorithm with a total variation (TV) regularization. TV regularization in image space is more computationally efficient than usual iterative optimization methods for PET reconstruction with a full system matrix that uses TV regularization. The efficiency comes from the one-time TOF back-projection step that might also be described as a reformatting of the acquired data. An important aspect of our work concerns the evaluation of the filter operator of the linear transform mapping an original radioactive tracer distribution into the TOF back-projected image. We obtain concise, closed-form analytical formula for the filter operator. The proposed method is validated with the Monte Carlo simulations of the NEMA IEC phantom using a one-layer, 50 cm-long cylindrical device called Jagiellonian PET scanner. The results show a better image quality compared with the reference TOF maximum likelihood expectation maximization algorithm.
Synchronisation and calibration of the 24-modules J-PET prototype with 300 mm axial field of view
P. Moskal, T. Bednarski, Sz. Niedźwiecki, M. Silarski, E. Czerwiński, T. Kozik, J. Chhokar, M. Bała, C. Curceanu, R. Del Grande, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, M. Gorgol, N. Gupta-Sharma, B. C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, K. Kacprzak, Ł. Kapłon, H. Karimi, D. Kisielewska, K.Klimaszewski, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemień, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, L. Raczyński, S. Sharma, Shivani, R. Y. Shopa, M. Skurzok, E. Stępień, W. Wiślicki, B. Zgardzińska
abstract
Research conducted in the framework of the J-PET project aims to develop a cost-effective total-body positron emission tomography scanner. As a first step on the way to construct a full-scale J-PET tomograph from long strips of plastic scintillators, a 24-strip prototype was built and tested. The prototype consists of detection modules arranged axially forming a cylindrical diagnostic chamber with an inner diameter of 360 mm and an axial field-of-view of 300 mm. Promising perspectives for a low-cost construction of a total-body PET scanner are opened due to an axial arrangement of strips of plastic scintillators, which have a small light attenuation, superior timing properties, and the possibility of cost-effective increase of the axial field-of-view. The presented prototype comprises dedicated solely digital front-end electronic circuits and a triggerless data acquisition system which required development of new calibration methods including time, thresholds and gain synchronization. The system and elaborated calibration methods including first results of the 24-module J-PET prototype are presented and discussed. The achieved coincidence resolving time equals to CRT = 490 +- 9 ps. This value can be translated to the position reconstruction accuracy s(Dl) = 18 mm which is fairly position-independent Keywords: positron emission tomography, plastic scintillators, J-PET.
Performance assessment of the 2gamma positronium imaging with the total-body PET scanners
P. Moskal, D. Kisielewska, Z. Bura, C. Chhokar, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, J. Gajewski, A. Gajos, M. Gorgol, R. Del Grande, B. C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, K. Kacprzak, A. Kamińska, Ł. Kapłon, H. Karimi, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemień, T. Kozik, E. Kubicz, P. Małczak, M. Mohammed, Sz. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, M. Pędziwiatr, L. Raczyński, J. Raj, A. Ruciński, S. Sharma, Shivani, R. Y. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, E. Ł. Stępień, S. Vandenberghe, W. Wiślicki, B. Zgardzińska
abstract
In living organisms the positron-electron annihilation (occurring during the PET imaging) proceeds in about 30% via creation of a metastable ortho-positronium atom. In the tissue, due to the pick-off and conversion processes, over 98% of ortho-positronia annihilate into two 511~keV photons. In this article we assess the feasibility for reconstruction of the mean ortho-positronium lifetime image based on annihilations into two photons. The main objectives of this work include: (i) estimation of the sensitivity of the total-body PET scanners for the ortho-positronium mean lifetime imaging using 2gamma annihilations, and (ii) estimation of the spatial and time resolution of the ortho-positronium image as a function of the coincidence resolving time (CRT) of the scanner. Simulations are conducted assuming that radiopharmaceutical is labelled with 44Sc isotope emitting one positron and one prompt gamma. The image is reconstructed on the basis of triple coincidence events. The ortho-positronium lifetime spectrum is determined for each voxel of the image. Calculations were performed for cases of total-body detectors build of (i) LYSO scintillators as used in the EXPLORER PET, and (ii) plastic scintillators as anticipated for the cost-effective total-body J-PET scanner. To assess the spatial and time resolution the three cases were considered assuming that CRT is equal to 140ps, 50ps and 10ps. The estimated total-body PET sensitivity for the registration and selection of image forming triple coincidences is larger by a factor of 12.2 (for LYSO PET) and by factor of 4.7 (for plastic PET) with respect to the sensitivity for the standard 2gamma imaging by LYSO PET scanners with AFOV=20cm.
Estimating relationship between the Time Over Threshold and energy loss by photons in plastic scintillators used in the J-PET scanner
S. Sharma, J. Chhokar, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwinski, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, J. Gajewski, A. Gajos, M. Gorgol, N. Gupta-Sharma, R. Del Grande, B. C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasinska, K. Kacprzak, L. Kaplon, H. Karimi, D. Kisielewska, K. Klimaszewski, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemien, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, Sz. Niedzwiecki, M. Palka, M. Pawlik-Niedzwiecka, L. Raczynski, J. Raj, A. Rucinski, Shivani, R. Y. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, E. L. Stepien, W. Wislicki, B. Zgardzinska, P. Moskal
abstract
Time-Over-Threshold (TOT) technique is being used widely due to its implications in developing the multi channel readouts mainly when fast signal processing is required. Using TOT technique as a measure of energy loss instead of charge integration methods significantly reduces the signals readout cost by combining the time and energy information. Therefore, this approach can potentially be used in J-PET tomograph which is build from plastic scintillators characterized by fast light signals. The drawback in adopting this technique is lying in the non-linear correlation between input energy loss and TOT of the signal. The main motivation behind this work is to develop the relationship between TOT and energy loss and validate it with the J-PET tomograph.
The experiment was performed using the 22Na beta emitter source placed in the center of the J-PET tomograph. One can obtain primary photons of two different energies: 511 keV photon from the annihilation of positron (direct annihilation or through the formation of para-Positronim atom or pick-off process of ortho-Positronium atoms), and 1275 keV prompt photon. This allows to study the correlation between TOT values and energy loss for energy range up to 1000 keV. As the photon interacts dominantly via Compton scattering inside the plastic scintillator, there is no direct information of primary photon energy. However, using the J-PET geometry one can measure the scattering angle of the interacting photon. Since, 22Na source emits photons of two different energies, it is required to know unambiguously the energy of incident photons and its corresponding scattering angle for the estimation of energy deposition. In this work, the relationship between Time Over Threshold and energy loss by interacting photons inside the plastic scintillators used in J-PET scanner is established for a energy deposited range 100-1000 keV.
Hit-time and hit-position reconstruction in strips of plastic scintillators using multi-threshold readouts
N. G. Sharma, M. Silarski, J. Chhokar, E. Czerwinski, C. Curceanu, K. Dulski, K. Farbaniec, A. Gajos, R. Del Grande, M. Gorgol, B. C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasinska, K. Kacprzak, L. Kaplon, D. Kisielewska, K. Klimaszewski, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemien, T. Kozik, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, Sz. Niedzwiecki, M. Palka, M. Pawlik-Niedzwiecka, L. Raczynski, J. Raj, S. Sharma, S. Shivani, R. Y. Shopa, M. Skurzok, W. Wislicki, B. Zgardzinska, P. Moskal
abstract
In this article a new method for the reconstruction of hit-position and hit-time of photons in long scintillator detectors is investigated. This research is motivated by the recent development of the positron emission tomography scanners based on plastic scintillators. The proposed method constitutes a new way of signal processing in Multi-Voltage-Technique. It is based on the determination of the degree of similarity between the registered signals and the synchronized model signals stored in a library. The library was established for a set of well defined hit-positions along the length of the scintillator. The Mahalanobis distance was used as a measure of similarity between the two compared signals. The method was validated on the experimental data measured using two-strips J-PET prototype with dimensions of 5x9x300 mm. The obtained Time-of-Flight (TOF) and spatial resolutions amount to 325 ps (FWHM) and 25 mm (FWHM), respectively. The TOF resolution was also compared to the results of an analogous study done using Linear Fitting method. The best TOF resolution was obtained with this method at four pre-defined threshold levels which was comparable to the resolution achieved from the Mahalanobis distance at two pre-defined threshold levels. Although the algorithm of Linear Fitting method is much simpler to apply than the Mahalanobis method, the application of the Mahalanobis distance requires a lower number of applied threshold levels and, hence, decreases the costs of electronics used in PET scanner.
TOT Method for the Disentanglement of Photons in Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy
S. Sharma on behalf of J-PET collaboration
abstract
The Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph (J-PET) is a multidisciplinary device aiming to perform studies in medical field as well as to test the fundamental symmetries. The plastic scintillators offer very good time resolution. Although, due to the low atomic number of the plastic material, the incident photons interact mainly via the Compton effect. Thus instead of full energy deposition by the photon, there is a range of energy depositions depending on its scattering angle. For the positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy studies, it is necessary to distinguish the photons emitted from different processes. Therefore, it becomes crucial to find a method to disentangle the photons of different energies. In the present work, the control spectra are discussed which can unambiguously categorize the photons of different energies and origins, which are essential for the studies based on the positronium lifetime
Odd-even staggering in the yields of intermediate mass fragments from p+Ag collisions at Ep = 480 MeV
U. Singh, B. Kamys , S. Sharma, K. Pysz
abstract
The experimental total production cross-sections of intermediate-mass fragments (isotopes of Li, Be, B, C, N, O, F, Ne, Na, and Mg) were extracted by integration of d2s/dOmegadE data measured at several angles for p+Ag collisions at proton beam energy of 480 MeV. The total cross sections show typical odd?even staggering (OES) when presented as a function of the atomic number Z of ejectiles. The effect is the strongest for products with N = Z and N = Z + 2. Similar behaviour is observed for theoretical cross sections evaluated in the two-step model in which the first stage of the reaction is described by intranuclear cascade INCL++ and the second stage by GEMINI++ model or by two other models, namely ABLA07 and SMM. The OES seems to be even more pronounced for theoretical than for the experimental cross sections.
Feasibility study of the positronium imaging with the J-PET tomograph
P. Moskal, D. Kisielewska, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, M. Gorgol, B. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, K. Kacprzak, Ł. Kapłon, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, W. Krzemień, T. Kozik, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, Sz. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, L. Raczyński, J. Raj, S. Sharma, Shivani, R.Y. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, E. Stępień, W. Wiślicki, B. Zgardzińska
abstract
A detection system of the conventional PET tomograph is set-up to record data from e+ e- annihilation into two photons with energy of 511 keV, and it gives information on the density distribution of a radiopharmaceutical in the body of the object. In this paper we explore the possibility of performing the three gamma photons imaging based on ortho- positronium annihilation, as well as the possibility of positronium average lifetime imaging with the J-PET tomograph constructed from plastic scintillators. For this purposes simulations of the ortho-positronium formation and its annihilation into three photons were performed taking into account distributions of photons' momenta as predicted by the theory of quantum electrodynamics and the response of the J-PET tomograph. In order to test the proposed ortho-positronium lifetime image reconstruction method, we concentrate on the decay of the ortho-positronium into three photons and applications of radiopharmaceuticals labeled with isotopes emitting a prompt gamma quantum. The proposed method of imaging is based on the determination of hit-times and hit-positions of registered photons which enables the reconstruction of the time and position of the annihilation point as well as the lifetime of the ortho-positronium on an event-by-event basis. We have simulated the production of the positronium in a cylindrical phantom composed of a set of different materials in which the ortho-positronium lifetime varied from 2 ns to ~2.9 ns, as expected for ortho-positronium created in the human body. The presented reconstruction method for total-body J-PET like detector allows to achieve a mean lifetime resolution of about 40 ps. Recent Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy measurements of cancerous and healthy uterine tissues show that this sensitivity may allow to study the morphological changes in cell structures.
Monte Carlo N-Particle simulations of an underwater chemical threats detection system using neutron activation analysis
P. Sibczyński, M. Silarski, O. Bezshyyko, V. Ivanyan, E. Kubicz, Sz. Niedźwiecki, P. Moskal, J. Raj, S. Sharma and O. Trofimiuk
abstract
In this paper, we present Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) simulations of the system for underwater threat detection using neutron activation analysis developed in the SABAT project. The simulated system is based on a D-T neutron generator emitting 14 MeV neutrons without associated alpha particle detection and equipped with a LaBr3:Ce scintillation detector offering superior energy resolution and allowing for precise identification of activation gamma quanta. The performed simulations show that using the neutron activation analysis method with the designed geometry we are able to identify gamma-rays from hydrogen, carbon, sulphur and chlorine originating from mustard gas in a seawater environment. Our results show that the most efficient way of mustard gas detection is to compare the integral peak ratio for Cl and H.
Simulation studies of annihilation-photon's polarisation via Compton scattering with the J-PET tomograph
N. Krawczyk, B.C. Hiesmayr, J. Chhokar, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, M. Gorgol, N. Gupta-Sharma, B. Jasińska, D. Kisielewska, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, W. Krzemień, T. Kozik, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, Sz. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, L. Raczyński, J. Raj, K. Rakoczy, Z. Rudy, S. Sharma, Shivani, R.Y. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, W. Wiślicki, B. Zgardzińska, M. Zieliński, P. Moskal
abstract
J-PET is the first positron-emission tomograph (PET) constructed from plastic scintillators. It was optimized for the detection of photons from electron-positron annihilation. Such photons, having an energy of 511 keV, interact with electrons in plastic scintillators predominantly via the Compton effect. Compton scattering is at most probable at an angle orthogonal to the electric field vector of the interacting photon. Thus registration of multiple photon scatterings with J-PET enables to determine the polarization of the annihilation photons. In this contribution we present estimates on the physical limitation in the accuracy of the polarization determination of 511 keV photons with the J-PET detector.
Feasibility studies of the polarization of photons beyond the optical wavelength regime with the J-PET detector
P. Moskal, N. Krawczyk, B. C. Hiesmayr, M. Bała, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwinski, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, M. Gorgol, R. Del Grande, B. Jasinska, K. Kacprzak, L. Kapłon, D. Kisielewska, K. Klimaszewski, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik, W. Krzemien, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, Sz. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, L. Raczynski, J. Raj, Z. Rudy, S. Sharma, M. Silarski, Shivani, R. Y. Shopa, M. Skurzok, W. Wislicki, B. Zgardzinska
abstract
J-PET is a detector optimized for registration of photons from the electron-positron annihilation via plastic scintillators where photons interact predominantly via Compton scattering. Registration of both primary and scattered photons enables to determinate the linear polarization of the primary photon on the event by event basis with a certain probability. Here we present quantitative results on the feasibility of such polarization measurements of photons from the decay of positronium with the J-PET and explore the physical limitations for the resolution of the polarization determination of 511keV photons via Compton scattering. For scattering angles of about 82 degree (where the best contrast for polarization measurement is theoretically predicted) we find
that the single event resolution for the determination of the polarization is about 40 degree (predominantly due to properties
of the Compton effect). However, for samples larger than ten thousand events the J-PET is capable of determining relative average polarization of these photons with the precision of about few degrees. The obtained results open new perspectives for studies of various physics phenomena such as quantum entanglement and tests of discrete symmetries in decays of positronium and extend the energy range of polarization measurements by five orders of magnitude beyond the optical wavelength regime.
Evaluation of Single-Chip, Real-Time Tomographic Data Processing on FPGA - SoC Devices
G. Korcyl, P. Białas, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski, B. Flak, A. Gajos, B. Głowacz, M. Gorgol, B. C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, K. Kacprzak, M. Kajetanowicz, D. Kisielewska, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemień, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, Sz. Niedźwiecki, M. Pawlik- Niedźwiecka, M. Pałka, L. Raczyński, P. Rajda, Z. Rudy, P. Salabura, N. G. Sharma, S. Sharma, R. Y. Shopa, M. Skurzok, M. Silarski, P. Strzempek, A. Wieczorek, W. Wiślicki, R. Zaleski, B. Zgardzińska, M. Zieliński, P. Moskal
abstract
A novel approach to tomographic data processing
has been developed and evaluated using the Jagiellonian PET (J-
PET) scanner as an example. We propose a system in which there
is no need for powerful, local to the scanner processing facility,
capable to reconstruct images on the fly. Instead we introduce a
Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) System-on-Chip (SoC)
platform connected directly to data streams coming from the
scanner, which can perform event building, filtering, coincidence
search and Region-Of-Response (ROR) reconstruction by the
programmable logic and visualization by the integrated
processors. The platform significantly reduces data volume
converting raw data to a list-mode representation, while
generating visualization on the fly.
A feasibility study of the time reversal violation test based on polarization of annihilation photons from the decay of ortho-Positronium with the J-PET detector
J. Raj, A. Gajos, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski, M. Gorgol, N. Gupta-Sharma, B. C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, K. Kacprzak, Ł. Kapłon, D. Kisielewska, K. Klimaszewski, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemień, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, Sz. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, L. Raczyński, K. Rakoczy, Z. Rudy, S. Sharma, Shivani, R.Y. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, W. Wiślicki, B. Zgardzińska, P. Moskal
abstract
The Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph (J-PET) is a novel device being developed at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland based on organic scintillators. J-PET is an axially symmetric and high acceptance scanner that can be used as a multi-purpose detector system. It is well suited to pursue tests of discrete symmetries in decays of positronium in addition to medical
imaging. J-PET enables the measurement of both momenta and the polarization vectors of annihilation photons. The latter is a unique feature of the J-PET detector which allows the study of time reversal symmetry violation operator which can be constructed solely from the annihilation photons momenta before and after the scattering in the detector.
Commissioning of the J-PET detector in view of the positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy
K. Dulski, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, A. Gajos, M. Gorgol, N. Gupta-Sharma, B. C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, K. Kacprzak, Ł. Kapłon, D. Kisielewska, K. Klimaszewski, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemień, T. Kozik, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, Sz. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, L. Raczyński, J. Raj, K. Rakoczy, Z. Rudy, S. Sharma, Shivani, R. Y. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, W. Wiślicki, B. Zgardzińska, P. Moskal
abstract
The Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph (J-PET) is the first PET device built from plastic scintillators. It is a multi-purpose detector designed for medical imaging and for studies of properties of positronium atoms in porous matter and in living organisms. In this article we report on the commissioning of the J-PET detector in view of studies of positronium decays. We present results of analysis of the positron lifetime measured in the porous polymer. The obtained results prove that J-PET is capable of performing simultaneous imaging of the density distribution of annihilation points as well as positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy.
Feasibility study of the time reversal symmetry tests in decay of metastable positronium atoms with the J-PET detector
A. Gajos, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwinski, K. Dulski, M. Gorgol, N. Gupta-Sharma, B.C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasinska, K. Kacprzak, L. Kaplon, D. Kisielewska, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik, W. Krzemien, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, Sz Niedzwiecki, M. Paalka, M. Pawlik-Niedzwiecka, L. Raczynski, J. Raj, Z. Rudy, S. Sharma, Shivani, R. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, W. Wislicki, B. Zgardzinska, M. Zielinski, P. Moskal
abstract
This article reports on the feasibility of testing of the symmetry under reversal in time in a purely leptonic system constituted by positronium atoms using the J-PET detector. The present state of T symmetry tests is discussed with an emphasis on the scarcely explored sector of leptonic systems. Two possible strategies of searching for manifestations of T violation in non-vanishing angular correlations of final state observables in the decays of metastable triplet states of positronium available with J-PET are proposed and discussed. Results of a pilot measurement with J-PET and assessment of its performance in reconstruction of three-photon decays are shown along with an analysis of its impact on the sensitivity of the detector for the determination of T -violation sensitive observables.
Estimating the NEMA characteristics of the J-PET tomograph using the GATE package
P. Kowalski, W. Wiślicki, R.Y. Shopa, L. Raczyński, K. Klimaszewski, C. Curcenau, E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, M. Gorgol, N. Gupta-Sharma, B. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, Ł. Kapłon, D. Kisielewska-Kamińska, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, W. Krzemień, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, S. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, J. Raj, K. Rakoczy, Z. Rudy, S. Sharma, S. Shivani, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, B. Zgardzińska, M. Zieliński, P. Moskal
abstract
A novel whole-body positron emission tomography (PET) system based on plastic scintillators is
developed by the J-PET Collaboration. It consists of plastic scintillator strips arranged axially in the
form of a cylinder, allowing the cost-effective construction of the total-body PET system. In order to
determine the properties of the scanner prototype and optimize its geometry, advanced computer
simulations were performed using the GATE (Geant4 application for tomographic emission)
software.
The spatial resolution, sensitivity, scatter fraction and noise equivalent count rate were estimated
according to the National Electrical Manufacturers Association norm, as a function of the length
of the tomograph, the number of detection layers, the diameter of the tomographic chamber and
for various types of applied readout. For the single-layer geometry with a diameter of 85 cm, a strip
length of 100 cm, a cross-section of 4 mm × 20 mm and silicon photomultipliers with an additional
layer of wavelength shifter as the readout, the spatial resolution (full width at half maximum) in
the centre of the scanner is equal to 3 mm (radial, tangential) and 6 mm (axial). For the analogous
double-layer geometry with the same readout, diameter and scintillator length, with a strip crosssection
of 7 mm × 20 mm, a noise equivalent count rate peak of 300 kcps was reached at 40 kBq cc?1
activity concentration, the scatter fraction is estimated to be about 35% and the sensitivity at the
centre amounts to 14.9 cps kBq?1. Sensitivity profiles were also determined.
The predictive power of spallation models for isotopic cross sections
U. Singh, D. Filges, F. Goldenbaum, Boguslaw Kamys, Z. Rudy, and S. Sharma
abstract
The experimental cross sections of isotopically identified products of spallation reactions induced
by 136Xe projectiles at 1 GeV/nucleon on hydrogen target were compared with predictions of a two-step
model. The first stage of the reaction was described by the INCL++ model (version 5.3) of an intranuclear
cascade of nucleon-nucleon and pion-nucleon collisions whereas the second stage was analyzed by means
of four different models; ABLA07, GEM2, GEMINI ++ and SMM. Due to the fact that the experimental
data cover a very broad range of elements; from Li (Z=3) to Ba(Z= 56), the analysis could impose severe
constraints on the applied reaction models. The quality of data reproduction by the theoretical models
is discussed. Some systematic deviations of the theoretical predictions from the experimental results are
observed.
Investigation of complete and incomplete fusion in the Li 7 + Sn 124 reaction near Coulomb barrier energies
V.V.Parkar, S. Sharma, R. Palit et al.,
abstract
The complete and incomplete fusion cross sections for the 7Li + 124Sn reaction were measured using online and offline characteristic ? -ray detection techniques. The complete fusion (CF) cross sections at energies above the Coulomb barrier were found to be suppressed by ?26% compared to the coupled channel calculations. This suppression observed in complete fusion cross sections is found to be commensurate with the measured total incomplete fusion (ICF) cross sections. There is a distinct feature observed in the ICF cross sections, i.e., t capture is found to be dominant compared to ? capture at all the measured energies. A simultaneous explanation of complete, incomplete, and total fusion (TF) data was also obtained from the calculations based on the continuum discretized coupled channel method with short-range imaginary potentials. The cross-section ratios of CF/TF and ICF/TF obtained from the data, as well as the calculations, showed the dominance of ICF at below-barrier energies and CF at above-barrier energies.
Non-equilibrium processes in p + Ag collisions at GeV energies
M. Fidelus,.., B. Kamys, S. Kistryn, A. Magiera, Z. Rudy, S. Sharma et al.,
abstract
The double differential spectra d2?/d?dE of p, d, t, He3,4,6, Li6,7,8,9, Be7,9,10, and B10,11,12 were measured at seven scattering angles, 15.6?, 20?, 35?, 50?, 65?, 80?, and 100?, in the laboratory system for proton induced reactions on a silver target. Measurements were done for three proton energies: 1.2, 1.9, and 2.5 GeV. The experimental data were compared to calculations performed by means of two-step theoretical microscopic models. The first step of the reaction was described by the intranuclear cascade model incl4.6 and the second one by four different models (ABLA07, GEM2, gemini++, and SMM) using their standard parameter settings. Systematic deviations of the data from predictions of the models were observed. The deviations were especially large for the forward scattering angles and for the kinetic energy of emitted particles in the range from about 50 to 150 MeV. This suggests that some important non-equilibrium mechanism is lacking in the present day microscopic models of proton-nucleus collisions in the studied beam energy range.
A Method to Produce Linearly Polarized Positrons and Positronium Atoms with the J-PET Detector
M. Mohammed, P. Białas, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, B. Głowacz, M. Gorgol, B.C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, D. Kisielewska, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemień, E. Kubicz, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, S. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, L. Raczyński, J. Raj, Z. Rudy, N.G. Sharma, S. Sharma, Shivani, M. Skurzok, M. Silarski, A. Wieczorek, W. Wiślicki, B. Zgardzińska, M. Zieliński, P. Moskal
abstract
A method for creating linearly polarized positrons and ortho-positronium (o-Ps) atoms with the J-PET detector is presented. The unique geometry and properties of the J-PET tomography enable one to design a positron source such that the quantization axis for the estimation of the linear polarization of produced o-Ps can be determined on the event by event basis in a direction of the positron motion. We intend to use 22Na or other beta+ decay isotopes as a source of polarized positrons. Due to the parity violation in the beta decay, the emitted positrons are longitudinally polarized. The choice of the quantization axis is based on the known position of the positron emitter and the reconstructed position of the positronium annihilation. We show that the J-PET tomography is equipped with all needed components.
Human Tissue Investigations Using PALS Technique - Free Radicals Influence
B. Jasińska, B. Zgardzińska, G. Chołubek, M. Pietrow, M. Gorgol, K. Wiktor, K. Wysogląd, P. Białas, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, B. Głowacz, B.C. Hiesmayr, B. Jodłowska-Jędrych, D. Kamińska, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemień, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, S. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, L. Raczyński, Z. Rudy, N.G. Sharma, S. Sharma, R. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, A. Wieczorek, H. Wiktor, W. Wiślicki, M. Zieliński, P. Moskal
abstract
The positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy was applied to the samples of the human uterine leiomyomas and the normal myometrium tissues taken from the selected place of the uterus during a surgery. The method indicated differences in values of the measured positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy parameters (lifetimes and intensities) between healthy and diseased tissue samples. The additional measurements were performed either in darkness or in presence of visible light which influenced the free radicals present in both kind of tissues and, as a result, made changes in free annihilation and o-Ps decay lifetime and intensity values.
Preliminary Studies of J-PET Detector Spatial Resolution
M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, S. Niedźwiecki, D. Alfs, P. Białas, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, B. Głowacz, M. Gorgol, B. C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, D. Kisielewska, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemień, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, M. Pałka, L. Raczyński, J. Raj, Z. Rudy, Shivani, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, N.G. Sharma, S. Sharma, R.Y. Shopa, A. Strzelecki, A. Wieczorek, W. Wiślicki, B. Zgardzińska, M. Zieliński, P. Moskal
abstract
The J-PET detector, based on long plastic scintillator strips, was recently constructed at the Jagiellonian University. It consists of 192 modules axially arranged into three layers, read out from both sides by digital constant-threshold front-end electronics. This work presents preliminary results of measurements of the spatial resolution of the J-PET tomograph performed with 22Na source placed at selected position inside the detector chamber.
Underwater detection of dangerous substances: status of the SABAT project
M. Silarski, P. Sibczyński, Sz. Niedźwiecki, S. Sharma, J. Raj, P. Moskal
abstract
The Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) plays an exceptional role in the modern nuclear engineering, especially in detection of hazardous substances. However, in the aquatic environment, there are still many problems to be solved for effective usage of this technique. We present the status of SABAT (Stoichiometry Analysis By Activation Techniques), one of the projects aiming at the construction of an underwater device for non-invasive threat detection based on the NAA.
Analysis procedure of the positronium lifetime spectra for the J-PET detector
K. Dulski , B. Zgardzińska , P. Białas , C. Curceanu E. Czerwiński , A. Gajos , B. Głowacz , M. Gorgol , B. C. Hiesmayr , B. Jasińska , D. Kisielewska-Kamińska , G. Korcyl , P. Kowalski , T. Kozik , N. Krawczyk , W. Krzemień , E. Kubicz , M. Mohammed , M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, S. Niedźwiecki , M. Pałka , L. Raczyński , J. Raj , Z. Rudy , N. G. Sharma, S. Sharma, Shivani, R. Y. Shopa, M. Silarski , M. Skurzok , A. Wieczorek , W. Wiślicki , M. Zieliński , P. Moskal
abstract
Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy (PALS) has shown to be a powerful tool to study the nanostructures of porous materials. Positron Emissions Tomography (PET) are devices allowing imaging of metabolic processes e.g. in human bodies. A newly developed device, the J-PET (Jagiellonian PET), will allow PALS in addition to imaging, thus combining both analyses providing new methods for physics and medicine. In this contribution we present a computer program that is compatible with the J-PET software. We compare its performance with the standard program LT 9.0 by using PALS data from hexane measurements at different temperatures. Our program is based on an iterative procedure, and our fits prove that it performs as good as LT 9.0.
Introduction of total variation regularization into filtered backprojection algorithm
L. Raczyński, W. Wiślicki, K. Klimaszewski, W. Krzemień, P. Kowalski, R. Shopa, P. Białas, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski A. Gajos, B. Głowacz, M. Gorgol, B. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, D. Kisielewska-Kamińska, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, S. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, Z. Rudy, N.G. Sharma, S. Sharma, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, A. Wieczorek, B. Zgardzińska, M. Zieliński, P. Moskal
abstract
In this paper we extend the state-of-the-art filtered backprojection (FBP) method with application of the concept of Total Variation regularization. We compare the performance of the new algorithm with the most common form of regularizing in the FBP image reconstruction via apodizing functions. The methods are validated in terms of cross-correlation coefficient between reconstructed and real image of radioactive tracer distribution using standard Derenzo-type phantom. We demonstrate that the proposed approach results in higher cross-correlation values with respect
to the standard FBP method.
Time calibration of the J-PET detector
M. Skurzok, M. Silarski, D. Alfs, P. Bialas, Shivani, C. Curceanu , E. Czerwinski , K. Dulski , A. Gajos, B. G lowacz , M. Gorgol, B. C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasinska, D. Kisielewska, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik , N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemien, E. Kubicz , M. Mohammed, M. Pawlik-Niedzwiecka, S. Niedzwiecki, M. Palka, L. Raczynski , J. Raj, Z. Rudy, N. G. Sharma, S. Sharma , R. Y. Shopa , A. Wieczorek, W. Wislicki , B. Zgardzinska, M. Zielinski, P. Moskal
abstract
The Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph (J-PET) project carried out in the Institute of Physics of the Jagiellonian University is focused on construction and tests of the first prototype of PET scanner for medical diagnostic which allows for the simultaneous 3D imaging of the whole human body using organic scintillators. The J-PET prototype consists of 192 scintillator strips forming three cylindrical layers which are optimized for the detection of photons from the electron-positron annihilation with high time- and high angular-resolutions. In this article we present time calibration and synchronization of the whole J-PET detection system by irradiating each single detection module with a 22Na source and a small detector providing common reference time for synchronization of all the modules.
Commissioning of the J-PET Detector for Studies of Decays of Positronium Atoms
E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski, P. Białas, C. Curceanu, A. Gajos, B. Głowacz, M. Gorgol, B.C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, D. Kisielewska, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemień, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, Sz. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, L. Raczyński, Z. Rudy, N.G. Sharma, S. Sharma, R.Y. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, A. Wieczorek, W. Wiślicki, B. Zgardzińska, M. Zieliński, P. Moskal
abstract
The Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph (J-PET) is a detector for medical imaging of the whole human body as well as for physics studies involving detection of electron?positron annihilation into photons. J-PET has high angular and time resolution, and allows for measurement of spin of the positronium and the momenta and polarization vectors of annihilation quanta. In this article, we present the potential of the J-PET system for the background rejection in the decays of positronium atoms.
J-PET: A New Technology for the Whole-body PET Imaging
S. Niedźwiecki, P. Białas, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, B. Głowacz, M. Gorgol, B.C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, Ł. Kapłon, D. Kisielewska-Kamińska, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemień, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, M. Pałka, L. Raczyński, Z. Rudy, N.G. Sharma, S. Sharma, R.Y. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, A. Wieczorek, W. Wiślicki, B. Zgardzińska, M. Zieliński, P. Moskal
abstract
The Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph (J-PET) is the first PET built from plastic scintillators. J-PET prototype consists of 192 detection modules arranged axially in three layers forming a cylindrical diagnostic chamber with the inner diameter of 85 cm and the axial field-of-view of 50 cm. An axial arrangement of long strips of plastic scintillators, their small light attenuation, superior timing properties, and relative ease of the increase of the axial field-of-view opens promising perspectives for the cost effective construction of the whole-body PET scanner, as well as construction of MR and CT compatible PET inserts. Present status of the development of the J-PET tomograph will be presented and discussed.
Three-dimensional Image Reconstruction in J-PET Using Filtered Back-projection Method
R.Y. Shopa, K. Klimaszewski, P. Kowalski, W. Krzemień, L. Raczyński, W. Wiślicki, P. Białas, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, B. Głowacz, M. Gorgol, B. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, D. Kisielewska-Kamińska, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, S. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, Z. Rudy, N.G. Sharma, S. Sharma, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, A. Wieczorek, B. Zgardzińska, M. Zieliński, P. Moskal
abstract
We present a method and preliminary results of the image reconstruction in the Jagiellonian PET tomograph. Using GATE (Geant4 Application for Tomographic Emission), interactions of the 511 keV photons with a cylindrical detector were generated. Pairs of such photons, flying back-to-back, originate from e+e? annihilations inside a 1 mm spherical source. Spatial and temporal coordinates of hits were smeared using experimental resolutions of the detector. We incorporated the algorithm of the 3D Filtered Back Projection, implemented in the STIR and TomoPy software packages, which differ in approximation methods. Consistent results for the Point Spread Functions of ? 5 ÷ 7 mm and ? 9 ÷ 20 mm were obtained, using STIR, for transverse and longitudinal directions, respectively, with no time-of-flight information included.
Human Tissues Investigation Using PALS Technique
B. Jasińska, B. Zgardzińska, G. Chołubek, M. Gorgol, K. Wiktor, K. Wysogląd, P. Białas, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, B. Głowacz, B. Hiesmayr, B. Jodłowska-Jędrych, D. Kamińska, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemień, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, S. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, L. Raczyński, Z. Rudy, N.G. Sharma, S. Sharma, R. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, A. Wieczorek, H. Wiktor, W. Wiślicki, M. Zieliński, P. Moskal
abstract
Samples of uterine leiomyomatis and normal tissues taken from patients after surgery were investigated using the Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy (PALS). Significant differences in all PALS parameters between normal and diseased tissues were observed. For all studied patients, it was found that the values of the free annihilation and ortho-positronium lifetime are larger for the tumorous tissues than for the healthy ones. For most of the patients, the intensity of the free annihilation and ortho-positronium annihilation was smaller for the tumorous than for the healthy tissues. For the first time, in this kind of studies, the 3? fraction of positron annihilation was determined to describe changes in the tissue porosity during morphologic alteration.
Human Tissues Investigation Using PALS Technique
B. Jasińska, B. Zgardzińska, G. Chołubek, M. Gorgol, K. Wiktor, K. Wysogląd, P. Białas, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, B. Głowacz, B.C. Hiesmayr, B. Jodłowska-Jędrych, D. Kamińska, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemień, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, S. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, L. Raczyński, Z. Rudy, N.G. Sharma, S. Sharma, R. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, A. Wieczorek, H. Wiktor, W. Wiślicki, M. Zieliński, P. Moskal
abstract
Samples of uterine leiomyomatis and normal tissues taken from patients
after surgery were investigated using the Positron Annihilation Lifetime
Spectroscopy (PALS). Significant differences in all PALS parameters
between normal and diseased tissues were observed. For all studied patients,
it was found that the values of the free annihilation and orthopositronium
lifetime are larger for the tumorous tissues than for the healthy
ones. For most of the patients, the intensity of the free annihilation and
ortho-positronium annihilation was smaller for the tumorous than for the
healthy tissues. For the first time, in this kind of studies, the 3gamma fraction
of positron annihilation was determined to describe changes in the tissue
porosity during morphologic alteration.
Ranking and validation of spallation models for isotopic production cross sections of heavy residua
S. Sharma, B. Kamys, F. Goldenbaum, D. Filges
abstract
The production cross sections of isotopically identified residual nuclei of spallation reactions induced by 136Xe projectiles at 500 AMeV on hydrogen target were analyzed in a two-step model. The first stage of the reaction was described by the INCL4.6 model of an intranuclear cascade of nucleon-nucleon and pion-nucleon collisions whereas the second stage was analyzed by means of four different models; ABLA07, GEM2, GEMINI++ and SMM. The quality of the data description was judged quantitatively using two statistical deviation factors; the H-factor and the M-factor. It was found that the present analysis leads to a different ranking of models as compared to that obtained from the qualitative inspection of the data reproduction. The disagreement was caused by sensitivity of the deviation factors to large statistical errors present in some of the data. A new deviation factor, the A factor, was proposed, that is not sensitive to the statistical errors of the cross-sections. The quantitative ranking of models performed using the A-factor agreed well with the qualitative analysis of the data. It was concluded that using the deviation factors weighted by statistical errors may lead to erroneous conclusions in the case when the data cover a large range of values. The quality of data reproduction by the theoretical models is discussed. Some systematic deviations of the theoretical predictions from the experimental results are observed.
Ranking and validation of the spallation models for description of intermediate mass fragment emission from p + Ag collisions at 480 MeV incident proton beam energy
S. Sharma, B. Kamys, F. Goldenbaum, D. Filges
abstract
Double-differential cross-sections d2?/d? dE for isotopically identified intermediate mass frag- ments (6Li up to 27Mg) from nuclear reactions induced by 480MeV protons impinging on a silver target were analyzed in the frame of a two-step model. The first step of the reaction was described by the intranu- clear cascade model INCL4.6 and the second one by four different models (ABLA07,GEM2, GEMINI++, and SMM). The experimental spectra reveal the presence of low-energy, isotropic as well as high-energy, forward-peaked contributions. The INCL4.6 model offers a possibility to describe the latter contribution for light intermediate mass fragments by coalescence of the emitted nucleons. The qualitative agreement of the model predictions with the data was observed but the high-energy tails of the spectra were signif- icantly overestimated. The shape of the isotropic part of the spectra was reproduced by all four models. The GEM2 model strongly underestimated the value of the cross-sections for heavier IMF whereas the SMM and ABLA07 models generally overestimated the data. The best quantitative description of the data was offered by GEMINI++, however, a discrepancy between the data and the model cross-sections still remained for almost all reaction products, especially at forward angles. It indicates that non-equilibrium processes are present which cannot be reproduced by the applied models. The goodness of the data de- scription was judged quantitatively using two statistical deviation factors, the H-factor and the M-factor, as a tool for ranking and validation of the theoretical models.
Angular Asymmetry in the Pro duction of Light and Heavy Recoil Nuclides in Proton Induced Reaction with Au Target at GeV Energies
S. Sharma, B. Kamys
abstract
It is shown that model calculations are able to reproduce main properties in terms of experimental mass
dependence of the forward-backward asymmetry of the emitted reaction products from proton-Au collisions in the
proton beam energy range from 1 GeV to 3 GeV. Qualitative as well as quantitative comparisons are done between
the measurements and the calculations performed by means of the intra nuclear cascade code INCL4.6 coupled
with four different codes: SMM, GEMINI++, ABLA07, and GEM2 with the aim to validate the selected reaction
models.
Validation of Spallation Models for p+Al Reactions at 180 MeV Incident Proton Beam Energy
S. Sharma, B. Kamys, F. Goldenbaum, D. Filges
abstract
Various observables measured at low beam energy of 180 MeV for proton induced reactions on 27 Al targets have been compared with theoretical predictions of different spallation models. These models assume that the reactions proceed in two stages: the intranuclear cascade of nucleon?nucleon collisions followed by the de-excitation of equilibrated, excited remnants of the cascade. The calculations of the intranuclear cascade were performed by means of the INCL4.6 code, whereas the second stage of the reactions was realized using four different models: ABLA07, GEMINI++, GEM2, and SMM. It was found that the main properties of the experimental isobaric total production cross sections are reasonably well reproduced by all these spallation models. The shape of the energy averaged angular distributions of ejectiles with A = 7, 12, 16, 22, 24, and 25 was also well described by the models listed above, however the absolute magnitude of A = 7 and A = 25 data is strongly underestimated and overestimated, respectively. The theoretical energy spectra for A = 7, A = 16, and A = 22 are very similar for all the models and reproduce well the data for heavier ejectiles, whereas the A = 7 data deviate from the model cross sections for energies smaller than ? 10 MeV what may indicate the presence of a reaction mechanism not included in the spallation models. The following ranking of the four used models ? all of them being coupled to the very same INCL4.6 INC model ? was determined using the statistical H-test in a quantitative analysis: (1) GEMINI++, (2) SMM, (3) ABLA07, and (4) GEM2.
Sequential and simultaneous emission of particles from p + Al collisions at GeV energies
M. Fidelus,.., B. Kamys, Z. Rudy, S. Sharma et al.,
abstract
The energy and angular dependence of double differential cross sections
d
2
?/ddE
were measured for
p
,
d
,
t
,
3
,
4
,
6
He,
6
,
7
,
8
,
9
Li,
7
,
9
,
10
Be, and
10
,
11
B produced in collisions of 1.2, 1.9, and 2.5 GeV protons with an Al
target. It was found that the cross sections are almost independent of the beam energy. The spectra and angular
distributions indicate a presence of two contributions: a quasi-isotropic, low-energy one which is attributed
to the emission of particles from excited remnants of the intranuclear cascade, and an anisotropic part which
is interpreted to originate from the first stage of the reaction. The experimental data are compared with an
intranuclear cascade model coupled to evaporation, and to statistical multifragmentation models using their
standard parameter settings. It was found that all applied models produce very similar results describing spectra
of the intermediate mass fragments. All models also reproduce well the low-energy part of the spectra of light
charged particles (below?30 MeV). The description of the higher energy part (50?150 MeV) of the light
charged particles spectra is poorer, deteriorating with decreasing scattering angle and decreasing mass of the
particles.
Dependence and Influence of Projectile Energy and Target Mass on the Production of Light Charged Particles and Intermediate Mass Fragments in Proton Induced Reactions
S. Sharma, D. Filges, F. Goldenbaum, B. Kamys
abstract
Calculations were performed for proton induced spallation reactions over a wide range of atomic masses on the targets: 12C, 27Al, natNi, 108Ag and 197Au using an Intra-nuclear Cascade Model (INCL4.6) with coalescence which includes the emission of protons, light clusters (d?4He), and intermediate mass fragments (up to A=8) formed by the nucleons during the first stage of the reaction. The emission of particles from excited cascade residua are described using three different theoretical models SMM, ABLA07, and GEMINI++. A comparison of calculations with experimental double differential cross?sections for light charged particles and selected intermediate mass fragments was studied at proton beam energies from GeV. Systematic deviations of the simulated cross sections from the experimental data were found for both light charged particles and intermediate mass fragments.
Characterization of optical photon transport in Long Plastic Scintillators
S. Sharma, N. Gupta, S. K. Kundu, A. K. Venadan, L. Kaplon, P. Moskal On behalf of the J-PET Collaboration
abstract
Plastic scintillators have long been used in nuclear and particle physics experiments as cost-effective detectors [1]. The longer attenuation length for light transmission makes
them ideal for applications requiring a larger field-of-view (FOV) [2]. The Jagiellonian PET (J-PET) collaboration has pioneered their use to build the first plastic scintillator-
based PET scanner, which is composed of 50 cm long plastic scintillators [3,4]. With the successful demonstration of modules constructed based on J-PET technology in both
medical [5,6] and fundamental physics [7,8,9,10], the collaboration now aims to construct standalone detection modules using even longer scintillators. Since light propagation
in long plastic scintillators depends strongly on the interaction position and direction, it is required to perform a thorough study on scintillator light yield, light attenuation during
the transport along the strip, variation in the time of detected photons, and how uniformly the light is collected [11]. Furthermore, the influence of surface reflectivity also plays
a crucial role in shaping the detector response [12]. All these characteristic properties of the scintillator directly impact both the timing and spatial resolution [13], which are key
parameters to optimize the overall performance, particularly when signals are read out only from the ends of the scintillator.
Feasibility Study of Using Detector-Scattered Photons for Attenuation Correction in CT-less PET Imaging
Satyam Tiwari, Sushil Sharma, Pawel Moskal
abstract
Objective: Quantitative PET requires accurate attenuation correction (AC), which is conventionally achieved using CT-derived maps, incurring extra dose and complexity. This study explores a CT-less AC approach for the plastic scintillator-based J-PET scanner by investigating whether detector-scattered photons (DS-LORs) can serve as an intrinsic transmission source.
Methods:
Simulation Setup: The study utilized GATE v9.1 software to simulate the modular J-PET scanner, which consists of plastic scintillator strips where 511 keV photons predominantly undergo Compton scattering. Two configurations were evaluated: a uniform water cylinder and a NEMA IQlike phantom containing a cold lung insert and six hot spheres to simulate heterogeneous activity.
Analysis & reconstruction: The study isolated triple-hit coincidences to analyze angular deviations. DS-LORs were identified using a specific scatter test metric based on interaction positions and detection times. Attenuation maps were reconstructed using Filtered Back Projection (FBP) applied to the ratio of water-to-air sinograms.
Results: Due to the properties of plastic scintillators, DS-LORs constituted approximately 50% of all detected prompts, providing a substantial dataset for analysis. In a simulated 10-minute acquisition, the noise propagation analysis yielded a Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) of ? 33.9 for water. This is significantly higher than conventional crystal-based PET, which yields only ? 5% DS-LORs and a lower SNR. Reconstructions successfully resolved the NEMA phantom features, including the cold lung insert and hot spheres, particularly when phantom-scattered events were rejected.
Conclusions and future directions: This study confirms that DS-LORs retain sufficient attenuation information to estimate ?-maps, demonstrating the potential for fully CT-less PET imaging. While the current implementation faces limitations like reliance on blank scans and activity-attenuation crosstalk, the high statistics of DS-LORs are a foundation for developing joint reconstruction algorithms aiming towards clinical application.
First Experimental Demonstration of Positronium Lifetime Imaging with 44Sc Using the J-PET Scanner
M. Das, S. Sharma, E. Y. Beyene, A. Bilewicz, J. Choiński, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, J. Hajduga, S. Jalali, T. Kaplanoglu, Ł. Kapłon, K. Kasperska, A. Khreptak, G. Korcyl, K. Kubat, D. Kumar, A. Kunimmal Venadan, E. Lisowski, F. Lisowski, J. Mędrala-Sowa, S. Moyo, W. Mryka, S. Niedźwiecki, P. Pandey, S. Parzych, A. Porcelli, B. Rachwał, E. P.D. Río, M. Rädler, M. Skurzok, A. Stolarz, T. Szumlak, S. Tiwari, P. Tanty, K. Tayefi Ardebili, K. Valsan Eliyan, R. Walczak, E.Ł. Stępień, P. Moskal
published in: 2025 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium (NSS), Medical Imaging Conference (MIC) and Room Temperature Semiconductor Detector Conference (RTSD)
Positronium lifetime imaging (PLI) [1], an extension of PET, provides insight into the submolecular properties of tissues by imaging the lifetime of the positronium atom [2]. Currently, the method is under rapid development as regards reconstruction [3], [4] and detection systems [5], [6]. The first studies with the J-PET scanner using 68Ga have demonstrated the feasibility of this technique in human subjects [6]. However, the Ga68 isotope has limitations due to its low yield of de-excitation photons necessary for positronium lifetime estimation. In this context, 44Sc emerges as a promising candidate for PLI [7], offering a clinically optimal half-life of 3.97 hours and a high deexcitation photon yield of 94.3 % with an energy of 1157 keV. In this work, we report the results of the successful demonstration of PLI with 44 Sc using the Modular J-PET tomograph, featuring triggerless data acquisition that enables simultaneous multiphoton detection [8]. 44Sc was produced at the Heavy Ion Laboratory in Warsaw and transported to Jagiellonian University in Kraków. A NEMA IQ phantom with six spheres was used. The three largest spheres were filled with 44Sc, and the three smallest with 18 F, both diluted with water, having an initial activity concentration ratio of 1:3. Event selection was based on the simultaneous detection of two 511 keV photons and one de-excitation photon, enabling reconstruction of images of the mean positronium lifetime [2], [6]. The measured mean o-Ps lifetime shows good agreement with previously reported values in water [9]. This study presents the first-ever demonstration of PLI with 44 Sc, marking a significant advancement and opening new possibilities for developing PLI for clinical applications.
Positronium Doppler laser cooling: results and perspectives
A. Camper*, S. Alfaro Campos, M. Auzins, M. Berghold, B. Bergmann, P. Burian, R.S. Brusa, R. Caravita, F. Castelli, G. Cerchiari, R. Ciuryło, A. Chehaimi, G. Consolati, M. Doser, K. Eliaszuk, R. Ferguson, M. Germann, A. Giszczak, L.T. Glöggler, Ł. Graczykowski, M. Grosbart, F. Guatieri, N. Gusakova, F.P. Gustafsson, S. Haider, S. Huck, C. Hugenschmidt, M. Janik, T. Januszek, G. Kasprowicz, K. Kempny, G. Khatri, Ł. Kłosowski, G. Kornakov, V. Krumins, L. Lappo, A. Linek, S. Mariazzi, P. Moskal, M. Münster, P. Pandey, D. Pecak, L. Penasa, V. Petracek, M. Piwinski, S. Pospišil, F. Prelz, S.A. Rangwala, T. Rauschendorfer, B.S. Rawat, B. Rienacker, V. Rodin, O. R?hne, H. Sandaker, S. Sharma, P. Smolyanskiy, T. Sowiński, D. Tefelski, M. Volponi, C.P. Welsch, M. Zawada, J. Zielinski, N. Zurlo on behalf of the AEgIS Collaboration
published in: Proceedings of Science, International Conference on Exotic Atoms and Related Topics and Conference on Low Energy Antiprotons (EXA-LEAP2024)
Prospects for forward emitted positronium from nanoporous membranes at AEgIS
B. Rienacker*, S. Alfaro Campos, M. Auzins, M. Berghold, B. Bergmann, P. Burian, R.S. Brusa, A. Camper, R. Caravita, F. Castelli, G. Cerchiari, R. Ciuryło, A. Chehaimi, G. Consolati, M. Doser, K. Eliaszuk, R. Ferguson, M. Germann, A. Giszczak, L.T. Glöggler, Ł. Graczykowski, M. Grosbart, F. Guatieri, N. Gusakova, F. Gustafsson, S. Haider, S. Huck, C. Hugenschmidt, M.A. Janik, T. Januszek, G. Kasprowicz, K. Kempny, G. Khatri, Ł. Kłosowski, G. Kornakov, V. Krumins, L. Lappo, A. Linek, S. Mariazzi, P. Moskal, M. Münster, P. Pandey, D. Pecak, L. Penasa, V. Petracek, M. Piwinski, S. Pospišil, F. Prelz, S.A. Rangwala, T. Rauschendorfer, B.S. Rawat, V. Rodin, O. R?hne, H. Sandaker, S. Sharma, P. Smolyanskiy, T. Sowiński, D. Tefelski, M. Volponi, C.P. Welsch, M. Zawada, J. Zielinski, N. Zurlo on behalf of the AEgIS Collaboration
published in: Proceedings of Science, International Conference on Exotic Atoms and Related Topics and Conference on Low Energy Antiprotons (EXA-LEAP2024)
3D simulation studies of mixed plasma confinement at AEgIS
B.S. Rawat*, N. Kumar, B. Rienacker, C.P. Welsch, S. Alfaro Campos, M. Auzins, M. Berghold, B. Bergmann, P. Burian, R.S. Brusa, A. Camper, R. Caravita, F. Castelli, G. Cerchiari, R. Ciuryło, A. Chehaimi, G. Consolati, M. Doser, K. Eliaszuk, R. Ferguson, M. Germann, A. Giszczak, L.T. Glöggler, Ł. Graczykowski, M. Grosbart, F. Guatieri, N. Gusakova, F.P. Gustafsson, S. Haider, S. Huck, C. Hugenschmidt, M.A. Janik, T. Januszek, G. Kasprowicz, K. Kempny, G. Khatri, Ł. Kłosowski, G. Kornakov, V. Krumins, L. Lappo, A. Linek, S. Mariazzi, P. Moskal, M. Münster, P. Pandey, D. Pecak, L. Penasa, V. Petracek, M. Piwiński, S. Pospisil, F. Prelz, S.A. Rangwala, T. Rauschendorfer, V. Rodin, O. R?hne, H. Sandaker, S. Sharma, P. Smolyanskiy, T. Sowiński, D. Tefelski, M. Volponi, M. Zawada, J. Zielinski, N. Zurlo on behalf of the AEgIS Collaboration
published in: Proceedings of Science, International Conference on Exotic Atoms and Related Topics and Conference on Low Energy Antiprotons (EXA-LEAP2024)
Investigating quantum entanglement of highenergy photons from positron annihilation in a porous medium
Deepak Kumar, Sushil Sharma and Paweł Moskal On behalf of J-PET collaboration.
published in: Journal of Physics: Conference Series
The AEgIS Experiment: Progress and Future Outlook
R. Caravita, S. Alfaro Campos, M. Auzins, M. Berghold, B. Bergmann, P. Burian, R.S. Brusa, A. Camper, F. Castelli, G. Cerchiari, R. Ciurylo, A. Chehaimi, G. Consolati, M. Doser, K. Eliaszuk, R. Ferguson, M. Germann, A. Giszczak, L.T. Glöggler, L. Graczykowski, M. Grosbart, F. Guatieri, N. Gusakova, F.P. Gustafsson, S. Haider, S. Huck, C. Hugenschmidt, M. Janik, T. Januszek, G. Kasprowicz, K. Kempny, G. Khatri, L. Klosowski, G. Kornakov, V. Krumins, L. Lappo, A. Linek, S. Mariazzi, P. Moskal, M. Münster, P. Pandey, D. Pecak, L. Penasa, V. Petracek, M. Piwinski, S. Pospišil, F. Prelz, S.A. Rangwala, T. Rauschendorfer, B.S. Rawat, B. Rienacker, V. Rodin, O. Rohne, H. Sandaker, S. Sharma, P. Smolyanskiy, T. Sowiński, D. Tefelski, M. Volponi, C.P. Welsch, M. Zawada, J. Zielinski, N. Zurlo on behalf of the AEgIS Collaboration
published in: PoS EXA-LEAP2024, 024 (2024)
The AEgIS experiment at CERN is pioneering measurements of gravity, spectroscopy, and interferometry using pulsed antimatter atomic sources. This work provides an overview of the AEgIS experimental setup and highlights recent advancements in antihydrogen production, positronium laser cooling, and the creation of antiprotonic atoms. Key technological developments, including the overhaul of the control system and its impact on precision experiments, are reviewed. Future perspectives for AEgIS before CERN Long Shutdown 3 and beyond are summarized.
Performance evaluation of the modular J-PET detector in conventional PET imaging
M. Das , R. Bayerlein , S. Parzych, S. Sharma, R. D. Badawi , E. Y. Beyene, E. Czerwiński, , A. Hubalewska-Dydejczyk , T. Kaplanoglu, G. Korcyl, W. Mryka, S. Niedźwiecki, M. Opalińska, M. Rädler, M. Skurzok, B. A Spencer, P. Tanty, K. Tayefi Ardebili, P. Moskal, E.Ł. Stepien
published in: 2024 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium (NSS), Medical Imaging Conference (MIC) and Room Temperature Semiconductor Detector Conference (RTSD)
Test for non-relativistic QED in decays of positronium atoms
S. Sharma, K. Dulski, P. Moskal
published in: EPJ Web of Conferences 291 (2024) 03012
Positronium (Ps) is a bound state of electron and positron governed by electromagnetic interactions. Precise measurement of its decay rate is an important observational parameter to test theoretical predictions derived from Non-Relativistic Quantum Electrodynamics (NRQED). In this work, we present a new method for measuring the decay rate of Ps atoms, which has the potential to improve the precision and thus the description of the behavior of particles in bound states and to provide insight into the non-relativistic regime of QED.
Measuring the correlation between polarization of two photons originating from e+e ? annihilations for PET imaging using J-PET
D. Kumar, S. Sharma and P. Moskal on behalf of J-PET collaboration
published in: DAE Symposium on Nuclear Physics 67 (2023)
Experimental observation of polarization correlation of entangled photons from positronium atom using J-PET detector
D. Kumar*, S. Sharma and P. Moskal
published in: PoS (EPS-HEP2023)
Quantum entanglement is one of the fundamental correlations between particles that has not yet been confirmed with high-energy photons. Quantum electrodynamics (QED) predicts that annihilation photons produced by the decay of the singlet state of positronium (Ps) atoms are entangled in their polarization. Since these photons have an energy of 511 keV, there is no polarizer to measure the polarization of these photons. However, the direction of the scattering photons when interacting with an electron via the Compton process depends strongly on the polarization of the photon. Therefore, Compton scattering can be used as a polarization analyser. The polarization direction of the photon can be defined as the cross product of the momentum vector of the incident and scattered photon. By measuring the polarization of annihilation photons originating from Ps decays, their polarization correlation can be determined. Measuring this correlation will for the first time, will answer the open question of studying quantum entanglement in high-energy photons. Moreover, it also have potential applications in PET imaging, where the quality of image reconstruction directly depends on the selection of pure annihilation photons, which can be separated based on the strength of the polarization correlation. In this paper, we report on the method for determining the polarization correlation of annihilation photons using the J-PET detector.
Feasibility study of positronium imaging with Biograph Vision Quadra and Modular J-PET
S. Parzych, J. Baran, E. Yitayew Beyene, M. Conti, A. Coussat, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, K. Valsan Eliyan, A. Gajos, B. Hiesmayr, A. Jędruszczak, K. Kacprzak, M. Kajetanowicz, T. Kaplanoglu, Ł. Kapłon, K. Klimaszewski, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, W. Krzemień, D. Kumar, G. Łapkiewicz, L. Mercolli, W. Migdał, S. Moyo, W. Mryka, S. Niedźwiecki, E. Pérez Del Río, L. Raczyński, A. Rominger, H. Sari, S. Sharma, K. Shi, S. Shivani, R. Shopa, M. Skurzok, W.M. Steinberger, E. Stępień, P. Tanty, F. Tayefi, K. Tayefi Ardebili, W. Wiślicki, P. Moskal
published in: 2023 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium, Medical Imaging Conference and International Symposium on Room-Temperature Semiconductor Detectors
Positronium Imaging is gaining interest as a new promising method that may improve the diagnostic specificity of Positron Emission Tomography. Recently, the first ex-vivo and in-vivo positronium lifetime images were demonstrated by means of the dedicated multi-photon J-PET system. The latest upgrades of the Biograph Vision Quadra (Siemens Healthineers) to the singles mode acquisition open the possibility of multi-photon imaging. In this simulation-based work, sensitivity of both systems has been assessed as a function of the energy window applied for registration of the prompt photon. The research was conducted using four radioisotopes: 124 I, 68 Ga, 44 Sc, 22 Na, which were chosen due to their medical or laboratory utilization. Simulations were performed with the GATE software. The result indicates that Biograph Vision Quadra provides about 400 times higher sensitivity with respect to the modular J-PET prototype used to demonstrate the first positronium images, assuming full energy acquisition of the prompt photon.
Performance of NEMA characteristics of Modular J-PET
F. Tayefi Ardebili, S. Niedźwiecki, J. Baran, E. Beyene, D. Borys, K. Brzezinski, N. Chug, A. Coussat, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, K. Eliyan, J. Gajewski, A. Gajos, B. Hiesmayr, A. Jędruszczak, K. Kacprzak, M. Kajetanowicz, T. Kaplanoglu, Ł. Kapłon, K. Klimaszewski, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, W. Krzemień, D. Kumar, G. Łapkiewicz, W. Migdał, S. Moyo, W. Mryka, S. Parzych, E. Pérez del Río, L. Raczyński, S. Sharma, S. Shivani, R. Shopa, M. Skurzok, P. Tanty, K. Tayefi Ardebili, W. Wislicki, E. Stępień, P. Moskal
published in: 2023 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium, Medical Imaging Conference and International Symposium on Room-Temperature Semiconductor Detectors
The Modular J-PET scanner, developed by the J-PET collaboration, is a new prototype PET scanner developed based on axially arranged plastic scintillators as a large axial field of view (50cm) affordable tomograph. In this study, the performance characteristics of the scanner were evaluated according to NEMA NU2-2018 standards using Monte Carlo simulation. In order to ensure the selection of true coincidence events, certain criteria were established. Specifically, each photon emitting from a single annihilation must deposit at least 200 keV within 4 ns of a coincidence time window. The preliminary results showed that the sensitivity profile peak was 4 cps/kBq at the center of the detector, While the scatter fraction was estimated to be 39% using the single slice rebinning algorithm. Spatial resolution was estimated around 4.5 mm in the radial and tangential direction and 18 mm in the axial direction.
Normalization and scatter corrections for the J-PET scanner
A. Coussat, W. Krzemień, J. Baran, S. Parzych, L. Raczyński, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, J. Gajewski, B. Hiesmayr, K. Valsan Eliyan, A. Jędruszczak, K. Kacprzak, A. Gajos, T. Kaplanoglu, Ł. Kapłon, K. Klimaszewski, T. Kozik, G. Łapkiewicz, G. Korcyl, S. Moyo, D. Kumar, W. Mryka, S. Niedźwiecki, S. Sharma, E. Pérez Del Río, S. Shivani, R. Shopa, P. Tanty, M. Skurzok, K. Tayefi, F. Tayefi, E. Stępień, W. Wiślicki, P. Moskal
published in: 2023 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium, Medical Imaging Conference and International Symposium on Room-Temperature Semiconductor Detectors
The Jagiellonian PET scanner is a cost-effective large axial FOV Positron Emission Tomography technology that enables multi-photon imaging and is currently under development at the Jagiellonian University. The current 50 cm prototype, named Modular J-PET, is being investigated for various applications. It is well known that PET data can be affected by several effects during acquisition, such as scattered gamma photons or variations in detection efficiency. Consequently, achieving the reconstruction of images of satisfactory quality requires a set of corrections to be applied to each line-of-response. This summary discusses the implementation and performance of scatter and normalization corrections for the Modular J-PET, and their extension prior to the assembly of a total-body Jagiellonian PET scanner. Normalization correction is achieved using component-based normalization, a method particularly suitable for large scanners with a high number of lines-of-response. Scatter correction is achieved using an extension of the single scatter simulation technique that incorporates time-of-flight information. Reconstruction of reference phantoms based on Monte Carlo simulations highlight improvements in image quality. The application of normalization reduces the non-uniformity in the reconstructed image by a factor of 10 in the axial direction and 2 in the radial direction.
Potential of modular J-PET for applications in the field of particle and medical physics
S. Sharma, K. Kacprzak, K. Dulski, S. Niedźwiecki, P. Moskal
published in: J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 2374 (2022) 012040
Modular J-PET is the new prototype of the Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph. The portability feature due to its modular design makes it a unique tomograph with a larger axial field of view of 50 cm. The complete ring is composed of 24 modules that can be configured as a diagnostic chamber with a diameter of approximately 76 cm or as a detection setup consisting of several modules for experimental studies where multiple photons are generated in a single event. The J-PET collaboration explicitly studies the decays of the positronium atom (Ps), which is a bound state of electron and positron that self-annihilate into multiple photons. The modular J-PET provides a significant phase space covrage for the registration of photons originating from the decays of Ps atoms. In this paper, we discuss the properties of the modular J-PET and its potential applications in medical and particle physics.
From tests of discrete symmetries to medical imaging with J-PET detector
P. Moskal, J. Baran, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, J. Gajewski, A. Gajos, M. Gorgol, B.C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, K. Kacprzak, Ł. Kapłon, H. Karimi, K. Klimaszewski, P. Konieczka, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemień, E. Kubicz, D. Kumar, S. Niedźwiecki, D. Panek, S. Parzych, E. Perez del Rio, L. Raczyński, J. Raj, A. Ruciński, S. Sharma, Shivani, R.Y. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, E.Ł. Stępień, M. Szczepanek, F. Tayefi, W. Wiślicki
published in: PoS PANIC2021 (2022) 033
We present results on CPT symmetry tests in decays of positronium performed with the precision at the level of 10?4, and positronium images determined with the prototype of the J-PET tomograph. The first full-scale prototype apparatus consists of 192 plastic scintillator strips readout from both ends with vacuum tube photomultipliers. Signals produced by photomultipliers are probed in the amplitude domain and are digitized by FPGA-based readout boards in triggerless mode. In this contribution we report on the first two- and three-photon positronium images and tests of CPT symmetry in positronium decays.
Studies of the polarization of gamma photons originating from the decay of positronium atoms
S. Sharma, N. Krawczyk and J. Raj for the J-PET collaboration
published in: AIP Conf. Proc. 2182 (2019) 050027
The precise measurements of the Compton scatterings of photons originating from the decay of positronium atoms can reveal information about their polarizations. J-PET detector is constructed of 192 plastic scintillators and is unique to study the scattering correlations of the annihilation photons with an angular precision of several degrees. In this work, we present the first experimental evidence showing the feasibility of measuring the photons relative polarization using the J-PET detector.
Investigation of the Mechanism of Proton Induced Spallation Reactions
U. Singh, I. Ciepał, B. Kamys, P. Lasko, J. Łukasik, A. Magiera, P. Pawłowski, K. Pysz, Z. Rudy, S.K. Sharma
published in: Springer Proc.Phys. 225 (2019) 243-244
The mechanism of proton-nucleus interactions at GeV energies is still not well understood. The agreement between data and model predictions deteriorates with increasing ejectile energy and for the forward angles. This indicates the presence of preequilibrium processes which are not taken into consideration by present theoretical models. New experimental data are needed to put constraints to any new model of the reaction mechanism. The measurements are planned to be done to study proton-induced reactions at energies in the range from 70 to 230 MeV.
Time Over Threshold as a measure of energy response of plastic scintillators used in the J-PET detector
S. Sharma
published in: EPJ Web Conf. 199 (2019) 05014
The Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph (J-PET) is a multi-purpose detector being developed to provide an economical alternative of com-mercially available PETs as well as to perform the tests on the discrete sym-metries and entanglement. It is composed of 192 plastic scintillators axiallyarranged in three cylindrical layers. In the framework of J-PET detector, Time-Over-Threshold (TOT) approach is adopted for the signal readouts in order toutilize the excellent time resolution of the plastic scintillators. In this paper, wepresent a method elaborated for establishing a relation between TOT and energyloss.
Studies of discrete symmetries in decays of positronium atoms
E. Czerwiński, C. Curceanu, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, M. Gorgol, A. Heczko, B. C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, D. Kisielewska, G. Korcyl, B. Korzeniak, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik, W. Krzemień, E. Kubicz, W. Migdał, M. Mohammed, S. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, L. Raczyński, J. Raj, Z. Rudy, S. Sharma, S. Shivani, R. Y. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, W. Wiślicki, B. Zgardzińska, M. Zieliński and P. Moskal
published in: EPJ Web Conf. 181 (2018) 01019
A positronium - a bound state of electron and positron - is an eigenstate of parity and charge conjugation operators which decays into photons. It is a unique laboratory to study discrete symmetries whose precision is limited, in principle, by the effects due to the weak interactions expected at the level of 10?14 and photon-photon interactions expected at the level of 10-9.
The Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph (J-PET) is a detector for medical imaging as well as for physics studies involving detection of electronpositron annihilation into photons. The physics case covers the areas of discrete symmetries studies and genuine multipartite entanglement. The J-PET detector has high angular and time resolution and allows for determination of spin of the positronium and the momenta and polarization vectors of annihilation quanta. In this article, we present the potential of the J-PET system for studies of discrete symmetries in decays of positronium atoms.
Validation of spallation models : An Approach
S. Sharma
published in: Acta Phys. Polon. Supp. 6 (2013) 1161
To understand and describe the proton-induced spallation reactions, a large number of computer codes have been proposed. Various quantitative tests are used in literature to judge the agreement between model calculations and experimental data. The judgment is based on the magnitude of the deviation of the tests from their expected values in the case of the perfect agreement. However, the expected values of the tests and their standard deviations are usually not well known. Thus the conclusions may be ambiguous. It is proposed to calculate the expected values and standard deviations of the tests by the Monte Carlo method and to use the tests in their
standardized form.
