title: Direct measurement of mammographic X-ray spectra with a digital CdTe detection system.
abstract: In this work we present a detection system, based on a CdTe detector and an innovative digital pulse processing (DPP) system, for high-rate X-ray spectroscopy in mammography (1-30 keV). The DPP system performs a height and shape analysis of the detector pulses, sampled and digitized by a 14-bit, 100 MHz ADC. We show the results of the characterization of the detection system both at low and high photon counting rates by using monoenergetic X-ray sources and a nonclinical X-ray tube. The detection system exhibits excellent performance up to 830 kcps with an energy resolution of 4.5% FWHM at 22.1 keV. Direct measurements of clinical molybdenum X-ray spectra were carried out by using a pinhole collimator and a custom alignment device. A comparison with the attenuation curves and the half value layer values, obtained from the measured and simulated spectra, from an ionization chamber and from a solid state dosimeter, also shows the accuracy of the measurements. These results make the proposed detection system a very attractive tool for both laboratory research, calibration of dosimeters and advanced quality controls in mammography.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Palermo, Palermo 90128, Italy. leonardo.abbene@unipa.it
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Abbene
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gerardi
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Principato
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Del Sordo
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Raso
mesh_terms: D019187:Cadmium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D008327:Mammography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013691:Tellurium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014965:X-Rays
chemical_list: D019187:Cadmium Compounds; D013691:Tellurium; C028337:cadmium telluride