Abstract: According to an embodiment, an avalanche pixel sensor includes a substrate having opposite first and second surfaces, first sensor elements operating in breakdown mode situated on the first surface of the substrate for detecting ionizing radiation from a radiation-emission source, second sensor elements operating in breakdown mode situated on the second surface of the substrate, the second sensor elements each paired with a corresponding first sensor element to experience substantially coincident breakdown in response to ionizing radiation. Logic elements are each electrically interconnected to a respective pair of first and second sensor elements for receiving a signal or signal representing the substantially coincident breakdown of the respective pair to be distinguished from a dark signal even in either of the pair of the first and second sensor elements.

Abstract: A quantum detector array is provided. The array includes a semiconductor substrate and an epitaxial layer on the semiconductor substrate. The epitaxial layer includes a plurality of binary quantum sensor elements operable in breakdown mode to generate signals, logic elements, and a digital processing circuit. The binary quantum sensor elements each have a radiation-sensitive drift region and amplification region with a pn junction for detecting radiation from a radiation-emission source. The logic elements are each electrically interconnected to a corresponding binary sensor element of the plurality of binary quantum sensor elements for resetting the corresponding binary sensor element, generating digital information based on the signals received from the corresponding binary sensor element, and outputting the digital information. The digital processing circuit carries out digital processing of logic and time signals from the binary sensor elements.

Abstract: A positron emission tomography scanner having a plurality of detector rings positioned side-by-side. Each detector plane contains a plurality of photomultiplier tubes with at least two columns of scintillation crystals positioned on each photomultiplier tube defining a module in ring. Each crystal is uniform and has a length in the axial direction less than the size of the photomultiplier tube. The fundamental crystal identification module is limited to two photomultiplier tubes. Each alternate module in the ring is offset by one-half or less of the center-to-center intra-module crystal spacing in the axial direction.