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LAILA is a miniaturized eight-channel electronic readout system for compact γ-ray detectors, combining high-resolution spectroscopy capability with position sensitivity. Compactness is achieved by the combination of a novel CMOS front-end ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) for analog processing of a large signal current from Silicon PhotoMultiplier (SiPM) solid-state photodetectors, with a microcontroller-based data acquisition system. The adoption of automatic gain regulation in the gated-integrator stage of the ASIC offers an 84 dB dynamic range, combining single-photon sensitivity with an extended input photon energy range (20 keV–4 MeV, using 30 μm-cell SiPMs). Using this module with properly merged 144 SiPM pixels coupled to a 3 in.-thick lanthanum bromide scintillation crystal, a 3% energy resolution at 662 keV and 1 cm spatial resolution in the estimation of the interaction coordinates are experimentally demonstrated in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work describes the development of a gamma detector based on silicon drift detectors (SDDs) to read out large \LaBr_3:\Ce scintillators for gamma-ray astronomy applications, within an activity supported by the European Space Agency (ESA). SDDs, characterized by high quantum efficiency and low electronic noise, when coupled with a scintillator are good candidates for gamma-ray spectroscopy applications in a wide energy range, e.g., from 150 keV to 15 MeV. The gamma-ray detector prototype presented here is composed of a 2^\prime^\prime\times2^\prime^\prime \LaBr_3:\Ce scintillator coupled with four SDD arrays arranged in a 2 \times 2 format (a total of 36 SDDs). This detection system is operated with custom readout application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and a data acquisition (DAQ) system. With this prototype gamma-camera, an energy resolution of 3.4% FWHM at 662 keV has been measured. Spectroscopy measurements have been carried out between 300 keV and 1800 keV and the achieved results are consistent with the electronic noise of the SDD technology. In this work, we report on the SDD based detection head’s design, its X-ray characterization, readout electronics, experimental setups and gamma-ray spectroscopy results. Finally, perspectives with the possible use of an improved SDD technology are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study and application of AI algorithms for photon interaction position reconstruction in a 3-inch thick scintillator is here presented. Decision Tree and Neural Network algorithms have been designed to retrieve the 3D position inside the scintillator in order to compensate for the Doppler Effect in nuclear physics measurements. A full explanation of the training phase, which is critical in imaging applications with thick crystals, both for planar coordinates (XY plane) and Z-Axis, is reported. Furthermore, an AI Filter to improve spatial resolution on the XY plane will be introduced showing how it has been trained and all the pros and cons about this new solution. Finally, algorithms have been implemented in an Artix-7 FPGA to allow Real Time position reconstruction, and a comparison is reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A SiPM-based gamma-ray detection module for substituting bulky Photomultiplier Tubes in the readout of large scintillation crystals is presented. The system can be coupled to scintillators up to 3 inches in diameter, with state-of-the-art energy resolution (2.6% at 662 keV) and 80 keV - 20 MeV energy Dynamic Range, simultaneously achieved for the first time. Position sensitivity can also be achieved. Measurements show that a complete replacement of PMTs with SiPMs is already possible thanks to enhancements in silicon technology and lowering costs, making SiPMs a severe contender in many fields now dominated by vacuum-tubes technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]