Characterization of pilot batch of LuYAP crystals to be used in prototypes of small animal positron emission tomograph ClearPET

Small animal positron emission tomograph ClearPET® is under development by Crystal Clear Collaboration, CERN. ClearPET® detector with Depth Of Interaction (DOI) determination capability is based on LSO and (Lu-Y)AlO3:Ce (LuYAP) scintillation crystals. Pilot batch of LuYAP crystals was grown at Bogoroditsk Techno Chemical Plant, and more than 9000 scintillation elements (pixels) with dimensions 2×2×8 mm3 and 2×2×10 mm3 were manufactured for small animal PET prototyping. During this effort, complete characterization of scintillation properties of grown crystal and selective control of scintillation pixels was performed. The aim of this work is to evaluate repeatability of LuYAP production technology and uniformity of scintillation pixel parameters. Methods and main results of characterization are presented.