New Photonis XP20D0 photomultiplier for fast timing in nuclear medicine

Growing interest in the time-of-flight positron emission tomography (TOF PET) prompts the study of a new Photonis XP20D0 photomultiplier, equipped with a screening grid at the anode, in application to a fast timing with LSO and LaBr3 crystals. The high time resolution of 200±4 and 210±4 ps was obtained for 511 keV annihilation quanta using LaBr3 and LSO crystals in the coincidence experiment with a small BaF2 crystal, respectively. It reflects an importance of the grid and high quantum efficiency of the XP20D0. A high-time resolution observed in the present experiments makes good prospects for a development of TOF PET.