A real time, large area, high spatial resolution tracker based on square scintillating fibers

In this paper we describe a novel system for the tracking of charged particles, designed to achieve real-time imaging, large detection areas and high spatial resolution especially suitable for use in medical diagnostic. A prototype of this tracker, having a 20 × 20 cm
²
sensitive area, consisting of two crossed ribbons of 500 11m square scintillating fibers has been developed. The track position information is extracted real time in an innovative way, using a reduced number of read-out channels to obtain very large detection area with enough moderate costs and complexity. The performances of the tracker have been investigated using both β sources and cosmic rays and finally with a 62 MeV proton beam.