A pixelated detector assembly comprising a stack of thin detector
crystals, each detector crystal having a pair of planar surfaces bound by
edges substantially thinner than the dimensions of the surfaces. The
stack is disposed such that the radiation to be detected is incident on
one set of edges of the stack of detector crystals. The dimension of the
planar surfaces in the general direction of incidence of the radiation
incidence is sufficient to ensure that substantially all of the high
energy photons to be detected are absorbed within the depth of the
detector assembly. Each of the detector crystals has a two-dimensional
pixelated anode array formed on one of its planar surfaces. A cathode is
formed on its opposite planar surface, preferably covering substantially
all of the surface. The position of interaction of a photon in the plane
perpendicular to the direction of the incident radiation, is determined
by which of the detector crystals in the stack detects the absorption,
and by which of the rows of pixelated anodes in that crystal detects the
absorption. The depth of interaction of a photon is determined by the
location of the particular anode pixel in the above-mentioned row of
pixelated anodes where the photon absorption is detected. The detector
assembly is thus able to detect the point of interaction of a photon in
all three dimensions.