A simulation study of the performance characteristics of a YAP:Ce detector for positron emission tomography

A Monte Carlo simulation study of the efficiency, the energy and the time resolution of a YAP:Ce /spl gamma/-ray detector for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) has been performed. The interaction of 511 keV /spl gamma/-rays, the emission and propagation of UV photons, the PMT pulse formation and the electronic processing unit have been simulated. The dependence of the detector characteristics on the crystal dimensions and on the energy threshold has been examined.