PhenoPET: A dedicated PET scanner for plant research based on digital SiPMs (DPCs)

In the framework of the German Plant Phenotyping Network (DPPN) we developed a novel PET scanner for imaging plants and crops. The observation of the carbon transport within the plant becomes possible by using 11CO2 as PET tracer. The use of the rather short living isotope C-11 asks for a scanner with high dynamic range. That means fast timing and high data rates are important features which let us choose the Philips Digital Photon Counter (DPC) as photo detector. Due to the fast photo detectors and the special crystal matrix arrangement the system will allow measurements with rather high activities. We could measure a coincidence resolution time of ~ 250 ps FWHM between two detector elements. This opens the opportunity to employ time-of-flight information for the first time on a PET scanner of this size. This paper presents very first results from a prototype single-ring system with a FOV of 18 cm diameter and 6.5 cm axial height.