Simulation of a Fast Timing Micro-Pattern Gaseous Detector for TOF-PET and future accelerators

Simulation is a powerful tool for designing new detectors and guide the construction of new prototypes. Advances in photolithography and micro-electronics led to the development of a new family of devices named Micro-Pattern Gas Detectors (MPGDs) [1], with main features: flexible geometry; high rate capability (> MHz/cm(2)); excellent spatial resolution (< 100 mu m); good time resolution (5-10 ns); and reduced radiation length. A new detector layout, named Fast Timing MPGD (FTM), has been recently proposed [2] that would combine both the high spatial resolution and high rate capability of the MPGDs, while improving the time resolution with nearly two orders of magnitude to similar to 100 ps. However charged particle timing with gaseous detector time resolution below 100 ps has been established with another detection scheme [3], this approach might not be able to sustain high particle rates. This contribution investigates the use of the FTM technology for an innovative TOR-PET imaging detector and emphases the importance of full detector simulation to guide the design of the detector geometry and performance.