Edward Lisowski

Objective. This work presents and evaluates a Monte Carlo (MC) -based scatter correction (SC) method developed for the Jagiellonian positron emission tomography (J-PET) scanner, a modular PET system based on plastic scintillators. Approach. The algorithm employs SimSET-based simulations integrated into a time-of-flight ordered-subsets expectation maximization reconstruction framework to estimate scatter contributions. Phantom studies using the NEMA image quality (IQ) phantom and a proof-of-principle human subject scan with the J-PET scanner were analyzed. To accelerate computation, lutetium–yttrium oxyorthosilicate (LYSO) crystals were also assessed in simulations as a surrogate for the native plastic material BC-404. Main results. In phantom experiments, SC improved contrast recovery coefficients by over 20% and reduced background variability by 8.5%, without introducing significant noise. Residual activity in cold regions was also considerably reduced. Substituting LYSO in the simulations decreased runtime by nearly one order of magnitude, while maintaining deviations below 6% in IQ metrics compared to BC-404. Human subject data demonstrated qualitatively reduced residual scatter and improved organ delineation. Quantitative comparison with the commercial PET/CT scanner by General Electric HealthCare (GE) discovery MI Gen 2 showed consistent activity concentration ratios across organs, although higher noise and residual scatter between organs were observed in J-PET, which most likely originates from lower count density. Significance. The proposed MC-based SC method provides robust scatter removal for J-PET, improving quantitative performance and establishing a foundation for advanced correction and reconstruction techniques. These results bring the plastic scintillator-based J-PET scanner closer to enabling clinically relevant quantitative PET imaging.

A direct test of the C P T symmetry is performed for the electromagnetic decays of ortho-positronium using the Jagiellonian positron emission tomograph (J-PET). We present the precise measurement of the C P T -sensitive angular correlation entailing the positronium spin and the momenta of its annihilation photons, surpassing previous studies utilizing the same detection system. Positrons originating from a Na 22 source are emitted from the detector’s center and subsequently form positronium atoms within the spherical chamber covered with porous material. Reconstruction of annihilation locations using the 192-strip J-PET detector makes it possible to determine the positronium emission direction, which defines the quantization axis along which positronium is polarized, without the application of external magnetic fields. The measurements were performed in total for 356 days resulting in an identification of 47.8 × 10 6 events with ortho-positronium decays into three photons. The results are consistent with the exactness of C P T symmetry with measured asymmetry amplitude − 0.00029 ± 0.00022 (stat.) and with statistical error four times smaller than the previous best measurement.

This paper presents a fuzzy logic control strategy for synchronising the vertical lifting and positioning of a multi-actuator hydraulic system designed for a 360-ton movable platform. The primary focus is on achieving precise actuator movement coordination under uneven loading conditions without using external reference systems or high-cost sensors. A mathematical model and a simulation environment were developed in MATLAB/Simulink with Fuzzy Logic Toolbox. Four fuzzy controller variants were evaluated regarding positioning accuracy, robustness, and compliance with dynamic constraints. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control method, particularly when using Gaussian membership functions and PROD–PROBOR fuzzy operators. The system achieved sub-millimetre synchronisation accuracy even under 20% load imbalance. This work contributes to developing decentralised, sensor-light control strategies for large-scale hydraulic systems and offers a validated foundation for future experimental implementation in the PANDA particle detector project.

In state-of-the-art positron emission tomography (PET), information about annihilation photon polarization is unavailable. Here, we present a PET scanner built from plastic scintillators, where annihilation photons primarily interact via the Compton effect, providing information about both photon polarization and propagation direction. Using this plastic-based PET, we determined the distribution of the relative angle between polarization planes of photons from positron-electron annihilation in a porous polymer. The amplitude of the observed distribution is smaller than predicted for maximally quantum entangled two-photon states but larger than expected for separable photons. This result can be well explained by assuming that photons from pick-off annihilation are not entangled, while photons from direct and parapositronium annihilations are maximally entangled. Our result indicates that the degree of entanglement depends on the annihilation mechanism in matter, opening avenues for exploring polarization correlations in PET as a diagnostic indicator.

Objective: Positron emission tomography (PET) is a widely used medical imaging technique that allows for non-invasive imaging of metabolic processes. However, traditional PET scanners rely on costly inorganic scintillators that limit their accessibility, especially in light of emerging long axial field-of-view devices. The modular J-PET scanner, an innovative alternative, uses 50-cm-long plastic scintillator strips, offering a cost-effective and modular solution. In this study we develop and assess the PET data correction techniques required for quantitative image reconstruction. Methods: We present methods for attenuation correction, random coincidence correction using the delayed time window (DTW) technique and scatter correction based on Monte Carlo simulations. Phantom studies using the NEMA IQ phantom were performed to qualitatively evaluate these corrections. Results: The results demonstrate that our implemented corrections for attenuation and random and scattered coincidences successfully improve the uniformity of tracer distribution in homogenous volumes and significantly reduce undesired activity in cold regions. Despite limitations in sensitivity and axial resolution, the applied correction techniques effectively enhance image quality, providing promising results for future applications. Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential of the modular J-PET system to offer affordable PET imaging and to pave the way for a total-body PET scanner based on plastic scintillators. Future work will focus on quantitative validation and the implementation of these corrections for human subject imaging.