Detector Tests for a Prototype Compton Imager

Compton imaging, which reconstructs the direction of incident photons based on the kinematics of Compton scattering, is of interest in the fields of astrophysics, medical imaging, and homeland defense. We are attempting to build a device in which the Compton scatter takes place in one of several layers of thin Silicon detectors and the secondary photon is detected in an array of high resolution photon detectors. We have purchased prototypes for both detector systems. This paper presents performance results from simulations and tests of the detectors.