Event-restricted Monte Carlo simulations for Compton telescope image reconstruction studies

Abstract

Event-restricted Monte Carlo simulations are used to simulate Compton telescope data sets. The data sets can be used for evaluation of different reconstruction techniques and to assess the relative performance of different telescope geometries. These simulations restrict computations to photons which interact in the detectors under specific conditions (i.e., produce "valid events"), thus significantly reducing computational time and effort. This paper describes the computer code, the restrictions that are imposed on the Monte Carlo modeling and presents some examples of reconstructed data sets that were produced.

Point source resolution performance of a germanium Compton camera

“…The event-by-event data from both the experiments and the simulations were processed to select the 'good' events for reconstruction. The three-dimensional volume reconstructions used in the original preliminary analysis of the experimental data were based on direct techniques developed initially by McKisson and Taeng [4]. These initial algorithms used variations of the probability distribution method described by Q'Neill [5].…”