Dr. Christopher Thompson was made Professor Emeritus in 2007 after working at the MNI for 37 years. In 1970, he was responsible for purchasing the MNI's first laboratory computer for analyzing EEGs, and for mapping the brain during surgery for Parkinson's Disease. He was among the first to be involved in brain imaging systems, which required computers to reconstruct images, initially using X-ray CT scanners. But Dr. Thompson is better known for his work in positron emission tomography. In retirement he has maintained an active research program investigating properties of the detectors used in PET scanners. His interests include the use of silicon photo-multipliers (SiPMTs) as alternatives to conventional vacuum tube type PMTs, and the improvement of the timing alignment of modern PET scanners using time-of-flight technology. PET scanners are one of the few instruments that still use vacuum tube technology. There are only two manufacturers still making PMTs. SiPMTs are much smaller, about the size of the image sensor in a digital camera, and they work on much lower voltages. They are not affected by strong magnetic fields, making them suitable for use in hybrid MRI-PET scanners, which are seen as promising diagnostic and research instruments.

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E-mail: Christopher Thompson
Web Site: Thompson lab