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X-ray imaging using amorphous selenium: determination of Swank factor by pulse height spectroscopy
I M Blevis1, D C Hunt, J A Rowlands
1Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ira@srcl.sunnybrook.utoronto.ca
Medical Physics
|June 3, 1998
Summary
Amorphous selenium (a-Se) photoconductors show promise for x-ray imaging. Despite wider-than-expected pulse height spectra, the Swank factor remains high, indicating good signal-to-noise performance for these detectors.
Area of Science:
- Medical Physics
- Materials Science
- X-ray Imaging Technology
Background:
- Photoconductors, particularly amorphous selenium (a-Se), are gaining attention for x-ray imaging applications.
- The Swank factor is a key metric for evaluating signal-to-noise ratio degradation in imaging detectors due to response variations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the Swank factor of amorphous selenium detectors.
- To analyze pulse height spectra from monoenergetic x-ray photon absorption.
Main Methods:
- Measurement of pulse height spectra generated by monoenergetic x-ray photon absorption in a-Se detectors.
- Calculation of the Swank factor from the measured spectra.
Main Results:
- Observed pulse height spectra exhibited greater width than predicted by prior theoretical models.
- The calculated Swank factor remained close to previously predicted high theoretical values.
Conclusions:
- Amorphous selenium demonstrates potential for high-performance x-ray imaging detectors.
- Further investigation into the spectral broadening is warranted, but current performance indicates favorable signal-to-noise characteristics.