DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lukhanin, Gennadiy; Biery, Kurt; Foulkes, Stephen

In the NO A experiment, the Detector Controls System (DCS) provides a method for controlling and monitoring important detector hardware and environmental parameters. It is essential for operating the detector and is required to have access to roughly 370,000 independent programmable channels via more than 11,600 physical devices. In this paper, we demonstrate an application of Control System Studio (CSS), developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, for the NO A experiment. The application of CSS for the DCS of the NO A experiment has been divided into three phases: (1) user requirements and concept prototype on a test-stand, (2) smallmore » scale deployment at the prototype Near Detector on the Surface, and (3) a larger scale deployment at the Far Detector. We also give an outline of the CSS integration with the NO A online software and the alarm handling logic for the Front-End electronics.« less

The Full-Scale Prototype for the Fluorescence Detector Array of Single-Pixel Telescopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fujii, T.; Malacari, M.; Bellido, J. A.; Farmer, J.; Galimova, A.; Horvath, P.; Hrabovsky, M.; Mandat, D.; Matalon, A.; Matthews, J. N.; Merolle, M.; Ni, X.; Nozka, L.; Palatka, M.; Pech, M.; Privitera, P.; Schovanek, P.; Thomas, S. B.; Travnicek, P.

The Fluorescence detector Array of Single-pixel Telescopes (FAST) is a design concept for the next generation of ultrahigh-energy cosmic ray (UHECR) observatories, addressing the requirements for a large-area, low-cost detector suitable for measuring the properties of the highest energy cosmic rays. In the FAST design, a large field of view is covered by a few pixels at the focal plane of a mirror or Fresnel lens. Motivated by the successful detection of UHECRs using a prototype comprised of a single 200 mm photomultiplier-tube and a 1 m2 Fresnel lens system, we have developed a new "full-scale" prototype consisting of four 200 mm photomultiplier-tubes at the focus of a segmented mirror of 1.6 m in diameter. We report on the status of the full-scale prototype, including test measurements made during first light operation at the Telescope Array site in central Utah, U.S.A.

Large format array controller (aLFA-C): tests and characterisation at ESA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lemmel, Frédéric; ter Haar, Jörg; van der Biezen, John; Duvet, Ludovic; Nelms, Nick; Blommaert, Sander; Butler, Bart; van der Luijt, Cornelis; Heijnen, Jerko; Smit, Hans; Visser, Ivo

2016-08-01

For future near infrared astronomy missions, ESA is developing a complete detection and conversion chain (photon to SpaceWire chain system): Large Format Array (aLFA-N) based on MCT type detectors. aLFA-C (Astronomy Large Format Array Controller): a versatile cryogenic detector controller. An aLFA-C prototype was developed by Caeleste (Belgium) under ESA contract (400106260400). To validate independently the performances of the aLFA-C prototype and consolidate the definition of the follow-on activity, a dedicated test bench has been designed and developed in ESTEC/ESA within the Payload Technology Validation group. This paper presents the test setup and the performance validation of the first prototype of this controller at room and cryogenic temperature. Test setup and software needed to test the HAWAII-2RG and aLFA-N detectors with the aLFA-C prototype at cryogenic temperature will be also presented.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hasegawa, S.

The CMS pixel phase-1 upgrade project replaces the current pixel detector with an upgraded system with faster readout electronics during the extended year-end technical stop of 2016/2017. New electronics prototypes for the system have been developed, and tests in a realistic environment for a comprehensive evaluation are needed. A full readout test stand with either the same hardware as used in the current CMS pixel detector or the latest prototypes of upgrade electronics has been built. The setup enables the observation and investigation of a jitter increase in the data line associated with trigger rate increases. This effect is duemore » to the way in which the clock and trigger distribution is implemented in CMS. A new prototype of the electronics with a PLL based on a voltage controlled quartz crystal oscillator (QPLL), which works as jitter filter, in the clock distribution path was produced. With the test stand, it was confirmed that the jitter increase is not seen with the prototype, and also good performance was confirmed at the expected detector operation temperature ($-$20 °C).« less

Analysis and Quantification of Coupling Mechanisms of External Signal Perturbations on Silicon Detectors for Particle Physics Experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arteche, F.; Rivetta, C.; Iglesias, M.; Echeverria, I.

2016-05-01

Silicon detectors have been used in astrophysics satellites and particle detectors for high energy physics (HEP) experiments. For HEP applications, EMC studies have been conducted in silicon detectors to characterize the impact of external noise on the system. They have shown that problems associated with the new generation of silicon detectors are related with interferences generated by the power supplies and auxiliary equipment connected to the device. Characterization of these interferences along with the coupling and their propagation into the susceptible front-end circuits is required for a successful integration of these systems. This paper presents the analysis of the sensitivity curves and coupling mechanisms between the noise and the front-end electronics that have been observed during the characterization of two silicon detector prototypes: the CMS-Silicon tracker detector (CMS-ST) and Silicon Vertex Detector (Belle II-SVD). As a result of these studies, it is possible to identify critical elements in prototypes to take corrective actions in the design and improve the front-end electronics performance.

Evaluation of Position Resolution for a Prototype Whole-Body PET Detector Based on Suppressing Backgrounds by Compton Scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fujihara, Kento; Emoto, Yusaku; Ito, Hiroshi; Kaneko, Naomi; Kaneko, Hideyuki; Kawai, Hideyuki; Kobayashi, Atsushi; Mizuno, Takahiro

2018-01-01

Existing PET (Positron Emission Tomography) systems make clear images in demonstration (measuring small PET reagent in pure water), however images in real diagnosis become unclear. The authors suspected that this problem was caused by Compton scattering in a detector. When PET systems observe plural photomultiplier tube outputs, an original emission point is regarded as centroid of the outputs. However, even if plural emission in Compton scattering occur, these systems calculate original point in the same way as single emission. Therefore, the authors considered that rejecting Compton scattering events makes PET systems much better, and made prototype counter. Main components of the prototype counter are plate-like high-growth-rate (HGR) La-GPS scintillators and wavelength shifting fibers (WLSF). HGR crystals grow 10 times as fast as a mono-crystal (a normal mono-crystal grows at 2 - 3 mm an hour). Thus, it includes microbubble and its transparency get worth. Consequently, HGR crystals usually are not used in radiation measuring instruments. However, this time they are used on the purpose. Because of their low transparency, scintillation lights come out right above and right under of emission position. Therefore, Compton scattering events is rejected easily. The prototype detector has an effective area of 300 by 300 square mm. The detector consists of 24 layers. One layer consists of HGR La-GPS scintillator of 1 mm thickness. Top and bottom surface of scintillator were covered by dual sheets of WLSF with a diameter of 0.2 mm. Sheets of WLSF on top and bottom of the scintillator make a right angle with each other, and measure X- and Y-components. Z-component is measured by difference of WLSF outputs between top and bottom. If plural layers output signals, this counter regards the event as Compton scattering event, and reject the event. Even if only a layer output signals, the event is rejected when number output signals from WLSF is more than 1.5 times of single emission. Material cost of this system is, 0.2M for HGR La-GPS, 0.03M for WLSF, 0.03M for 600 units of 6 by 6 mm SiPM's, 0.12M for 12000 units of 1 by 1 mm SiPM's, and 0.09M for 1800 channel of signal readout circuits. Considering total cost, price of this PET will be set 1M or less. This idea was confirmed with numerical simulation and experimentation. In experimentation, position resolution in photoelectric absorption was 0.2 mm, and minimum distance that this detector could recognize plural emission in Compton scattering was 1 mm. In parallel, three kinds of model were made: a prototype detector, all the signals readout method, and resistance delay method. Simulation setting was 2 MBq/L in normal tissue and 10 MBq/L in cancer. As a result of simulation, a prototype detector identified 3 mm cancer, however the others made unclear image and was not able to identified cancer. That is to say, the prototype detector is able to reject Compton scattering events and inexpensive. Therefore, whole-body PET system with this detector must diagnose cancer with a diameter of 3 mm or more and be priced 1M or less

System design of a small OpenPET prototype with 4-layer DOI detectors.

PubMed

Yoshida, Eiji; Kinouchi, Shoko; Tashima, Hideaki; Nishikido, Fumihiko; Inadama, Naoko; Murayama, Hideo; Yamaya, Taiga

2012-01-01

We have proposed an OpenPET geometry which consists of two axially separated detector rings. The open gap is suitable for in-beam PET. We have developed the small prototype of the OpenPET especially for a proof of concept of in-beam imaging. This paper presents an overview of the main features implemented in this prototype. We also evaluated the detector performance. This prototype was designed with 2 detector rings having 8 depth-of-interaction detectors. Each detector consisted of 784 Lu(2x)Gd(2(1-x))SiO₅:Ce (LGSO) which were arranged in a 4-layer design, coupled to a position-sensitive photomultiplier tube (PS-PMT). The size of the LGSO array was smaller than the sensitive area of the PS-PMT, so that we could obtain sufficient LGSO identification. Peripheral LGSOs near the open gap directly detect the gamma rays on the side face in the OpenPET geometry. Output signals of two detectors stacked axially were projected onto one 2-dimensional position histogram for reduction of the scale of a coincidence processor. Front-end circuits were separated from the detector head by 1.2-m coaxial cables for the protection of electronic circuits from radiation damage. The detectors had sufficient crystal identification capability. Cross talk between the combined two detectors could be ignored. The timing and energy resolutions were 3.0 ns and 14%, respectively. The coincidence window was set 20 ns, because the timing histogram showed that not only the main peak, but also two small shifted peaks were caused by the coaxial cable. However, the detector offers the promise of sufficient performance, because random coincidences are at a nearly undetectable level for in-beam PET experiments.

Non-invasive characterization and quality assurance of silicon micro-strip detectors using pulsed infrared laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghosh, P.

2016-01-01

The Compressed Baryonic Matter (CBM) experiment at FAIR is composed of 8 tracking stations consisting of roughly 1300 double sided silicon micro-strip detectors of 3 different dimensions. For the quality assurance of prototype micro-strip detectors a non-invasive detector charaterization is developed. The test system is using a pulsed infrared laser for charge injection and characterization, called Laser Test System (LTS). The system is aimed to develop a set of characterization procedures which are non-invasive (non-destructive) in nature and could be used for quality assurances of several silicon micro-strip detectors in an efficient, reliable and reproducible way. The procedures developed (as reported here) uses the LTS to scan sensors with a pulsed infra-red laser driven by step motor to determine the charge sharing in-between strips and to measure qualitative uniformity of the sensor response over the whole active area. The prototype detector modules which are tested with the LTS so far have 1024 strips with a pitch of 58 μm on each side. They are read-out using a self-triggering prototype read-out electronic ASIC called n-XYTER. The LTS is designed to measure sensor response in an automatized procedure at several thousand positions across the sensor with focused infra-red laser light (spot size ≈ 12 μm, wavelength = 1060 nm). The pulse with a duration of ≈ 10 ns and power ≈ 5 mW of the laser pulse is selected such, that the absorption of the laser light in the 300 μm thick silicon sensor produces ≈ 24000 electrons, which is similar to the charge created by minimum ionizing particles (MIP) in these sensors. The laser scans different prototype sensors and various non-invasive techniques to determine characteristics of the detector modules for the quality assurance is reported.

Description of a prototype emission-transmission computed tomography imaging system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lang, T. F.; Hasegawa, B. H.; Liew, S. C.; Brown, J. K.; Blankespoor, S. C.; Reilly, S. M.; Gingold, E. L.; Cann, C. E.

1992-01-01

We have developed a prototype imaging system that can perform simultaneous x-ray transmission CT and SPECT phantom studies. This system employs a 23-element high-purity-germanium detector array. The detector array is coupled to a collimator with septa angled toward the focal spot of an x-ray tube. During image acquisition, the x-ray fan beam and the detector array move synchronously along an arc pivoted at the x-ray source. Multiple projections are obtained by rotating the object, which is mounted at the center of rotation of the system. The detector array and electronics can count up to 10(6) cps/element with sufficient energy-resolution to discriminate between x-rays at 100-120 kVp and gamma rays from 99mTc. We have used this device to acquire x-ray CT and SPECT images of a three-dimensional Hoffman brain phantom. The emission and transmission images may be superimposed in order to localize the emission image on the transmission map.

A Water Cherenkov Detector prototype for the HAWC Gamma-Ray Observatory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Longo, Megan; Mostafa, Miguel; Salesa Greus, Francisco; Warner, David

2011-10-01

A full-size Water Cherenkov Detector (WCD) prototype for the High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) gamma-ray Observatory was deployed, and is currently being operated at Colorado State University (CSU). The HAWC Observatory will consist of 300 WCDs at the very high altitude (4100m) site in Sierra Negra, Mexico. Each WCD will have 4 baffled upward-facing Photomultiplier Tubes (PMTs) anchored to the bottom of a self made multilayer hermetic plastic bag containing 200,000 liters of purified water, inside a 5m deep by 7.3m diameter steel container. The full size WCD at CSU is the only full size prototype outside of the HAWC site. It is equipped with seven HAWC PMTs and has scintillators both under and above the volume of water. It has been in operation since March 1, 2011. This prototype also has the same laser calibration system that the detectors deployed at the HAWC site will have. The CSU WCD serves as a testbed for the different subsystems before deployment at high altitude, and for optimizing the location of the PMTs, the design of the light collectors, deployment procedures, etc. Simulations of the light inside the detectors and the expected signals in the PMTs can also be benchmarked with this prototype.

Detector evaluation of a prototype amorphous selenium-based full field digital mammography system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jesneck, Jonathan L.; Saunders, Robert S.; Samei, Ehsan; Xia, Jessie Q.; Lo, Joseph Y.

2005-04-01

This study evaluated the physical performance of a selenium-based direct full-field digital mammography prototype detector (Siemens Mammomat NovationDR), including the pixel value vs. exposure linearity, the modulation transfer function (MTF), the normalized noise power spectrum (NNPS), and the detective quantum efficiency (DQE). The current detector is the same model which received an approvable letter from FDA for release to the US market. The results of the current prototype are compared to those of an earlier prototype. Two IEC standard beam qualities (RQA-M2: Mo/Mo, 28 kVp, 2 mm Al; RQA-M4: Mo/Mo, 35 kVp, 2 mm Al) and two additional beam qualities (MW2: W/Rh, 28 kVp, 2 mm Al; MW4: W/Rh, 35 kVp, 2 mm Al) were investigated. To calculate the modulation transfer function (MTF), a 0.1 mm Pt-Ir edge was imaged at each beam quality. Detector pixel values responded linearly against exposure values (R2 0.999). As before, above 6 cycles/mm Mo/Mo MTF was slightly higher along the chest-nipple axis compared to the left-right axis. MTF was comparable to the previously reported prototype, with slightly reduced resolution. The DQE peaks ranged from 0.71 for 3.31 μC/kg (12.83 mR) to 0.4 for 0.48 μC/kg (1.86 mR) at 1.75 cycles/mm for Mo/Mo at 28 kVp. The DQE range for W/Rh at 28 kVP was 0.81 at 2.03 μC/kg (7.87 mR) to 0.50 at 0.50 μC/kg (1.94 mR) at 1 cycle/mm. NNPS tended to increase with greater exposures, while all exposures had a significant low-frequency component. Bloom and detector edge artifacts observed previously were no longer present in this prototype. The new detector shows marked noise improvement, with slightly reduced resolution. There remain artifacts due to imperfect gain calibration, but at a reduced magnitude compared to a prototype detector.

Development and test of the DAQ system for a Micromegas prototype to be installed in the ATLAS experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bianco, M.; Martoiu, S.; Sidiropoulou, O.; Zibell, A.

2015-12-01

A Micromegas (MM) quadruplet prototype with an active area of 0.5 m2 that adopts the general design foreseen for the upgrade of the innermost forward muon tracking systems (Small Wheels) of the ATLAS detector in 2018-2019, has been built at CERN and is going to be tested in the ATLAS cavern environment during the LHC RUN-II period 2015-2017. The integration of this prototype detector into the ATLAS data acquisition system using custom ATCA equipment is presented. An ATLAS compatible Read Out Driver (ROD) based on the Scalable Readout System (SRS), the Scalable Readout Unit (SRU), will be used in order to transmit the data after generating valid event fragments to the high-level Read Out System (ROS). The SRU will be synchronized with the LHC bunch crossing clock (40.08 MHz) and will receive the Level-1 trigger signals from the Central Trigger Processor (CTP) through the TTCrx receiver ASIC. The configuration of the system will be driven directly from the ATLAS Run Control System. By using the ATLAS TDAQ Software, a dedicated Micromegas segment has been implemented, in order to include the detector inside the main ATLAS DAQ partition. A full set of tests, on the hardware and software aspects, is presented.

Design and prototype studies of the TOTEM Roman pot detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oriunno, Marco; Battistin, Michele; David, Eric; Guglielmini, Paolo; Joram, Christian; Radermacher, Ernst; Ruggiero, Gennaro; Wu, Jihao; Vacek, Vaclav; Vins, Vaclav

2007-10-01

The Roman pots of the TOTEM experiment at LHC will be equipped with edgeless silicon micro-strip detectors. A detector package consists of 10 detector planes cooled at -15C in vacuum. The detector resolution is 20 μm, the overall alignment precision has to be better than 30 μm. The detector planes are composed of a kapton hybrid glued on a substrate made of low expansion alloy, CE07 with 70% Si and 30% Al. An evaporative cooling system based on the fluorocarbon C3F8 with oil-free compressors has been adopted. The throttling of the fluid is done locally through capillaries. A thermo-mechanical prototype has been assembled. The results fully match the requirements and the expectations of calculations. They show a low thermal gradient on the cards and a uniform temperature distribution over the 10 planes.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

St James, S; Argento, D; DeWitt, D

Purpose: Fast neutron therapy is offered at the University of Washington Medical Center for treatment of selected cancers. The hardware and control systems of the UW Clinical Neutron Therapy System are undergoing upgrades to enable delivery of IMNT. To clinically implement IMNT, dose verification tools need to be developed. We propose a portal imaging system that relies on the creation of positron emitting isotopes ({sup 11}C and {sup 15}O) through (n, 2n) reactions with a PMMA plate placed below the patient. After field delivery, the plate is retrieved from the vault and imaged using a reader that detects the annihilationmore » photons. The pattern of activity produced in the plate provides information to reconstruct the neutron fluence map that can be compared to fluence maps from Monte Carlo (MCNP) simulations to verify treatment delivery. We have previously performed Monte Carlo simulations of the portal imaging system (GATE simulations) and the beam line (MCNP simulations). In this work, initial measurements using a prototype system are presented. Methods: Custom electronics were developed for BGO detectors read out with photomultiplier tubes (previous generation PET detectors from a CTI ECAT 953 scanner). Two detectors were placed in coincidence, with a detector separation of 2 cm. Custom software was developed to create the crystal look up tables and perform a limited angle planar reconstruction with a stochastic normalization. To test the initial capabilities of the system, PMMA squares were irradiated with neutrons at a depth of 1.5 cm and read out using the prototype system. Doses ranging from 10–200 cGy were delivered. Results: Using the prototype system, dose differences in the therapeutic range could be determined. Conclusion: The prototype portal imaging system is capable of detecting neutron doses as low as 10–50 cGy and shows great promise as a patient QA tool for IMNT.« less

The ArDM experiment

DOE PAGES

Harańczyk, M.; Amsler, C.; Badertscher, A.; ...

2010-08-24

The aim of the ArDM project is the development and operation of a one ton double-phase liquid argon detector for direct Dark Matter searches. The detector measures both the scintillation light and the ionization charge from ionizing radiation using two independent readout systems. This paper briefly describes the detector concept and presents preliminary results from the ArDM R & D program, including a 3 l prototype developed to test the charge readout system.

Clinical performance of a prototype flat-panel digital detector for general radiography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huda, Walter; Scalzetti, Ernest M.; Roskopf, Marsha L.; Geiger, Robert

2001-08-01

Digital radiographs obtained using a prototype Digital Radiography System (Stingray) were compared with those obtained using conventional screen-film. Forty adult volunteers each had two identical radiographs taken at the same level of radiation exposure, one using screen-film and the other the digital detector. Each digital image was processed by hand to ensure that the printed quality was optimal. Ten radiologists compared the diagnostic image quality of the digital images with the corresponding film radiographs using a seven point ranking scheme.

Trace detection of explosives using an in-line high-volume sampler, preconcentrator, and Fido explosives detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ingram, Russ; Sikes, John

2010-04-01

This paper shall demonstrate the results of a prototype system to detect explosive objects and obscured contaminated targets. By combining a high volume sampling nozzle with an inline 2-stage preconcentrator and a Fido, greater standoff is achieved than with the Fido alone. The direct application of this system is on the Autonomous Mine Detection System (AMDS) but could be deployed on a large variety of robotic platforms. It is being developed under the auspices of the U.S. Army RDECOM CERDEC Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate, Countermine Division. This device is one of several detection tools and technologies to be used on the AMDS. These systems will have multiple, and at times, overlapping objectives. One objective is trace detection on the surface of an unknown potential target. By increasing the standoff capabilities of the detector, the fine manipulation of the robot deploying the detector is less critical. Current detectors used on robotic systems must either be directly in the vapor plume or make direct contact with the target. By increasing the standoff, detection is more easily and quickly achieved. The end result detector must overcome cross-contamination, sample throughput, and environmental issues. The paper will provide preliminary results of the prototype system to include data, and where feasible, video of testing results.

Practical application of HgI2 detectors to a space-flight scanning electron microscope

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bradley, J. G.; Conley, J. M.; Albee, A. L.; Iwanczyk, J. S.; Dabrowski, A. J.

1989-01-01

Mercuric iodide X-ray detectors have been undergoing tests in a prototype scanning electron microscope system being developed for unmanned space flight. The detector program addresses the issues of geometric configuration in the SEM, compact packaging that includes separate thermoelectric coolers for the detector and FET, X-ray transparent hermetic encapsulation and electrical contacts, and a clean vacuum environment.

35t Prototype Detector for Experiment at Long Base Line Neutrino Facility (ELBNF) Far Detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Santucci, Gabriel; Elbnf Collaboration

2015-04-01

The 35ton prototype detector is a Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LAr TPC) utilizing a membrane cryostat. It serves as a prototype for testing technology proposed for the ELBNF far detector. The construction of the prototype is an essential part of the ELBNF project due to the large amount of new technologies introduced for the far detector. In early 2014, it was shown that the membrane cryostat technology was able to reach and maintain the required LAr purity and an electron lifetime of 2.5 ms was achieved. The goals for the next phase include the installation of a fully functional TPC using the novel designs for the ELBNF far detector as much as possible. This includes the installation of the cold electronics, scintillation photon detectors and multiple Anode Plane Arrays with wrapped wires. In this talk I will review the status of the 35t prototype detector and describe what has been accomplished during 2014 and early 2015, including the commissioning phase and the early stages of data taking from cosmic-rays.

A cryogen-free ultralow-field superconducting quantum interference device magnetic resonance imaging system.

PubMed

Eom, Byeong Ho; Penanen, Konstantin; Hahn, Inseob

2014-09-01

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at microtesla fields using superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) detection has previously been demonstrated, and advantages have been noted. Although the ultralow-field SQUID MRI technique would not need the heavy superconducting magnet of conventional MRI systems, liquid helium required to cool the low-temperature detector still places a significant burden on its operation. We have built a prototype cryocooler-based SQUID MRI system that does not require a cryogen. The SQUID detector and the superconducting gradiometer were cooled down to 3.7 K and 4.3 K, respectively. We describe the prototype design, characterization, a phantom image, and areas of further improvements needed to bring the imaging performance to parity with conventional MRI systems.

High-performance IR detectors at SCD present and future

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nesher, O.; Klipstein, P. C.

2005-09-01

For over 27 years, SCD has been manufacturing and developing a wide range of high performance infra-red detectors, designed to operate in either the mid-wave (MWIR) or the long-wave (LWIR) atmospheric windows. These detectors have been integrated successfully into many different types of system including missile seekers, Time Delay Integration scanning systems, Hand-Held cameras, Missile Warning Systems and many others. SCD's technology for the MWIR wavelength range is based on its well established 2-D arrays of InSb photodiodes. The arrays are flip-chip bonded to SCD's analogue or digital signal processors, all of which have been designed in-house. The 2-D Focal Plane Array (FPA) detectors have a format of 320×256 elements for a 30 μm pitch and 480×384 or 640×512 elements for a 20 μm pitch. Typical operating temperatures are around 77-85K. Five years ago SCD began to develop a new generation of MWIR detectors based on the epitaxial growth of Antimonide Based Compound Semiconductors (ABCS). This ABCS technology allows band-gap engineering of the detection material which enables higher operating temperatures and multi-spectral detection. This year SCD presented its first prototype FPA from this program, an InAlSb based detector operating at a temperature of 100 K. By the end of this year SCD will introduce the first prototype MWIR detector with a 640×512 element format and a pitch of 15 μm. For the LWIR wave-length range SCD manufactures both linear Hg1-xCdxTe (MCT) detectors with a line of 250 elements and Time Delay and Integration (TDI) detectors with formats of 288×4 and 480×6. Recently, SCD has demonstrated its first prototype un-cooled detector which is based on VOx technology and which has a format of 384×288 elements, a pitch of 25 μm and a typical NETD of 50mK at F/1. In this paper we describe the present technologies and products of SCD and the future evolution of our detectors for the MWIR and LWIR detection.

High-performance IR detectors at SCD present and future

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nesher, O.; Klipstein, P. C.

2006-03-01

For over 27 years, SCD has been manufacturing and developing a wide range of high performance infrared detectors, designed to operate in either the mid-wave (MWIR) or the long-wave (LWIR) atmospheric windows. These detectors have been integrated successfully into many different types of system including missile seekers, time delay integration scanning systems, hand-held cameras, missile warning systems and many others. SCD's technology for the MWIR wavelength range is based on its well established 2D arrays of InSb photodiodes. The arrays are flip-chip bonded to SCD's analogue or digital signal processors, all of which have been designed in-house. The 2D focal plane array (FPA) detectors have a format of 320×256 elements for a 30-μm pitch and 480×384 or 640×512 elements for a 20-μm pitch. Typical operating temperatures are around 77-85 K. Five years ago SCD began to develop a new generation of MWIR detectors based on the epitaxial growth of antimonide based compound semiconductors (ABCS). This ABCS technology allows band-gap engineering of the detection material which enables higher operating temperatures and multi-spectral detection. This year SCD presented its first prototype FPA from this program, an InAlSb based detector operating at a temperature of 100 K. By the end of this year SCD will introduce the first prototype MWIR detector with a 640×512 element format and a pitch of 15 μm. For the LWIR wavelength range SCD manufactures both linear Hg1-xCdxTe (MCT) detectors with a line of 250 elements and time delay and integration (TDI) detectors with formats of 288×4 and 480×6. Recently, SCD has demonstrated its first prototype uncooled detector which is based on VOx technology and which has a format of 384×288 elements, a pitch of 25 μm, and a typical NETD of 50 mK at F/1. In this paper, we describe the present technologies and products of SCD and the future evolution of our detectors for the MWIR and LWIR detection.

ALICE inner tracking system readout electronics prototype testing with the CERN "Giga Bit Transceiver''

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schambach, Joachim; Rossewij, M. J.; Sielewicz, K. M.

The ALICE Collaboration is preparing a major detector upgrade for the LHC Run 3, which includes the construction of a new silicon pixel based Inner Tracking System (ITS). The ITS readout system consists of 192 readout boards to control the sensors and their power system, receive triggers, and deliver sensor data to the DAQ. To prototype various aspects of this readout system, an FPGA based carrier board and an associated FMC daughter card containing the CERN Gigabit Transceiver (GBT) chipset have been developed. Furthermore, this contribution describes laboratory and radiation testing results with this prototype board set.

ALICE inner tracking system readout electronics prototype testing with the CERN "Giga Bit Transceiver''

DOE PAGES

Schambach, Joachim; Rossewij, M. J.; Sielewicz, K. M.; ...

2016-12-28

The ALICE Collaboration is preparing a major detector upgrade for the LHC Run 3, which includes the construction of a new silicon pixel based Inner Tracking System (ITS). The ITS readout system consists of 192 readout boards to control the sensors and their power system, receive triggers, and deliver sensor data to the DAQ. To prototype various aspects of this readout system, an FPGA based carrier board and an associated FMC daughter card containing the CERN Gigabit Transceiver (GBT) chipset have been developed. Furthermore, this contribution describes laboratory and radiation testing results with this prototype board set.

ALICE inner tracking system readout electronics prototype testing with the CERN ``Giga Bit Transceiver''

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schambach, J.; Rossewij, M. J.; Sielewicz, K. M.; Aglieri Rinella, G.; Bonora, M.; Ferencei, J.; Giubilato, P.; Vanat, T.

2016-12-01

The ALICE Collaboration is preparing a major detector upgrade for the LHC Run 3, which includes the construction of a new silicon pixel based Inner Tracking System (ITS). The ITS readout system consists of 192 readout boards to control the sensors and their power system, receive triggers, and deliver sensor data to the DAQ. To prototype various aspects of this readout system, an FPGA based carrier board and an associated FMC daughter card containing the CERN Gigabit Transceiver (GBT) chipset have been developed. This contribution describes laboratory and radiation testing results with this prototype board set.

High resolution Doppler lidar

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abreu, Vincent J.; Hays, Paul B.; Barnes, John E.

1989-01-01

A high resolution lidar system was implemented to measure winds in the lower atmosphere. The wind speed along the line of sight was determined by measuring the Doppler shift of the aerosol backscattered laser signal. The system in its present configuration is stable, and behaves as indicated by theoretical simulations. This system was built to demonstrate the capabilities of the detector system as a prototype for a spaceborne lidar. The detector system investigated consisted of a plane Fabry-Perot etalon, and a 12-ring anode detector. This system is generically similar to the Fabry-Perot interferometer developed for passive wind measurements on board the Dynamics Explorer satellite. That this detector system performs well in a lidar configuration was demonstrated.

Characterization of the room temperature payload prototype for the cryogenic interferometric gravitational wave detector KAGRA.

PubMed

Peña Arellano, Fabián Erasmo; Sekiguchi, Takanori; Fujii, Yoshinori; Takahashi, Ryutaro; Barton, Mark; Hirata, Naoatsu; Shoda, Ayaka; van Heijningen, Joris; Flaminio, Raffaele; DeSalvo, Riccardo; Okutumi, Koki; Akutsu, Tomotada; Aso, Yoichi; Ishizaki, Hideharu; Ohishi, Naoko; Yamamoto, Kazuhiro; Uchiyama, Takashi; Miyakawa, Osamu; Kamiizumi, Masahiro; Takamori, Akiteru; Majorana, Ettore; Agatsuma, Kazuhiro; Hennes, Eric; van den Brand, Jo; Bertolini, Alessandro

2016-03-01

KAGRA is a cryogenic interferometric gravitational wave detector currently under construction in the Kamioka mine in Japan. Besides the cryogenic test masses, KAGRA will also rely on room temperature optics which will hang at the bottom of vibration isolation chains. The payload of each chain comprises an optic, a system to align it, and an active feedback system to damp the resonant motion of the suspension itself. This article describes the performance of a payload prototype that was assembled and tested in vacuum at the TAMA300 site at the NAOJ in Mitaka, Tokyo. We describe the mechanical components of the payload prototype and their functionality. A description of the active components of the feedback system and their capabilities is also given. The performance of the active system is illustrated by measuring the quality factors of some of the resonances of the suspension. Finally, the alignment capabilities offered by the payload are reported.

Detector, collimator and real-time reconstructor for a new scanning-beam digital x-ray (SBDX) prototype.

PubMed

Speidel, Michael A; Tomkowiak, Michael T; Raval, Amish N; Dunkerley, David A P; Slagowski, Jordan M; Kahn, Paul; Ku, Jamie; Funk, Tobias

Scanning-beam digital x-ray (SBDX) is an inverse geometry fluoroscopy system for low dose cardiac imaging. The use of a narrow scanned x-ray beam in SBDX reduces detected x-ray scatter and improves dose efficiency, however the tight beam collimation also limits the maximum achievable x-ray fluence. To increase the fluence available for imaging, we have constructed a new SBDX prototype with a wider x-ray beam, larger-area detector, and new real-time image reconstructor. Imaging is performed with a scanning source that generates 40,328 narrow overlapping projections from 71 × 71 focal spot positions for every 1/15 s scan period. A high speed 2-mm thick CdTe photon counting detector was constructed with 320×160 elements and 10.6 cm × 5.3 cm area (full readout every 1.28 μs), providing an 86% increase in area over the previous SBDX prototype. A matching multihole collimator was fabricated from layers of tungsten, brass, and lead, and a multi-GPU reconstructor was assembled to reconstruct the stream of captured detector images into full field-of-view images in real time. Thirty-two tomosynthetic planes spaced by 5 mm plus a multiplane composite image are produced for each scan frame. Noise equivalent quanta on the new SBDX prototype measured 63%-71% higher than the previous prototype. X-ray scatter fraction was 3.9-7.8% when imaging 23.3-32.6 cm acrylic phantoms, versus 2.3-4.2% with the previous prototype. Coronary angiographic imaging at 15 frame/s was successfully performed on the new SBDX prototype, with live display of either a multiplane composite or single plane image.

Prototyping of petalets for the Phase-II upgrade of the silicon strip tracking detector of the ATLAS experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuehn, S.; Benítez, V.; Fernández-Tejero, J.; Fleta, C.; Lozano, M.; Ullán, M.; Lacker, H.; Rehnisch, L.; Sperlich, D.; Ariza, D.; Bloch, I.; Díez, S.; Gregor, I.; Keller, J.; Lohwasser, K.; Poley, L.; Prahl, V.; Zakharchuk, N.; Hauser, M.; Jakobs, K.; Mahboubi, K.; Mori, R.; Parzefall, U.; Bernabéu, J.; Lacasta, C.; Marco-Hernandez, R.; Rodriguez Rodriguez, D.; Santoyo, D.; Solaz Contell, C.; Soldevila Serrano, U.; Affolder, T.; Greenall, A.; Gallop, B.; Phillips, P. W.; Cindro, V.

2018-03-01

In the high luminosity era of the Large Hadron Collider, the instantaneous luminosity is expected to reach unprecedented values, resulting in about 200 proton-proton interactions in a typical bunch crossing. To cope with the resultant increase in occupancy, bandwidth and radiation damage, the ATLAS Inner Detector will be replaced by an all-silicon system, the Inner Tracker (ITk). The ITk consists of a silicon pixel and a strip detector and exploits the concept of modularity. Prototyping and testing of various strip detector components has been carried out. This paper presents the developments and results obtained with reduced-size structures equivalent to those foreseen to be used in the forward region of the silicon strip detector. Referred to as petalets, these structures are built around a composite sandwich with embedded cooling pipes and electrical tapes for routing the signals and power. Detector modules built using electronic flex boards and silicon strip sensors are glued on both the front and back side surfaces of the carbon structure. Details are given on the assembly, testing and evaluation of several petalets. Measurement results of both mechanical and electrical quantities are shown. Moreover, an outlook is given for improved prototyping plans for large structures.

SiPM application for a detector for UHE neutrinos tested at Sphinx station

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iori, M.; Atakisi, I. O.; Chiodi, G.; Denizli, H.; Ferrarotto, F.; Kaya, M.; Yilmaz, A.; Recchia, L.; Russ, J.

2014-04-01

We present the preliminary test results of the prototype detector, working at Sphinx Observatory Center, Jungfraujoch (~3800 m a.s.l.) HFSJG - Switzerland. This prototype detector is designed to measure large zenith angle showers produced by high energy neutrino interactions in the Earth crust. This station provides us an opportunity to understand if the prototype detector works safely (or not) under hard environmental conditions (the air temperature changes between -25 °C and -5 °C). The detector prototype is using silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) produced by SensL and DRS4 chip as read-out part. Measurements at different temperature at fixed bias voltage (~29.5 V) were performed to reconstruct tracks by Time Of Flight.

Development of 1.45-mm resolution four-layer DOI-PET detector for simultaneous measurement in 3T MRI.

PubMed

Nishikido, Fumihiko; Tachibana, Atsushi; Obata, Takayuki; Inadama, Naoko; Yoshida, Eiji; Suga, Mikio; Murayama, Hideo; Yamaya, Taiga

2015-01-01

Recently, various types of PET-MRI systems have been developed by a number of research groups. However, almost all of the PET detectors used in these PET-MRI systems have no depth-of-interaction (DOI) capability. The DOI detector can reduce the parallax error and lead to improvement of the performance. We are developing a new PET-MRI system which consists of four-layer DOI detectors positioned close to the measured object to achieve high spatial resolution and high scanner sensitivity. As a first step, we are investigating influences the PET detector and the MRI system have on each other using a prototype four-layer DOI-PET detector. This prototype detector consists of a lutetium yttrium orthosilicate crystal block and a 4 × 4 multi-pixel photon counter array. The size of each crystal element is 1.45 mm × 1.45 mm × 4.5 mm, and the crystals are arranged in 6 × 6 elements × 4 layers with reflectors. The detector and some electric components are packaged in an aluminum shielding box. Experiments were carried out with 3.0 T MRI (GE, Signa HDx) and a birdcage-type RF coil. We demonstrated that the DOI-PET detector was normally operated in simultaneous measurements with no influence of the MRI measurement. A slight influence of the PET detector on the static magnetic field of the MRI was observed near the PET detector. The signal-to-noise ratio was decreased by presence of the PET detector due to environmental noise entering the MRI room through the cables, even though the PET detector was not powered up. On the other hand, no influence of electric noise from the PET detector in the simultaneous measurement on the MRI images was observed, even though the PET detector was positioned near the RF coil.

Design and characterization of a small muon tomography system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jo, Woo Jin; An, Su Jung; Kim, Hyun-Il; Lee, Chae Young; Chung, Heejun; Chung, Yong Hyun

2015-02-01

Muon tomography is a useful method for monitoring special nuclear materials (SNMs) because it can provide effective information on the presence of high-Z materials, has a high enough energy to deeply penetrate large amounts of shielding, and does not lead to any health risks and danger above background. We developed a 2-D muon detector and designed a muon tomography system employing four detector modules. Two top and two bottom detectors are, respectively, employed to record the incident and the scattered muon trajectories. The detector module for the muon tomography system consists of a plastic scintillator, wavelength-shifting (WLS) fiber arrays placed orthogonally on the top and the bottom of the scintillator, and a position-sensitive photomultiplier (PSPMT). The WLS fiber arrays absorb light photons emitted by the plastic scintillator and re-emit green lights guided to the PSPMT. The light distribution among the WLS fiber arrays determines the position of the muon interaction; consequently, 3-D tomographic images can be obtained by extracting the crossing points of the individual muon trajectories by using a point-of-closest-approach algorithm. The goal of this study is to optimize the design parameters of a muon tomography system by using the Geant4 code and to experimentally evaluate the performance of the prototype detector. Images obtained by the prototype detector with a 420-nm laser light source showed good agreement with the simulation results. This indicates that the proposed detector is feasible for use in a muon tomography system and can be used to verify the Z-discrimination capability of the muon tomography system.

Confocal laser-induced fluorescence detector for narrow capillary system with yoctomole limit of detection.

PubMed

Weaver, Mitchell T; Lynch, Kyle B; Zhu, Zaifang; Chen, Huang; Lu, Joann J; Pu, Qiaosheng; Liu, Shaorong

2017-04-01

Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detectors for low-micrometer and sub-micrometer capillary on-column detection are not commercially available. In this paper, we describe in details how to construct a confocal LIF detector to address this issue. We characterize the detector by determining its limit of detection (LOD), linear dynamic range (LDR) and background signal drift; a very low LOD (~70 fluorescein molecules or 12 yoctomole fluorescein), a wide LDR (greater than 3 orders of magnitude) and a small background signal drift (~1.2-fold of the root mean square noise) are obtained. For detecting analytes inside a low-micrometer and sub-micrometer capillary, proper alignment is essential. We present a simple protocol to align the capillary with the optical system and use the position-lock capability of a translation stage to fix the capillary in position during the experiment. To demonstrate the feasibility of using this detector for narrow capillary systems, we build a 2-μm-i.d. capillary flow injection analysis (FIA) system using the newly developed LIF prototype as a detector and obtain an FIA LOD of 14 zeptomole fluorescein. We also separate a DNA ladder sample by bare narrow capillary - hydrodynamic chromatography and use the LIF prototype to monitor the resolved DNA fragments. We obtain not only well-resolved peaks but also the quantitative information of all DNA fragments. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Study of a Large Prototype TPC for the ILC using Micro-Pattern Gas Detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Münnich, A.; LCTPC Collaboration

2016-04-01

In the last decade, R&D for detectors for the future International Linear Collider (ILC) has been performed by the community. The International Large Detector (ILD) is one of two detector concepts at the ILC. Its tracking system consists of a Si vertex detector, forward tracking disks and a large volume Time Projection Chamber (TPC). Within the LCTPC collaboration, a Large Prototype (LP) TPC has been built as a demonstrator. Its endplate is able to house up to seven identical modules with Micro-Pattern Gas Detectors (MPGD) amplification. Recently, the LP has been equipped with resistive anode Micromegas (MM) or Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) modules. Both the MM and GEM technologies have been studied with an electron beam up to 6 GeV in a 1 Tesla solenoid magnet. After introducing the current R&D status, recent results will be presented including field distortions, ion gating and spatial resolution as well as future plans of the LCTPC R&D.

Test of the Angle Detecting Inclined Sensor (ADIS) Technique for Measuring Space Radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Connell, J. J.; Lopate, C.; McLaughlin, K. R.

2008-12-01

In February 2008 we exposed an Angle Detecting Inclined Sensor (ADIS) prototype to beams of 150 MeV/u 78Kr and fragments at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory's (NSCL) Coupled Cyclotron Facility (CCF). ADIS is a highly innovative and uniquely simple detector configuration used to determine the angles of incidence of heavy ions in energetic charged particle instruments. Corrections for angle of incidence are required for good charge and mass separation. An ADIS instrument is under development to fly on the GOES-R series of weather satellites. The prototype tested consisted of three ADIS detectors, two of which were inclined at an angle to the telescope axis, forming the initial detectors in a five-detector telescope stack. By comparing the signals from the ADIS detectors, the angle of incidence may be determined and a pathlength correction applied to charge and mass determinations. Thus, ADIS replaces complex position sensing detectors with a system of simple, reliable and robust Si detectors. Accelerator data were taken at multiple angles to both primary and secondary beams with a spread of energies. This test instrument represents an improvement over the previous ADIS prototype in that it used oval inclined detectors and a much lower-mass support structure, thus reducing the number of events passing through dead material. We will present the results of this test. The ADIS instrument development project was partially funded by NASA under the Living With a Star (LWS) Targeted Research and Technology program (grant NAG5-12493).

A flexible, small positron emission tomography prototype for resource-limited laboratories

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miranda-Menchaca, A.; Martínez-Dávalos, A.; Murrieta-Rodríguez, T.; Alva-Sánchez, H.; Rodríguez-Villafuerte, M.

2015-05-01

Modern small-animal PET scanners typically consist of a large number of detectors along with complex electronics to provide tomographic images for research in the preclinical sciences that use animal models. These systems can be expensive, especially for resource-limited educational and academic institutions in developing countries. In this work we show that a small-animal PET scanner can be built with a relatively reduced budget while, at the same time, achieving relatively high performance. The prototype consists of four detector modules each composed of LYSO pixelated crystal arrays (individual crystal elements of dimensions 1 × 1 × 10 mm3) coupled to position-sensitive photomultiplier tubes. Tomographic images are obtained by rotating the subject to complete enough projections for image reconstruction. Image quality was evaluated for different reconstruction algorithms including filtered back-projection and iterative reconstruction with maximum likelihood-expectation maximization and maximum a posteriori methods. The system matrix was computed both with geometric considerations and by Monte Carlo simulations. Prior to image reconstruction, Fourier data rebinning was used to increase the number of lines of response used. The system was evaluated for energy resolution at 511 keV (best 18.2%), system sensitivity (0.24%), spatial resolution (best 0.87 mm), scatter fraction (4.8%) and noise equivalent count-rate. The system can be scaled-up to include up to 8 detector modules, increasing detection efficiency, and its price may be reduced as newer solid state detectors become available replacing the traditional photomultiplier tubes. Prototypes like this may prove to be very valuable for educational, training, preclinical and other biological research purposes.

Observation of cosmic ray hadrons at the top of the Sierra Negra volcano in Mexico with the SciCRT prototype

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ortiz, E.; Valdés-Galicia, J. F.; Matsubara, Y.

In this work we report the flux of protons and neutral emission measured at the top of the Sierra Negra volcano at 4600 m.a.s.l. (575 g/cm2), in Eastern Mexico. As an example of the capability of the mini-SciCR as a cosmic ray detector we present the Forbush decrease recorded on March 7, 2012. These data were obtained with a cosmic ray detector prototype called mini-SciCR that was operating from October 2010 to July 2012. Our main aims were to measure the hadronic component flux of the secondary cosmic ray and to show the appropriate performance of all system of themore » detector. To separate the signals of protons from other charged particles we obtained the energy deposition pattern when they cross the detector using a Monte Carlo simulation, and to separate the signals of neutral emission we used an anticoincidence system between the edge bars and the internal bars of the detector. The mini-SciCR is a prototype of a new cosmic ray detector called SciBar Cosmic Ray Telescope (SciCRT) installed in the same place, which is in the process of calibration. The SciCRT will work mainly as a Solar Neutron and Muon Telescope, it is designed to achieve: (1) larger effective area than the current Solar Neutron Telescope, (2) higher energy resolution to determine the energy spectrum of solar neutrons, (3) lower energy threshold, and (4) higher particle identification ability.« less

Observation of cosmic ray hadrons at the top of the Sierra Negra volcano in Mexico with the SciCRT prototype

DOE PAGES

Ortiz, E.; Valdés-Galicia, J. F.; Matsubara, Y.; ...

2016-02-16

In this study we report the flux of protons and neutral emission measured at the top of the Sierra Negra volcano at 4600 m.a.s.l. (575 g/cm 2), in Eastern Mexico. As an example of the capability of the mini-SciCR as a cosmic ray detector we present the Forbush decrease recorded on March 7, 2012. These data were obtained with a cosmic ray detector prototype called mini-SciCR that was operating from October 2010 to July 2012. Our main aims were to measure the hadronic component flux of the secondary cosmic ray and to show the appropriate performance of all system ofmore » the detector. To separate the signals of protons from other charged particles we obtained the energy deposition pattern when they cross the detector using a Monte Carlo simulation, and to separate the signals of neutral emission we used an anticoincidence system between the edge bars and the internal bars of the detector. The mini-SciCR is a prototype of a new cosmic ray detector called SciBar Cosmic Ray Telescope (SciCRT) installed in the same place, which is in the process of calibration. The SciCRT will work mainly as a Solar Neutron and Muon Telescope, it is designed to achieve: (1) larger effective area than the current Solar Neutron Telescope, (2) higher energy resolution to determine the energy spectrum of solar neutrons, (3) lower energy threshold, and (4) higher particle identification ability.« less

Observation of cosmic ray hadrons at the top of the Sierra Negra volcano in Mexico with the SciCRT prototype

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ortiz, E.; Valdés-Galicia, J. F.; Matsubara, Y.

In this study we report the flux of protons and neutral emission measured at the top of the Sierra Negra volcano at 4600 m.a.s.l. (575 g/cm 2), in Eastern Mexico. As an example of the capability of the mini-SciCR as a cosmic ray detector we present the Forbush decrease recorded on March 7, 2012. These data were obtained with a cosmic ray detector prototype called mini-SciCR that was operating from October 2010 to July 2012. Our main aims were to measure the hadronic component flux of the secondary cosmic ray and to show the appropriate performance of all system ofmore » the detector. To separate the signals of protons from other charged particles we obtained the energy deposition pattern when they cross the detector using a Monte Carlo simulation, and to separate the signals of neutral emission we used an anticoincidence system between the edge bars and the internal bars of the detector. The mini-SciCR is a prototype of a new cosmic ray detector called SciBar Cosmic Ray Telescope (SciCRT) installed in the same place, which is in the process of calibration. The SciCRT will work mainly as a Solar Neutron and Muon Telescope, it is designed to achieve: (1) larger effective area than the current Solar Neutron Telescope, (2) higher energy resolution to determine the energy spectrum of solar neutrons, (3) lower energy threshold, and (4) higher particle identification ability.« less

A cryogen-free ultralow-field superconducting quantum interference device magnetic resonance imaging system

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eom, Byeong Ho; Penanen, Konstantin; Hahn, Inseob, E-mail: ihahn@caltech.edu

2014-09-15

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at microtesla fields using superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) detection has previously been demonstrated, and advantages have been noted. Although the ultralow-field SQUID MRI technique would not need the heavy superconducting magnet of conventional MRI systems, liquid helium required to cool the low-temperature detector still places a significant burden on its operation. We have built a prototype cryocooler-based SQUID MRI system that does not require a cryogen. The SQUID detector and the superconducting gradiometer were cooled down to 3.7 K and 4.3 K, respectively. We describe the prototype design, characterization, a phantom image, and areas ofmore » further improvements needed to bring the imaging performance to parity with conventional MRI systems.« less

Summary Scientific Performance of EUCLID Detector Prototypes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rauscher, Bernard J.

2011-01-01

NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) plan to partner to build the EUCLID mission. EUCLID is a mission concept for studying the Dark Energy that is hypothesized to account for the accelerating cosmic expansion. For the past year, NASA has been building detector prototypes at Teledyne Imaging Sensors. This talk will summarize the measured scientific performance of these detector prototypes for astrophysical and cosmological applications.

Observation of Air Shower in Uijeongbu Area using the COREA Prototype Detector System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cho, Wooram; Shin, Jae-ik; Kwon, Youngjoon; Yang, Jongmann; Nam, Shinwoo; Park, Il H.; Cheon, ByungGu; Kim, Hang Bae; Bhang, Hyoung Chan; Park, Cheolyoung; Kim, Gyhyuk; Choi, Wooseok; Hwang, MyungJin; Shin, Gwangsik

2018-06-01

We report the study of high energy cosmic rays in Uijeongbu area using a cosmic-ray detector array system. The array consists of three detector stations, each of which contains a set of three scintillators and PMTs, a GPS antenna along with data acquisition system. To identify air shower signals originating from a single cosmic ray, time coincidence information is used. We devised a method for estimating the energy range of air shower data detected by an array of only three detectors, using air shower simulation and citing already known energy spectrum. Also, Fast Fourier Transform(FFT) was applied to study isotropy.

Development of the ARICH monitor system for the Belle II experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hataya, K.; Adachi, I.; Dolenec, R.; Iori, S.; Iwata, S.; Kakuno, H.; Kataura, R.; Kawai, H.; Kindo, H.; Kobayashi, T.; Korpar, S.; Križan, P.; Kumita, T.; Mrvar, M.; Nishida, S.; Ogawa, K.; Ogawa, S.; Pestotnik, R.; Šantelj, L.; Sumiyoshi, T.; Tabata, M.; Yonenaga, M.; Yusa, Y.

2017-12-01

The Belle II detector is under construction at KEK in Japan. In the forward endcap region of the Belle II detector, particle identification (PID) is performed by the Aerogel Ring Imaging Cherenkov (ARICH) counter composed of aerogel tiles and 144-channel Hybrid Avalanche Photo-Detectors (HAPDs). The photon detection efficiency of the photosensor is important for a stable operation of the ARICH. To examine the performance of the HAPDs periodically, a monitor system using scattered photons injected by optical fibers is being developed. In this paper, we report the test using the prototype monitor system and the tests with a partially built ARICH detector.

Performance and results of the LBNE 35 ton membrane cryostat prototype

DOE PAGES

Montanari, David; Adamowski, Mark; Hahn, Alan; ...

2015-07-15

We report on the performance and commissioning of the first membrane cryostat to be used for scientific application. The Long Baseline Neutrino Experiment (LBNE) has designed and fabricated a membrane cryostat prototype in collaboration with Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (IHI). LBNE has designed and fabricated the supporting cryogenic system infrastructure and successfully commissioned and operated the first membrane cryostat. Original goals of the prototype are: to demonstrate the membrane cryostat technology in terms of thermal performance, feasibility for liquid argon and leak tightness; to demonstrate that we can remove all the impurities from the vessel and achieve the puritymore » requirements in a membrane cryostat without evacuation; to demonstrate that we can achieve and maintain the purity requirements of the liquid argon using mol sieve and copper filters. The purity requirements of a large liquid argon detector such as LBNE are contaminants below 200 parts per trillion (ppt) oxygen equivalent. LBNE is planning the design and construction of a large liquid argon detector. This presentation will present requirements, design and construction of the LBNE 35 ton membrane cryostat prototype, and detail the commissioning and performance. The experience and results of this prototype are extremely important for the development of the LBNE detector.« less

Ultrasonic scanning system for in-place inspection of brazed-tube joints

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haralson, H. S.; Haynes, J. L.; Wages, C. G.

1971-01-01

System detects defects of .051 cm in diameter and larger. System incorporates scanning head assembly including boot enclosed transducer, slip ring assembly, drive mechanism, and servotransmitter. Ultrasonic flaw detector, prototype recorder, and special recorder complete system.

A mercuric iodide detector system for X-ray astronomy. II - Results from flight tests of a balloon borne instrument

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vallerga, J. V.; Vanderspek, R. K.; Ricker, G. R.

1983-01-01

To establish the expected sensitivity of a new hard X-ray telescope design, described by Ricker et al., an experiment was conducted to measure the background counting rate at balloon altitudes (40 km) of mercuric iodide, a room temperature solid state X-ray detector. The prototype detector consisted of two thin mercuric iodide (HgI2) detectors surrounded by a large bismuth germanate scintillator operated in anticoincidence. The bismuth germanate shield vetoed most of the background counting rate induced by atmospheric gamma-rays, neutrons and cosmic rays. A balloon-borne gondola containing a prototype detector assembly was designed, constructed and flown twice in the spring of 1982 from Palestine, TX. The second flight of this instrument established a differential background counting rate of 4.2 + or - 0.7 x 10 to the -5th counts/s sq cm keV over the energy range of 40-80 keV. This measurement was within 50 percent of the predicted value. The measured rate is about 5 times lower than previously achieved in shielded NaI/CsI or Ge systems operating in the same energy range.

A mercuric detector system for X-ray astronomy. 2. Results from flight tests of a balloon borne instrument

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vallerga, J.; Vanderspek, R. K.; Ricker, G. R.

1982-01-01

To establish the expected sensitivity of a new hard X-ray telescope design, an experiment was conducted to measure the background counting rate at balloon altitudes (40 km) of mercuric iodide, a room temperature solid state X-ray detector. The prototype detector consisted of two thin mercuric iodide (HgI2) detectors surrounded by a large bismuth germanate (Bi4Ge3O12) scintillator operated in anticoincidence. The bismuth germanate shield vetoed most of the background counting rate induced by atmospheric gamma-rays, neutrons and cosmic rays. A balloon-borne gondola containing a prototype detector assembly was designed, constructed and flown twice in the spring of 1982 from Palestine, Texas. The second flight of this instrument established a differential background counting rate of 4.2 O.7 x 10-5 counts/sec cm keV over the energy range of 40 to 80 keV. This measurement was within 50% of the predicted value. The measured rate is approx 5 times lower than previously achieved in shielded NaI/CsI or Ge systems operating in the same energy range. The prediction was based on a Monte Carlo simulation of the detector assembly in the radiation environment at float altitude.

Safeguards Technology Development Program 1st Quarter FY 2018 Report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Prasad, Manoj K.

LLNL will evaluate the performance of a stilbene-based scintillation detector array for IAEA neutron multiplicity counting (NMC) applications. This effort will combine newly developed modeling methodologies and recently acquired high-efficiency stilbene detector units to quantitatively compare the prototype system performance with the conventional He-3 counters and liquid scintillator alternatives.

Basic Performance Test of a Prototype PET Scanner Using CdTe Semiconductor Detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ueno, Y.; Morimoto, Y.; Tsuchiya, K.; Yanagita, N.; Kojima, S.; Ishitsu, T.; Kitaguchi, H.; Kubo, N.; Zhao, S.; Tamaki, N.; Amemiya, K.

2009-02-01

A prototype positron emission tomography (PET) scanner using CdTe semiconductor detectors was developed, and its initial evaluation was conducted. The scanner was configured to form a single detector ring with six separated detector units, each having 96 detectors arranged in three detector layers. The field of view (FOV) size was 82 mm in diameter. Basic physical performance indicators of the scanner were measured through phantom studies and confirmed by rat imaging. The system-averaged energy resolution and timing resolution were 5.4% and 6.0 ns (each in FWHM) respectively. Spatial resolution measured at FOV center was 2.6 mm FWHM. Scatter fraction was measured and calculated in a National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)-fashioned manner using a 3-mm diameter hot capillary in a water-filled 80-mm diameter acrylic cylinder. The calculated result was 3.6%. Effect of depth of interaction (DOI) measurement was demonstrated by comparing hot-rod phantom images reconstructed with and without DOI information. Finally, images of a rat myocardium and an implanted tumor were visually assessed, and the imaging performance was confirmed.

A prototype table-top inverse-geometry volumetric CT system.

PubMed

Schmidt, Taly Gilat; Star-Lack, Josh; Bennett, N Robert; Mazin, Samuel R; Solomon, Edward G; Fahrig, Rebecca; Pelc, Norbert J

2006-06-01

A table-top volumetric CT system has been implemented that is able to image a 5-cm-thick volume in one circular scan with no cone-beam artifacts. The prototype inverse-geometry CT (IGCT) scanner consists of a large-area, scanned x-ray source and a detector array that is smaller in the transverse direction. The IGCT geometry provides sufficient volumetric sampling because the source and detector have the same axial, or slice direction, extent. This paper describes the implementation of the table-top IGCT scanner, which is based on the NexRay Scanning-Beam Digital X-ray system (NexRay, Inc., Los Gatos, CA) and an investigation of the system performance. The alignment and flat-field calibration procedures are described, along with a summary of the reconstruction algorithm. The resolution and noise performance of the prototype IGCT system are studied through experiments and further supported by analytical predictions and simulations. To study the presence of cone-beam artifacts, a "Defrise" phantom was scanned on both the prototype IGCT scanner and a micro CT system with a +/-5 cone angle for a 4.5-cm volume thickness. Images of inner ear specimens are presented and compared to those from clinical CT systems. Results showed that the prototype IGCT system has a 0.25-mm isotropic resolution and that noise comparable to that from a clinical scanner with equivalent spatial resolution is achievable. The measured MTF and noise values agreed reasonably well with theoretical predictions and computer simulations. The IGCT system was able to faithfully reconstruct the laminated pattern of the Defrise phantom while the micro CT system suffered severe cone-beam artifacts for the same object. The inner ear acquisition verified that the IGCT system can image a complex anatomical object, and the resulting images exhibited more high-resolution details than the clinical CT acquisition. Overall, the successful implementation of the prototype system supports the IGCT concept for single-rotation volumetric scanning free from cone-beam artifacts.

Neutron multiplicity ,easurements With 3He alternative: Straw neutron detectors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mukhopadhyay, Sanjoy; Wolff, Ronald S.; Meade, John A.

Counting neutrons emitted by special nuclear material (SNM) and differentiating them from the background neutrons of various origins is the most effective passive means of detecting SNM. Unfortunately, neutron detection, counting, and partitioning in a maritime environment are complex due to the presence of high-multiplicity spallation neutrons (commonly known as “ship effect”) and to the complicated nature of the neutron scattering in that environment. In this study, a prototype neutron detector was built using 10B as the converter in a special form factor called “straws” that would address the above problems by looking into the details of multiplicity distributions ofmore » neutrons originating from a fissioning source. This paper describes the straw neutron multiplicity counter (NMC) and assesses the performance with those of a commercially available fission meter. The prototype straw neutron detector provides a large-area, efficient, lightweight, more granular (than fission meter) neutron-responsive detection surface (to facilitate imaging) to enhance the ease of application of fission meters. Presented here are the results of preliminary investigations, modeling, and engineering considerations leading to the construction of this prototype. This design is capable of multiplicity and Feynman variance measurements. This prototype may lead to a near-term solution to the crisis that has arisen from the global scarcity of 3He by offering a viable alternative to fission meters. This paper describes the work performed during a 2-year site-directed research and development (SDRD) project that incorporated straw detectors for neutron multiplicity counting. The NMC is a two-panel detector system. We used 10B (in the form of enriched boron carbide: 10B 4C) for neutron detection instead of 3He. In the first year, the project worked with a panel of straw neutron detectors, investigated its characteristics, and developed a data acquisition (DAQ) system to collect neutron multiplicity information from spontaneous fission sources using a single panel consisting of 60 straws equally distributed over three rows in high-density polyethylene moderator. In the following year, we developed the field-programmable gate array and associated DAQ software. Finally, this SDRD effort successfully produced a prototype NMC with ~33% detection efficiency compared to a commercial fission meter.« less

Neutron multiplicity measurements with 3He alternative: Straw neutron detectors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mukhopadhyay, Sanjoy; Wolff, Ronald; Detwiler, Ryan

Counting neutrons emitted by special nuclear material (SNM) and differentiating them from the background neutrons of various origins is the most effective passive means of detecting SNM. Unfortunately, neutron detection, counting, and partitioning in a maritime environment are complex due to the presence of high-multiplicity spallation neutrons (commonly known as ‘‘ship effect ’’) and to the complicated nature of the neutron scattering in that environment. A prototype neutron detector was built using 10B as the converter in a special form factor called ‘‘straws’’ that would address the above problems by looking into the details of multiplicity distributions of neutrons originatingmore » from a fissioning source. This paper describes the straw neutron multiplicity counter (NMC) and assesses the performance with those of a commercially available fission meter. The prototype straw neutron detector provides a large-area, efficient, lightweight, more granular (than fission meter) neutron-responsive detection surface (to facilitate imaging) to enhance the ease of application of fission meters. Presented here are the results of preliminary investigations, modeling, and engineering considerations leading to the construction of this prototype. This design is capable of multiplicity and Feynman variance measurements. This prototype may lead to a near-term solution to the crisis that has arisen from the global scarcity of 3He by offering a viable alternative to fission meters. This paper describes the work performed during a 2-year site-directed research and development (SDRD) project that incorporated straw detectors for neutron multiplicity counting. The NMC is a two-panel detector system. We used 10B (in the form of enriched boron carbide: 10B 4C) for neutron detection instead of 3He. In the first year, the project worked with a panel of straw neutron detectors, investigated its characteristics, and developed a data acquisition (DAQ) system to collect neutron multiplicity information from spontaneous fission sources using a single panel consisting of 60 straws equally distributed over three rows in high-density polyethylenemoderator. In the following year, we developed the field-programmable gate array and associated DAQ software. This SDRD effort successfully produced a prototype NMC with*33% detection efficiency compared to a commercial fission meter.« less

Neutron multiplicity ,easurements With 3He alternative: Straw neutron detectors

DOE PAGES

Mukhopadhyay, Sanjoy; Wolff, Ronald S.; Meade, John A.; ...

2015-01-27

Counting neutrons emitted by special nuclear material (SNM) and differentiating them from the background neutrons of various origins is the most effective passive means of detecting SNM. Unfortunately, neutron detection, counting, and partitioning in a maritime environment are complex due to the presence of high-multiplicity spallation neutrons (commonly known as “ship effect”) and to the complicated nature of the neutron scattering in that environment. In this study, a prototype neutron detector was built using 10B as the converter in a special form factor called “straws” that would address the above problems by looking into the details of multiplicity distributions ofmore » neutrons originating from a fissioning source. This paper describes the straw neutron multiplicity counter (NMC) and assesses the performance with those of a commercially available fission meter. The prototype straw neutron detector provides a large-area, efficient, lightweight, more granular (than fission meter) neutron-responsive detection surface (to facilitate imaging) to enhance the ease of application of fission meters. Presented here are the results of preliminary investigations, modeling, and engineering considerations leading to the construction of this prototype. This design is capable of multiplicity and Feynman variance measurements. This prototype may lead to a near-term solution to the crisis that has arisen from the global scarcity of 3He by offering a viable alternative to fission meters. This paper describes the work performed during a 2-year site-directed research and development (SDRD) project that incorporated straw detectors for neutron multiplicity counting. The NMC is a two-panel detector system. We used 10B (in the form of enriched boron carbide: 10B 4C) for neutron detection instead of 3He. In the first year, the project worked with a panel of straw neutron detectors, investigated its characteristics, and developed a data acquisition (DAQ) system to collect neutron multiplicity information from spontaneous fission sources using a single panel consisting of 60 straws equally distributed over three rows in high-density polyethylene moderator. In the following year, we developed the field-programmable gate array and associated DAQ software. Finally, this SDRD effort successfully produced a prototype NMC with ~33% detection efficiency compared to a commercial fission meter.« less

TADIR: ElOp's high-resolution second-generation 480 x 4 TDI thermal imager

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarusi, Gabby; Ziv, Natan; Zioni, O.; Gaber, J.; Shechterman, Mark S.; Wiess, I.; Friedland, Igor V.; Lerner, M.; Friedenberg, Abraham

1998-10-01

'TADIR' is a new high-end thermal imager, developed in El-Op under contract with the Israeli MOD during the last three years. This new second generation thermal imager is based on 480 X 4 TDI MCT detector operated in the 8 - 12 micrometer spectral range. Although the prototype configuration of TADIR was design for the highly demanded light weight low volume and low power air applications, TADIR can be considered as a generic modular technology of which the future El-Op's FLIR applications such as ground fire control system and surveillance systems will be derived from. Besides the detector, what puts the system in the high-end category are the state of the art features implemented in each system's components. This paper describes the system concept and design considerations as well as the anticipated performances. TADIRs fist prototype was demonstrated at the beginning of 1998 and is currently under evaluation.

Muon data from a water Cherenkov detector prototype at Colorado State University

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Longo, Megan; Mostafa, Miguel

2013-04-01

The High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Observatory is a very high energy gamma-ray experiment currently under construction in Sierra Negra in the state of Puebla, Mexico, at an altitude of 4,100 m a.s.l. The HAWC Observatory will consist of 300 water Cherenkov detectors (WCDs), each instrumented with three 8'' photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) and one 10'' high efficiency (HE) PMT. The PMTs are upward facing, anchored to the bottom of a 5 m deep by 7.3 m diameter steel tank, containing a multilayer hermetic plastic bag holding 200,000 L of purified water. The only full size WCD prototype outside of the HAWC site is located at Colorado State University (CSU) in Fort Collins, CO at an altitude of 1,525 m a.s.l. This prototype is instrumented with six 8'' PMTs, one 10'' HE PMT, and the same laser calibration system, electronics, and data acquisition system as the WCDs at the HAWC site. The CSU prototype is additionally equipped with scintillator paddles both under and above the volume of water, temperature probes (in the water, outside, and in the DAQ room), and one covered PMT. Preliminary results for muon rates and their temperature dependance using data collected with the CSU prototype will be presented.

LENS: Prototyping Program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rountree, S. Derek

2013-04-01

The Low-Energy Neutrino Spectrometer (LENS) prototyping program is broken into two phases. The first of these is μLENS, a small prototype to study the light transmission in the as built LENS scintillation lattice--- a novel detector method of high segmentation in a large liquid scintillation detector. The μLENS prototype is currently deployed and taking data at the Kimballton Underground Research Facility (KURF) near Virginia Tech. I will discuss the Scintillation Lattice construction methods and schemes of the μLENS program for running with minimal channels instrumented to date ˜41 compared to full coverage 216). The second phase of prototyping is the miniLENS detector for which construction is under way. I will discuss the overall design from the miniLENS Scintillation Lattice to the shielding.

Measurement of the Energy-Dependent Angular Response of the ARES Detector System and Application to Aerial Imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Joshi, Tenzing H. Y.; Quiter, Brian J.; Maltz, Jonathan S.; Bandstra, Mark S.; Haefner, Andrew; Eikmeier, Nicole; Wagner, Eric; Luke, Tanushree; Malchow, Russell; McCall, Karen

2017-07-01

The Airborne Radiological Enhanced-sensor System (ARES) includes a prototype helicopter-borne CsI(Na) detector array that has been developed as part of the DHS Domestic Nuclear Detection Office Advanced Technology Demonstration. The detector system geometry comprises two pairs of 23-detector arrays designed to function as active masks, providing additional angular resolution of measured gamma rays in the roll dimension. Experimental measurements, using five radioisotopes (137Cs, 60Co, 241Am, 131I, and 99mTc), were performed to map the detector response in both roll and pitch dimensions. This paper describes the acquisition and analysis of these characterization measurements, calculation of the angular response of the ARES system, and how this response function is used to improve aerial detection and localization of radiological and nuclear threat sources.

Test of the Angle Detecting Inclined Sensor (ADIS) Technique for Measuring Space Radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Connell, J. J.; Lopate, C.; McLaughlin, K. R.

2009-12-01

In February 2008 we exposed an Angle Detecting Inclined Sensor (ADIS) prototype to beams of 150 MeV/u 78Kr and fragments at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory's (NSCL) Coupled Cyclotron Facility (CCF). ADIS is a highly innovative and uniquely simple detector configuration used to determine the angles of incidence of heavy ions in energetic charged particle instruments. Corrections for angle of incidence are required for good charge and mass separation. An ADIS instrument is under development to fly on the GOES-R series of weather satellites. The prototype tested consisted of three ADIS detectors, two of which were inclined at an angle to the telescope axis, forming the initial detectors in a five-detector telescope stack. By comparing the signals from the ADIS detectors, the angle of incidence may be determined and a pathlength correction applied to charge and mass determinations. Thus, ADIS replaces complex position sensing detectors with a system of simple, reliable and robust Si detectors. Accelerator data were taken at multiple angles to both primary and secondary beams with a spread of energies. This test instrument represents an improvement over the previous ADIS prototype in that it used oval inclined detectors and a much lower-mass support structure, thus reducing the number of events passing through dead material. These data show a charge peak resolution of 0.18 ± 0.01 e at Br (Z = 35), excellent for such a simple instrument. We will present the results of this test. The ADIS instrument development project was partially funded by NASA under the Living With a Star (LWS) Targeted Research and Technology program (grant NAG5-12493).

Development of FARICH detector for particle identification system at accelerators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Finogeev, D. A.; Kurepin, A. B.; Razin, V. I.; Reshetin, A. I.; Usenko, E. A.; Barnyakov, A. Yu.; Barnyakov, M. Yu.; Bobrovnikov, V. S.; Buzykaev, A. R.; Kasyanenko, P. V.; Kononov, S. A.; Kravchenko, E. A.; Kuyanov, I. A.; Onuchin, A. P.; Ovtin, I. V.; Podgornov, N. A.; Talyshev, A. A.; Danilyuk, A. F.

2018-01-01

Aerogel has been successfully used as a radiator in Cherenkov detectors. In 2004, a multilayer aerogel providing Cherenkov ring focusing was proposed and produced. FARICH (Focusing Aerogel Rich Imaging CHerenkov) detectors such as ARICH for Belle-II (KEK, Japan), Forward RICH for PANDA detector (FAIR, Germany), and FARICH for the Super Charm-Tau factory project (BINP, Novosibirsk) have been developed based on this aerogel. Prototypes of FARICH detector based on MRS APD and Philips DPC photosensors were developed and tested in the framework of this project. An angular resolution for Cherenkov rings of 3.6 mrad was achieved.

Development and Prototyping of the PROSPECT Antineutrino Detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Commeford, Kelley; Prospect Collaboration

2017-01-01

The PROSPECT experiment will make the most precise measurement of the 235U reactor antineutrino spectrum as well as search for sterile neutrinos using a segmented Li-loaded liquid scintillator neutrino detector. Several prototype detectors of increasing size, complexity, and fidelity have been constructed and tested as part of the PROSPECT detector development program. The challenges to overcome include the efficient rejection of cosmogenic background and collection of optical photons in a compact volume. Design choices regarding segment structure and layout, calibration source deployment, and optical collection methods are discussed. Results from the most recent multi-segment prototype, PROSPECT-50, will also be shown.

OSIRIS-REx OCAMS detector assembly characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hancock, J.; Crowther, B.; Whiteley, M.; Burt, R.; Watson, M.; Nelson, J.; Fellows, C.; Rizk, B.; Kinney-Spano, E.; Perry, M.; Hunten, M.

2013-09-01

The OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission carries a suite of three cameras referred to as OCAMS. The Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) at Utah State University is providing the CCD-based detector assemblies for OCAMS to the Lunar Planetary Lab (LPL) at the University of Arizona. Working with the LPL, SDL has designed the electronics to operate a 1K by 1K frame transfer Teledyne DALSA Multi-Pinned Phase (MPP) CCD. The detector assembly electronics provides the CCD clocking, biasing, and digital interface with the OCAMS payload Command Control Module (CCM). A prototype system was built to verify the functionality of the detector assembly design and to characterize the detector system performance at the intended operating temperatures. The characterization results are described in this paper.

In-beam PET data characterization with the large area DoPET prototype

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sportelli, G.; Belcari, N.; Camarlinghi, N.; Ciocca, M.; Collini, F.; Molinelli, S.; Pullia, M.; Zaccaro, E.; Del Guerra, A.; Rosso, V.

2016-02-01

Range verification with in-beam PET techniques is a powerful tool for monitoring the correctness of dose delivery in particle therapy. Among the major limitations of in-beam PET systems are the limited detectors size due to the constrained space in which they can be placed to allow the irradiation, and the necessity of a high read-out modularization, due to high activity rates during the irradiation. In this work we present the data acquired at the CNAO (Centro Nazionale di Adroterapia Oncologica) treatment center in Pavia, Italy, with the new DoPET system, specifically designed to operate in in-beam conditions. The new prototype consists of two planar 15cm × 15cm LYSO-based detectors, read out by 9 PMT detector modules each. In particular, we test the capability of our system to determine particle range in various irradiation conditions. Several plastic phantoms were irradiated at the CNAO treatment centre with protons and carbon ions of various energies. The used dose in treatment plans is 2 Gy and the monitoring feedback is produced in a few minutes after the end of the treatment.

Performance evaluation of a modular detector unit for X-ray computed tomography.

PubMed

Guo, Zhe; Tang, Zhiwei; Wang, Xinzeng; Deng, Mingliang; Hu, Guangshu; Zhang, Hui

2013-04-18

A research prototype CT scanner is currently under development in our lab. One of the key components in this project is the CT detector. This paper describes the design and performance evaluation of the modular CT detector unit for our proposed scanner. It consists of a Photodiode Array Assembly which captures irradiating X-ray photons and converts the energy into electrical current, and a mini Data Acquisition System which performs current integration and converts the analog signal into digital samples. The detector unit can be easily tiled together to form a CT detector. Experiments were conducted to characterize the detector performance both at the single unit level and system level. The noise level, linearity and uniformity of the proposed detector unit were reported and initial imaging studies were also presented which demonstrated the potential application of the proposed detector unit in actual CT scanners.

Dark Matter Annihilation Cross-Section Limits of Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxies with the High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Gamma-Ray Observatory and on the design of a Water Cherenkov Detector Prototype

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Proper, Megan Longo

I present an indirect search for Dark Matter using the High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) gamma-ray observatory. There is significant evidence for dark matter within the known Universe, and we can set constraints on the dark matter annihilation cross-section using dark matter rich sources. Dwarf spheroidal galaxies (dSphs) are low luminosity galaxies with little to no gas or dust, or recent star formation. In addition, the total mass of a dwarf spheroidal galaxy, as inferred from gravitational effects observed within the galaxy, is many times more than the luminous mass, making them extremely dark matter rich. For these reasons dSphs are prime targets for indirect dark matter searches with gamma rays. Dark matter annihilation cross-section limits are presented for 14 dSphs within the HAWC field of view, as well as a combined limit with all sources. The limits presented here are for dark matter masses ranging from 0.5 TeV to 1000 TeV. At lower dark matter masses, the HAWC-111 limits are not competitive with other gamma-ray experiments, however it will be shown that HAWC is currently dominating in the higher dark matter mass range. The HAWC observatory is a water Cherenkov detector and consists of 300 Water Cherenkov Detectors (WCDs). The detector is located at 4100 m above sea level in the Sierra Negra region of Mexico at latitude 18°59'41" N and longitude 97°18'28" W. Each WCD is instrumented with three 8 inch photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) and one 10 inch high efficiency PMT, anchored to the bottom of a 5 m deep by 7.3 m diameter steel tank. The tank contains a multilayer hermetic plastic bag, called a bladder, which holds 200,000 L of ultra-purified water. I will also present the design, deployment, and operation of a WCD prototype for HAWC built at Colorado State University (CSU). The CSU WCD was the only full-size prototype outside of the HAWC site. It was instrumented with 7 HAWC PMTs and scintillator paddles both under and above the volume of water. In addition, the CSU WCD was equipped with the same laser calibration system that is deployed at the HAWC site, as well as the same electronics and data acquisition system. The WCD prototype served as a testbed for the different subsystems of the HAWC observatory. During the three different installations of the prototype, many aspects of the detector design and performance were tested including: tank construction, bladder installation and performance, PMT installation and performance, roof design, water filtration and filling, muon coincidence measurements and calibration system. The experience gained from the CSU prototype was invaluable to the overall design and installation of the HAWC detector.

A Prototype {sup 212}Pb Medical Dose Calibrator for Alpha Radioimmunotherapy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mueller, W.F.; Patil, A.; Russ, W.R.

AREVA Med, an AREVA group subsidiary, is developing innovative cancer-fighting therapies involving the use of {sup 212}Pb for alpha radioimmunotherapy. Canberra Industries, the nuclear measurement subsidiary of AREVA, has been working with AREVA Med to develop a prototype measurement system to assay syringes containing a {sup 212}Pb solution following production by an elution system. The relative fraction of emitted radiation from the source associated directly with the {sup 212}Pb remains dynamic for approximately 6 hours after the parent is chemically purified. A significant challenge for this measurement application is that the short half-life of the parent nuclide requires assay priormore » to reaching equilibrium with progeny nuclides. A gross counting detector was developed to minimize system costs and meet the large dynamic range of source activities. Prior to equilibrium, a gross counting system must include the period since the {sup 212}Pb was pure to calculate the count rate attributable to the parent rather than the progeny. The dynamic state is determined by solving the set of differential equations, or Bateman equations, describing the source decay behavior while also applying the component measurement efficiencies for each nuclide. The efficiencies were initially estimated using mathematical modeling (MCNP) but were then benchmarked with source measurements. The goal accuracy of the system was required to be within 5%. Independent measurements of the source using a high resolution spectroscopic detector have shown good agreement with the prototype system results. The prototype design was driven by cost, compactness and simplicity. The detector development costs were minimized by using existing electronics and firmware with a Geiger-Mueller tube derived from Canberra's EcoGamma environmental monitoring product. The acquisition electronics, communications and interface were controlled using Python with the EcoGamma software development kit on a Raspberry Pi Linux computer mounted inside a standard project box. The results of initial calibration measurements are presented. (authors)« less

Measurements of the Optical Performance of Prototype TES Bolometers for SAFARI

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Audley, M. D.; de Lange, G.; Ranjan, M.; Gao, J.-R.; Khosropanah, P.; Ridder, M. L.; Mauskopf, P. D.; Morozov, D.; Doherty, S.; Trappe, N.; Withington, S.

2014-09-01

We have measured the optical response of prototype detectors for SAFARI, the far-infrared imaging spectrometer for the SPICA satellite. SAFARI's three bolometer arrays, coupled with a Fourier transform spectrometer, will provide images of a 2'×2' field of view with spectral information over the wavelength range 34-210 μm. Each horn-coupled bolometer consists of a transition edge sensor (TES), with a transition temperature close to 100 mK, and a thin-film Ta absorber on a thermally-isolated silicon nitride membrane. SAFARI requires extremely sensitive detectors ( NEP˜2×10-19 W/), with correspondingly low saturation powers (˜5 fW), to take advantage of SPICA's cooled optics. To meet the challenge of testing such sensitive detectors we have constructed an ultra-low background test facility based on a cryogen-free high-capacity dilution refrigerator, paying careful attention to stray-light exclusion, shielding, and vibration isolation. For optical measurements the system contains internal cold (3-30 K) and hot (˜300 K) black-body calibration sources, as well as a light pipe for external illumination. We discuss our measurements of high optical efficiency in prototype SAFARI detectors and describe recent improvements to the test facility that will enable us to test the full SAFARI focal-plane arrays.

Development of a Geant4 application to characterise a prototype neutron detector based on three orthogonal 3He tubes inside an HDPE sphere.

PubMed

Gracanin, V; Guatelli, S; Prokopovich, D; Rosenfeld, A B; Berry, A

2017-01-01

The Bonner Sphere Spectrometer (BSS) system is a well-established technique for neutron dosimetry that involves detection of thermal neutrons within a range of hydrogenous moderators. BSS detectors are often used to perform neutron field surveys in order to determine the ambient dose equivalent H*(10) and estimate health risk to personnel. There is a potential limitation of existing neutron survey techniques, since some detectors do not consider the direction of the neutron field, which can result in overly conservative estimates of dose in neutron fields. This paper shows the development of a Geant4 simulation application to characterise a prototype neutron detector based on three orthogonal 3 He tubes inside a single HDPE sphere built at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). The Geant4 simulation has been validated with respect to experimental measurements performed with an Am-Be source. Crown Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Status of the prototype Pulsed Photonuclear Assessment (PPA) inspection system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jones, James L.; Blackburn, Brandon W.; Norman, Daren R.; Watson, Scott M.; Haskell, Kevin J.; Johnson, James T.; Hunt, Alan W.; Harmon, Frank; Moss, Calvin

2007-08-01

The Idaho National Laboratory, in collaboration with Idaho State University's Idaho Accelerator Center and the Los Alamos National Laboratory, continues to develop the Pulsed Photonuclear Assessment (PPA) technique for shielded nuclear material detection in large volume configurations, such as cargo containers. In recent years, the Department of Homeland Security has supported the development of a prototype PPA cargo inspection system. This PPA system integrates novel neutron and gamma-ray detectors for nuclear material detection along with a complementary and unique gray scale, density mapping component for significant shield material detection. This paper will present the developmental status of the prototype system, its detection performance using several INL Calibration Pallets, and planned enhancements to further increase its nuclear material detection capability.

Cat-eye effect target recognition with single-pixel detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jian, Weijian; Li, Li; Zhang, Xiaoyue

2015-12-01

A prototype of cat-eye effect target recognition with single-pixel detectors is proposed. Based on the framework of compressive sensing, it is possible to recognize cat-eye effect targets by projecting a series of known random patterns and measuring the backscattered light with three single-pixel detectors in different locations. The prototype only requires simpler, less expensive detectors and extends well beyond the visible spectrum. The simulations are accomplished to evaluate the feasibility of the proposed prototype. We compared our results to that obtained from conventional cat-eye effect target recognition methods using area array sensor. The experimental results show that this method is feasible and superior to the conventional method in dynamic and complicated backgrounds.

Test results of a new detector system for gamma ray isotopic measurements

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Malcom, J.E.; Bonner, C.A.; Hurd, J.R.

1993-08-01

A new type of gamma-ray detector system for isotopic measurements has been developed. This new system, a ``Duo detector`` array, consists of two intrinsic germanium detectors, a planar followed by a coaxial mounted on the same axis within a single cryostat assembly. This configuration allows the isotopic analysis system to take advantage of spectral data results that are collected simultaneously from different gamma-ray energy regimes. Princeton Gamma Tech (PGT) produced several prototypes of this Duo detector array which were then tested by Rocky Flats personnel until the design was optimized. An application for this detector design is in automated, roboticizedmore » NDA systems such as those being developed at the Los Alamos TA-55 Plutonium Facility. The Duo detector design reduces the space necessary for the isotopic instrument by a factor of two (only one liquid nitrogen dewar is needed), and also reduces the complexity of the mechanical systems and controlling software. Data will be presented on measurements of nuclear material with a Duo detector for a wide variety of matrices. Results indicate that the maximum count rate can be increased up to 100,000 counts per second yet maintaining excellent resolution and energy rate product.« less

A novel electron tunneling infrared detector

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kenny, T. W.; Waltman, S. B.; Reynolds, J. K.; Kaiser, W. J.

1990-01-01

The pneumatic infrared detector, originally developed by Golay in the late 1940s, uses the thermal expansion of one cm(exp 3) of xenon at room temperature to detect the heat deposited by infrared radiation. This detector was limited by thermal fluctuations within a 10 Hz bandwidth, but suffered from long thermal time constants and a fragile structure. Nevertheless, it represents the most sensitive room temperature detector currently available in the long wavelength infrared (LWIR). Fabrication of this type of detector on smaller scales has been limited by the lack of a suitably sensitive transducer. Researchers designed a detector based on this principle, but which is constructed entirely from micromachined silicon, and uses a vacuum tunneling transducer to detect the expansion of the trapped gas. Because this detector is fabricated using micromachining techniques, miniaturization and integration into one and two-dimensional arrays is feasible. The extreme sensitivity of vacuum tunneling to changes in electrode separation will allow a prototype of this detector to operate in the limit of thermal fluctuations over a 10 kHz bandwidth. A calculation of the predicted response and noise of the prototype is presented with the general formalism of thermal detectors. At present, most of the components of the prototype have been fabricated and tested independently. In particular, a characterization of the micromachined electron tunneling transducer has been carried out. The measured noise in the tunnel current is within a decade of the limit imposed by shot noise, and well below the requirements for the operation of an infrared detector with the predicted sensitivity. Assembly and characterization of the prototype infrared detector will be carried out promptly.

Commutated automatic gain control system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yost, S. R.

1982-01-01

The commutated automatic gain control (AGC) system was designed and built for the prototype Loran-C receiver is discussed. The current version of the prototype receiver, the Mini L-80, was tested initially in 1980. The receiver uses a super jolt microcomputer to control a memory aided phase loop (MAPLL). The microcomputer also controls the input/output, latitude/longitude conversion, and the recently added AGC system. The AGC control adjusts the level of each station signal, such that the early portion of each envelope rise is about at the same amplitude in the receiver envelope detector.

Tanlock loop noise reduction using an optimised phase detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Al-kharji Al-Ali, Omar; Anani, Nader; Al-Qutayri, Mahmoud; Al-Araji, Saleh

2013-06-01

This article proposes a time-delay digital tanlock loop (TDTL), which uses a new phase detector (PD) design that is optimised for noise reduction making it amenable for applications that require wide lock range without sacrificing the level of noise immunity. The proposed system uses an improved phase detector design which uses two phase detectors; one PD is used to optimise the noise immunity whilst the other is used to control the acquisition time of the TDTL system. Using the modified phase detector it is possible to reduce the second- and higher-order harmonics by at least 50% compared with the conventional TDTL system. The proposed system was simulated and tested using MATLAB/Simulink using frequency step inputs and inputs corrupted with varying levels of harmonic distortion. A hardware prototype of the system was implemented using a field programmable gate array (FPGA). The practical and simulation results indicate considerable improvement in the noise performance of the proposed system over the conventional TDTL architecture.

The RICH detector of the CBM experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adamczewski-Musch, J.; Akishin, P.; Becker, K.-H.; Belogurov, S.; Bendarouach, J.; Boldyreva, N.; Deveaux, C.; Dobyrn, V.; Dürr, M.; Eschke, J.; Förtsch, J.; Heep, J.; Höhne, C.; Kampert, K.-H.; Kochenda, L.; Kopfer, J.; Kravtsov, P.; Kres, I.; Lebedev, S.; Lebedeva, E.; Leonova, E.; Linev, S.; Mahmoud, T.; Michel, J.; Miftakhov, N.; Niebur, W.; Ovcharenko, E.; Patel, V.; Pauly, C.; Pfeifer, D.; Querchfeld, S.; Rautenberg, J.; Reinecke, S.; Riabov, Y.; Roshchin, E.; Samsonov, V.; Schetinin, V.; Tarasenkova, O.; Traxler, M.; Ugur, C.; Vznuzdaev, E.; Vznuzdaev, M.

2017-12-01

The CBM-RICH detector is designed to identify electrons with momenta up to 8 GeV/c and high purity as this is essential for the CBM physics program. The detector consist of a CO2-gaseous radiator, a spherical mirror system, and Multi-Anode PhotoMultiplier Tubes (MAPMT) of type H12700 from Hamamatsu as photon detectors. The detector concept was verified through R&D studies and a laterally scaled prototype. The results were summarized in a TDR, in which open issues were defined concerning the readout electronics, the shielding of the magnetic stray field in the MAPMT region, the radiation hardness of the MAPMT sensors, and the mechanical holding structure of the mirror system. In this article an overview is given on the CBM RICH development with focus on those open issues.

Results from prototypes of environmental and health alarm devices based on gaseous detectors operating in air in counting mode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Charpak, G.; Benaben, P.; Breuil, P.; Martinengo, P.; Nappi, E.; Peskov, V.

2011-02-01

We have developed and successfully tested two prototypes of detectors of dangerous gases based on wire-type counters operating in air in avalanche mode: one is for radon (Rn) detection whereas the other one is for the detection of gases with an ionization potential less than the air components. Due to the operation in pulse counting mode these prototypes have sensitivities comparable to (in the case of the Rn detector) or much higher than (in the case of the detector for low ionization gases) the best commercial devices currently available on the market. We believe that due to their high sensitivity, simplicity and low cost such new detectors will find massive applications. One of them, discussed in this paper, could be the on-line monitoring of Rn for the prediction of earthquakes.

Microcalcification detectability using a bench-top prototype photon-counting breast CT based on a Si strip detector.

PubMed

Cho, Hyo-Min; Ding, Huanjun; Barber, William C; Iwanczyk, Jan S; Molloi, Sabee

2015-07-01

To investigate the feasibility of detecting breast microcalcification (μCa) with a dedicated breast computed tomography (CT) system based on energy-resolved photon-counting silicon (Si) strip detectors. The proposed photon-counting breast CT system and a bench-top prototype photon-counting breast CT system were simulated using a simulation package written in matlab to determine the smallest detectable μCa. A 14 cm diameter cylindrical phantom made of breast tissue with 20% glandularity was used to simulate an average-sized breast. Five different size groups of calcium carbonate grains, from 100 to 180 μm in diameter, were simulated inside of the cylindrical phantom. The images were acquired with a mean glandular dose (MGD) in the range of 0.7-8 mGy. A total of 400 images was used to perform a reader study. Another simulation study was performed using a 1.6 cm diameter cylindrical phantom to validate the experimental results from a bench-top prototype breast CT system. In the experimental study, a bench-top prototype CT system was constructed using a tungsten anode x-ray source and a single line 256-pixels Si strip photon-counting detector with a pixel pitch of 100 μm. Calcium carbonate grains, with diameter in the range of 105-215 μm, were embedded in a cylindrical plastic resin phantom to simulate μCas. The physical phantoms were imaged at 65 kVp with an entrance exposure in the range of 0.6-8 mGy. A total of 500 images was used to perform another reader study. The images were displayed in random order to three blinded observers, who were asked to give a 4-point confidence rating on each image regarding the presence of μCa. The μCa detectability for each image was evaluated by using the average area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) across the readers. The simulation results using a 14 cm diameter breast phantom showed that the proposed photon-counting breast CT system can achieve high detection accuracy with an average AUC greater than 0.89 ± 0.07 for μCas larger than 120 μm in diameter at a MGD of 3 mGy. The experimental results using a 1.6 cm diameter breast phantom showed that the prototype system can achieve an average AUC greater than 0.98 ± 0.01 for μCas larger than 140 μm in diameter using an entrance exposure of 1.2 mGy. The proposed photon-counting breast CT system based on a Si strip detector can potentially offer superior image quality to detect μCa with a lower dose level than a standard two-view mammography.

The prototype of the Micro Vertex Detector of the CBM Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koziel, Michal; Amar-Youcef, Samir; Bialas, Norbert; Deveaux, Michael; Fröhlich, Ingo; Li, Qiyan; Michel, Jan; Milanović, Borislav; Müntz, Christian; Neumann, Bertram; Schrader, Christoph; Stroth, Joachim; Tischler, Tobias; Weirich, Roland; Wiebusch, Michael

2013-12-01

The Compressed Baryonic Matter (CBM) Experiment is one of the core experiments of the future FAIR facility at Darmstadt, Germany. This fixed-target experiment will explore the phase diagram of strongly interacting matter in the regime of highest net baryon densities with numerous probes, among them open charm. Reconstructing those short lived particles requires a vacuum compatible Micro Vertex Detector (MVD) with unprecedented properties. Its sensor technology has to feature a spatial resolution of <5 μm, a non-ionizing radiation tolerance of >1013 neq/cm2, an ionizing radiation tolerance of >3 Mrad and a time resolution of a few 10 μs. The MVD-prototype project aimed to study the integration the CMOS Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors foreseen for the MVD into an ultra light (0.3% X0) and a vacuum compatible detector system based on a cooling support made of CVD-diamond.

A novel phoswich imaging detector for simultaneous beta and coincidence-gamma imaging of plant leaves.

PubMed

Wu, Heyu; Tai, Yuan-Chuan

2011-09-07

To meet the growing demand for functional imaging technology for use in studying plant biology, we are developing a novel technique that permits simultaneous imaging of escaped positrons and coincidence gammas from annihilation of positrons within an intake leaf. The multi-modality imaging system will include two planar detectors: one is a typical PET detector array and the other is a phoswich imaging detector that detects both beta and gamma. The novel phoswich detector is made of a plastic scintillator, a lutetium oxyorthosilicate (LSO) array, and a position sensitive photomultiplier tube (PS-PMT). The plastic scintillator serves as a beta detector, while the LSO array serves as a gamma detector and light guide that couples scintillation light from the plastic detector to the PMT. In our prototype, the PMT signal was fed into the Siemens QuickSilver electronics to achieve shaping and waveform sampling. Pulse-shape discrimination based on the detectors' decay times (2.1 ns for plastic and 40 ns for LSO) was used to differentiate beta and gamma events using the common PMT signals. Using our prototype phoswich detector, we simultaneously measured a beta image and gamma events (in single mode). The beta image showed a resolution of 1.6 mm full-width-at-half-maximum using F-18 line sources. Because this shows promise for plant-scale imaging, our future plans include development of a fully functional simultaneous beta-and-coincidence-gamma imager with sub-millimeter resolution imaging capability for both modalities.

A prototype scintillating fibre beam profile monitor for Ion Therapy beams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leverington, B. D.; Dziewiecki, M.; Renner, L.; Runze, R.

2018-05-01

A prototype plastic scintillating fibre based beam profile monitor was tested at the Heidelberg Ion Therapy Centre/Heidelberg Ionenstrahl Therapiezentrum (HIT) in 2016 to determine its beam property reconstruction performance and the feasibility of further developing an expanded system. At HIT protons, helium, carbon, and oxygen ions are available for therapy and experiments. The beam can be scanned in two dimensions using fast deflection magnets. A tracking system is used to monitor beam position and to adjust scanning magnet currents online. A new detector system with a finer granularity and without the drift time delay of the current MWPC system with a similar amount of material along the beamline would prove valuable in patient treatment. The sensitive detector components in the tested prototype detector are double-clad Kuraray SCSF-78MJ scintillating fibres with a diameter of 0.250 mm wound as a thin multi-layer ribbon. The scintillation light is detected at the end of the ribbon with Hamamatsu S11865-64 photodiode arrays with a pitch of 0.8 mm. Commercial or readily available readout electronics have been used to evaluate the system feasibility. The results shown in this paper include the linearity with respect to beam intensity, the RMS of the beam intensity as measured by two planes, along with the RMS of the mean position, and the measured beam width RMS. The Signal-to-Noise ratio of the current system is also measured as an indicator of potential performance. Additionally, the non-linear light yield of the scintillating fibres as measured by the photodiode arrays is compared to two models which describe the light yield as a function of the ion stopping power and Lorentz β.

Development of a real-time digital radiography system using a scintillator-type flat-panel detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ikeda, Shigeyuki; Suzuki, Katsumi; Ishikawa, Ken; Okajima, Kenichi

2001-06-01

In order to study the advantage and remaining problems of FPD (flat panel detector) for clinical use by the real-time DR (digital radiography) system, we developed a prototype system using a scintillator type FPD and which was compared with previous I.I.-CCD type real-time DR. We replaced the X- ray detector of DR-2000X from I.I.-4M (4 million pixels)-CCD camera to the scintillator type dynamic FPD(7' X 9', 127 micrometers ), which can take both radiographic and fluoroscopic images. We obtained the images of head and stomach phantoms, and discussed about the image quality with medical doctors.

Development of a compact and cost effective multi-input digital signal processing system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Darvish-Molla, Sahar; Chin, Kenrick; Prestwich, William V.; Byun, Soo Hyun

2018-01-01

A prototype digital signal processing system (DSP) was developed using a microcontroller interfaced with a 12-bit sampling ADC, which offers a considerably inexpensive solution for processing multiple detectors with high throughput. After digitization of the incoming pulses, in order to maximize the output counting rate, a simple algorithm was employed for pulse height analysis. Moreover, an algorithm aiming at the real-time pulse pile-up deconvolution was implemented. The system was tested using a NaI(Tl) detector in comparison with a traditional analogue and commercial digital systems for a variety of count rates. The performance of the prototype system was consistently superior to the analogue and the commercial digital systems up to the input count rate of 61 kcps while was slightly inferior to the commercial digital system but still superior to the analogue system in the higher input rates. Considering overall cost, size and flexibility, this custom made multi-input digital signal processing system (MMI-DSP) was the best reliable choice for the purpose of the 2D microdosimetric data collection, or for any measurement in which simultaneous multi-data collection is required.

Prototypes of Self-Powered Radiation Detectors Employing Intrinsic High-Energy Current (HEC) (POSTPRINT)

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-01-01

neutron sensi- tivities of a Pt self - powered detector ,” IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci. 25, 292–295 (1978). 6T. A. Dellin, R. E. Huddleston, and C. J...Gamma-sensitive self - powered detectors and their use for in-core flux -mapping,” IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci. 28, 752–757 (1981). 9E. A. Burke and J. Wall...AFCEC-CX-TY-TP-2016-0006 PROTOTYPES OF SELF - POWERED RADIATION DETECTORS EMPLOYING INTRINSIC HIGH-ENERGY CURRENT (HEC) (POSTPRINT) Piotr

Characterization of the first true coaxial 18-fold segmented n-type prototype HPGe detector for the GERDA project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abt, I.; Caldwell, A.; Gutknecht, D.; Kröninger, K.; Lampert, M.; Liu, X.; Majorovits, B.; Quirion, D.; Stelzer, F.; Wendling, P.

2007-07-01

The first true coaxial 18-fold segmented n-type HPGe prototype detector produced by Canberra-France for the GERDA neutrinoless double beta-decay project was tested both at Canberra-France and at the Max-Planck-Institut für Physik in Munich. The main characteristics of the detector are given and measurements concerning detector properties are described. A novel method to establish contacts between the crystal and a Kapton cable is presented.

Hit efficiency study of CMS prototype forward pixel detectors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, Dongwook; /Johns Hopkins U.

2006-01-01

In this paper the author describes the measurement of the hit efficiency of a prototype pixel device for the CMS forward pixel detector. These pixel detectors were FM type sensors with PSI46V1 chip readout. The data were taken with the 120 GeV proton beam at Fermilab during the period of December 2004 to February 2005. The detectors proved to be highly efficient (99.27 {+-} 0.02%). The inefficiency was primarily located near the corners of the individual pixels.

The Canadian Forces ILDS: a militarily fielded multisensor vehicle-mounted teleoperated landmine detection system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McFee, John E.; Russell, Kevin L.; Chesney, Robert H.; Faust, Anthony A.; Das, Yogadhish

2006-05-01

The Improved Landmine Detection System (ILDS) is intended to meet Canadian military mine clearance requirements in rear area combat situations and peacekeeping on roads and tracks. The system consists of two teleoperated vehicles and a command vehicle. The teleoperated protection vehicle precedes, clearing antipersonnel mines and magnetic and tilt rod-fuzed antitank mines. It consists of an armoured personnel carrier with a forward looking infrared imager, a finger plow or roller and a magnetic signature duplicator. The teleoperated detection vehicle follows to detect antitank mines. The purpose-built vehicle carries forward looking infrared and visible imagers, a 3 m wide, down-looking sensitive electromagnetic induction detector array and a 3 m wide down-looking ground probing radar, which scan the ground in front of the vehicle. Sensor information is combined using navigation sensors and custom navigation, registration, spatial correspondence and data fusion algorithms. Suspicious targets are then confirmed by a thermal neutron activation detector. The prototype, designed and built by Defence R&D Canada, was completed in October 1997. General Dynamics Canada delivered four production units, based on the prototype concept and technologies, to the Canadian Forces (CF) in 2002. ILDS was deployed in Afghanistan in 2003, making the system the first militarily fielded, teleoperated, multi-sensor vehicle-mounted mine detector and the first with a fielded confirmation sensor. Performance of the prototype in Canadian and independent US trials is summarized and recent results from the production version of the confirmation sensor are discussed. CF operations with ILDS in Afghanistan are described.

Experimental flat-panel high-spatial-resolution volume CT of the temporal bone.

PubMed

Gupta, Rajiv; Bartling, Soenke H; Basu, Samit K; Ross, William R; Becker, Hartmut; Pfoh, Armin; Brady, Thomas; Curtin, Hugh D

2004-09-01

A CT scanner employing a digital flat-panel detector is capable of very high spatial resolution as compared with a multi-section CT (MSCT) scanner. Our purpose was to determine how well a prototypical volume CT (VCT) scanner with a flat-panel detector system defines fine structures in temporal bone. Four partially manipulated temporal-bone specimens were imaged by use of a prototypical cone-beam VCT scanner with a flat-panel detector system at an isometric resolution of 150 microm at the isocenter. These specimens were also depicted by state-of-the-art multisection CT (MSCT). Forty-two structures imaged by both scanners were qualitatively assessed and rated, and scores assigned to VCT findings were compared with those of MSCT. Qualitative assessment of anatomic structures, lesions, cochlear implants, and middle-ear hearing aids indicated that image quality was significantly better with VCT (P < .001). Structures near the spatial-resolution limit of MSCT (e.g., bony covering of the tympanic segment of the facial canal, the incudo-stapedial joint, the proximal vestibular aqueduct, the interscalar septum, and the modiolus) had higher contrast and less partial-volume effect with VCT. The flat-panel prototype provides better definition of fine osseous structures of temporal bone than that of currently available MSCT scanners. This study provides impetus for further research in increasing spatial resolution beyond that offered by the current state-of-the-art scanners.

Optical Design of Plant Canopy Measurement System and Fabrication of Two-Dimensional High-Speed Metal-Semiconductor-Metal Photodetector Arrays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sarto, Anthony; VanZeghbroeck, Bart; Vanderbilt, Vern C.

1996-01-01

Electrical and optical designs for the prototype plant canopy architecture measurement system, including specified component and parts lists, are presented. Six single Metal-Semiconductor-Metal (MSM) detectors are mounted in high-speed packages.

The New Maia Detector System: Methods For High Definition Trace Element Imaging Of Natural Material

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ryan, C. G.; School of Physics, University of Melbourne, Parkville VIC; CODES Centre of Excellence, University of Tasmania, Hobart TAS

2010-04-06

Motivated by the need for megapixel high definition trace element imaging to capture intricate detail in natural material, together with faster acquisition and improved counting statistics in elemental imaging, a large energy-dispersive detector array called Maia has been developed by CSIRO and BNL for SXRF imaging on the XFM beamline at the Australian Synchrotron. A 96 detector prototype demonstrated the capacity of the system for real-time deconvolution of complex spectral data using an embedded implementation of the Dynamic Analysis method and acquiring highly detailed images up to 77 M pixels spanning large areas of complex mineral sample sections.

The New Maia Detector System: Methods For High Definition Trace Element Imaging Of Natural Material

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ryan, C.G.; Siddons, D.P.; Kirkham, R.

2010-05-25

Motivated by the need for megapixel high definition trace element imaging to capture intricate detail in natural material, together with faster acquisition and improved counting statistics in elemental imaging, a large energy-dispersive detector array called Maia has been developed by CSIRO and BNL for SXRF imaging on the XFM beamline at the Australian Synchrotron. A 96 detector prototype demonstrated the capacity of the system for real-time deconvolution of complex spectral data using an embedded implementation of the Dynamic Analysis method and acquiring highly detailed images up to 77 M pixels spanning large areas of complex mineral sample sections.

Prototype AEGIS: A Pixel-Array Readout Circuit for Gamma-Ray Imaging.

PubMed

Barber, H Bradford; Augustine, F L; Furenlid, L; Ingram, C M; Grim, G P

2005-07-31

Semiconductor detector arrays made of CdTe/CdZnTe are expected to be the main components of future high-performance, clinical nuclear medicine imaging systems. Such systems will require small pixel-pitch and much larger numbers of pixels than are available in current semiconductor-detector cameras. We describe the motivation for developing a new readout integrated circuit, AEGIS, for use in hybrid semiconductor detector arrays, that may help spur the development of future cameras. A basic design for AEGIS is presented together with results of an HSPICE ™ simulation of the performance of its unit cell. AEGIS will have a shaper-amplifier unit cell and neighbor pixel readout. Other features include the use of a single input power line with other biases generated on-board, a control register that allows digital control of all thresholds and chip configurations and an output approach that is compatible with list-mode data acquisition. An 8×8 prototype version of AEGIS is currently under development; the full AEGIS will be a 64×64 array with 300 μm pitch.

Development and Testing of the AMEGO Silicon Tracker System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Griffin, Sean; Amego Team

2018-01-01

The All-sky Medium Energy Gamma-ray Observatory (AMEGO) is a probe-class mission in consideration for the 2020 decadal review designed to operate at energies from ˜ 200 keV to > 10 GeV. Operating a detector in this energy regime is challenging due to the crossover in the interaction cross-section for Compton scattering and pair production. AMEGO is made of four major subsystems: a plastic anticoincidence detector for rejecting cosmic-ray events, a silicon tracker for measuring the energies of Compton scattered electrons and pair-production products, a CZT calorimeter for measuring the energy and location of Compton scattered photons, and a CsI calorimeter for measuring the energy of the pair-production products at high energies. The tracker comprises layers of dual-sided silicon strip detectors which provide energy and localization information for Compton scattering and pair-production events. A prototype tracker system is under development at GSFC; in this contribution we provide details on the verification, packaging, and testing of the prototype tracker, as well as present plans for the development of the front-end electronics, beam tests, and a balloon flight.

Portable microcontroller-based instrument for near-infrared spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giardini, Mario E.; Corti, Mario; Lago, Paolo; Gelmetti, Andrea

2000-05-01

Near IR Spectroscopy (NIRS) can be employed to noninvasively and continuously measure in-vivo local changes in haemodynamics and oxygenation of human tissues. In particular, the technique can be particularly useful for muscular functional monitoring. We present a portable NIRS research-grade acquisition system prototype, strictly dedicate to low-noise measurements during muscular exercise. The prototype is able to control four LED sources and a detector. Such a number of sources allows for multipoint measurements or for multi-wavelength spectroscopy of tissue constituents other than oxygen, such as cytochrome aa3 oxidation. The LEDs and the detector are mounted on separate probes, which carry also the relevant drivers and preamplifiers. By employing surface-mount technologies, probe size and weight are kept to a minimum. A single-chip mixed-signal RISC microcontroller performs source-to- detector multiplexing with a digital correlation technique. The acquired data are stored on an on-board 64 K EEPROM bank, and can be subsequently uploaded to a personal computer via serial port for further analysis. The resulting instrument is compact and lightweight. Preliminary test of the prototype on oxygen consumption during tourniquet- induced forearm ischaemia show adequate detectivity and time response.

A new timing detector for the CT-PPS project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arcidiacono, R.; Cms; TOTEM Collaborations

2017-02-01

The CT-PPS detector will be installed close to the beam line on both sides of CMS, 200 m downstream the interaction point. This detector will measure forward scattered protons, allowing detailed studies of diffractive hadron physics and Central Exclusive Production. The main components of the CT-PPS detector are a silicon tracking system and a timing system. In this contribution we present the proposal of an innovative solution for the timing system, based on Ultra-Fast Silicon Detectors (UFSD). UFSD are a novel concept of silicon detectors potentially able to obtain the necessary time resolution (∼20 ps on the proton arrival time). The use of UFSD has also other attractive features as its material budget is small and the pixel geometries can be tailored to the precise physics distribution of protons. UFSD prototypes for CT-PPS have been designed by CNM (Barcelona) and FBK (Trento): we will present the status of the sensor productions and of the low-noise front-end electronics currently under development and test.

Performance of a full scale prototype detector at the BR2 reactor for the SoLid experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abreu, Y.; Amhis, Y.; Arnold, L.; Ban, G.; Beaumont, W.; Bongrand, M.; Boursette, D.; Castle, B. C.; Clark, K.; Coupé, B.; Cussans, D.; De Roeck, A.; D'Hondt, J.; Durand, D.; Fallot, M.; Ghys, L.; Giot, L.; Guillon, B.; Ihantola, S.; Janssen, X.; Kalcheva, S.; Kalousis, L. N.; Koonen, E.; Labare, M.; Lehaut, G.; Manzanillas, L.; Mermans, J.; Michiels, I.; Moortgat, C.; Newbold, D.; Park, J.; Pestel, V.; Petridis, K.; Piñera, I.; Pommery, G.; Popescu, L.; Pronost, G.; Rademacker, J.; Ryckbosch, D.; Ryder, N.; Saunders, D.; Schune, M.-H.; Simard, L.; Vacheret, A.; Van Dyck, S.; Van Mulders, P.; van Remortel, N.; Vercaemer, S.; Verstraeten, M.; Weber, A.; Yermia, F.

2018-05-01

The SoLid collaboration has developed a new detector technology to detect electron anti-neutrinos at close proximity to the Belgian BR2 reactor at surface level. A 288 kg prototype detector was deployed in 2015 and collected data during the operational period of the reactor and during reactor shut-down. Dedicated calibration campaigns were also performed with gamma and neutron sources. This paper describes the construction of the prototype detector with a high control on its proton content and the stability of its operation over a period of several months after deployment at the BR2 reactor site. All detector cells provide sufficient light yields to achieve a target energy resolution of better than 20%/√E(MeV). The capability of the detector to track muons is exploited to equalize the light response of a large number of channels to a precision of 3% and to demonstrate the stability of the energy scale over time. Particle identification based on pulse-shape discrimination is demonstrated with calibration sources. Despite a lower neutron detection efficiency due to triggering constraints, the main backgrounds at the reactor site were determined and taken into account in the shielding strategy for the main experiment. The results obtained with this prototype proved essential in the design optimization of the final detector.

Position-sensitive ``movie'' in situ neutron detector for the UCN τ experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weaver, Hannah; UCNTau Collaboration

2016-09-01

Precision measurements of neutron β-decay parameters provide tests of fundamental theories in elementary particle physics and cosmology such as the Standard Model and Big Bang nucleosynthesis. In particular, the UCN τ experiment aims to measure the mean lifetime of ultracold neutrons confined in an asymmetric magneto-gravitational trap using an in situ neutron detector. This detector consists of a 20 nm film of 10B on top of a ZnS:Ag scintillating screen. The screen is readout using two photomultipliers which view an array of wavelength shifting fibers optically coupled to the scintillator. When the detector is lowered into the loaded trap, light is emitted due to the charged particles recoiling into the ZnS:Ag when neutrons absorb on the 10B. Phase space evolution in the stored neutron population can lead to apparent shifts in the measured neutron lifetime with the detector height. In order to quantify this systematic uncertainty, we are implementing a supplemental 64-channel position-sensitive PMT module with high quantum efficiency and fast time response to image the entire detector in situ during measurements. We have characterized a prototype using a ZnS screen and an α-particle source along with a prototype lens system and will report the results and future plans.

Desarrollo de un detector de rayos cósmicos de la colaboración LAGO en Buenos Aires - Aplicaciones en meteorología espacial

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Coppola, M.; Bezzecchi, F.; Gulisano, A. M.; Masías-Meza, J. J.; Areso, O.; Ramelli, M.; Dasso, S.; LAGO Collaboration

2016-08-01

The study of low energy cosmic particles allows to analyze several aspects of major interest for space weather. Ground detectors permit to observe secundary particles produced during the cascades developed in the atmosphere. The characterization of a prototype for a water Cherenkov radiation particles detector, in the frame of the LAGO collaboration (Latin American Giant Observatory), is presented in this work. The collaboration plans to install this detector at the LAGO antarctic site. The developed acquisition system and the method used to make the energy callibration of the detector are detailed here, as also corrections for atmospheric effects.

Measurement of the atmospheric muon flux with the NEMO Phase-1 detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aiello, S.; Ameli, F.; Amore, I.; Anghinolfi, M.; Anzalone, A.; Barbarino, G.; Battaglieri, M.; Bazzotti, M.; Bersani, A.; Beverini, N.; Biagi, S.; Bonori, M.; Bouhadef, B.; Brunoldi, M.; Cacopardo, G.; Capone, A.; Caponetto, L.; Carminati, G.; Chiarusi, T.; Circella, M.; Cocimano, R.; Coniglione, R.; Cordelli, M.; Costa, M.; D'Amico, A.; De Bonis, G.; De Marzo, C.; De Rosa, G.; De Ruvo, G.; De Vita, R.; Distefano, C.; Falchini, E.; Flaminio, V.; Fratini, K.; Gabrielli, A.; Galatà, S.; Gandolfi, E.; Giacomelli, G.; Giorgi, F.; Giovanetti, G.; Grimaldi, A.; Habel, R.; Imbesi, M.; Kulikovsky, V.; Lattuada, D.; Leonora, E.; Lonardo, A.; Lo Presti, D.; Lucarelli, F.; Marinelli, A.; Margiotta, A.; Martini, A.; Masullo, R.; Migneco, E.; Minutoli, S.; Morganti, M.; Musico, P.; Musumeci, M.; Nicolau, C. A.; Orlando, A.; Osipenko, M.; Papaleo, R.; Pappalardo, V.; Piattelli, P.; Piombo, D.; Raia, G.; Randazzo, N.; Reito, S.; Ricco, G.; Riccobene, G.; Ripani, M.; Rovelli, A.; Ruppi, M.; Russo, G. V.; Russo, S.; Sapienza, P.; Sciliberto, D.; Sedita, M.; Shirokov, E.; Simeone, F.; Sipala, V.; Spurio, M.; Taiuti, M.; Trasatti, L.; Urso, S.; Vecchi, M.; Vicini, P.; Wischnewski, R.

2010-05-01

The NEMO Collaboration installed and operated an underwater detector including prototypes of the critical elements of a possible underwater km 3 neutrino telescope: a four-floor tower (called Mini-Tower) and a Junction Box. The detector was developed to test some of the main systems of the km 3 detector, including the data transmission, the power distribution, the timing calibration and the acoustic positioning systems as well as to verify the capabilities of a single tridimensional detection structure to reconstruct muon tracks. We present results of the analysis of the data collected with the NEMO Mini-Tower. The position of photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) is determined through the acoustic position system. Signals detected with PMTs are used to reconstruct the tracks of atmospheric muons. The angular distribution of atmospheric muons was measured and results compared to Monte Carlo simulations.

First results of the front-end ASIC for the strip detector of the PANDA MVD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quagli, T.; Brinkmann, K.-T.; Calvo, D.; Di Pietro, V.; Lai, A.; Riccardi, A.; Ritman, J.; Rivetti, A.; Rolo, M. D.; Stockmanns, T.; Wheadon, R.; Zambanini, A.

2017-03-01

PANDA is a key experiment of the future FAIR facility and the Micro Vertex Detector (MVD) is the innermost part of its tracking system. PASTA (PAnda STrip ASIC) is the readout chip for the strip part of the MVD. The chip is designed to provide high resolution timestamp and charge information with the Time over Threshold (ToT) technique. Its architecture is based on Time to Digital Converters with analog interpolators, with a time bin width of 50 ps. The chip implements Single Event Upset (SEU) protection techniques for its digital parts. A first full-size prototype with 64 channels was produced in a commercial 110 nm CMOS technology and the first characterizations of the prototype were performed.

J-PET detector system for studies of the electron-positron annihilations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, M.; Khreptak, O.; Gajos, A.; Wieczorek, A.; Alfs, D.; Bednarski, T.; Białas, P.; Curceanu, C.; Czerwiński, E.; Dulski, K.; Głowacz, B.; Gupta-Sharma, N.; Gorgol, M.; Hiesmayr, B. C.; Jasińska, B.; Kamińska, D.; Korcyl, G.; Kowalski, P.; Krzmień, W.; Krawczyk, N.; Kubicz, E.; Mohammed, M.; Niedźwiecki, Sz.; Raczyński, L.; Rudy, Z.; Silarski, M.; Wiślicki, W.; Zgardzińska, B.; Zieliński, M.; Moskal, P.

2016-11-01

Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph (J-PET) has been recently constructed at the Jagiellonian University as a prototype of a cost-effective scanner for the metabolic imaging of the whole human body. J-PET detector is optimized for the measurement of momentum and polarization of photons from the electron-positron annihilations. It is built out of strips of plastic scintillators, forming three cylindrical layers. As detector of gamma quanta it will be used for studies of discrete symmetries and multiparticle entanglement of photons originating from the decays of ortho-positronium atoms.

Low Noise Double-Sided Silicon Strip Detector for Multiple-Compton Gamma-ray Telescope

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tajima, Hiroyasu

2002-12-03

A Semiconductor Multiple-Compton Telescope (SMCT) is being developed to explore the gamma-ray universe in an energy band 0.1-20 MeV, which is not well covered by the present or near-future gamma-ray telescopes. The key feature of the SMCT is the high energy resolution that is crucial for high angular resolution and high background rejection capability. We have developed prototype modules for a low noise Double-sided Silicon Strip Detector (DSSD) system which is an essential element of the SMCT. The geometry of the DSSD is optimized to achieve the lowest noise possible. A new front-end VLSI device optimized for low noise operationmore » is also developed. We report on the design and test results of the prototype system. We have reached an energy resolution of 1.3 keV (FWHM) for 60 keV and 122 keV at 0 C.« less

Beam test results of STS prototype modules for the future accelerator experiments FAIR/CBM and NICA/MPD projects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kharlamov, Petr; Dementev, Dmitrii; Shitenkov, Mikhail

2017-10-01

High-energy heavy-ion collision experiments provide the unique possibility to create and investigate extreme states of strongly-interacted matter and address the fundamental aspects of QCD. The experimental investigation the QCD phase diagram would be a major breakthrough in our understanding of the properties of nuclear matter. The reconstruction of the charged particles created in the nuclear collisions, including the determination of their momenta, is the central detection task in high-energy heavy-ion experiments. It is taken up by the Silicon Tracking System in CBM@FAIR and by Inner Tracker in MPD@NICA currently under development. These experiments requires very fast and radiation hard detectors, a novel data read-out and analysis concept including free streaming front-end electronics. Thermal and beam tests of prototype detector modules for these tracking systems showed the stability of sensors and readout electronics operation.

Semi-autonomous inline water analyzer: design of a common light detector for bacterial, phage, and immunological biosensors.

PubMed

Descamps, Elodie C T; Meunier, Damien; Brutesco, Catherine; Prévéral, Sandra; Franche, Nathalie; Bazin, Ingrid; Miclot, Bertrand; Larosa, Philippe; Escoffier, Camille; Fantino, Jean-Raphael; Garcia, Daniel; Ansaldi, Mireille; Rodrigue, Agnès; Pignol, David; Cholat, Pierre; Ginet, Nicolas

2017-01-01

The use of biosensors as sensitive and rapid alert systems is a promising perspective to monitor accidental or intentional environmental pollution, but their implementation in the field is limited by the lack of adapted inline water monitoring devices. We describe here the design and initial qualification of an analyzer prototype able to accommodate three types of biosensors based on entirely different methodologies (immunological, whole-cell, and bacteriophage biosensors), but whose responses rely on the emission of light. We developed a custom light detector and a reaction chamber compatible with the specificities of the three systems and resulting in statutory detection limits. The water analyzer prototype resulting from the COMBITOX project can be situated at level 4 on the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) scale and this technical advance paves the way to the use of biosensors on-site.

A new fast detection system at the KWS-2 high-intensity SANS diffractometer of the JCNS at MLZ - prototype test

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Radulescu, A.; Arend, N.; Drochner, M.; Ioffe, A.; Kemmerling, G.; Ossovyi, V.; Staringer, S.; Vehres, G.; McKinny, K.; Olechnowicz, B.; Yen, D.

2016-09-01

A new detection system based on an array of 3He tubes and innovative fast detection electronics was designed and produced by GE Reuter Stokes for the high-intensity small-angle neutron scattering diffractometer KWS-2, operated by the Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS) at the Heinz Meier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ). The new detector consists of a panel array of 144 3He tubes and a new fast read-out electronics. The electronics is mounted in a closed case in the backside of the 3He tubes panel array and will operate at ambient atmosphere under cooling air stream. The new detection system is composed of eighteen 8-pack modules of 3He-tubes that work independently of one another (each unit has its own processor and electronics). Knowing beforehand the performance of one detector unit and of one single tube detector is prerequisite for tuning and maximizing the performance of the complete detection system. In this paper we present the results of the tests of the prototyped 8-pack of 3He-tubes and corresponding electronics, which have been carried out at the JCNS instruments KWS-2 (in high flux conditions) and TREFF.

Characterization of a high-energy in-line phase contrast tomosynthesis prototype.

PubMed

Wu, Di; Yan, Aimin; Li, Yuhua; Wong, Molly D; Zheng, Bin; Wu, Xizeng; Liu, Hong

2015-05-01

In this research, a high-energy in-line phase contrast tomosynthesis prototype was developed and characterized through quantitative investigations and phantom studies. The prototype system consists of an x-ray source, a motorized rotation stage, and a CMOS detector with a pixel pitch of 0.05 mm. The x-ray source was operated at 120 kVp for this study, and the objects were mounted on the rotation stage 76.2 cm (R1) from the source and 114.3 cm (R2) from the detector. The large air gap between the object and detector guarantees sufficient phase-shift effects. The quantitative evaluation of this prototype included modulation transfer function and noise power spectrum measurements conducted under both projection mode and tomosynthesis mode. Phantom studies were performed including three custom designed phantoms with complex structures: a five-layer bubble wrap phantom, a fishbone phantom, and a chicken breast phantom with embedded fibrils and mass structures extracted from an ACR phantom. In-plane images of the phantoms were acquired to investigate their image qualities through observation, intensity profile plots, edge enhancement evaluations, and/or contrast-to-noise ratio calculations. In addition, the robust phase-attenuation duality (PAD)-based phase retrieval method was applied to tomosynthesis for the first time in this research. It was utilized as a preprocessing method to fully exhibit phase contrast on the angular projection before reconstruction. The resolution and noise characteristics of this high-energy in-line phase contrast tomosynthesis prototype were successfully investigated and demonstrated. The phantom studies demonstrated that this imaging prototype can successfully remove the structure overlapping in phantom projections, obtain delineate interfaces, and achieve better contrast-to-noise ratio after applying phase retrieval to the angular projections. This research successfully demonstrated a high-energy in-line phase contrast tomosynthesis prototype. In addition, the PAD-based method of phase retrieval was combined with tomosynthesis imaging for the first time, which demonstrated its capability in significantly improving the contrast-to-noise ratios in the images.

Construction of the TH-GEM detector components for metrology of low energy ionizing radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Silva, N. F.; Silva, T. F.; Castro, M. C.; Natal da Luz, H.; Caldas, L. V. E.

2018-03-01

The Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) detector was originally proposed as a position sensitive detector to determine trajectories of particles prevenient from high-energy collisions. In order to study the potential of TH-GEM type detectors in dosimetric applications for low energy X-rays, specifically for the mammography standard qualities, it was proposed to construct a prototype with characteristics suitable for such use. In this work the general, structural and material parameters applicable to the necessary conditions were defined, establishing the process of construction of the components of a prototype.

Digital pulse-shape analysis with a TRACE early silicon prototype

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mengoni, D.; Dueñas, J. A.; Assié, M.; Boiano, C.; John, P. R.; Aliaga, R. J.; Beaumel, D.; Capra, S.; Gadea, A.; Gonzáles, V.; Gottardo, A.; Grassi, L.; Herrero-Bosch, V.; Houdy, T.; Martel, I.; Parkar, V. V.; Perez-Vidal, R.; Pullia, A.; Sanchis, E.; Triossi, A.; Valiente Dobón, J. J.

2014-11-01

A highly segmented silicon-pad detector prototype has been tested to explore the performance of the digital pulse shape analysis in the discrimination of the particles reaching the silicon detector. For the first time a 200 μm thin silicon detector, grown using an ordinary floating zone technique, has been shown to exhibit a level discrimination thanks to the fine segmentation. Light-charged particles down to few MeV have been separated, including their punch-through. A coaxial HPGe detector in time coincidence has further confirmed the quality of the particle discrimination.

Real-time computational photon-counting LiDAR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Edgar, Matthew; Johnson, Steven; Phillips, David; Padgett, Miles

2018-03-01

The availability of compact, low-cost, and high-speed MEMS-based spatial light modulators has generated widespread interest in alternative sampling strategies for imaging systems utilizing single-pixel detectors. The development of compressed sensing schemes for real-time computational imaging may have promising commercial applications for high-performance detectors, where the availability of focal plane arrays is expensive or otherwise limited. We discuss the research and development of a prototype light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system via direct time of flight, which utilizes a single high-sensitivity photon-counting detector and fast-timing electronics to recover millimeter accuracy three-dimensional images in real time. The development of low-cost real time computational LiDAR systems could have importance for applications in security, defense, and autonomous vehicles.

Demonstration of an efficient cooling approach for SBIRS-Low

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nieczkoski, S. J.; Myers, E. A.

2002-05-01

The Space Based Infrared System-Low (SBIRS-Low) segment is a near-term Air Force program for developing and deploying a constellation of low-earth orbiting observation satellites with gimbaled optics cooled to cryogenic temperatures. The optical system design and requirements present unique challenges that make conventional cooling approaches both complicated and risky. The Cryocooler Interface System (CIS) provides a remote, efficient, and interference-free means of cooling the SBIRS-Low optics. Technology Applications Inc. (TAI), through a two-phase Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program with Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), has taken the CIS from initial concept feasibility through the design, build, and test of a prototype system. This paper presents the development and demonstration testing of the prototype CIS. Prototype system testing has demonstrated the high efficiency of this cooling approach, making it an attractive option for SBIRS-Low and other sensitive optical and detector systems that require low-impact cryogenic cooling.

DAMPE prototype and its beam test results at CERN

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Jian; Hu, Yiming; Chang, Jin

The first Chinese high energy cosmic particle detector(DAMPE) aims to detect electron/gamma at the range between 5GeV and 10TeV in space. A prototype of this detector is made and tested using both cosmic muons and test beam at CERN. Energy and space resolution as well as strong separation power for electron and proton are shown in the results. The detector structure is illustrated as well.

Note: Neutron bang time diagnostic system on Shenguang-III prototype

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tang, Qi; Chen, Jiabin; Liu, Zhongjie

A neutron bang time (NBT) diagnostic system has been implemented on Shenguang-III prototype. The bang time diagnostic system is based on a sensitive fusion neutron detector, which consists of a plastic scintillator and a micro-channel plate photomultiplier tube (PMT). An optical fiber bundle is used to couple the scintillator and the PMT. The bang time system is able to measure bang time above a neutron yield of 10{sup 7}. Bang times and start time of laser were related by probing x-ray pulses produced by 200 ps laser irradiating golden targets. Timing accuracy of the NBT is better than 60 ps.

Wireless data transmission for high energy physics applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dittmeier, Sebastian; Brenner, Richard; Dancila, Dragos; Dehos, Cedric; De Lurgio, Patrick; Djurcic, Zelimir; Drake, Gary; Gonzalez Gimenez, Jose Luis; Gustafsson, Leif; Kim, Do-Won; Locci, Elizabeth; Pfeiffer, Ullrich; Röhrich, Dieter; Rydberg, Anders; Schöning, André; Siligaris, Alexandre; Soltveit, Hans Kristian; Ullaland, Kjetil; Vincent, Pierre; Rodriguez Vazquez, Pedro; Wiedner, Dirk; Yang, Shiming

2017-08-01

Silicon tracking detectors operated at high luminosity collider experiments pose a challenge for current and future readout systems regarding bandwidth, radiation, space and power constraints. With the latest developments in wireless communications, wireless readout systems might be an attractive alternative to commonly used wired optical and copper based readout architectures. The WADAPT group (Wireless Allowing Data and Power Transmission) has been formed to study the feasibility of wireless data transmission for future tracking detectors. These proceedings cover current developments focused on communication in the 60 GHz band. This frequency band offers a high bandwidth, a small form factor and an already mature technology. Motivation for wireless data transmission for high energy physics application and the developments towards a demonstrator prototype are summarized. Feasibility studies concerning the construction and operation of a wireless transceiver system have been performed. Data transmission tests with a transceiver prototype operating at even higher frequencies in the 240 GHz band are described. Data transmission at rates up to 10 Gb/s have been obtained successfully using binary phase shift keying.

EUSO-TA prototype telescope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bisconti, Francesca; JEM-EUSO Collaboration

2016-07-01

EUSO-TA is one of the prototypes developed for the JEM-EUSO project, a space-based large field-of-view telescope to observe the fluorescence light emitted by cosmic ray air showers in the atmosphere. EUSO-TA is a ground-based prototype located at the Telescope Array (TA) site in Utah, USA, where an Electron Light Source and a Central Laser Facility are installed. The purpose of the EUSO-TA project is to calibrate the prototype with the TA fluorescence detector in presence of well-known light sources and cosmic ray air showers. In 2015, the detector started the first measurements and tests using the mentioned light sources have been performed successfully. A first cosmic ray candidate has been observed, as well as stars of different magnitude and color index. Since Silicon Photo-Multipliers (SiPMs) are very promising for fluorescence telescopes of next generation, they are under consideration for the realization of a new prototype of EUSO Photo Detector Module (PDM). The response of this sensor type is under investigation through simulations and laboratory experimentation.

OPERATING THE WAND AND HERCULES PROTOTYPE SYSTEMS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

K. GRUETZMACHER; ET AL

2001-01-01

Two prototype systems for low-density Green is Clean (GIC) waste at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) have been in operation for three years at the Solid Waste Operation's (SWOs) non-destructive assay (NDA) building. The Waste Assay for Nonradioactive Disposal (WAND) and the High Efficiency Radiation Counters for Ultimate Low Emission Sensitivity (HERCULES) are used to verify the waste generator's acceptable knowledge (AK) that low-density waste is nonradioactive. GIC waste includes all non-regulated waste generated in radiological controlled areas (RCAs) that has been actively segregated as ''clean'' (i.e., nonradioactive) through the use of waste generator AK. GIC waste that is verifiedmore » clean can be disposed of at the Los Alamos County Landfill. It is estimated that 50-90% of the low-density room trash from RCAs at LANL might be free of contamination. To date, with pilot programs at five facilities at LANL, 3000 cubic feet of GIC waste has been verified clean by these two prototype systems. Both the WAND and HERCULES systems are highly sensitive measurement systems optimized to detect very small quantities of common LANL radionuclides. Both of the systems use a set of phoswich scintillation detectors in close proximity to the waste, which have the capability of detecting plutonium-239 concentrations below 3 pCi per gram of low density waste. Both systems detect low-energy x-rays and a broad range of gamma rays (10-2000 keV), while the WAND system also detects high energy beta particles (>100 keV). The WAND system consists of a bank of six shielded detectors which screen low density shredded waste or stacked sheets of paper moving under the detectors in a twelve inch swath on a conveyor belt. The WAND system was developed and tested at the Los Alamos Plutonium Facility in conjunction with instrument system designers from the Los Alamos Safeguards Science and Technology group. The HERCULES system consists of a bank of three shielded detectors which screen low-density waste in two cubic foot cardboard boxes or in bags sitting on a turntable. Waste that does not pass the verification process can be examined within the facility to determine the type and quantity of the contamination and its origin within a waste container. The paper discusses lessons learned that have helped generators improve their AK segregation.« less

Implantable self-powered detector for on-line determination of neutron flux in patients during NCT treatment.

PubMed

Miller, M E; Mariani, L E; Gonçalves-Carralves, M L Sztejnberg; Skumanic, M; Thorp, S I

2004-11-01

A novel system to determine thermal neutron flux in real time during NCT treatments was developed in the National Atomic Energy Commission of Argentina. The system is based on a special self-powered detector that can be implanted in patients owing to its small size and biocompatibility. High voltage is not required to operate this kind of detectors, which is a considerable advantage in terms of medical uses. By choosing the appropriate materials, it was possible to obtain a prototype with thermal neutron sensitivity providing for an adequate signal level in typical NCT thermal fluxes. It was also possible to minimize gamma response in order to neglect its contribution.

Recent progress on monolithic fiber amplifiers for next generation of gravitational wave detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wellmann, Felix; Booker, Phillip; Hochheim, Sven; Theeg, Thomas; de Varona, Omar; Fittkau, Willy; Overmeyer, Ludger; Steinke, Michael; Weßels, Peter; Neumann, Jörg; Kracht, Dietmar

2018-02-01

Single-frequency fiber amplifiers in MOPA configuration operating at 1064 nm (Yb3+) and around 1550 nm (Er3+ or Er3+:Yb3+) are promising candidates to fulfill the challenging requirements of laser sources of the next generation of interferometric gravitational wave detectors (GWDs). Most probably, the next generation of GWDs is going to operate not only at 1064 nm but also at 1550 nm to cover a broader range of frequencies in which gravitational waves are detectable. We developed an engineering fiber amplifier prototype at 1064 nm emitting 215 W of linearly-polarized light in the TEM00 mode. The system consists of three modules: the seed source, the pre-amplifier, and the main amplifier. The modular design ensures reliable long-term operation, decreases system complexity and simplifies repairing and maintenance procedures. It also allows for the future integration of upgraded fiber amplifier systems without excessive downtimes. We also developed and characterized a fiber amplifier prototype at around 1550 nm that emits 100 W of linearly-polarized light in the TEM00 mode. This prototype uses an Er3+:Yb3+ codoped fiber that is pumped off-resonant at 940 nm. The off-resonant pumping scheme improves the Yb3+-to-Er3+ energy transfer and prevents excessive generation of Yb3+-ASE.

Development and Characterization of 6Li-doped Liquid Scintillator Detectors for PROSPECT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gaison, Jeremy; Prospect Collaboration

2016-09-01

PROSPECT, the Precision Reactor Oscillation and Spectrum experiment, is a phased reactor antineutrino experiment designed to search for eV-scale sterile neutrinos via short-baseline neutrino oscillations and to make a precision measurement of the 235U reactor antineutrino spectrum. A multi-ton, optically segmented detector will be deployed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory's (ORNL) High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) to measure the reactor spectrum at baselines ranging from 7-12m. A two-segment detector prototype with 50 liters of active liquid scintillator target has been built to verify the detector design and to benchmark its performance. In this presentation, we will summarize the performance of this detector prototype and describe the optical and energy calibration of the segmented PROSPECT detectors.

Design and prototype results of the FAST detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mozzanica, A.; Basset, M.; Caccia, M.; Corradini, M.; Leali, M.; Lodi Rizzini, E.; Prest, M.; Venturelli, L.; Vallazza, E.; Zurlo, N.

2006-11-01

A new fiber tracker is being developed for the ASACUSA experiment at the Antiproton Decelerator at CERN. The detector is based on 1 mm diameter scintillating fibers readout by HAMAMATSU 64 channel multianode photomultipliers (MA-PMTs) connected to a dedicated electronic chain. The paper gives a description of the testing procedures for time resolution, spatial resolution and efficiency measurements performed with standard NIM electronics and a commercial TDC and reports the results for different prototype detectors.

Test of a prototype neutron spectrometer based on diamond detectors in a fast reactor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Osipenko, M.; Ripani, M.; Ricco, G.

2015-07-01

A prototype of neutron spectrometer based on diamond detectors has been developed. This prototype consists of a {sup 6}Li neutron converter sandwiched between two CVD diamond crystals. The radiation hardness of the diamond crystals makes it suitable for applications in low power research reactors, while a low sensitivity to gamma rays and low leakage current of the detector permit to reach good energy resolution. A fast coincidence between two crystals is used to reject background. The detector was read out using two different electronic chains connected to it by a few meters of cable. The first chain was based onmore » conventional charge-sensitive amplifiers, the other used a custom fast charge amplifier developed for this purpose. The prototype has been tested at various neutron sources and showed its practicability. In particular, the detector was calibrated in a TRIGA thermal reactor (LENA laboratory, University of Pavia) with neutron fluxes of 10{sup 8} n/cm{sup 2}s and at the 3 MeV D-D monochromatic neutron source named FNG (ENEA, Rome) with neutron fluxes of 10{sup 6} n/cm{sup 2}s. The neutron spectrum measurement was performed at the TAPIRO fast research reactor (ENEA, Casaccia) with fluxes of 10{sup 9} n/cm{sup 2}s. The obtained spectra were compared to Monte Carlo simulations, modeling detector response with MCNP and Geant4. (authors)« less

Integration of the ATLAS FE-I4 Pixel Chip in the Mini Time Projection Chamber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lopez-Thibodeaux, Mayra; Garcia-Sciveres, Maurice; Kadyk, John; Oliver-Mallory, Kelsey

2013-04-01

This project deals with development of readout for a Time Projection Chamber (TPC) prototype. This is a type of detector proposed for direct detection of dark matter (WIMPS) with direction information. The TPC is a gaseous charged particle tracking detector composed of a field cage and a gas avalanche detector. The latter is made of two Gas Electron Multipliers in series, illuminating a pixel readout integrated circuit, which measures the distribution in position and time of the output charge. We are testing the TPC prototype, filled with ArCO2 gas, using a Fe-55 x-ray source and cosmic rays. The present prototype uses an FE-I3 chip for readout. This chip was developed about 10 years ago and is presently in use within the ATLAS pixel detector at the LHC. The aim of this work is to upgrade the TPC prototype to use an FE-I4 chip. The FE-I4 has an active area of 336 mm^2 and 26880 pixels, over nine times the number of pixels in the FE-I3 chip, and an active area about six times as much. The FE-I4 chip represents the state of the art of pixel detector readout, and is presently being used to build an upgrade of the ATLAS pixel detector.

Construction of the optical part of a time-of-flight detector prototype for the AFP detector

DOE PAGES

Nozka, L.; Adamczyk, L.; Avoni, G.; ...

2016-11-22

We present the construction of the optical part of the ToF (time-of-flight) subdetector prototype for the AFP (ATLAS Forward Proton) detector. The ToF detector in conjunction with a 3D silicon pixel tracker will tag and measure protons originating in central exclusive interactions p + p → p + X + p, where the two outgoing protons are scattered in the very forward directions. The ToF is required to reduce so-called pileup backgrounds that arise from multiple proton interactions in the same bunch crossing at high luminosity. The background can fake the signal of interest, and the extra rejection from themore » ToF allows the proton tagger to operate at the high luminosity required for measurement of the processes. The prototype detector uses fused silica bars emitting Cherenkov radiation as a relativistic particle passes through it. Finally, the emitted Cherenkov photons are detected by a micro-channel plate multi-anode Photomultiplier Tube (MCP-PMT) and processed by fast electronics.« less

Construction of the optical part of a time-of-flight detector prototype for the AFP detector

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nozka, L.; Adamczyk, L.; Avoni, G.

We present the construction of the optical part of the ToF (time-of-flight) subdetector prototype for the AFP (ATLAS Forward Proton) detector. The ToF detector in conjunction with a 3D silicon pixel tracker will tag and measure protons originating in central exclusive interactions p + p → p + X + p, where the two outgoing protons are scattered in the very forward directions. The ToF is required to reduce so-called pileup backgrounds that arise from multiple proton interactions in the same bunch crossing at high luminosity. The background can fake the signal of interest, and the extra rejection from themore » ToF allows the proton tagger to operate at the high luminosity required for measurement of the processes. The prototype detector uses fused silica bars emitting Cherenkov radiation as a relativistic particle passes through it. Finally, the emitted Cherenkov photons are detected by a micro-channel plate multi-anode Photomultiplier Tube (MCP-PMT) and processed by fast electronics.« less

Prototype of a Muon Tomography Station with GEM detectors for Detection of Shielded Nuclear Contraband

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Staib, Michael; Bhopatkar, Vallary; Bittner, William; Hohlmann, Marcus; Locke, Judson; Twigger, Jessie; Gnanvo, Kondo

2012-03-01

Muon tomography for homeland security aims at detecting well-shielded nuclear contraband in cargo and imaging it in 3D. The technique exploits multiple scattering of atmospheric cosmic ray muons, which is stronger in dense, high-Z materials, e.g. enriched uranium, than in low-Z and medium-Z shielding materials. We have constructed and are operating a compact Muon Tomography Station (MTS) that tracks muons with eight 30 cm x 30 cm Triple Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) detectors placed on the sides of a cubic-foot imaging volume. A point-of-closest-approach algorithm applied to reconstructed incident and exiting tracks is used to create a tomographic reconstruction of the material within the active volume. We discuss the performance of this MTS prototype including characterization and commissioning of the GEM detectors and the data acquisition systems. We also present experimental tomographic images of small high-Z objects including depleted uranium with and without shielding and discuss the performance of material discrimination using this method.

MIND performance and prototyping

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cervera-Villanueva, A.

2008-02-21

The performance of MIND (Magnetised Iron Neutrino Detector) at a neutrino factory has been revisited in a new analysis. In particular, the low neutrino energy region is studied, obtaining an efficiency plateau around 5 GeV for a background level below 10{sup -3}. A first look has been given into the detector optimisation and prototyping.

The ALICE-HMPID Detector Control System: Its evolution towards an expert and adaptive system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De Cataldo, G.; Franco, A.; Pastore, C.; Sgura, I.; Volpe, G.

2011-05-01

The High Momentum Particle IDentification (HMPID) detector is a proximity focusing Ring Imaging Cherenkov (RICH) for charged hadron identification. The HMPID is based on liquid C 6F 14 as the radiator medium and on a 10 m 2 CsI coated, pad segmented photocathode of MWPCs for UV Cherenkov photon detection. To ensure full remote control, the HMPID is equipped with a detector control system (DCS) responding to industrial standards for robustness and reliability. It has been implemented using PVSS as Slow Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) environment, Programmable Logic Controller as control devices and Finite State Machines for modular and automatic command execution. In the perspective of reducing human presence at the experiment site, this paper focuses on DCS evolution towards an expert and adaptive control system, providing, respectively, automatic error recovery and stable detector performance. HAL9000, the first prototype of the HMPID expert system, is then presented. Finally an analysis of the possible application of the adaptive features is provided.

Development of a Germanium Small-Animal SPECT System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnson, Lindsay C.; Ovchinnikov, Oleg; Shokouhi, Sepideh; Peterson, Todd E.

2015-10-01

Advances in fabrication techniques, electronics, and mechanical cooling systems have given rise to germanium detectors suitable for biomedical imaging. We are developing a small-animal SPECT system that uses a double-sided Ge strip detector. The detector's excellent energy resolution may help to reduce scatter and simplify processing of multi-isotope imaging, while its ability to measure depth of interaction has the potential to mitigate parallax error in pinhole imaging. The detector's energy resolution is <; 1% FWHM at 140 keV and its spatial resolution is approximately 1.5 mm FWHM. The prototype system described has a single-pinhole collimator with a 1-mm diameter and a 70-degree opening angle with a focal length variable between 4.5 and 9 cm. Phantom images from the gantry-mounted system are presented, including the NEMA NU-2008 phantom and a hot-rod phantom. Additionally, the benefit of energy resolution is demonstrated by imaging a dual-isotope phantom with 99mTc and 123I without cross-talk correction.

Calibration and tests of commercial wireless infrared thermometers

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Applications of infrared thermometers (IRTs) in large agricultural fields require wireless data transmission, and IRT target temperature should have minimal sensitivity to internal detector temperature. To meet these objectives, a prototype wireless IRT system was developed at USDA Agricultural Rese...

Towards hybrid pixel detectors for energy-dispersive or soft X-ray photon science

PubMed Central

Jungmann-Smith, J. H.; Bergamaschi, A.; Brückner, M.; Cartier, S.; Dinapoli, R.; Greiffenberg, D.; Huthwelker, T.; Maliakal, D.; Mayilyan, D.; Medjoubi, K.; Mezza, D.; Mozzanica, A.; Ramilli, M.; Ruder, Ch.; Schädler, L.; Schmitt, B.; Shi, X.; Tinti, G.

2016-01-01

JUNGFRAU (adJUstiNg Gain detector FoR the Aramis User station) is a two-dimensional hybrid pixel detector for photon science applications at free-electron lasers and synchrotron light sources. The JUNGFRAU 0.4 prototype presented here is specifically geared towards low-noise performance and hence soft X-ray detection. The design, geometry and readout architecture of JUNGFRAU 0.4 correspond to those of other JUNGFRAU pixel detectors, which are charge-integrating detectors with 75 µm × 75 µm pixels. Main characteristics of JUNGFRAU 0.4 are its fixed gain and r.m.s. noise of as low as 27 e− electronic noise charge (<100 eV) with no active cooling. The 48 × 48 pixels JUNGFRAU 0.4 prototype can be combined with a charge-sharing suppression mask directly placed on the sensor, which keeps photons from hitting the charge-sharing regions of the pixels. The mask consists of a 150 µm tungsten sheet, in which 28 µm-diameter holes are laser-drilled. The mask is aligned with the pixels. The noise and gain characterization, and single-photon detection as low as 1.2 keV are shown. The performance of JUNGFRAU 0.4 without the mask and also in the charge-sharing suppression configuration (with the mask, with a ‘software mask’ or a ‘cluster finding’ algorithm) is tested, compared and evaluated, in particular with respect to the removal of the charge-sharing contribution in the spectra, the detection efficiency and the photon rate capability. Energy-dispersive and imaging experiments with fluorescence X-ray irradiation from an X-ray tube and a synchrotron light source are successfully demonstrated with an r.m.s. energy resolution of 20% (no mask) and 14% (with the mask) at 1.2 keV and of 5% at 13.3 keV. The performance evaluation of the JUNGFRAU 0.4 prototype suggests that this detection system could be the starting point for a future detector development effort for either applications in the soft X-ray energy regime or for an energy-dispersive detection system. PMID:26917124

Advanced testing of the DEPFET minimatrix particle detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andricek, L.; Kodyš, P.; Koffmane, C.; Ninkovic, J.; Oswald, C.; Richter, R.; Ritter, A.; Rummel, S.; Scheirich, J.; Wassatsch, A.

2012-01-01

The DEPFET (DEPleted Field Effect Transistor) is an active pixel particle detector with a MOSFET (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor) integrated in each pixel, providing first amplification stage of readout electronics. Excellent signal over noise performance is gained this way. The DEPFET sensor will be used as a vertex detector in the Belle II experiment at SuperKEKB, electron-positron collider in Japan. The vertex detector will be composed of two layers of pixel detectors (DEPFET) and four layers of strip detectors. The DEPFET sensor requires switching and current readout circuits for its operation. These circuits have been designed as ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits) in several different versions, but they provide insufficient flexibility for precise detector testing. Therefore, a test system with a flexible control cycle range and minimal noise has been designed for testing and characterizing of small detector prototypes (Minimatrices). Sensors with different design layouts and thicknesses are produced in order to evaluate and select the one with the best performance for the Belle II application. Description of the test system as well as measurement results are presented.

Performance of a Micro-Strip Gas Chamber for event wise, high rate thermal neutron detection with accurate 2D position determination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mindur, B.; Alimov, S.; Fiutowski, T.; Schulz, C.; Wilpert, T.

2014-12-01

A two-dimensional (2D) position sensitive detector for neutron scattering applications based on low-pressure gas amplification and micro-strip technology was built and tested with an innovative readout electronics and data acquisition system. This detector contains a thin solid neutron converter and was developed for time- and thus wavelength-resolved neutron detection in single-event counting mode, which improves the image contrast in comparison with integrating detectors. The prototype detector of a Micro-Strip Gas Chamber (MSGC) was built with a solid natGd/CsI thermal neutron converter for spatial resolutions of about 100 μm and counting rates up to 107 neutrons/s. For attaining very high spatial resolutions and counting rates via micro-strip readout with centre-of-gravity evaluation of the signal amplitude distributions, a fast, channel-wise, self-triggering ASIC was developed. The front-end chips (MSGCROCs), which are very first signal processing components, are read out into powerful ADC-FPGA boards for on-line data processing and thereafter via Gigabit Ethernet link into the data receiving PC. The workstation PC is controlled by a modular, high performance dedicated software suite. Such a fast and accurate system is crucial for efficient radiography/tomography, diffraction or imaging applications based on high flux thermal neutron beam. In this paper a brief description of the detector concept with its operation principles, readout electronics requirements and design together with the signals processing stages performed in hardware and software are presented. In more detail the neutron test beam conditions and measurement results are reported. The focus of this paper is on the system integration, two dimensional spatial resolution, the time resolution of the readout system and the imaging capabilities of the overall setup. The detection efficiency of the detector prototype is estimated as well.

Tests of the MICE Electron Muon Ranger frontend electronics with a small scale prototype

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bolognini, D.; Bene, P.; Blondel, A.; Cadoux, F.; Debieux, S.; Giannini, G.; Graulich, J. S.; Lietti, D.; Masciocchi, F.; Prest, M.; Rothenfusser, K.; Vallazza, E.; Wisting, H.

2011-08-01

The MICE experiment is being commissioned at RAL to demonstrate the feasibility of the muon ionization cooling technique for future applications such as the Neutrino Factory and the Muon Collider. The cooling will be evaluated by measuring the emittance before and after the cooling channel with two 4 T spectrometers; to distinguish muons from the background, a multi-detector particle identification system is foreseen: three Time of Flight stations, two Cherenkov counters and a calorimetric system consisting of a pre-shower layer and a fully active scintillator detector (EMR) are used to discriminate muons from pions and electrons. EMR consists of 48 planes of triangular scintillating bars coupled to WLS fibers readout by single PMTs on one side and MAPMTs on the other; each plane sensible area is 1 m 2. This article deals with a small scale prototype of the EMR detector which has been used to test the MAPMT frontend electronics based on the MAROC ASIC; the tests with cosmic rays using both an analog mode and a digital readout mode are presented. A very preliminary study on the cross talk problem is also shown.

Prototype Compton imager for special nuclear material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wulf, Eric A.; Phlips, Bernard F.; Kurfess, James D.; Novikova, Elena I.; Fitzgerald, Carrie

2006-05-01

Compton imagers offer a method for passive detection of nuclear material over background radiation. A prototype Compton imager has been constructed using 8 layers of silicon detectors. Each layer consists of a 2×2 array of 2 mm thick cross-strip double-sided silicon detectors with active areas of 5.7 × 5.7 cm2 and 64 strips per side. The detectors are daisy-chained together in the array so that only 256 channels of electronics are needed to read-out each layer of the instrument. This imager is a prototype for a large, high-efficiency Compton imager that will meet operational requirements of Homeland Security for detection of shielded uranium. The instrument can differentiate between different radioisotopes using the reconstructed gamma-ray energy and can also show the location of the emissions with respect to the detector location. Results from the current instrument as well as simulations of the next generation instrument are presented.

Characterization of a prototype neutron portal monitor detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakhoul, Nabil

The main objective of this thesis is to provide characterization measurements on a prototype neutron portal monitor (NPM) detector constructed at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. NPM detectors are deployed at all United States border crossings and shipping ports to stop the illicit transfer of weapons-grade plutonium (WGPu) into our country. This large prototype detector with its 0.93 square meter face area is based on thermal neutron capture in 6Li as an alternate technology to the current, very expensive, 3He-based NPM. A neutron detection efficiency of 27.5 % is measured with a 252Cf source which has a spontaneous fission neutron spectrum very similar to that of 240Pu in WGPu. Measurements with an intense 137Cs source establish the extreme insensitivity of the prototype NPM to gamma-ray backgrounds with only one additional count registered for 1.1 million incident gamma rays. This detector also has the ability to locate neutron sources to within an angle of a few degrees. Its sensitivity is further demonstrated by discovering in a few-second measurement the presence of a 2 curie PuBe neutron source even at a distance of 95.5 feet. This thesis also covers in considerable detail the design features that give rise to both a high intrinsic neutron detection efficiency and an extreme gamma-ray insensitivity.

The CUORE cryostat and its bolometric detector

DOE PAGES

Santone, D.; Alduino, C.; Alfonso, K.; ...

2017-02-16

CUORE is a cryogenic detector that will be operated at LNGS to search for neutrinoless double beta decay (0νββ) of 130Te. The detector installation was completed in summer 2016. Before the installation, several cold runs were done to test the cryogenic system performance. In the last cold run the base temperature of 6.3 mK was reached in stable condition. CUORE-0, a CUORE prototype, has proven the feasibility of CUORE, demonstrating that the target background of 0.01 counts/keV/kg/y and the energy resolution of 5 keV are within reach.

A Prototype Combination TPC Cherenkov Detector with GEM Readout for Tracking and Particle Identification and its Potential Use at an Electron Ion Collider

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Woody, Craig; Azmoun, Babak; Majka, Richard; Phipps, Michael; Purschke, Martin; Smirnov, Nikolai

2018-02-01

A prototype detector is being developed which combines the functions of a Time Projection Chamber for charged particle tracking and a Cherenkov detector for particle identification. The TPC consists of a 10×10×10 cm3 drift volume where the charge is drifted to a 10×10 cm2 triple GEM detector. The charge is measured on a readout plane consisting of 2×10 mm2 chevron pads which provide a spatial resolution ˜ 100 μm per point in the chevron direction along with dE/dx information. The Cherenkov portion of the detector consists of a second 10×10 cm2 triple GEM with a photosensitive CsI photocathode on the top layer. This detector measures Cherenkov light produced in the drift gas of the TPC by high velocity particles which are above threshold. CF4 or CF4 mixtures will be used as the drift gas which are highly transparent to UV light and can provide excellent efficiency for detecting Cherenkov photons. The drift gas is also used as the operating gas for both GEM detectors. The prototype detector has been constructed and is currently being tested in the lab with sources and cosmic rays, and additional tests are planned in the future to study the detector in a test beam.

A Front-End Electronics Prototype Based on Gigabit Ethernet for the ATLAS Small-Strip Thin Gap Chamber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Kun; Lu, Houbing; Wang, Xu; Li, Feng; Wang, Xinxin; Geng, Tianru; Yang, Hang; Liu, Shengquan; Han, Liang; Jin, Ge

2017-06-01

A front-end electronics prototype for the ATLAS small-strip Thin Gap Chamber (sTGC) based on gigabit Ethernet has been developed. The prototype is designed to read out signals of pads, wires, and strips of the sTGC detector. The prototype includes two VMM2 chips developed to read out the signals of the sTGC, a Xilinx Kintex-7 field-programmable gate array (FPGA) used for the VMM2 configuration and the events storage, and a gigabit Ethernet transceiver PHY chip for interfacing with a computer. The VMM2 chip is designed for the readout of the Micromegas detector and sTGC detector, which is composed of 64 linear front-end channels. Each channel integrates a charge-sensitive amplifier, a shaper, several analog-to-digital converters, and other digital functions. For a bunch-crossing interval of 25 ns, events are continuously read out by the FPGA and forwarded to the computer. The interface between the computer and the prototype has been measured to reach an error-free rate of 900 Mb/s, therefore making a very effective use of the available bandwidth. Additionally, the computer can control several prototypes of this kind simultaneously via the Ethernet interface. At present, the prototype will be used for the sTGC performance test. The features of the prototype are described in detail.

Implementing a Multiplexed System of Detectors for Higher Photon Counting Rates

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-01-01

D1 D2 Fig. 3. (a) Setup for testing different arrangements of InGaAs SPAD assemblies; (b) three different InGaAs SPAD assemblies; ( c ) schematic of...presently available, either commercial or prototype, the deadtimes range from ≈50 ns for actively quenched single photon avalanche detectors ( SPADs ...to ≈10 µs for passively quenched SPADs , although even actively quenched SPADs sometimes employ µs deadtimes to avoid excessive afterpulsing rates. In

Mod 1 ICS TI Report: ICS Conversion of a 140% HPGe Detector

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bounds, John Alan

This report evaluates the Mod 1 ICS, an electrically cooled 140% HPGe detector. It is a custom version of the ORTEC Integrated Cooling System (ICS) modified to make it more practical for us to use in the field. Performance and operating characteristics of the Mod 1 ICS are documented, noting both pros and cons. The Mod 1 ICS is deemed a success. Recommendations for a Mod 2 ICS, a true field prototype, are provided.

Development of a laser Doppler displacement encoder system with ultra-low-noise-level for linear displacement measurement with subnanometer resolution - Final CRADA Report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shu, Deming

An U.S. DOE Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between ANL and Optodyne, Inc. has been established to develop a prototype laser Doppler displacement encoder system with ultra-low noise level for linear measurements to sub-nanometer resolution for synchrotron radiation applications. We have improved the heterodyne efficiency and reduced the detector shot noises by proper shielding and adding a low-pass filter. The laser Doppler displacement encoder system prototype demonstrated a ~ 1 nm system output noise floor with single reflection optics. With multiple-pass optical arrangement, 0.1 nm scale closed-loop feedback control is achieved.

Technological aspects of GEM detector design and assembling for soft x-ray application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kowalska-Strzeciwilk, E.; Chernyshova, M.

2016-09-01

Various types of Micro Pattern Gas Detectors (MPGDs) found applications as tracking detectors in high energy particle physics experiments and as well as imaging detectors, especially for soft X-rays. These detectors offer several advantages like high count rate capability, good spatial and energy resolution, low cost and possibility of constructing large area detectors with very small dead area. Construction, like the triple Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) detector has become a standard detector, which is widely used for different imaging applications. Some examples of such applications are: monitoring the impurity in plasma, imaging system for mapping of some parameters like pigment distributions using X-ray fluorescence technique[1], proton range radiography system for quality assurance in hadron therapy. Measuring of the Soft X-Ray (SXR) radiation of magnetic fusion plasma is a standard way of accessing valuable information, for example, about particle transport and MHD. The paper is focused on the design of GEM based soft Xray radiation detecting system which is under development. It is dedicated to study soft X-ray emission of plasma radiation with focus on tungsten emission lines energy region. The paper presents the designing, construction and assembling of a prototype of two triple-GEM detectors for soft-X ray application on the WEST device.

Using a flat-panel detector in high resolution cone beam CT for dental imaging.

PubMed

Baba, R; Ueda, K; Okabe, M

2004-09-01

Cone beam CT (CBCT) requires a two-dimensional X-ray detector. In the several CBCT systems developed for dental imaging, detection has been by the combination of an X-ray image intensifier and charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. In this paper, we propose a new CBCT system in which the detector is of the flat-panel type and evaluate its performance in dental imaging. We developed a prototype CBCT that has a flat-panel-type detector. The detector consists of a CsI scintillator screen and a photosensor array. First, the flat panel detector and image intensifier detector were compared in terms of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of projected images. We then used these data and a theoretical formula to evaluate noise in reconstructed images. Second, reconstructed images of a bar pattern phantom were obtained as a way of evaluating the spatial resolution. Then, reconstructed images of a skull phantom were obtained. The SNR of the developed system was 1.6 times as high as that of a system with an image intensifier detector of equal detector pitch. The system was capable of resolving a 0.35 mm pattern and its field of view almost completely encompassed that of an image intensifier detector which is used in dentomaxillofacial imaging. The fine spatial resolution of the detector led to images in which the structural details of a skull phantom were clearly visible. The system's isotropically fine resolution will lead to improved precision in dental diagnosis and surgery. The next stage of our research will be the development of a flat panel detector system with a high frame acquisition rate.

Development of a new first-aid biochemical detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Jingfei; Liao, Haiyang; Su, Shilin; Ding, Hao; Liu, Suquan

2016-10-01

The traditional biochemical detector exhibits poor adaptability, inconvenient carrying and slow detection, which can't meet the needs of first-aid under field condition like natural or man-made disasters etc. Therefore a scheme of first-aid biochemical detector based on MOMES Micro Spectrometer, UV LED and Photodiode was proposed. An optical detection structure combined continuous spectrum sweep with fixed wavelength measurement was designed, which adopted mobile detection optical path consisting of Micro Spectrometer and Halogen Lamp to detect Chloride (Cl-), Creatinine (Cre), Glucose (Glu), Hemoglobin (Hb). The UV LED and Photodiode were designed to detect Potassium (K-), Carbon dioxide (CO2), Sodium (Na+). According to the field diagnosis and treatment requirements, we designed the embedded control hardware circuit and software system, the prototype of first-aid biochemical detector was developed and the clinical trials were conducted. Experimental results show that the sample's absorbance repeatability is less than 2%, the max coefficient of variation (CV) in the batch repeatability test of all 7 biochemical parameters in blood samples is 4.68%, less than the clinical requirements 10%, the correlation coefficient (R2) in the clinical contrast test with AU5800 is almost greater than 0.97. To sum up, the prototype meets the requirements of clinical application.

A Prototype Instrument for Adaptive SPECT Imaging

PubMed Central

Freed, Melanie; Kupinski, Matthew A.; Furenlid, Lars R.; Barrett, Harrison H.

2015-01-01

We have designed and constructed a small-animal adaptive SPECT imaging system as a prototype for quantifying the potential benefit of adaptive SPECT imaging over the traditional fixed geometry approach. The optical design of the system is based on filling the detector with the object for each viewing angle, maximizing the sensitivity, and optimizing the resolution in the projection images. Additional feedback rules for determining the optimal geometry of the system can be easily added to the existing control software. Preliminary data have been taken of a phantom with a small, hot, offset lesion in a flat background in both adaptive and fixed geometry modes. Comparison of the predicted system behavior with the actual system behavior is presented along with recommendations for system improvements. PMID:26346820

A GaAs pixel detectors-based digital mammographic system: Performances and imaging tests results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Annovazzi, A.; Amendolia, S. R.; Bigongiari, A.; Bisogni, M. G.; Catarsi, F.; Cesqui, F.; Cetronio, A.; Colombo, F.; Delogu, P.; Fantacci, M. E.; Gilberti, A.; Lanzieri, C.; Lavagna, S.; Novelli, M.; Passuello, G.; Paternoster, G.; Pieracci, M.; Poletti, M.; Quattrocchi, M.; Rosso, V.; Stefanini, A.; Testa, A.; Venturelli, L.

2007-06-01

The prototype presented in this paper is based on GaAs pixel detectors read-out by the PCC/MEDIPIX I circuit. The active area of a sensor is about 1 cm 2 therefore to cover the typical irradiation field used in mammography (18×24 cm 2), 18 GaAs detection units have been organized in two staggered rows of nine chips each and moved by a stepper motor in the orthogonal direction. The system is integrated in a mammographic equipment which comprehends the X-ray tube, the bias and data acquisition systems and the PC-based control system. The prototype has been developed in the framework of the Integrated Mammographic Imaging (IMI) project, an industrial research activity aiming to develop innovative instrumentation for morphologic and functional imaging. The project has been supported by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) and by five Italian High Tech companies, Alenia Marconi Systems (AMS), CAEN, Gilardoni, LABEN and Poli.Hi.Tech., in collaboration with the universities of Ferrara, Roma "La Sapienza", Pisa and the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN). In this paper, we report on the electrical characterization and the first imaging test results of the digital mammographic system. To assess the imaging capability of such a detector we have built a phantom, which simulates the breast tissue with malignancies. The radiographs of the phantom, obtained by delivering an entrance dose of 4.8 mGy, have shown particulars with a measured contrast below 1%.

Status of the EDDA experiment at COSY

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scobel, W.; EDDA Collaboration; Bisplinghoff, J.; Bollmann, R.; Cloth, P.; Dohrmann, F.; Dorner, G.; Drüke, V.; Ernst, J.; Eversheim, P. D.; Filges, D.; Gasthuber, M.; Gebel, R.; Groß, A.; Groß-Hardt, R.; Hinterberger, F.; Jahn, R.; Lahr, U.; Langkau, R.; Lippert, G.; Mayer-Kuckuk, T.; Maschuw, R.; Mertler, G.; Metsch, B.; Mosel, F.; Paetz gen Schieck, H.; Petry, H. R.; Prasuhn, D.; von Przewoski, B.; Rohdjeß, H.; Rosendaal, D.; von Rossen, P.; Scheid, H.; Schirm, N.; Schwandt, F.; Stein, H.; Theis, D.; Weber, J.; Wiedmann, W.; Woller, K.; Ziegler, R.

1993-07-01

The EDDA experiment is designed to study p + p excitation functions with high energy resolution and narrow step size in the kinetic energy range from 250 MeV to 2500 MeV at the Cooler Synchrotron COSY. Measurements during the accelertion phase in conjunction with internal targets will allow to achieve a fast and precise energy variation. Prototypes of the detector elements and the fiber target have been extensively tested with proton and electron beams; the detector performance and trigger efficiency have been studied in Monte Carlo simulations. In this contribution, results concerning detector design, prototype studies, Monte Carlo simulations and the anticipated detector resolutions will be reported.

Hand-held microwave search detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Daniels, David J.; Philippakis, Mike

2005-05-01

This paper describes the further development of a patented, novel, low cost, microwave search detector using noise radar technology operating in the 27-40GHz range of frequencies, initially reported in SPIE 2004. Initial experiments have shown that plastic explosives, ceramics and plastic material hidden on the body can be detected with the system. This paper considers the basic physics of the technique and reports on the development of a initial prototype system for hand search of suspects and addresses the work carried out on optimisation of PD and FAR. The radar uses a novel lens system and the design and modelling of this for optimum depth of field of focus will be reported.

First beam test of a liquid Cherenkov detector prototype for a future TOF measurements at the Super-FRS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuzminchuk-Feuerstein, Natalia; Ferber, Nadine; Rozhkova, Elena; Kaufeld, Ingo; Voss, Bernd

2017-09-01

In order to separate and identify fragmentation products with the Super-Fragment Separator (SuperFRS) at FAIR a high resolving power detector system is required for position and Time-Of-Flight (TOF) measurements. The TOF detector is used to measure the velocity of the particles and hence, in conjunction with their momentum or energy, to determine their mass and hence their identity. Aiming to develop a system with a precision down to about 50 ps in time and resistant to a high radiation rate of relativistic heavy ions of up to 107 per spill (at the second focal plane), we have shown a conceptual design for a Cherenkov detector envisioned for the future TOF measurements employing Iodine Naphthalene (C10H7I) as a fluid radiator. The application of a liquid radiator allows the circulation of the active material and therefore to greatly reduce the effects of the degradation of the optical performance expected after exposure to the high ion rates at the Super-FRS. The prototype of a TOF-Cherenkov detector was designed, constructed and its key-properties have been investigated in measurements with heavy ions at CaveC at GSI. These measurements were performed with nickel ions at 300-1500 MeV/u and ion-beam intensities of up to 4 × 106 ions/spill of 8 s. As a first result a maximum detection efficiency of 70% and a timing resolution of 267 ps (σ) was achieved. We report the first attempt of time measurements with a Cherenkov detector based on a liquid radiator. Further optimization is required.

Underground Prototype Water Cherenkov Muon Detector with the Tibet Air Shower Array

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Amenomori, M.; Nanjo, H.; Bi, X. J.

2008-12-24

We are planning to build a 10,000 m{sup 2} water-Cherenkov-type muon detector (MD) array under the Tibet air shower (AS) array. The Tibet AS+MD array will have the sensitivity to detect gamma rays in the 100 TeV region by an order of the magnitude better than any other previous existing detectors in the world. In the late fall of 2007, a prototype water Cherenkov muon detector of approximately 100 m{sup 2} was constructed under the existing Tibet AS array. The preliminary data analysis is in good agreement with our MC simulation. We are now ready for further expanding the undergroundmore » water Cherenkov muon detector.« less

Performance comparison of single and dual-excitation-wavelength resonance-Raman explosives detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yellampalle, Balakishore; Martin, Robert; Witt, Kenneth; McCormick, William; Wu, Hai-Shan; Sluch, Mikhail; Ice, Robert; Lemoff, Brian

2017-05-01

Deep-ultraviolet Raman spectroscopy is a very useful approach for standoff detection of explosive traces. Using two simultaneous excitation wavelengths improves the specificity and sensitivity to standoff explosive detection. The High Technology Foundation developed a highly compact prototype of resonance Raman explosives detector. In this work, we discuss the relative performance of a dual-excitation sensor compared to a single-excitation sensor. We present trade space analysis comparing three representative Raman systems with similar size, weight, and power. The analysis takes into account, cost, spectral resolution, detection/identification time and the overall system benefit.

Analog front-end design of the STS/MUCH-XYTER2—full size prototype ASIC for the CBM experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kleczek, Rafal

2017-01-01

The design of the analog front-end of the STS/MUCH-XYTER2 ASIC, a full-size prototype chip for the Silicon Tracking System (STS, based on double-sided silicon strip sensors) and Muon Chamber (MUCH, based on gas sensors) detectors is presented. The ASIC contains 128 charge processing channels, each built of a charge sensitive amplifier, a polarity selection circuit and two pulse shaping amplifiers forming two parallel signal paths. The first path is used for timing measurement with a fast discriminator. The second path allows low-noise amplitude measurement with a 5-bit continuous-time flash ADC. Different operating conditions and constraints posed by two target detectors' applications require front-end electronics flexibility to meet extended system-wise requirements. The presented circuit implements switchable shaper peaking time, gain switching and trimming, input amplifier pulsed reset circuit, fail-safe measures. The power consumption is scalable (for the STS and the MUCH modes), but limited to 10 mW/channel.

Flat panel detector-based cone beam computed tomography with a circle-plus-two-arcs data acquisition orbit: preliminary phantom study.

PubMed

Ning, Ruola; Tang, Xiangyang; Conover, David; Yu, Rongfeng

2003-07-01

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) has been investigated in the past two decades due to its potential advantages over a fan beam CT. These advantages include (a) great improvement in data acquisition efficiency, spatial resolution, and spatial resolution uniformity, (b) substantially better utilization of x-ray photons generated by the x-ray tube compared to a fan beam CT, and (c) significant advancement in clinical three-dimensional (3D) CT applications. However, most studies of CBCT in the past are focused on cone beam data acquisition theories and reconstruction algorithms. The recent development of x-ray flat panel detectors (FPD) has made CBCT imaging feasible and practical. This paper reports a newly built flat panel detector-based CBCT prototype scanner and presents the results of the preliminary evaluation of the prototype through a phantom study. The prototype consisted of an x-ray tube, a flat panel detector, a GE 8800 CT gantry, a patient table and a computer system. The prototype was constructed by modifying a GE 8800 CT gantry such that both a single-circle cone beam acquisition orbit and a circle-plus-two-arcs orbit can be achieved. With a circle-plus-two-arcs orbit, a complete set of cone beam projection data can be obtained, consisting of a set of circle projections and a set of arc projections. Using the prototype scanner, the set of circle projections were acquired by rotating the x-ray tube and the FPD together on the gantry, and the set of arc projections were obtained by tilting the gantry while the x-ray tube and detector were at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions, respectively. A filtered backprojection exact cone beam reconstruction algorithm based on a circle-plus-two-arcs orbit was used for cone beam reconstruction from both the circle and arc projections. The system was first characterized in terms of the linearity and dynamic range of the detector. Then the uniformity, spatial resolution and low contrast resolution were assessed using different phantoms mainly in the central plane of the cone beam reconstruction. Finally, the reconstruction accuracy of using the circle-plus-two-arcs orbit and its related filtered backprojection cone beam volume CT reconstruction algorithm was evaluated with a specially designed disk phantom. The results obtained using the new cone beam acquisition orbit and the related reconstruction algorithm were compared to those obtained using a single-circle cone beam geometry and Feldkamp's algorithm in terms of reconstruction accuracy. The results of the study demonstrate that the circle-plus-two-arcs cone beam orbit is achievable in practice. Also, the reconstruction accuracy of cone beam reconstruction is significantly improved with the circle-plus-two-arcs orbit and its related exact CB-FPB algorithm, as compared to using a single circle cone beam orbit and Feldkamp's algorithm.

A Pixel Readout Chip in 40 nm CMOS Process for High Count Rate Imaging Systems with Minimization of Charge Sharing Effects

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Maj, Piotr; Grybos, P.; Szczgiel, R.

2013-11-07

We present a prototype chip in 40 nm CMOS technology for readout of hybrid pixel detector. The prototype chip has a matrix of 18x24 pixels with a pixel pitch of 100 μm. It can operate both in single photon counting (SPC) mode and in C8P1 mode. In SPC the measured ENC is 84 e ₋rms (for the peaking time of 48 ns), while the effective offset spread is below 2 mV rms. In the C8P1 mode the chip reconstructs full charge deposited in the detector, even in the case of charge sharing, and it identifies a pixel with the largestmore » charge deposition. The chip architecture and preliminary measurements are reported.« less

Characterization of a high-energy in-line phase contrast tomosynthesis prototype

PubMed Central

Wu, Di; Yan, Aimin; Li, Yuhua; Wong, Molly D.; Zheng, Bin; Wu, Xizeng; Liu, Hong

2015-01-01

Purpose: In this research, a high-energy in-line phase contrast tomosynthesis prototype was developed and characterized through quantitative investigations and phantom studies. Methods: The prototype system consists of an x-ray source, a motorized rotation stage, and a CMOS detector with a pixel pitch of 0.05 mm. The x-ray source was operated at 120 kVp for this study, and the objects were mounted on the rotation stage 76.2 cm (R1) from the source and 114.3 cm (R2) from the detector. The large air gap between the object and detector guarantees sufficient phase-shift effects. The quantitative evaluation of this prototype included modulation transfer function and noise power spectrum measurements conducted under both projection mode and tomosynthesis mode. Phantom studies were performed including three custom designed phantoms with complex structures: a five-layer bubble wrap phantom, a fishbone phantom, and a chicken breast phantom with embedded fibrils and mass structures extracted from an ACR phantom. In-plane images of the phantoms were acquired to investigate their image qualities through observation, intensity profile plots, edge enhancement evaluations, and/or contrast-to-noise ratio calculations. In addition, the robust phase-attenuation duality (PAD)-based phase retrieval method was applied to tomosynthesis for the first time in this research. It was utilized as a preprocessing method to fully exhibit phase contrast on the angular projection before reconstruction. Results: The resolution and noise characteristics of this high-energy in-line phase contrast tomosynthesis prototype were successfully investigated and demonstrated. The phantom studies demonstrated that this imaging prototype can successfully remove the structure overlapping in phantom projections, obtain delineate interfaces, and achieve better contrast-to-noise ratio after applying phase retrieval to the angular projections. Conclusions: This research successfully demonstrated a high-energy in-line phase contrast tomosynthesis prototype. In addition, the PAD-based method of phase retrieval was combined with tomosynthesis imaging for the first time, which demonstrated its capability in significantly improving the contrast-to-noise ratios in the images. PMID:25979035

Performance evaluation of multiple (32 channels) sub-nanosecond TDC implemented in low-cost FPGA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lichard, P.; Konstantinou, G.; Villar Vilanueva, A.; Palladino, V.

2014-03-01

NA62 experiment Straw tracker frontend board serves as a gas-tight detector cover and integrates two CARIOCA chips, a low cost FPGA (Cyclon III, Altera) and a set of 400Mbit/s links to the backend. The FPGA houses 16 pairs of sub-nanosecond resolution TDCs with derandomizers and an output link serializer. Evaluation methods, including simulations, and performance results of the system in the lab and on a detector prototype are presented.

The water Cherenkov detectors of the HAWC Observatory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Longo, Megan; Mostafa, Miguel

2012-10-01

The High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) observatory is a very high-energy gamma-ray detector which is currently under construction at 4100 m in Sierra Negra, Mexico. The observatory will be composed of an array of 300 Water Cherenkov Detectors (WCDs). Each WCD consists of a 5 m tall by 7.3 m wide steel tank containing a hermetically sealed plastic bag, called a bladder, which is filled with 200,000 liters of purified water. The detectors are each equipped with four upward-facing photomultiplier tubes (PMTs), anchored to the bottom of the bladder. At Colorado State University (CSU) we have the only full-size prototype outside of the HAWC site. It serves as a testbed for installation and operation procedures for the HAWC observatory. The WCD at CSU has been fully operational since March 2011, and has several components not yet present at the HAWC site. In addition to the four HAWC position PMTs, our prototype has three additional PMTs, including one shrouded (dark) PMT. We also have five scintillator paddles, four buried underneath the HAWC position PMTs, and one freely moving paddle above the volume of water. These extra additions will allow us to work on muon reconstruction with a single WCD. We will describe the analysis being done with the data taken with the CSU prototype, its impact on the HAWC detector, and future plans for the prototype.

Geo-PET: A novel generic organ-pet for small animal organs and tissues

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sensoy, Levent

Reconstructed tomographic image resolution of small animal PET imaging systems is improving with advances in radiation detector development. However the trend towards higher resolution systems has come with an increase in price and system complexity. Recent developments in the area of solid-state photomultiplication devices like silicon photomultiplier arrays (SPMA) are creating opportunities for new high performance tools for PET scanner design. Imaging of excised small animal organs and tissues has been used as part of post-mortem studies in order to gain detailed, high-resolution anatomical information on sacrificed animals. However, this kind of ex-vivo specimen imaging has largely been limited to ultra-high resolution muCT. The inherent limitations to PET resolution have, to date, excluded PET imaging from these ex-vivo imaging studies. In this work, we leverage the diminishing physical size of current generation SPMA designs to create a very small, simple, and high-resolution prototype detector system targeting ex-vivo tomographic imaging of small animal organs and tissues. We investigate sensitivity, spatial resolution, and the reconstructed image quality of a prototype small animal PET scanner designed specifically for imaging of excised murine tissue and organs. We aim to demonstrate that a cost-effective silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) array based design with thin crystals (2 mm) to minimize depth of interaction errors might be able to achieve sub-millimeter resolution. We hypothesize that the substantial decrease in sensitivity associated with the thin crystals can be compensated for with increased solid angle detection, longer acquisitions, higher activity and wider acceptance energy windows (due to minimal scatter from excised organs). The constructed system has a functional field of view (FoV) of 40 mm diameter, which is adequate for most small animal specimen studies. We perform both analytical (3D-FBP) and iterative (ML-EM) methods in order to reconstruct tomographic images. Results demonstrate good agreement between the simulation and the prototype. Our detector system with pixelated crystals is able to separate small objects as close as 1.25 mm apart, whereas spatial resolution converges to the theoretical limit of 1.6 mm (half the size of the smallest detecting element), which is to comparable to the spatial resolution of the existing commercial small animal PET systems. Better system spatial resolution is achievable with new generation SiPM detector boards with 1 mm x 1 mm cell dimensions. We demonstrate through Monte Carlo simulations that it is possible to achieve sub-millimeter spatial image resolution (0.7 mm for our scanner) in complex objects using monolithic crystals and exploiting the light-sharing mechanism among the neighboring detector cells. Results also suggest that scanner (or object) rotation minimizes artifacts arising from poor angular sampling, which is even more significant in smaller PET designs as the gaps between the sensitive regions of the detector have a more exaggerated effect on the overall reconstructed image quality when the design is more compact. Sensitivity of the system, on the other hand, can be doubled by adding two additional detector heads resulting in a, fully closed, 4? geometry.

A new data acquisition system for the CMS Phase 1 pixel detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kornmayer, A.

2016-12-01

A new pixel detector will be installed in the CMS experiment during the extended technical stop of the LHC at the beginning of 2017. The new pixel detector, built from four layers in the barrel region and three layers on each end of the forward region, is equipped with upgraded front-end readout electronics, specifically designed to handle the high particle hit rates created in the LHC environment. The DAQ back-end was entirely redesigned to handle the increased number of readout channels, the higher data rates per channel and the new digital data format. Based entirely on the microTCA standard, new front-end controller (FEC) and front-end driver (FED) cards have been developed, prototyped and produced with custom optical link mezzanines mounted on the FC7 AMC and custom firmware. At the same time as the new detector is being assembled, the DAQ system is set up and its integration into the CMS central DAQ system tested by running the pilot blade detector already installed in CMS. This work describes the DAQ system, integration tests and gives an outline for the activities up to commissioning the final system at CMS in 2017.

High Voltage Tests in the LUX-ZEPLIN System Test

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Whitis, Thomas; Lux-Zeplin Collaboration

2016-03-01

The LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) project is a dark matter direct detection experiment using liquid xenon. The detector is a time projection chamber (TPC) requiring the establishment of a large electric field inside of the detector in order to drift ionization electrons. Historically, many xenon TPC designs have been unable to reach their design fields due to light production and breakdown. The LZ System Test is scaled so that with a cathode voltage of -50 kV, it will have the fields that will be seen in the LZ detector at -100 kV. It will use a fully instrumented but scaled-down version of the LZ TPC design with a vessel set and gas system designed for quick turnaround, allowing for iterative modifications to the TPC prototype and instrumentation. This talk will present results from the high voltage tests performed during the first runs of the LZ System Test.

Development of phonon-mediated cryogenic particle detectors with electron and nuclear recoil discrimination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nam, Sae Woo

1999-10-01

Observations have shown that galaxies, including our own, are surrounded by halos of ``dark matter''. One possibility is that this may be an undiscovered form of matter, weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs). This thesis describes the development of silicon based cryogenic particle detectors designed to directly detect interactions with these WIMPs. These detectors are part of a new class of detectors which are able to reject background events by simultaneously measuring energy deposited into phonons versus electron hole pairs. By using the phonon sensors with the ionization sensors to compare the partitioning of energy between phonons and ionizations we can discriminate between electron recoil events (background radiation) and nuclear recoil events (dark matter events). These detectors with built-in background rejection are a major advance in background rejection over previous searches. Much of this thesis will describe work in scaling the detectors from / g prototype devices to a fully functional prototype 100g dark matter detector. In particular, many sensors were fabricated and tested to understand the behavior of our phonon sensors, Quasipartice trapping assisted Electrothermal feedback Transition edge sensors (QETs). The QET sensors utilize aluminum quasiparticle traps attached to tungsten superconducting transition edge sensors patterned on a silicon substrate. The tungsten lines are voltage biased and self-regulate in the transition region. Phonons from particle interactions within the silicon propogate to the surface where they are absorbed by the aluminum generating quasiparticles in the aluminum. The quasiparticles diffuse into the tungsten and couple energy into the tungsten electron system. Consequently, the tungsten increases in resistance and causes a current pulse which is measured with a high bandwidth SQUID system. With this advanced sensor technology, we were able to demonstrate detectors with xy position sensitivity with electron and nuclear recoil discrimination. Furthermore, early results from running the 100g detector in the Stanford Underground Facility (SUF) indicate that competitive dark matter results are achievable with the current detector design. Much of the design and testing of the experimental apparatus and instrumentation is described as well.

Prototyping of MWIR MEMS-based optical filter combined with HgCdTe detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kozak, Dmitry A.; Fernandez, Bautista; Velicu, Silviu; Kubby, Joel

2010-02-01

In the past decades, there have been several attempts to create a tunable optical detector with operation in the infrared. The drive for creating such a filter is its wide range of applications, from passive night vision to biological and chemical sensors. Such a device would combine a tunable optical filter with a wide-range detector. In this work, we propose using a Fabry-Perot interferometer centered in the mid-wave infrared (MWIR) spectrum with an HgCdTe detector. Using a MEMS-based interferometer with an integrated Bragg stack will allow in-plane operation over a wide range. Because such devices have a tendency to warp, creating less-than-perfect optical surfaces, the Fabry-Perot interferometer is prototyped using the SOI-MUMPS process to ensure desirable operation. The mechanical design is aimed at optimal optical flatness of the moving membranes and a low operating voltage. The prototype is tested for these requirements. An HgCdTe detector provides greater performance than a pyroelectic detector used in some previous work, allowing for lower noise, greater detection speed and higher sensitivity. Both a custom HgCdTe detector and commercially available pyroelectric detector are tested with commercial optical filter. In previous work, monolithic integration of HgCdTe detectors with optical filters proved to be problematic. Part of this work investigates the best approach to combining these two components, either monolithically in HgCdTe or using a hybrid packaging approach where a silicon MEMS Fabry-Perot filter is bonded at low temperature to a HgCdTe detector.

Multi-pinhole SPECT Imaging with Silicon Strip Detectors

PubMed Central

Peterson, Todd E.; Shokouhi, Sepideh; Furenlid, Lars R.; Wilson, Donald W.

2010-01-01

Silicon double-sided strip detectors offer outstanding instrinsic spatial resolution with reasonable detection efficiency for iodine-125 emissions. This spatial resolution allows for multiple-pinhole imaging at low magnification, minimizing the problem of multiplexing. We have conducted imaging studies using a prototype system that utilizes a detector of 300-micrometer thickness and 50-micrometer strip pitch together with a 23-pinhole collimator. These studies include an investigation of the synthetic-collimator imaging approach, which combines multiple-pinhole projections acquired at multiple magnifications to obtain tomographic reconstructions from limited-angle data using the ML-EM algorithm. Sub-millimeter spatial resolution was obtained, demonstrating the basic validity of this approach. PMID:20953300

Feasibility of in situ beta ray measurements in underwater environment.

PubMed

Park, Hye Min; Park, Ki Hyun; Kang, Sung Won; Joo, Koan Sik

2017-09-01

We describe an attempt at the development of an in situ detector for beta ray measurements in underwater environment. The prototype of the in situ detector is based on a CaF2: Eu scintillator using crystal light guide and Si photomultiplier. Tests were conducted using various reference sources for evaluating the linearity and stability of the detector in underwater environment. The system is simple and stable for long-term monitoring, and consumes low power. We show here an effective detection distance of 7 mm and a 2.273 MeV end-point energy spectrum of 90 Sr/ 90 Y when using the system underwater. The results demonstrate the feasibility of in situ beta ray measurements in underwater environment and can be applied for designing an in situ detector for radioactivity measurement in underwater environment. The in situ detector can also have other applications such as installation on the marine monitoring platform and quantitative analysis of radionuclides. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

New prototype scintillator detector for the Tibet ASγ experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Y.; Gou, Q.-B.; Cai, H.; Chen, T.-L.; Danzengluobu; Feng, C.-F.; Feng, Y.-L.; Feng, Z.-Y.; Gao, Q.; Gao, X.-J.; Guo, Y.-Q.; Guo, Y.-Y.; Hou, Y.-Y.; Hu, H.-B.; Jin, C.; Li, H.-J.; Liu, C.; Liu, M.-Y.; Qian, X.-L.; Tian, Z.; Wang, Z.; Xue, L.; Zhang, X.-Y.; Zhang, Xi-Ying

2017-11-01

The hybrid Tibet AS array was successfully constructed in 2014. It has 4500 m2 underground water Cherenkov pools used as the muon detector (MD) and 789 scintillator detectors covering 36900 m2 as the surface array. At 100 TeV, cosmic-ray background events can be rejected by approximately 99.99%, according to the full Monte Carlo (MC) simulation for γ-ray observations. In order to use the muon detector efficiently, we propose to extend the surface array area to 72900 m2 by adding 120 scintillator detectors around the current array to increase the effective detection area. A new prototype scintillator detector is developed via optimizing the detector geometry and its optical surface, by selecting the reflective material and adopting dynode readout. {This detector can meet our physics requirements with a positional non-uniformity of the output charge within 10% (with reference to the center of the scintillator), time resolution FWHM of ~2.2 ns, and dynamic range from 1 to 500 minimum ionization particles}.

UVSiPM: A light detector instrument based on a SiPM sensor working in single photon counting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sottile, G.; Russo, F.; Agnetta, G.; Belluso, M.; Billotta, S.; Biondo, B.; Bonanno, G.; Catalano, O.; Giarrusso, S.; Grillo, A.; Impiombato, D.; La Rosa, G.; Maccarone, M. C.; Mangano, A.; Marano, D.; Mineo, T.; Segreto, A.; Strazzeri, E.; Timpanaro, M. C.

2013-06-01

UVSiPM is a light detector designed to measure the intensity of electromagnetic radiation in the 320-900 nm wavelength range. It has been developed in the framework of the ASTRI project whose main goal is the design and construction of an end-to-end Small Size class Telescope prototype for the Cherenkov Telescope Array. The UVSiPM instrument is composed by a multipixel Silicon Photo-Multiplier detector unit coupled to an electronic chain working in single photon counting mode with 10 nanosecond double pulse resolution, and by a disk emulator interface card for computer connection. The detector unit of UVSiPM is of the same kind as the ones forming the camera at the focal plane of the ASTRI prototype. Eventually, the UVSiPM instrument can be equipped with a collimator to regulate its angular aperture. UVSiPM, with its peculiar characteristics, will permit to perform several measurements both in lab and on field, allowing the absolute calibration of the ASTRI prototype.

Monte Carlo simulation of simultaneous radiation detection in the hybrid tomography system ClearPET-XPAD3/CT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dávila, H. Olaya; Sevilla, A. C.; Castro, H. F.; Martínez, S. A.

2016-07-01

Using the Geant4 based simulation framework SciFW1, a detailed simulation was performed for a detector array in the hybrid tomography prototype for small animals called ClearPET / XPAD, which was built in the Centre de Physique des Particules de Marseille. The detector system consists of an array of phoswich scintillation detectors: LSO (Lutetium Oxy-ortosilicate doped with cerium Lu2SiO5:Ce) and LuYAP (Lutetium Ortoaluminate of Yttrium doped with cerium Lu0.7Y0.3AlO3:Ce) for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and hybrid pixel detector XPAD for Computed Tomography (CT). Simultaneous acquisition of deposited energy and the corresponding time - position for each recorded event were analyzed, independently, for both detectors. interference between detection modules for PET and CT. Information about amount of radiation reaching each phoswich crystal and XPAD detector using a phantom in order to study the effectiveness by radiation attenuation and influence the positioning of the radioactive source 22Na was obtained. The simulation proposed will improve distribution of detectors rings and interference values will be taken into account in the new versions of detectors.

Design and Prototype of an Automated Column-Switching HPLC System for Radiometabolite Analysis.

PubMed

Vasdev, Neil; Collier, Thomas Lee

2016-08-17

Column-switching high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is extensively used for the critical analysis of radiolabeled ligands and their metabolites in plasma. However, the lack of streamlined apparatus and consequently varying protocols remain as a challenge among positron emission tomography laboratories. We report here the prototype apparatus and implementation of a fully automated and simplified column-switching procedure to allow for the easy and automated determination of radioligands and their metabolites in up to 5 mL of plasma. The system has been used with conventional UV and coincidence radiation detectors, as well as with a single quadrupole mass spectrometer.

Experiment neutrino-4 on searching for a sterile neutrino with multisection detector model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Serebrov, A. P.; Ivochkin, V. G.; Samoilov, R. M.; Fomin, A. K.; Zinov'ev, V. G.; Neustroev, P. V.; Golovtsov, V. L.; Chernyi, A. V.; Zherebtsov, O. M.; Polyushkin, A. O.; Martem'yanov, V. P.; Tarasenkov, V. G.; Aleshin, V. I.; Petelin, A. L.; Izhutov, A. L.; Tuzov, A. A.; Sazontov, S. A.; Ryazanov, D. K.; Gromov, M. O.; Afanas'ev, V. V.; Zaitsev, M. E.; Chaikovskii, M. E.

2017-02-01

A laboratory for searching for oscillations of reactor antineutrinos has been created based on the SM-3 reactor in order to approach the problem of the possible existence of a sterile neutrino. The multisection detector prototype with a liquid scintillator volume of 350 L was installed in mid-2015. This detector can move inside the passive shield in a range of 6-11 m from the active core of the reactor. The antineutrino flux was measured for the first time at these short distances from the active core of the reactor by the movable detector. The measurements with the multisection detector prototype demonstrated that it is possible to measure the antineutrino flux from the reactor in the complicated conditions of cosmic background on the Earth's surface.

Neutrino-4 experiment on search for sterile neutrino with multi-section model of detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Serebrov, A.; Ivochkin, V.; Samoilov, R.; Fomin, A.; Polyushkin, A.; Zinoviev, V.; Neustroev, P.; Golovtsov, V.; Chernyj, A.; Zherebtsov, O.; Martemyanov, V.; Tarasenkov, V.; Aleshin, V.; Petelin, A.; Izhutov, A.; Tuzov, A.; Sazontov, S.; Ryazanov, D.; Gromov, M.; Afanasiev, V.; Zaytsev, M.; Chaikovskii, M.

2017-09-01

In order to carry out research in the field of possible existence of a sterile neutrino the laboratory based on SM-3 reactor (Dimitrovgrad, Russia) was created to search for oscillations of reactor antineutrino. The prototype of a multi-section neutrino detector with liquid scintillator volume of 350 l was installed in the middle of 2015. It is a moveable inside the passive shielding detector, which can be set at distance range from 6 to 11 meters from the reactor core. Measurements of antineutrino flux at such small distances from the reactor core are carried out with moveable detector for the first time. The measurements carried out with detector prototype demonstrated a possibility of measuring a reactor antineutrino flux in difficult conditions of cosmic background at Earth surface.

A new design using GEM-based technology for the CMS experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ressegotti, M.

2017-07-01

The muon system of the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment at the LHC is currently not instrumented for pseudorapidity higher than |η|> 2.4. The main challenges to the installation of a detector in that position are the high particle flux to be sustained, a high level of radiation, and the ability to accomodate a multilevel detector into the small available space (less than 30 cm). A new back-to-back configuration of a Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) detector is presented with the aim of developing a compact, multi-layer GEM detector. It is composed of two independent stacked triple-GEM detectors, positioned with the anodes toward the outside and sharing the same cathode plane, which is located at the center of the chamber, to reduce the total detector's thickness. A first prototype has been produced and tested with an X-Ray source and muon beam. First results on its performance are presented.

Segmented crystalline scintillators: empirical and theoretical investigation of a high quantum efficiency EPID based on an initial engineering prototype CsI(TI) detector.

PubMed

Sawant, Amit; Antonuk, Larry E; El-Mohri, Youcef; Zhao, Qihua; Wang, Yi; Li, Yixin; Du, Hong; Perna, Louis

2006-04-01

Modern-day radiotherapy relies on highly sophisticated forms of image guidance in order to implement increasingly conformal treatment plans and achieve precise dose delivery. One of the most important goals of such image guidance is to delineate the clinical target volume from surrounding normal tissue during patient setup and dose delivery, thereby avoiding dependence on surrogates such as bony landmarks. In order to achieve this goal, it is necessary to integrate highly efficient imaging technology, capable of resolving soft-tissue contrast at very low doses, within the treatment setup. In this paper we report on the development of one such modality, which comprises a nonoptimized, prototype electronic portal imaging device (EPID) based on a 40 mm thick, segmented crystalline CsI(Tl) detector incorporated into an indirect-detection active matrix flat panel imager (AMFPI). The segmented detector consists of a matrix of 160 x 160 optically isolated, crystalline CsI(Tl) elements spaced at 1016 microm pitch. The detector was coupled to an indirect detection-based active matrix array having a pixel pitch of 508 microm, with each detector element registered to 2 x 2 array pixels. The performance of the prototype imager was evaluated under very low-dose radiotherapy conditions and compared to that of a conventional megavoltage AMFPI based on a Lanex Fast-B phosphor screen. Detailed quantitative measurements were performed in order to determine the x-ray sensitivity, modulation transfer function, noise power spectrum, and detective quantum efficiency (DQE). In addition, images of a contrast-detail phantom and an anthropomorphic head phantom were also acquired. The prototype imager exhibited approximately 22 times higher zero-frequency DQE (approximately 22%) compared to that of the conventional AMFPI (approximately 1%). The measured zero-frequency DQE was found to be lower than theoretical upper limits (approximately 27%) calculated from Monte Carlo simulations, which were based solely on the x-ray energy absorbed in the detector-indicating the presence of optical Swank noise. Moreover, due to the nonoptimized nature of this prototype, the spatial resolution was observed to be significantly lower than theoretical expectations. Nevertheless, due to its high quantum efficiency (approximately 55%), the prototype imager exhibited significantly higher DQE than that of the conventional AMFPI across all spatial frequencies. In addition, the frequency-dependent DQE was observed to be relatively invariant with respect to the amount of incident radiation, indicating x-ray quantum limited behavior. Images of the contrast-detail phantom and the head phantom obtained using the prototype system exhibit good visualization of relatively large, low-contrast features, and appear significantly less noisy compared to similar images from a conventional AMFPI. Finally, Monte Carlo-based theoretical calculations indicate that, with proper optimization, further, significant improvements in the DQE performance of such imagers could be achieved. It is strongly anticipated that the realization of optimized versions of such very high-DQE EPIDs would enable megavoltage projection imaging at very low doses, and tomographic imaging from a "beam's eye view" at clinically acceptable doses.

MWPC prototyping and performance test for the STAR inner TPC upgrade

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, Fuwang; Wang, Shuai; Kong, Fangang; Bai, Shiwei; Li, Changyu; Videbæk, Flemming; Xu, Zhangbu; Zhu, Chengguang; Xu, Qinghua; Yang, Chi

2018-07-01

A new prototype of STAR inner Time Projection Chamber (iTPC) MWPC sector has been fabricated and tested in an X-ray test system. The wire chamber built at Shandong University has a wire tension precision better than 6% and wire pitch precision better than 10 μm. The gas gain uniformity and energy resolution are measured to be better than 1% (RMS) and 20% (FWHM), respectively, using an 55Fe X-ray source. The iTPC upgrade project is to replace all 24 STAR TPC inner sectors as a crucial detector upgrade for the RHIC beam energy scan phase II program. The test results show that the constructed iTPC prototype meets all project requirements.

First Results of an “Artificial Retina” Processor Prototype

DOE PAGES

Cenci, Riccardo; Bedeschi, Franco; Marino, Pietro; ...

2016-11-15

We report on the performance of a specialized processor capable of reconstructing charged particle tracks in a realistic LHC silicon tracker detector, at the same speed of the readout and with sub-microsecond latency. The processor is based on an innovative pattern-recognition algorithm, called “artificial retina algorithm”, inspired from the vision system of mammals. A prototype of the processor has been designed, simulated, and implemented on Tel62 boards equipped with high-bandwidth Altera Stratix III FPGA devices. Also, the prototype is the first step towards a real-time track reconstruction device aimed at processing complex events of high-luminosity LHC experiments at 40 MHzmore » crossing rate.« less

First Results of an “Artificial Retina” Processor Prototype

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cenci, Riccardo; Bedeschi, Franco; Marino, Pietro

We report on the performance of a specialized processor capable of reconstructing charged particle tracks in a realistic LHC silicon tracker detector, at the same speed of the readout and with sub-microsecond latency. The processor is based on an innovative pattern-recognition algorithm, called “artificial retina algorithm”, inspired from the vision system of mammals. A prototype of the processor has been designed, simulated, and implemented on Tel62 boards equipped with high-bandwidth Altera Stratix III FPGA devices. Also, the prototype is the first step towards a real-time track reconstruction device aimed at processing complex events of high-luminosity LHC experiments at 40 MHzmore » crossing rate.« less

Results from the NA62 Gigatracker Prototype: A Low-Mass and sub-ns Time Resolution Silicon Pixel Detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fiorini, M.; Rinella, G. Aglieri; Carassiti, V.; Ceccucci, A.; Gil, E. Cortina; Ramusino, A. Cotta; Dellacasa, G.; Garbolino, S.; Jarron, P.; Kaplon, J.; Kluge, A.; Marchetto, F.; Mapelli, A.; Martin, E.; Mazza, G.; Morel, M.; Noy, M.; Nuessle, G.; Petagna, P.; Petrucci, F.; Perktold, L.; Riedler, P.; Rivetti, A.; Statera, M.; Velghe, B.

The Gigatracker (GTK) is a hybrid silicon pixel detector developed for NA62, the experiment aimed at studying ultra-rare kaon decays at the CERN SPS. Three GTK stations will provide precise momentum and angular measurements on every track of the high intensity NA62 hadron beam with a time-tagging resolution of 150 ps. Multiple scattering and hadronic interactions of beam particles in the GTK have to be minimized to keep background events at acceptable levels, hence the total material budget is fixed to 0.5% X0 per station. In addition the calculated fluence for 100 days of running is 2×1014 1 MeV neq/cm2, comparable to the one expected for the inner trackers of LHC detectors in 10 years of operation. These requirements pose challenges for the development of an efficient and low-mass cooling system, to be operated in vacuum, and on the thinning of read-out chips to 100 μm or less. The most challenging requirement is represented by the time resolution, which can be achieved by carefully compensating for the discriminator time-walk. For this purpose, two complementary read-out architectures have been designed and produced as small-scale prototypes: the first is based on the use of a Time-over-Threshold circuit followed by a TDC shared by a group of pixels, while the other uses a constant-fraction discriminator followed by an on-pixel TDC. The readout pixel ASICs are produced in 130 nm IBM CMOS technology and bump-bonded to 200 μm thick silicon sensors. The Gigatracker detector system is described with particular emphasis on recent experimental results obtained from laboratory and beam tests of prototype bump-bonded assemblies, which show a time resolution of less than 200 ps for single hits.

Volume Sensor Development Test. Series 5 - Multi-Compartment System

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-12-30

while concurrently rejecting nuisance sources. The VSP system was also successfully integrated with the DD(X) Autonomic Fire Suppression System ( AFSS ...represents a functional prototype of the device-level layer of the envisioned DD(X) Flight I AFSS control system [24]. The system’s automated response to...present in the DD(X) Flight I design [24]. The VSP system was incorporated into the AFSS control system , replacing the fire and smoke detectors that were

Musculoskeletal imaging with a prototype photon-counting detector.

PubMed

Gruber, M; Homolka, P; Chmeissani, M; Uffmann, M; Pretterklieber, M; Kainberger, F

2012-01-01

To test a digital imaging X-ray device based on the direct capture of X-ray photons with pixel detectors, which are coupled with photon-counting readout electronics. The chip consists of a matrix of 256 × 256 pixels with a pixel pitch of 55 μm. A monolithic image of 11.2 cm × 7 cm was obtained by the consecutive displacement approach. Images of embalmed anatomical specimens of eight human hands were obtained at four different dose levels (skin dose 2.4, 6, 12, 25 μGy) with the new detector, as well as with a flat-panel detector. The overall rating scores for the evaluated anatomical regions ranged from 5.23 at the lowest dose level, 6.32 at approximately 6 μGy, 6.70 at 12 μGy, to 6.99 at the highest dose level with the photon-counting system. The corresponding rating scores for the flat-panel detector were 3.84, 5.39, 6.64, and 7.34. When images obtained at the same dose were compared, the new system outperformed the conventional DR system at the two lowest dose levels. At the higher dose levels, there were no significant differences between the two systems. The photon-counting detector has great potential to obtain musculoskeletal images of excellent quality at very low dose levels.

SALT, a dedicated readout chip for high precision tracking silicon strip detectors at the LHCb Upgrade

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bugiel, Sz.; Dasgupta, R.; Firlej, M.; Fiutowski, T.; Idzik, M.; Kuczynska, M.; Moron, J.; Swientek, K.; Szumlak, T.

2016-02-01

The Upstream Tracker (UT) silicon strip detector, one of the central parts of the tracker system of the modernised LHCb experiment, will use a new 128-channel readout ASIC called SALT. It will extract and digitise analogue signals from the UT sensors, perform digital signal processing and transmit a serial output data. The SALT is being designed in CMOS 130 nm process and uses a novel architecture comprising of analog front-end and fast (40 MSps) ultra-low power (<0.5 mW) 6-bit ADC in each channel. The prototype ASICs of important functional blocks, like analogue front-end, 6-bit SAR ADC, PLL, and DLL, were designed, fabricated and tested. A prototype of an 8-channel version of the SALT chip, comprising all important functionalities was also designed and fabricated. The architecture and design of the SALT, together with the selected preliminary tests results, are presented.

High resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy at high count rates with a prototype High Purity Germanium detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cooper, R. J.; Amman, M.; Vetter, K.

2018-04-01

High-resolution gamma-ray spectrometers are required for applications in nuclear safeguards, emergency response, and fundamental nuclear physics. To overcome one of the shortcomings of conventional High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detectors, we have developed a prototype device capable of achieving high event throughput and high energy resolution at very high count rates. This device, the design of which we have previously reported on, features a planar HPGe crystal with a reduced-capacitance strip electrode geometry. This design is intended to provide good energy resolution at the short shaping or digital filter times that are required for high rate operation and which are enabled by the fast charge collection afforded by the planar geometry crystal. In this work, we report on the initial performance of the system at count rates up to and including two million counts per second.

Circulation and Purification in the LUX-ZEPLIN System Test

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alsum, Shaun; Lz Collaboration

2016-03-01

LZ is a dark-matter direct detection experiment whose detector is a two-phase TPC using approximately seven tons of active xenon as its scintillator. The xenon must have few electronegative impurities to ensure sufficient electron transport through the drift region. The LZ purification system is being prototyped in the LZ system test, a test platform located at SLAC using about 100kg of Xenon, which consists of gas circulation through a SAES getter. We utilize a dual-phase and a gas-phase heat exchanger to reduce needed cooling power. To achieve this circulation we employ an all metal seal triple diaphragm pump, also prototyped in the System Test. This talk will present early results from the system test as well as some baseline LZ designs. The LUX-ZEPLIN dark matter direct detection experiment.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bolotnikov, Aleksey; Cui, Yonggang; Vernon, Emerson

This document presents motivations, goals and the current status of this project; development (fabrication, performance) of position-sensitive virtual Frisch-grid detectors proposed for nanoRaider, an instrument commonly used by nuclear inspectors; ASIC developments for CZT detectors; and the electronics development for the detector prototype..

Adaptive Optics for the Thirty Meter Telescope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ellerbroek, Brent

2013-12-01

This paper provides an overview of the progress made since the last AO4ELT conference towards developing the first-light AO architecture for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT). The Preliminary Design of the facility AO system NFIRAOS has been concluded by the Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics. Work on the client Infrared Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) has progressed in parallel, including a successful Conceptual Design Review and prototyping of On-Instrument WFS (OIWFS) hardware. Progress on the design for the Laser Guide Star Facility (LGSF) continues at the Institute of Optics and Electronics in Chengdu, China, including the final acceptance of the Conceptual Design and modest revisions for the updated TMT telescope structure. Design and prototyping activities continue for lasers, wavefront sensing detectors, detector readout electronics, real-time control (RTC) processors, and deformable mirrors (DMs) with their associated drive electronics. Highlights include development of a prototype sum frequency guide star laser at the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry (Beijing); fabrication/test of prototype natural- and laser-guide star wavefront sensor CCDs for NFIRAOS by MIT Lincoln Laboratory and W.M. Keck Observatory; a trade study of RTC control algorithms and processors, with prototyping of GPU and FPGA architectures by TMT and the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory; and fabrication/test of a 6x60 actuator DM prototype by CILAS. Work with the University of British Columbia LIDAR is continuing, in collaboration with ESO, to measure the spatial/temporal variability of the sodium layer and characterize the sodium coupling efficiency of several guide star laser systems. AO performance budgets have been further detailed. Modeling topics receiving particular attention include performance vs. computational cost tradeoffs for RTC algorithms; optimizing performance of the tip/tilt, plate scale, and sodium focus tracking loops controlled by the NGS on-instrument wavefront sensors, sky coverage, PSF reconstruction for LGS MCAO, and precision astrometry for the galactic center and other observations.

Development of a prototype Open-close positron emission tomography system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamamoto, Seiichi; Okumura, Satoshi; Watabe, Tadashi; Ikeda, Hayato; Kanai, Yasukazu; Toshito, Toshiyuki; Komori, Masataka; Ogata, Yoshimune; Kato, Katsuhiko; Hatazawa, Jun

2015-08-01

We developed a prototype positron emission tomography (PET) system based on a new concept called Open-close PET, which has two modes: open and close-modes. In the open-mode, the detector ring is separated into two halved rings and subject is imaged with the open space and projection image is formed. In the close-mode, the detector ring is closed to be a regular circular ring, and the subject can be imaged without an open space, and so reconstructed images can be made without artifacts. The block detector of the Open-close PET system consists of two scintillator blocks that use two types of gadolinium orthosilicate (GSO) scintillators with different decay times, angled optical fiber-based image guides, and a flat panel photomultiplier tube. The GSO pixel size was 1.6 × 2.4 × 7 mm and 8 mm for fast (35 ns) and slow (60 ns) GSOs, respectively. These GSOs were arranged into an 11 × 15 matrix and optically coupled in the depth direction to form a depth-of-interaction detector. The angled optical fiber-based image guides were used to arrange the two scintillator blocks at 22.5° so that they can be arranged in a hexadecagonal shape with eight block detectors to simplify the reconstruction algorithm. The detector ring was divided into two halves to realize the open-mode and set on a mechanical stand with which the distance between the two parts can be manually changed. The spatial resolution in the close-mode was 2.4-mm FWHM, and the sensitivity was 1.7% at the center of the field-of-view. In both the close- and open-modes, we made sagittal (y-z plane) projection images between the two halved detector rings. We obtained reconstructed and projection images of 18F-NaF rat studies and proton-irradiated phantom images. These results indicate that our developed Open-close PET is useful for some applications such as proton therapy as well as other applications such as molecular imaging.

Asymmetric Data Acquisition System for an Endoscopic PET-US Detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zorraquino, Carlos; Bugalho, Ricardo; Rolo, Manuel; Silva, Jose C.; Vecklans, Viesturs; Silva, Rui; Ortigão, Catarina; Neves, Jorge A.; Tavernier, Stefaan; Guerra, Pedro; Santos, Andres; Varela, João

2016-02-01

According to current prognosis studies of pancreatic cancer, survival rate nowadays is still as low as 6% mainly due to late detections. Taking into account the location of the disease within the body and making use of the level of miniaturization in radiation detectors that can be achieved at the present time, EndoTOFPET-US collaboration aims at the development of a multimodal imaging technique for endoscopic pancreas exams that combines the benefits of high resolution metabolic information from time-of- flight (TOF) positron emission tomography (PET) with anatomical information from ultrasound (US). A system with such capabilities calls for an application-specific high-performance data acquisition system (DAQ) able to control and readout data from different detectors. The system is composed of two novel detectors: a PET head extension for a commercial US endoscope placed internally close to the region-of-interest (ROI) and a PET plate placed over the patient's abdomen in coincidence with the PET head. These two detectors will send asymmetric data streams that need to be handled by the DAQ system. The approach chosen to cope with these needs goes through the implementation of a DAQ capable of performing multi-level triggering and which is distributed across two different on-detector electronics and the off-detector electronics placed inside the reconstruction workstation. This manuscript provides an overview on the design of this innovative DAQ system and, based on results obtained by means of final prototypes of the two detectors and DAQ, we conclude that a distributed multi-level triggering DAQ system is suitable for endoscopic PET detectors and it shows potential for its application in different scenarios with asymmetric sources of data.

TADIR: a second-generation 480 x 4 TDI FLIR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarusi, Gabby

1997-08-01

'TADIR' is an El-Op's new second generation thermal imager based on 480 by 4 TDI MCT detector operated in the 8 - 10.5 micrometer spectral range. Although the prototype configuration design of TADIR is aimed toward the light weight low volume applications, TADIR is a generic modular technology of which the future El-Op second generation FLIR applications will be derived from. Beside the detector, what put the system in the second generation category are the state of the art features implemented in every component. This paper describes the system concept and design consideration have been taken during the development of its components.

A prototype MR insertable brain PET using tileable GAPD arrays.

PubMed

Hong, Key Jo; Choi, Yong; Jung, Jin Ho; Kang, Jihoon; Hu, Wei; Lim, Hyun Keong; Huh, Yoonsuk; Kim, Sangsu; Jung, Ji Woong; Kim, Kyu Bom; Song, Myung Sung; Park, Hyun-Wook

2013-04-01

The aim of this study was to develop a prototype magnetic resonance (MR)-compatible positron emission tomography (PET) that can be inserted into a MR imager and that allows simultaneous PET and MR imaging of the human brain. This paper reports the initial results of the authors' prototype brain PET system operating within a 3-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system using newly developed Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode (GAPD)-based PET detectors, long flexible flat cables, position decoder circuit with high multiplexing ratio, and digital signal processing with field programmable gate array-based analog to digital converter boards. A brain PET with 72 detector modules arranged in a ring was constructed and mounted in a 3-T MRI. Each PET module was composed of cerium-doped lutetium yttrium orthosilicate (LYSO) crystals coupled to a tileable GAPD. The GAPD output charge signals were transferred to preamplifiers using 3 m long flat cables. The LYSO and GAPD were located inside the MR bore and all electronics were positioned outside the MR bore. The PET detector performance was investigated both outside and inside the MRI, and MR image quality was evaluated with and without the PET system. The performance of the PET detector when operated inside the MRI during MR image acquisition showed no significant change in energy resolution and count rates, except for a slight degradation in timing resolution with an increase from 4.2 to 4.6 ns. Simultaneous PET/MR images of a hot-rod and Hoffman brain phantom were acquired in a 3-T MRI. Rods down to a diameter of 3.5 mm were resolved in the hot-rod PET image. The activity distribution patterns between the white and gray matter in the Hoffman brain phantom were well imaged. The hot-rod and Hoffman brain phantoms on the simultaneously acquired MR images obtained with standard sequences were observed without any noticeable artifacts, although MR image quality requires some improvement. These results demonstrate that the simultaneous acquisition of PET and MR images is feasible using the MR insertable PET developed in this study.

Design and characterization of a real time particle radiography system based on scintillating optical fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Longhitano, F.; Lo Presti, D.; Bonanno, D. L.; Bongiovanni, D. G.; Leonora, E.; Randazzo, N.; Reito, S.; Sipala, V.; Gallo, G.

2017-02-01

The fabrication and characterization of a charged particle imaging system composed of a tracker and a residual range detector (RRD) is described. The tracker is composed of four layers of scintillating fibers (SciFi), 500 μm side square section, arranged to form two planes orthogonal to each other. The fibers are coupled to two Multi-Pixel Photon Counter (MPPC) arrays by means of a channel reduction system patented by the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) (Presti, 2015) [1]. Sixty parallel layers of the same fibers used in the tracker compose the RRD. The various layers are optically coupled to a MPPC array by means of wavelength shifting (WLS) fibers. The sensitive area of the two detectors is 9×9 cm2. The results of the measurements, acquired by the prototypes with CATANA (Cirrone, 2008) [2] proton beam, and a comparison with the simulations of the detectors are presented.

The Phase-2 electronics upgrade of the ATLAS liquid argon calorimeter system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vachon, B.

2018-03-01

The LHC high-luminosity upgrade in 2024-2026 requires the associated detectors to operate at luminosities about 5-7 times larger than assumed in their original design. The pile-up is expected to increase to up to 200 events per proton bunch-crossing. The current readout of the ATLAS liquid argon calorimeters does not provide sufficient buffering and bandwidth capabilities to accommodate the hardware triggers requirements imposed by these harsh conditions. Furthermore, the expected total radiation doses are beyond the qualification range of the current front-end electronics. For these reasons an almost complete replacement of the front-end and off-detector readout system is foreseen for the 182,468 readout channels. The new readout system will be based on a free-running architecture, where calorimeter signals are amplified, shaped and digitized by on-detector electronics, then sent at 40 MHz to the off-detector electronics for further processing. Results from the design studies on the performance of the components of the readout system are presented, as well as the results of the tests of the first prototypes.

Assessment of the Capability of the NGDS Prototype to Replace the JBAIDS for Environmental Sample Analysis

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-11-01

FilmArray system. 15. SUBJECT TERMS BioFire FilmArray system Dry Filter Unit (DFU) Joint Biological...collectors, such as the Dry Filter Unit (DFU). The FilmArray system showed enormous potential to rapidly screen samples for a wide range of biological...specific focus on the efficient implementation of environmental detectors and collectors, such as Dry Filter Units (DFUs). The JUPITR ATD members

X-ray tests of a microchannel plate detector and amorphous silicon pixel array readout for neutron radiography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ambrosi, R. M.; Street, R.; Feller, B.; Fraser, G. W.; Watterson, J. I. W.; Lanza, R. C.; Dowson, J.; Ross, D.; Martindale, A.; Abbey, A. F.; Vernon, D.

2007-03-01

High-performance large area imaging detectors for fast neutrons in the 5-14 MeV energy range do not exist at present. The aim of this project is to combine microchannel plates or MCPs (or similar electron multiplication structures) traditionally used in image intensifiers and X-ray detectors with amorphous silicon (a-Si) pixel arrays to produce a composite converter and intensifier position sensitive imaging system. This detector will provide an order of magnitude improvement in image resolution when compared with current millimetre resolution limits obtained using phosphor or scintillator-based hydrogen rich converters. In this study we present the results of the initial experimental evaluation of the prototype system. This study was carried out using a medical X-ray source for the proof of concept tests, the next phase will involve neutron imaging tests. The hybrid detector described in this study is a unique development and paves the way for large area position sensitive detectors consisting of MCP or microsphere plate detectors and a-Si or polysilicon pixel arrays. Applications include neutron and X-ray imaging for terrestrial applications. The technology could be extended to space instrumentation for X-ray astronomy.

Modular focusing ring imaging Cherenkov detector for electron-ion collider experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wong, C. P.; Alfred, M.; Allison, L.; Awadi, M.; Azmoun, B.; Barbosa, F.; Barion, L.; Bennett, J.; Brooks, W.; Butler, C.; Cao, T.; Chiu, M.; Cisbani, E.; Contalbrigo, M.; Datta, A.; Del Dotto, A.; Demarteau, M.; Durham, J. M.; Dzhygadlo, R.; Elder, T.; Fields, D.; Furletova, Y.; Gleason, C.; Grosse-Perdekamp, M.; Harris, J.; Haseler, T. O. S.; He, X.; van Hecke, H.; Horn, T.; Hruschka, A.; Huang, J.; Hyde, C.; Ilieva, Y.; Kalicy, G.; Kimball, M.; Kistenev, E.; Kulinich, Y.; Liu, M.; Majka, R.; McKisson, J.; Mendez, R.; Nadel-Turonski, P.; Park, K.; Peters, K.; Rao, T.; Pisani, R.; Qiang, Y.; Rescia, S.; Rossi, P.; Sarajlic, O.; Sarsour, M.; Schwarz, C.; Schwiening, J.; da Silva, C. L.; Smirnov, N.; Stien, H. D.; Stevens, J.; Sukhanov, A.; Syed, S.; Tate, A. C.; Toh, J.; Towell, C. L.; Towell, R. S.; Tsang, T.; Turisini, M.; Wagner, R.; Wang, J.; Woody, C.; Xi, W.; Xie, J.; Zhao, Z. W.; Zihlmann, B.; Zorn, C.

2017-11-01

A powerful new electron-ioncollider (EIC) has been recommended in the 2015 Long Range Plan for Nuclear Science for probing the partonic structure inside nucleons and nuclei with unprecedented precision and versatility [1]. EIC detectors are currently under development [2], all of which require hadron identification over a broad kinematic range. A prototype ring imaging Cherenkov detector has been developed for hadron identification in the momentum range from 3 GeV/c to 10 GeV/c. The key feature of this new detector is a compact and modular design, achieved by using aerogel as radiator and a Fresnel lens for ring focusing. In this paper, the results from a beam test of a prototype device at Fermilab are reported.

Measurement of nuclear resonant scattering on 61Ni with fast scintillation detector using proportional-mode silicon avalanche photodiode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Inoue, Keisuke; Kobayashi, Yasuhiro; Yoda, Yoshitaka; Koshimizu, Masanori; Nishikido, Fumihiko; Haruki, Rie; Kishimoto, Shunji

2018-02-01

We developed a new scintillation timing detector using a proportional-mode silicon avalanche photodiode (Si-APD) for synchrotron radiation nuclear resonant scattering. We report on the nuclear forward scattering measurement on 61Ni with a prototype detector using a lead-loaded plastic scintillator (EJ-256, 3 mm in diameter and 2 mm in thickness), mounted on a proportional-mode Si-APD. Using synchrotron X-rays of 67.41 keV, we successfully measured the time spectra of nuclear forward scattering on 61Ni enriched metal foil and 61Ni86V14 alloy. The prototype detector confirmed the expected dynamical beat structure with a time resolution of 0.53 ns (FWHM).

Large-format high resolution microchannel plate detectors for ultraviolet astronomy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Martin, Christopher

1995-01-01

This report includes work on two types of two-dimensional position-sensitive detectors that were developed in this lab under this award. We worked to develop and optimize the wire-wound helical delay line detector (HDL) in the first and second years. Some early work on the HDL is contained in a paper included as Appendix A. In the second and third years we developed the concept for, then successfully designed and tested, both a lab prototype, and a flight prototype of the first, crossed delay line detector based on two orthogonal serpentine delay lines (SDL). Some of the work on the SDL is contained in a paper included as Appendix B. Appendix C contains copies of the invention report and record.

NeuRad detector prototype pulse shape study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muzalevsky, I.; Chudoba, V.; Belogurov, S.; Kiselev, O.; Bezbakh, A.; Fomichev, A.; Krupko, S.; Slepnev, R.; Kostyleva, D.; Gorshkov, A.; Ovcharenko, E.; Schetinin, V.

2018-04-01

The EXPERT setup located at the Super-FRS facility, the part of the FAIR complex in Darmstadt, Germany, is intended for investigation of properties of light exotic nuclei. One of its modules, the high granularity neutron detector NeuRad assembled from a large number of the scintillating fiber is intended for registration of neutrons emitted by investigated nuclei in low-energy decays. Feasibility of the detector strongly depends on its timing properties defined by the spatial distribution of ionization, light propagation inside the fibers, light emission kinetics and transition time jitter in the multi-anode photomultiplier tube. The first attempt of understanding the pulse formation in the prototype of the NeuRad detector by comparing experimental results and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations is reported in this paper.

Results from the UK 3rd generation programme: Albion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McEwen, R. K.; Axcell, C.; Knowles, P.; Hoade, K. P.; Wilson, M.; Dennis, P. N. J.; Backhouse, P.; Gordon, N. T.

2008-10-01

Following the development of 1st Generation systems in the 1970s, thermal imaging has been in service with the UK armed forces for over 25 years and has proven itself to be a battle winning technology. More recently the wider accessibility to similar technologies within opposing forces has reduced the military advantage provided by these 1st Generation systems and a clear requirement has been identified by the UK MOD for thermal imaging sensors providing increased detection, recognition and identification (DRI) ranges together with a simplified logistical deployment burden and reduced through-life costs. In late 2005, the UK MOD initiated a programme known as "Albion" to develop high performance 3rd Generation single waveband infrared detectors to meet this requirement. At the same time, under a separate programme supporting higher risk technology, a dual waveband infrared detector was also developed. The development phase of the Albion programme has now been completed and prototype detectors are now available and have been integrated into demonstration thermal imaging cameras. The Albion programme has now progressed into the second phase, incorporating both single and dual waveband devices, focussing on low rate initial production (LRIP) and qualification of the devices for military applications. All of the detectors have been fabricated using cadmium mercury telluride material (CMT), grown by metal organic vapour phase epitaxy (MOVPE) on low cost, gallium arsenide (GaAs) substrates and bump bonded to the silicon read out circuit (ROIC). This paper discusses the design features of the 3rd Generation detectors developed in the UK together with the results obtained from the prototype devices both in the laboratory and when integrated into field deployable thermal imaging cameras.

H4DAQ: a modern and versatile data-acquisition package for calorimeter prototypes test-beams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marini, A. C.

2018-02-01

The upgrade of the particle detectors for the HL-LHC or for future colliders requires an extensive program of tests to qualify different detector prototypes with dedicated test beams. A common data-acquisition system, H4DAQ, was developed for the H4 test beam line at the North Area of the CERN SPS in 2014 and it has since been adopted in various applications for the CMS experiment and AIDA project. Several calorimeter prototypes and precision timing detectors have used our system from 2014 to 2017. H4DAQ has proven to be a versatile application and has been ported to many other beam test environments. H4DAQ is fast, simple, modular and can be configured to support various kinds of setup. The functionalities of the DAQ core software are split into three configurable finite state machines: data readout, run control, and event builder. The distribution of information and data between the various computers is performed using ZEROMQ (0MQ) sockets. Plugins are available to read different types of hardware, including VME crates with many types of boards, PADE boards, custom front-end boards and beam instrumentation devices. The raw data are saved as ROOT files, using the CERN C++ ROOT libraries. A Graphical User Interface, based on the python gtk libraries, is used to operate the H4DAQ and an integrated data quality monitoring (DQM), written in C++, allows for fast processing of the events for quick feedback to the user. As the 0MQ libraries are also available for the National Instruments LabVIEW program, this environment can easily be integrated within H4DAQ applications.

SuperCDMS Prototype Detector Design and Testing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kennedy, Allison Blair

A substantial amount of astrophysical evidence indicates that approximately a quarter of all energy in the universe is composed of a nonluminous, and nonbaryonic \\dark" matter. Of the potential dark matter particle candidates, Weakly Interacting Massive Particles, or WIMPs, is particularly well motivated. As a means to directly detect WIMP interactions with baryonic matter, the Cryogenic Dark Matter Search (CDMS) project was established, operating at the Soudan Underground Laboratory from 2003 - 2015, under the CDMS II and SuperCDMS Soudan experiments. CDMS detectors simultaneously measure the ionization and phonon energies of recoil events in Si and Ge crystals kept atmore » cryogenic temperatures in a low-background environment. The ratio of ionization energy to recoil energy serves as a discrimination parameter to separate nuclear recoil events from the electron-recoil background. The next installation, SuperCDMS SNOLAB, is preparing for future operation, with an initial payload of eighteen Ge and six Si, 100 mm diameter, 33 mm thick detectors. Of this initial payload, eight Ge and four Si detectors will operate in a high-voltage ( 100 V) mode, which have an increased sensitivity to low-mass WIMPs due to decreased energy thresholds. The SuperCDMS test facility at University of Minnesota aids in the detector R&D and characterization of prototype detectors, as part of the scale-up eort for Super- CDMS SNOLAB. This thesis presents the rst full ionization and phonon characterization study of a 100 mm diameter, 33 mm thick prototype Ge detector with interleaved phonon and ionization channels. Measurements include ionization collection eciency, surface event rejection capabilities, and successful demonstration of nuclear recoil event discrimination. Results indicate that 100 mm diameter, interleaved Ge detectors show potential for use in SuperCDMS SNOLAB. As part of detector R&D, the Minnesota test facility also looks beyond the next stage of SuperCDMS, investigating larger individual detectors as a means to easily scale up the sensitive mass of future searches. This thesis presents the design and initial testing results of a prototype 150 mm diameter, 33 mm thick silicon ionization detector, which is 5.2 times larger than those used in SuperCDMS at Soudan and 2.25 times larger than those planned for use at SuperCDMS SNOLAB. In addition, the detector was operated with contact-free ionization electrodes to minimize bias leakage currents, which can limit operation at high bias voltages. The results show promise for the operation of both large volume silicon detectors and contact-free ionization electrodes for scaling up detector mass and bias.« less

SU-C-209-05: Monte Carlo Model of a Prototype Backscatter X-Ray (BSX) Imager for Projective and Selective Object-Plane Imaging

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rolison, L; Samant, S; Baciak, J

Purpose: To develop a Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) model for the validation of a prototype backscatter x-ray (BSX) imager, and optimization of BSX technology for medical applications, including selective object-plane imaging. Methods: BSX is an emerging technology that represents an alternative to conventional computed tomography (CT) and projective digital radiography (DR). It employs detectors located on the same side as the incident x-ray source, making use of backscatter and avoiding ring geometry to enclose the imaging object. Current BSX imagers suffer from low spatial resolution. A MCNP model was designed to replicate a BSX prototype used for flaw detection inmore » industrial materials. This prototype consisted of a 1.5mm diameter 60kVp pencil beam surrounded by a ring of four 5.0cm diameter NaI scintillation detectors. The imaging phantom consisted of a 2.9cm thick aluminum plate with five 0.6cm diameter holes drilled halfway. The experimental image was created using a raster scanning motion (in 1.5mm increments). Results: A qualitative comparison between the physical and simulated images showed very good agreement with 1.5mm spatial resolution in plane perpendicular to incident x-ray beam. The MCNP model developed the concept of radiography by selective plane detection (RSPD) for BSX, whereby specific object planes can be imaged by varying kVp. 10keV increments in mean x-ray energy yielded 4mm thick slice resolution in the phantom. Image resolution in the MCNP model can be further increased by increasing the number of detectors, and decreasing raster step size. Conclusion: MCNP modelling was used to validate a prototype BSX imager and introduce the RSPD concept, allowing for selective object-plane imaging. There was very good visual agreement between the experimental and MCNP imaging. Beyond optimizing system parameters for the existing prototype, new geometries can be investigated for volumetric image acquisition in medical applications. This material is based upon work supported under an Integrated University Program Graduate Fellowship sponsored by the Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy.« less

Evaluation of a prototype correction algorithm to reduce metal artefacts in flat detector computed tomography of scaphoid fixation screws.

PubMed

Filli, Lukas; Marcon, Magda; Scholz, Bernhard; Calcagni, Maurizio; Finkenstädt, Tim; Andreisek, Gustav; Guggenberger, Roman

2014-12-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate a prototype correction algorithm to reduce metal artefacts in flat detector computed tomography (FDCT) of scaphoid fixation screws. FDCT has gained interest in imaging small anatomic structures of the appendicular skeleton. Angiographic C-arm systems with flat detectors allow fluoroscopy and FDCT imaging in a one-stop procedure emphasizing their role as an ideal intraoperative imaging tool. However, FDCT imaging can be significantly impaired by artefacts induced by fixation screws. Following ethical board approval, commercially available scaphoid fixation screws were inserted into six cadaveric specimens in order to fix artificially induced scaphoid fractures. FDCT images corrected with the algorithm were compared to uncorrected images both quantitatively and qualitatively by two independent radiologists in terms of artefacts, screw contour, fracture line visibility, bone visibility, and soft tissue definition. Normal distribution of variables was evaluated using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. In case of normal distribution, quantitative variables were compared using paired Student's t tests. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for quantitative variables without normal distribution and all qualitative variables. A p value of < 0.05 was considered to indicate statistically significant differences. Metal artefacts were significantly reduced by the correction algorithm (p < 0.001), and the fracture line was more clearly defined (p < 0.01). The inter-observer reliability was "almost perfect" (intra-class correlation coefficient 0.85, p < 0.001). The prototype correction algorithm in FDCT for metal artefacts induced by scaphoid fixation screws may facilitate intra- and postoperative follow-up imaging. Flat detector computed tomography (FDCT) is a helpful imaging tool for scaphoid fixation. The correction algorithm significantly reduces artefacts in FDCT induced by scaphoid fixation screws. This may facilitate intra- and postoperative follow-up imaging.

Observation of Muon Neutrino Charged Current Events in an Off-Axis Horn-Focused Neutrino Beam Using the NOvA Prototype Detector

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Diaz, Enrique Arrieta

2014-01-01

The NOνA is a long base-line neutrino oscillation experiment. It will study the oscillations between muon and electron neutrinos through the Earth. NOνA consists of two detectors separated by 810 km. Each detector will measure the electron neutrino content of the neutrino (NuMI) beam. Differences between the measurements will reveal details about the oscillation channel. The NOνA collaboration built a prototype detector on the surface at Fermilab in order to develop calibration, simulation, and reconstruction tools, using real data. This 220 ton detector is 110 mrad off the NuMI beam axis. This off-axis location allows the observation of neutrino interactionsmore » with energies around 2 GeV, where neutrinos come predominantly from charged kaon decays. During the period between October 2011 and April 2012, the prototype detector collected neutrino data from 1.67 × 10 20 protons on target delivered by the NuMI beam. This analysis selected a number of candidate charged current muon neutrino events from the prototype data, which is 30% lower than predicted by the NOνA Monte Carlo simulation. The analysis suggests that the discrepancy comes from an over estimation of the neutrino flux in the Monte Carlo simulation, and in particular, from neutrinos generated in charged kaon decays. The ratio of measured divided by the simulated flux of muon neutrinos coming from charged kaon decays is: 0.70 +0.108 -0.094. The NOνA collaboration may use the findings of this analysis to introduce a more accurate prediction of the neutrino flux produced by the NuMI beam in future Monte Carlo simulations.« less

MWPC prototyping and performance test for the STAR inner TPC upgrade

DOE PAGES

Shen, Fuwang; Wang, Shuai; Kong, Fangang; ...

2018-04-16

A new prototype of STAR inner Time Projection Chamber (iTPC) MWPC sector has been fabricated and tested in an X-ray test system. The wire chamber built at Shandong University has a wire tension precision better than 6% and wire pitch precision better than 10 μm. The gas gain uniformity and energy resolution are measured to be better than 1% (RMS) and 20% (FWHM), respectively, using an 55Fe X-ray source. The iTPC upgrade project is to replace all 24 STAR TPC inner sectors as a crucial detector upgrade for the RHIC beam energy scan phase II program. Furthermore, the test resultsmore » show that the constructed iTPC prototype meets all project requirements.« less

MWPC prototyping and performance test for the STAR inner TPC upgrade

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shen, Fuwang; Wang, Shuai; Kong, Fangang

A new prototype of STAR inner Time Projection Chamber (iTPC) MWPC sector has been fabricated and tested in an X-ray test system. The wire chamber built at Shandong University has a wire tension precision better than 6% and wire pitch precision better than 10 μm. The gas gain uniformity and energy resolution are measured to be better than 1% (RMS) and 20% (FWHM), respectively, using an 55Fe X-ray source. The iTPC upgrade project is to replace all 24 STAR TPC inner sectors as a crucial detector upgrade for the RHIC beam energy scan phase II program. Furthermore, the test resultsmore » show that the constructed iTPC prototype meets all project requirements.« less

A CMOS pixel sensor prototype for the outer layers of linear collider vertex detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, L.; Morel, F.; Hu-Guo, C.; Himmi, A.; Dorokhov, A.; Hu, Y.

2015-01-01

The International Linear Collider (ILC) expresses a stringent requirement for high precision vertex detectors (VXD). CMOS pixel sensors (CPS) have been considered as an option for the VXD of the International Large Detector (ILD), one of the detector concepts proposed for the ILC. MIMOSA-31 developed at IPHC-Strasbourg is the first CPS integrated with 4-bit column-level ADC for the outer layers of the VXD, adapted to an original concept minimizing the power consumption. It is composed of a matrix of 64 rows and 48 columns. The pixel concept combines in-pixel amplification with a correlated double sampling (CDS) operation in order to reduce the temporal noise and fixed pattern noise (FPN). At the bottom of the pixel array, each column is terminated with a self-triggered analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The ADC design was optimized for power saving at a sampling frequency of 6.25 MS/s. The prototype chip is fabricated in a 0.35 μm CMOS technology. This paper presents the details of the prototype chip and its test results.

Detection system for neutron β decay correlations in the UCNB and Nab experiments

DOE PAGES

Broussard, L. J.; Oak Ridge National Lab.; Zeck, B. A.; ...

2016-12-19

Here, we describe a detection system designed to precisely measure multiple correlations in neutron β decay. Furthermore, the system is based on thick, large area, highly segmented silicon detectors developed in collaboration with Micron Semiconductor, Ltd. The prototype system meets specifications of energy thresholds below 10 keV, energy resolution of ~3 keV FWHM, and rise time of ~50 ns with 19 of the 127 detector pixels instrumented. We have demonstrated the coincident detection of β particles and recoil protons from neutron β decay, using ultracold neutrons at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center, . The fully instrumented detection system willmore » be implemented in the UCNB and Nab experiments, to determine the neutron β decay parameters B, a, and b.« less

A passive infrared ice detection technique for helicopter applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dershowitz, Adam L.; Hansman, R. John, Jr.

1991-01-01

A technique has been developed, and successfully tested, to detect icing remotely on helicopter rotor blades. Using passive infrared (IR) thermometry it is possible to detect the warming caused by latent heat released as supercooled water freezes. During icing, the ice accretion region on the leading edge of the blade is found to be warmer than the uniced trailing edge resulting in a chordwise temperature profile characteristic of icing. Preliminary tests, using an IR Thermal video system, were conducted on a static model in the NASA Icing Research Tunnel (IRT) for a variety of wet (glaze) and dry (rime) ice conditions. A prototype detector system was built consisting of a single point IR pyrometer, and experiments were run on a small scale rotor model. Using this prototype detector, the characteristic chordwise temperature profiles were again observed for a range of icing conditions. Several signal processing methods were investigated, to allow automatic recognition of the icing signature. Additionally, several implementation issues were considered. Based on both the static and subscale rotor tests, where ice was successfully detected, the passive IR technique appears to be promising for rotor ice detection.

A Submillimeter Resolution PET Prototype Evaluated With an 18F Inkjet Printed Phantom

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schneider, Florian R.; Hohberg, Melanie; Mann, Alexander B.; Paul, Stephan; Ziegler, Sibylle I.

2015-10-01

This work presents a submillimeter resolution PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scanner prototype based on SiPM/MPPC arrays (Silicon Photomultiplier/Multi Pixel Photon Counter). Onto each active area a 1 ×1 ×20 mm3 LYSO (Lutetium-Yttrium-Oxyorthosilicate) scintillator crystal is coupled one-to-one. Two detector modules facing each other in a distance of 10.0 cm have been set up with in total 64 channels that are digitized by SADCs (Sampling Analog to Digital Converters) with 80 MHz, 10 bit resolution and FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) based extraction of energy and time information. Since standard phantoms are not sufficient for testing submillimeter resolution at which positron range is an issue, a 18F inkjet printed phantom has been used to explore the limit in spatial resolution. The phantom could be successfully reconstructed with an iterative MLEM (Maximum Likelihood Expectation Maximization) and an analytically calculated system matrix based on the DRF (Detector Response Function) model. The system yields a coincidence time resolution of 4.8 ns FWHM, an energy resolution of 20%-30% FWHM and a spatial resolution of 0.8 mm.

Development of CMOS pixel sensors for the upgrade of the ALICE Inner Tracking System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Molnar, L.

2014-12-01

The ALICE Collaboration is preparing a major upgrade of the current detector, planned for installation during the second long LHC shutdown in the years 2018-19, in order to enhance its low-momentum vertexing and tracking capability, and exploit the planned increase of the LHC luminosity with Pb beams. One of the cornerstones of the ALICE upgrade strategy is to replace the current Inner Tracking System in its entirety with a new, high resolution, low-material ITS detector. The new ITS will consist of seven concentric layers equipped with Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors (MAPS) implemented using the 0.18 μm CMOS technology of TowerJazz. In this contribution, the main key features of the ITS upgrade will be illustrated with emphasis on the functionality of the pixel chip. The ongoing developments on the readout architectures, which have been implemented in several fabricated prototypes, will be discussed. The operational features of these prototypes as well as the results of the characterisation tests before and after irradiation will also be presented.

Clinical trials of the prototype Rutherford Appleton Laboratory MWPC positron camera at the Royal Marsden Hospital

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Flower, M. A.; Ott, R. J.; Webb, S.; Leach, M. O.; Marsden, P. K.; Clack, R.; Khan, O.; Batty, V.; McCready, V. R.; Bateman, J. E.

1988-06-01

Two clinical trials of the prototype RAL multiwire proportional chamber (MWPC) positron camera were carried out prior to the development of a clinical system with large-area detectors. During the first clinical trial, the patient studies included skeletal imaging using 18F, imaging of brain glucose metabolism using 18F FDG, bone marrow imaging using 52Fe citrate and thyroid imaging with Na 124I. Longitudinal tomograms were produced from the limited-angle data acquisition from the static detectors. During the second clinical trial, transaxial, coronal and sagittal images were produced from the multiview data acquisition. A more detailed thyroid study was performed in which the volume of the functioning thyroid tissue was obtained from the 3D PET image and this volume was used in estimating the radiation dose achieved during radioiodine therapy of patients with thyrotoxicosis. Despite the small field of view of the prototype camera, and the use of smaller than usual amounts of activity administered, the PET images were in most cases comparable with, and in a few cases visually better than, the equivalent planar view using a state-of-the-art gamma camera with a large field of view and routine radiopharmaceuticals.

The Mammographic Head Demonstrator Developed in the Framework of the “IMI” Project:. First Imaging Tests Results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bisogni, Maria Giuseppina

2006-04-01

In this paper we report on the performances and the first imaging test results of a digital mammographic demonstrator based on GaAs pixel detectors. The heart of this prototype is the X-ray detection unit, which is a GaAs pixel sensor read-out by the PCC/MEDIPIXI circuit. Since the active area of the sensor is 1 cm2, 18 detectors have been organized in two staggered rows of nine chips each. To cover the typical mammographic format (18 × 24 cm2) a linear scanning is performed by means of a stepper motor. The system is integrated in mammographic equipment comprehending the X-ray tube, the bias and data acquisition systems and the PC-based control system. The prototype has been developed in the framework of the integrated Mammographic Imaging (IMI) project, an industrial research activity aiming to develop innovative instrumentation for morphologic and functional imaging. The project has been supported by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) and by five Italian High Tech companies in collaboration with the universities of Ferrara, Roma “La Sapienza”, Pisa and the INFN.

Cryogenic and radiation-hard asic for interfacing large format NIR/SWIR detector arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Peng; Dupont, Benoit; Dierickx, Bart; Müller, Eric; Verbruggen, Geert; Gielis, Stijn; Valvekens, Ramses

2017-11-01

For scientific and earth observation space missions, weight and power consumption is usually a critical factor. In order to obtain better vehicle integration, efficiency and controllability for large format NIR/SWIR detector arrays, a prototype ASIC is designed. It performs multiple detector array interfacing, power regulation and data acquisition operations inside the cryogenic chambers. Both operation commands and imaging data are communicated via the SpaceWire interface which will significantly reduce the number of wire goes in and out the cryogenic chamber. This "ASIC" prototype is realized in 0.18um CMOS technology and is designed for radiation hardness.

Optical delay encoding for fast timing and detector signal multiplexing in PET

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Grant, Alexander M.; Levin, Craig S., E-mail: cslevin@stanford.edu; Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford

2015-08-15

Purpose: The large number of detector channels in modern positron emission tomography (PET) scanners poses a challenge in terms of readout electronics complexity. Multiplexing schemes are typically implemented to reduce the number of physical readout channels, but often result in performance degradation. Novel methods of multiplexing in PET must be developed to avoid this data degradation. The preservation of fast timing information is especially important for time-of-flight PET. Methods: A new multiplexing scheme based on encoding detector interaction events with a series of extremely fast overlapping optical pulses with precise delays is demonstrated in this work. Encoding events in thismore » way potentially allows many detector channels to be simultaneously encoded onto a single optical fiber that is then read out by a single digitizer. A two channel silicon photomultiplier-based prototype utilizing this optical delay encoding technique along with dual threshold time-over-threshold is demonstrated. Results: The optical encoding and multiplexing prototype achieves a coincidence time resolution of 160 ps full width at half maximum (FWHM) and an energy resolution of 13.1% FWHM at 511 keV with 3 × 3 × 5 mm{sup 3} LYSO crystals. All interaction information for both detectors, including timing, energy, and channel identification, is encoded onto a single optical fiber with little degradation. Conclusions: Optical delay encoding and multiplexing technology could lead to time-of-flight PET scanners with fewer readout channels and simplified data acquisition systems.« less

Development of a small single-ring OpenPET prototype with a novel transformable architecture.

PubMed

Tashima, Hideaki; Yoshida, Eiji; Inadama, Naoko; Nishikido, Fumihiko; Nakajima, Yasunori; Wakizaka, Hidekatsu; Shinaji, Tetsuya; Nitta, Munetaka; Kinouchi, Shoko; Suga, Mikio; Haneishi, Hideaki; Inaniwa, Taku; Yamaya, Taiga

2016-02-21

The single-ring OpenPET (SROP), for which the detector arrangement has a cylinder shape cut by two parallel planes at a slant angle to form an open space, is our original proposal for in-beam PET. In this study, we developed a small prototype of an axial-shift type SROP (AS-SROP) with a novel transformable architecture for a proof-of-concept. In the AS-SROP, detectors originally forming a cylindrical PET are axially shifted little by little. We designed the small AS-SROP prototype for 4-layer depth-of-interaction detectors arranged in a ring diameter of 250 mm. The prototype had two modes: open and closed. The open mode formed the SROP with the open space of 139 mm and the closed mode formed a conventional cylindrical PET. The detectors were simultaneously moved by a rotation handle allowing them to be transformed between the two modes. We evaluated the basic performance of the developed prototype and carried out in-beam imaging tests in the HIMAC using (11)C radioactive beam irradiation. As a result, we found the open mode enabled in-beam PET imaging at a slight cost of imaging performance; the spatial resolution and sensitivity were 2.6 mm and 5.1% for the open mode and 2.1 mm and 7.3% for the closed mode. We concluded that the AS-SROP can minimize the decrease of resolution and sensitivity, for example, by transforming into the closed mode immediately after the irradiation while maintaining the open space only for the in-beam PET measurement.

Prediction and warning system of SEP events and solar flares for risk estimation in space launch operations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

García-Rigo, Alberto; Núñez, Marlon; Qahwaji, Rami; Ashamari, Omar; Jiggens, Piers; Pérez, Gustau; Hernández-Pajares, Manuel; Hilgers, Alain

2016-07-01

A web-based prototype system for predicting solar energetic particle (SEP) events and solar flares for use by space launch operators is presented. The system has been developed as a result of the European Space Agency (ESA) project SEPsFLAREs (Solar Events Prediction system For space LAunch Risk Estimation). The system consists of several modules covering the prediction of solar flares and early SEP Warnings (labeled Warning tool), the prediction of SEP event occurrence and onset, and the prediction of SEP event peak and duration. In addition, the system acquires data for solar flare nowcasting from Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)-based techniques (GNSS Solar Flare Detector, GSFLAD and the Sunlit Ionosphere Sudden Total Electron Content Enhancement Detector, SISTED) as additional independent products that may also prove useful for space launch operators.

135Xe measurements with a two-element CZT-based radioxenon detector for nuclear explosion monitoring.

PubMed

Ranjbar, Lily; Farsoni, Abi T; Becker, Eric M

2017-04-01

Measurement of elevated concentrations of xenon radioisotopes ( 131m Xe, 133m Xe, 133 Xe and 135 Xe) in the atmosphere has been shown to be a very powerful method for verifying whether or not a detected explosion is nuclear in nature. These isotopes are among the few with enough mobility and with half-lives long enough to make their detection at long distances realistic. Existing radioxenon detection systems used by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) suffer from problems such as complexity, need for high maintenance and memory effect. To study the response of CdZnTe (CZT) detectors to xenon radioisotopes and investigate whether it is capable of mitigating the aforementioned issues with the current radioxenon detection systems, a prototype detector utilizing two coplanar CZT detectors was built and tested at Oregon State University. The detection system measures xenon radioisotopes through beta-gamma coincidence technique by detecting coincidence events between the two detectors. In this paper, we introduce the detector design and report our measurement results with radioactive lab sources and 135 Xe produced in the OSU TRIGA reactor. Minimum Detectable Concentration (MDC) for 135 Xe was calculated to be 1.47 ± 0.05 mBq/m 3 . Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Prototype design of singles processing unit for the small animal PET

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deng, P.; Zhao, L.; Lu, J.; Li, B.; Dong, R.; Liu, S.; An, Q.

2018-05-01

Position Emission Tomography (PET) is an advanced clinical diagnostic imaging technique for nuclear medicine. Small animal PET is increasingly used for studying the animal model of disease, new drugs and new therapies. A prototype of Singles Processing Unit (SPU) for a small animal PET system was designed to obtain the time, energy, and position information. The energy and position is actually calculated through high precison charge measurement, which is based on amplification, shaping, A/D conversion and area calculation in digital signal processing domian. Analysis and simulations were also conducted to optimize the key parameters in system design. Initial tests indicate that the charge and time precision is better than 3‰ FWHM and 350 ps FWHM respectively, while the position resolution is better than 3.5‰ FWHM. Commination tests of the SPU prototype with the PET detector indicate that the system time precision is better than 2.5 ns, while the flood map and energy spectra concored well with the expected.

Software Geometry in Simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alion, Tyler; Viren, Brett; Junk, Tom

2015-04-01

The Long Baseline Neutrino Experiment (LBNE) involves many detectors. The experiment's near detector (ND) facility, may ultimately involve several detectors. The far detector (FD) will be significantly larger than any other Liquid Argon (LAr) detector yet constructed; many prototype detectors are being constructed and studied to motivate a plethora of proposed FD designs. Whether it be a constructed prototype or a proposed ND/FD design, every design must be simulated and analyzed. This presents a considerable challenge to LBNE software experts; each detector geometry must be described to the simulation software in an efficient way which allows for multiple authors to easily collaborate. Furthermore, different geometry versions must be tracked throughout their use. We present a framework called General Geometry Description (GGD), written and developed by LBNE software collaborators for managing software to generate geometries. Though GGD is flexible enough to be used by any experiment working with detectors, we present it's first use in generating Geometry Description Markup Language (GDML) files to interface with LArSoft, a framework of detector simulations, event reconstruction, and data analyses written for all LAr technology users at Fermilab. Brett is the other of the framework discussed here, the General Geometry Description (GGD).

Modular focusing ring imaging Cherenkov detector for electron–ion collider experiments

DOE PAGES

Wong, C. P.; Alfred, M.; Allison, L.; ...

2017-07-16

Here, a powerful new electron–ioncollider (EIC) has been recommended in the 2015 Long Range Plan for Nuclear Science for probing the partonic structure inside nucleons and nuclei with unprecedented precision and versatility. EIC detectors are currently under development, all of which require hadron identification over a broad kinematic range. A prototype ring imaging Cherenkov detector has been developed for hadron identification in the momentum range from 3 GeV/c to 10 GeV/c. The key feature of this new detector is a compact and modular design, achieved by using aerogel as radiator and a Fresnel lens for ring focusing. In this paper,more » the results from a beam test of a prototype device at Fermilab are reported.« less

Non-Intrusive, Distributed Gas Sensing Technology for Advanced Spacesuits

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Delgado, Jesus; Phillips, Straun; Rubtsov, Vladimir; Chullen, Cinda

2015-01-01

Chemical sensors for monitoring gas composition, including oxygen, humidity, carbon dioxide, and trace contaminants are needed to characterize and validate spacesuit design and operating parameters. This paper reports on the first prototypes of a non-intrusive gas sensing technology based on flexible sensitive patches positioned inside spacesuit prototypes and interrogated by optical fibers routed outside the suit, taking advantage of the transparent materials of the suit prototypes. The sensitive patches are based on luminescent materials whose emission parameters vary with the partial pressure of a specific gas. Patches sensitive to carbon dioxide, humidity, oxygen, and ammonia have been developed, and their preliminary characterization in the laboratory using Mark III-like helmet parts is described. The first prototype system consists of a four-channel fiber optic luminescent detector that can be used to monitor any of the selected target gases at four locations. To switch from one gas to another we replace the (disposable) sensor patches and adjust the system settings. Repeatability among sensitive patches and of sensor performance from location to location has been confirmed, assuring that suit engineers will have flexibility in selecting multiple sensing points, fitting the sensor elements into the spacesuit, and easily repositioning the sensor elements as desired. The evaluation of the first prototype for monitoring carbon dioxide during washout studies in a space suit prototype is presented.

Non-Intrusive, Distributed Gas Sensing Technology for Advanced Spacesuits

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Delgado, Jesus; Phillips, Straun; Rubtsov, Vladimir; Chullen, Cinda

2015-01-01

Chemical sensors for monitoring gas composition, including oxygen, humidity, carbon dioxide, and trace contaminants, are needed to characterize and validate spacesuit design and operating parameters. This paper reports on the first prototypes of a non-intrusive gas sensing technology based on flexible sensitive patches positioned inside spacesuit prototypes and interrogated via optical fibers routed outside the suit, taking advantage of the transparent materials of the suit prototypes. The sensitive patches are based on luminescent materials whose emission parameters vary with the partial pressure of a specific gas. Patches sensitive to carbon dioxide, humidity, and temperature have been developed, and their preliminary laboratory characterization in Mark III-like helmet parts is described. The first prototype system consists of a four-channel fiber optic luminescent detector that can be used to monitor any of the selected target gases at four locations. To switch from one gas to another we replace the (disposable) sensor patches and adjust the system settings. Repeatability among sensitive patches and of sensor performance from location to location has been confirmed, assuring that suit engineers will have flexibility in selecting multiple sensing points, fitting the sensor elements into the spacesuit, and easily repositioning the sensor elements as desired. The evaluation of the first prototype for monitoring carbon dioxide during washout studies in a spacesuit prototype is presented.

Advanced ACTPol Low-Frequency Array: Readout and Characterization of Prototype 27 and 39 GHz Transition Edge Sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koopman, B. J.; Cothard, N. F.; Choi, S. K.; Crowley, K. T.; Duff, S. M.; Henderson, S. W.; Ho, S. P.; Hubmayr, J.; Gallardo, P. A.; Nati, F.; Niemack, M. D.; Simon, S. M.; Staggs, S. T.; Stevens, J. R.; Vavagiakis, E. M.; Wollack, E. J.

2018-05-01

Advanced ACTPol (AdvACT) is a third-generation polarization upgrade to the Atacama Cosmology Telescope, designed to observe the cosmic microwave background (CMB). AdvACT expands on the 90 and 150 GHz transition edge sensor (TES) bolometer arrays of the ACT Polarimeter (ACTPol), adding both high-frequency (HF, 150/230 GHz) and low-frequency (LF, 27/39 GHz) multichroic arrays. The addition of the high- and low-frequency detectors allows for the characterization of synchrotron and spinning dust emission at the low frequencies and foreground emission from galactic dust and dusty star-forming galaxies at the high frequencies. The increased spectral coverage of AdvACT will enable a wide range of CMB science, such as improving constraints on dark energy, the sum of the neutrino masses, and the existence of primordial gravitational waves. The LF array will be the final AdvACT array, replacing one of the MF arrays for a single season. Prior to the fabrication of the final LF detector array, we designed and characterized prototype TES bolometers. Detector geometries in these prototypes are varied in order to inform and optimize the bolometer designs for the LF array, which requires significantly lower noise levels and saturation powers (as low as {˜ } 1 pW) than the higher-frequency detectors. Here we present results from tests of the first LF prototype TES detectors for AdvACT, including measurements of the saturation power, critical temperature, thermal conductance, and time constants. We also describe the modifications to the time-division SQUID readout architecture compared to the MF and HF arrays.

Prototype detection unit for the CHIPS experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pfützner, Maciej M.

2017-09-01

CHIPS (CHerenkov detectors In mine PitS) is an R&D project aiming to develop novel cost-effective neutrino detectors, focused on measuring the CP-violating neutrino mixing phase (δ CP). A single detector module, containing an enclosed volume of purified water, would be submerged in an existing lake, located in a neutrino beam. A staged approach is proposed with first detectors deployed in a flooded mine pit in Northern Minnesota, 7 mrad off-axis from the existing NuMI beam. A small proof-of-principle model (CHIPS-M) has already been tested and the first stage of a fully functional 10 kt module (CHIPS-10) is planned for 2018. One of the instruments submerged on board of CHIPS-M in autumn 2015 was a prototype detection unit, constructed at Nikhef. The unit contains hardware borrowed from the KM3NeT experiment, including 16 3 inch photomultiplier tubes and readout electronics. In addition to testing the mechanical design and data acquisition, the detector was used to record a large sample of cosmic ray muon events. The collected data is valuable for characterising the cosmic muon background and validating a Monte Carlo simulation used to optimise future designs. This paper introduces the CHIPS project, describes the design of the prototype unit, and presents the results of a preliminary data analysis.

A high-throughput, multi-channel photon-counting detector with picosecond timing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lapington, J. S.; Fraser, G. W.; Miller, G. M.; Ashton, T. J. R.; Jarron, P.; Despeisse, M.; Powolny, F.; Howorth, J.; Milnes, J.

2009-06-01

High-throughput photon counting with high time resolution is a niche application area where vacuum tubes can still outperform solid-state devices. Applications in the life sciences utilizing time-resolved spectroscopies, particularly in the growing field of proteomics, will benefit greatly from performance enhancements in event timing and detector throughput. The HiContent project is a collaboration between the University of Leicester Space Research Centre, the Microelectronics Group at CERN, Photek Ltd., and end-users at the Gray Cancer Institute and the University of Manchester. The goal is to develop a detector system specifically designed for optical proteomics, capable of high content (multi-parametric) analysis at high throughput. The HiContent detector system is being developed to exploit this niche market. It combines multi-channel, high time resolution photon counting in a single miniaturized detector system with integrated electronics. The combination of enabling technologies; small pore microchannel plate devices with very high time resolution, and high-speed multi-channel ASIC electronics developed for the LHC at CERN, provides the necessary building blocks for a high-throughput detector system with up to 1024 parallel counting channels and 20 ps time resolution. We describe the detector and electronic design, discuss the current status of the HiContent project and present the results from a 64-channel prototype system. In the absence of an operational detector, we present measurements of the electronics performance using a pulse generator to simulate detector events. Event timing results from the NINO high-speed front-end ASIC captured using a fast digital oscilloscope are compared with data taken with the proposed electronic configuration which uses the multi-channel HPTDC timing ASIC.

Development of 10B-Based 3He Replacement Neutron Detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

King, Michael J.; Gozani, Tsahi; Hilliard, Donald B.

2011-12-01

Radiation portal monitors (RPM) are currently deployed at United States border crossings to passively inspect vehicles and persons for any emission of neutrons and/or gamma rays, which may indicate the presence of unshielded nuclear materials. The RPM module contains an organic scintillator with 3He proportional counters to detect gamma rays and thermalized neutrons, respectively. The supply of 3He is rapidly dwindling, requiring alternative detectors to provide the same function and performance. Our alternative approach is one consisting of a thinly-coated 10B flat-panel ionization chamber neutron detector that can be deployed as a direct drop-in replacement for current RPM 3He detectors. The uniqueness of our approach in providing a large-area detector is in the simplicity of construction, scalability of the unit cell detector, ease of adaptability to a variety of applications and low cost. Currently, Rapiscan Laboratories and Helicon Thin Film Systems have designed and developed an operational 100 cm2 multi-layer prototype 10BB-based ionization chamber.

The 150 ns detector project: Prototype preamplifier results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Warburton, W. K.; Russell, S. R.; Kleinfelder, Stuart A.

1994-08-01

The long-term goal of the 150 ns detector project is to develop a pixel area detector capable of 6 MHz frame rates (150 ns/frame). Our milestones toward this goal are: a single pixel, 1×256 1D and 8×8 2D detectors, 256×256 2D detectors and, finally, 1024 × 1024 2D detectors. The design strategy is to supply a complete electronics chain (resetting preamp, selectable gain amplifier, analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and memory) for each pixel. In the final detectors these will all be custom integrated circuits. The front-end preamplifiers are integrated first, since their design and performance are the most unusual and also critical to the project's success. Similarly, our early work is concentrated on devising and perfecting detector structures. In this paper we demonstrate the performance of prototypes of our integrated preamplifiers. While the final design will have 64 preamps to a chip, including a switchable gain stage, the prototypes were integrated 8 channels to a "Tiny Chip" and tested in 4 configurations (feedback capacitor Cf equal 2.5 or 4.0 pF, output directly or through a source follower). These devices have been tested thoroughly for reset settling times, gain, linearity, and electronic noise. They generally work as designed, being fast enough to easily integrate detector charge, settle, and reset in 150 ns. Gain and linearity appear to be acceptable. Current values of electronic noise, in double-sampling mode, are about twice the design goal of {2}/{3} of a single photon at 6 keV. We expect this figure to improve with the addition of the onboard amplifier stage and improved packaging. Our next test chip will include these improvements and allow testing with our first detector samples, which will be 1×256 (50 μm wide pixels) and 8×8 (1 mm 2 pixels) element detector on 1 mm thick silicon.

Investigation of ultra low-dose scans in the context of quantum-counting clinical CT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weidinger, T.; Buzug, T. M.; Flohr, T.; Fung, G. S. K.; Kappler, S.; Stierstorfer, K.; Tsui, B. M. W.

2012-03-01

In clinical computed tomography (CT), images from patient examinations taken with conventional scanners exhibit noise characteristics governed by electronics noise, when scanning strongly attenuating obese patients or with an ultra-low X-ray dose. Unlike CT systems based on energy integrating detectors, a system with a quantum counting detector does not suffer from this drawback. Instead, the noise from the electronics mainly affects the spectral resolution of these detectors. Therefore, it does not contribute to the image noise in spectrally non-resolved CT images. This promises improved image quality due to image noise reduction in scans obtained from clinical CT examinations with lowest X-ray tube currents or obese patients. To quantify the benefits of quantum counting detectors in clinical CT we have carried out an extensive simulation study of the complete scanning and reconstruction process for both kinds of detectors. The simulation chain encompasses modeling of the X-ray source, beam attenuation in the patient, and calculation of the detector response. Moreover, in each case the subsequent image preprocessing and reconstruction is modeled as well. The simulation-based, theoretical evaluation is validated by experiments with a novel prototype quantum counting system and a Siemens Definition Flash scanner with a conventional energy integrating CT detector. We demonstrate and quantify the improvement from image noise reduction achievable with quantum counting techniques in CT examinations with ultra-low X-ray dose and strong attenuation.

Evaluation of effective detective quantum efficiency considering breast thickness and glandularity in prototype digital breast tomosynthesis system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, Seungyeon; Kim, Ye-seul; Choi, Sunghoon; Lee, Haenghwa; Lee, Donghoon; Choi, Young-Wook; Kim, Hee-Joung

2017-03-01

Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) system is a novel imaging modality which is strongly depended on the performance of a detector. Recently, effective detective quantum efficiency (eDQE) has been introduced to solve the disadvantages of conventional DQE evaluations which do not consider clinical operating conditions. For eDQE evaluation, the variety of patient breast, especially the glandularity and thickness needs to be studied to consider different races of patient. For these reasons, eDQE in a prototype DBT system considering different breast thickness and glandularity was evaluated. In this study, we used the prototype DBT system with CsI(Tl) scintillator/CMOS flat panel digital detector developed by Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI). A scatter fraction, a transmission factor, an effective modulation transfer function (eMTF) and an effective normalized noise power spectrum (eNNPS) were measured in different thickness and glandularity of breast equivalent phantom. As results, scatter fraction increased and transmission fraction decreased by a factor of 2.09 and 6.25, respectively, as increasing glandularity and thickness. We also found that the breast phantom with small thickness presented high eMTF and low eNNPS. As results, eDQE from 4 cm thick breast phantom with 30% and 70% glandularity showed small changes from 0.20 to 0.19 at 0.1 mm-1, whereas eDQE from 50% glandularity of 3 cm and 5 cm presented relatively significant increase from 0.16 to 0.20 at 0.1 mm-1 spatial frequency. These indicated that eDQE was strongly affected by phantom thickness, but the effect of glandularity seemed to be trivial. According to our study, the whole system evaluation considering the races of patients from standard to abnormal cases is needed to be studied in future works.

The cosmic ray muon tomography facility based on large scale MRPC detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xuewu; Zeng, Ming; Zeng, Zhi; Wang, Yi; Zhao, Ziran; Yue, Xiaoguang; Luo, Zhifei; Yi, Hengguan; Yu, Baihui; Cheng, Jianping

2015-06-01

Cosmic ray muon tomography is a novel technology to detect high-Z material. A prototype of TUMUTY with 73.6 cm×73.6 cm large scale position sensitive MRPC detectors has been developed and is introduced in this paper. Three test kits have been tested and image is reconstructed using MAP algorithm. The reconstruction results show that the prototype is working well and the objects with complex structure and small size (20 mm) can be imaged on it, while the high-Z material is distinguishable from the low-Z one. This prototype provides a good platform for our further studies of the physical characteristics and the performances of cosmic ray muon tomography.

Multichannel wearable system dedicated for simultaneous electroencephalography/near-infrared spectroscopy real-time data acquisitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lareau, Etienne; Lesage, Frederic; Pouliot, Philippe; Nguyen, Dang; Le Lan, Jerome; Sawan, Mohamad

2011-09-01

Functional neuroimaging is becoming a valuable tool in cognitive research and clinical applications. The clinical context brings specific constraints that include the requirement of a high channel count to cover the whole head, high sensitivity for single event detection, and portability for long-term bedside monitoring. For epilepsy and stroke monitoring, the combination of electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is expected to provide useful clinical information, and efforts have been deployed to create prototypes able to simultaneously acquire both measurement modalities. However, to the best of our knowledge, existing systems lack portability, NIRS sensitivity, or have low channel count. We present a battery-powered, portable system with potentially up to 32 EEG channels, 32 NIRS light sources, and 32 detectors. Avalanche photodiodes allow for high NIRS sensitivity and the autonomy of the system is over 24 h. A reduced channel count prototype with 8 EEG channels, 8 sources, and 8 detectors was tested on phantoms. Further validation was done on five healthy adults using a visual stimulation protocol to detect local hemodynamic changes and visually evoked potentials. Results show good concordance with literature regarding functional activations and suggest sufficient performance for clinical use, provided some minor adjustments were made.

Thirty Meter Telescope narrow-field infrared adaptive optics system real-time controller prototyping results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, Malcolm; Kerley, Dan; Chapin, Edward L.; Dunn, Jennifer; Herriot, Glen; Véran, Jean-Pierre; Boyer, Corinne; Ellerbroek, Brent; Gilles, Luc; Wang, Lianqi

2016-07-01

Prototyping and benchmarking was performed for the Real-Time Controller (RTC) of the Narrow Field InfraRed Adaptive Optics System (NFIRAOS). To perform wavefront correction, NFIRAOS utilizes two deformable mirrors (DM) and one tip/tilt stage (TTS). The RTC receives wavefront information from six Laser Guide Star (LGS) Shack- Hartmann WaveFront Sensors (WFS), one high-order Natural Guide Star Pyramid WaveFront Sensor (PWFS) and multiple low-order instrument detectors. The RTC uses this information to determine the commands to send to the wavefront correctors. NFIRAOS is the first light AO system for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT). The prototyping was performed using dual-socket high performance Linux servers with the real-time (PREEMPT_RT) patch and demonstrated the viability of a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware approach to large scale AO reconstruction. In particular, a large custom matrix vector multiplication (MVM) was benchmarked which met the required latency requirements. In addition all major inter-machine communication was verified to be adequate using 10Gb and 40Gb Ethernet. The results of this prototyping has enabled a CPU-based NFIRAOS RTC design to proceed with confidence and that COTS hardware can be used to meet the demanding performance requirements.

QBeRT: an innovative instrument for qualification of particle beam in real-time

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gallo, G.; Lo Presti, D.; Bonanno, D. L.; Longhitano, F.; Bongiovanni, D. G.; Reito, S.; Randazzo, N.; Leonora, E.; Sipala, V.; Tommasino, F.

2016-11-01

This paper describes an innovative beam diagnostic and monitoring system composed of a position sensitive detector and a residual range detector, based on scintillating optical fiber and on an innovative read-out strategy and reconstruction algorithm. The position sensitive detector consists of four layers of pre-aligned and juxtaposed scintillating fibres arranged to form two identical overlying and orthogonal planes. The 500 μm square section fibres are optically coupled to two Silicon Photomultiplier arrays using a channel reduction system patented by the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare. The residual range detector is a stack of sixty parallel layers of the same fibres used in the position detector, each of which is optically coupled to a channel of Silicon Photomultiplier array by wavelength shifting fibres. The sensitive area of the two detectors is 9 × 9 cm2. After being fully characterized at CATANA proton therapy facility, the performance of the prototypes was tested during last year also at TIFPA proton irradiation facility. The unique feature of these detectors is the possibility to work in imaging conditions (e.g. a particle at a time up to 106 particles per second) and in therapy conditions up to 109 particles per second. The combined use of the two detectors, in imaging conditions, as an example of application, allows the particle radiography of an object. In therapy conditions, in particular, the system measures the position, the profiles, the energy and the fluence of the beam.

The GlueX DIRC detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barbosa, F.; Bessuille, J.; Chudakov, E.; Dzhygadlo, R.; Fanelli, C.; Frye, J.; Hardin, J.; Kelsey, J.; Patsyuk, M.; Schwarz, C.; Schwiening, J.; Stevens, J.; Shepherd, M.; Whitlatch, T.; Williams, M.

2017-12-01

The GlueX DIRC (Detection of Internally Reflected Cherenkov light) detector is being developed to upgrade the particle identification capabilities in the forward region of the GlueX experiment at Jefferson Lab. The GlueX DIRC will utilize four existing decommissioned BaBar DIRC bar boxes, which will be oriented to form a plane roughly 4 m away from the fixed target of the experiment. A new photon camera has been designed that is based on the SuperB FDIRC prototype. The full GlueX DIRC system will consist of two such cameras, with the first planned to be built and installed in 2017. We present the current status of the design and R&D, along with the future plans of the GlueX DIRC detector.

A radiation-tolerant electronic readout system for portal imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Östling, J.; Brahme, A.; Danielsson, M.; Iacobaeus, C.; Peskov, V.

2004-06-01

A new electronic portal imaging device, EPID, is under development at the Karolinska Institutet and the Royal Institute of Technology. Due to considerable demands on radiation tolerance in the radiotherapy environment, a dedicated electronic readout system has been designed. The most interesting aspect of the readout system is that it allows to read out ˜1000 pixels in parallel, with all electronics placed outside the radiation beam—making the detector more radiation resistant. In this work we are presenting the function of a small prototype (6×100 pixels) of the electronic readout board that has been tested. Tests were made with continuous X-rays (10-60 keV) and with α particles. The results show that, without using an optimised gas mixture and with an early prototype only, the electronic readout system still works very well.

VAMOS: A pathfinder for the HAWC gamma-ray observatory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abeysekara, A. U.; Alfaro, R.; Alvarez, C.; Álvarez, J. D.; Ángeles, F.; Arceo, R.; Arteaga-Velázquez, J. C.; Avila-Aroche, A.; Ayala Solares, H. A.; Badillo, C.; Barber, A. S.; Baughman, B. M.; Bautista-Elivar, N.; Becerra Gonzalez, J.; Belmont, E.; Benítez, E.; BenZvi, S. Y.; Berley, D.; Bernal, A.; Bonilla Rosales, M.; Braun, J.; Caballero-Lopez, R. A.; Caballero-Mora, K. S.; Cabrera, I.; Carramiñana, A.; Castañeda-Martínez, L.; Castillo, M.; Cotti, U.; Cotzomi, J.; de la Fuente, E.; De León, C.; DeYoung, T.; Diaz-Azuara, A.; Diaz-Cruz, L.; Diaz Hernandez, R.; Díaz-Vélez, J. C.; Dingus, B. L.; Dultzin, D.; DuVernois, M. A.; Ellsworth, R. W.; Fernandez, A.; Fiorino, D. W.; Fraija, N.; Galindo, A.; García-Torales, G.; Garfias, F.; González, A.; González, L. X.; González, M. M.; Goodman, J. A.; Grabski, V.; Gussert, M.; Guzmán-Cerón, C.; Hampel-Arias, Z.; Harding, J. P.; Hernández-Cervantes, L.; Hui, C. M.; Hüntemeyer, P.; Imran, A.; Iriarte, A.; Karn, P.; Kieda, D.; Kunde, G. J.; Langarica, R.; Lara, A.; Lara, G.; Lauer, R. J.; Lee, W. H.; Lennarz, D.; León Vargas, H.; Linares, E. C.; Linnemann, J. T.; Longo, M.; Luna-Garcia, R.; Marinelli, A.; Martínez, L. A.; Martínez, H.; Martínez, O.; Martínez-Castro, J.; Martos, M.; Matthews, J. A. J.; McEnery, J.; Mendoza Torres, E.; Miranda-Romagnoli, P.; Moreno, E.; Mostafá, M.; Nava, J.; Nellen, L.; Newbold, M.; Noriega-Papaqui, R.; Oceguera-Becerra, T.; Page, D. P.; Patricelli, B.; Pelayo, R.; Pérez-Pérez, E. G.; Pretz, J.; Ramírez, I.; Rentería, A.; Rivière, C.; Rosa-González, D.; Ruiz-Sala, F.; Ruiz-Velasco, E. L.; Ryan, J.; Sacahui, J. R.; Salazar, H.; Salesa, F.; Sandoval, A.; Santos, E.; Schneider, M.; Silich, S.; Sinnis, G.; Smith, A. J.; Sparks Woodle, K.; Springer, R. W.; Suarez, F.; Taboada, I.; Tepe, A.; Toale, P. A.; Tollefson, K.; Torres, I.; Tinoco, S.; Ukwatta, T. N.; Valdés Galicia, J. F.; Vanegas, P.; Vázquez, A.; Villaseñor, L.; Wall, W.; Weisgarber, T.; Westerhoff, S.; Wisher, I. G.; Wood, J.; Yodh, G. B.; Younk, P. W.; Zaborov, D.; Zepeda, A.; Zhou, H.

2015-03-01

VAMOS was a prototype detector built in 2011 at an altitude of 4100 m a.s.l. in the state of Puebla, Mexico. The aim of VAMOS was to finalize the design, construction techniques and data acquisition system of the HAWC observatory. HAWC is an air-shower array currently under construction at the same site of VAMOS with the purpose to study the TeV sky. The VAMOS setup included six water Cherenkov detectors and two different data acquisition systems. It was in operation between October 2011 and May 2012 with an average live time of 30%. Besides the scientific verification purposes, the eight months of data were used to obtain the results presented in this paper: the detector response to the Forbush decrease of March 2012, and the analysis of possible emission, at energies above 30 GeV, for long gamma-ray bursts GRB111016B and GRB120328B.

RICH upgrade in LHCb experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pistone, A.; LHCb RICH Collaboration

2017-01-01

The LHCb experiment is dedicated to precision measurements of CP violation and rare decays of B hadrons at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN (Geneva). The second long shutdown of the LHC is currently scheduled to begin in 2019. During this period the LHCb experiment with all its sub-detectors will be upgraded in order to run at an instantaneous luminosity of 2 × 10^{33} cm ^{-2} s ^{-1} , about a factor 5 higher than the current luminosity, and to read out data at a rate of 40MHz into a flexible software-based trigger. The Ring Imaging CHerenkov (RICH) system will require new photon detectors and modifications to the optics of the upstream detector. Tests of the prototype of the smallest constituent of the new RICH system have been performed during testbeam sessions at the North Area test beam facility at CERN in the last years.

MO-F-CAMPUS-J-03: Development of a Human Brain PET for On-Line Proton Beam-Range Verification

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shao, Yiping

Purpose: To develop a prototype PET for verifying proton beam-range before each fractionated therapy that will enable on-line re-planning proton therapy. Methods: Latest “edge-less” silicon photomultiplier arrays and customized ASIC readout electronics were used to develop PET detectors with depth-of-interaction (DOI) measurement capability. Each detector consists of one LYSO array with each end coupled to a SiPM array. Multiple detectors can be seamlessly tiled together to form a large detector panel. Detectors with 1.5×1.5 and 2.0×2.0 mm crystals at 20 or 30 mm lengths were studied. Readout of individual SiPM or signal multiplexing was used to transfer 3D interaction position-codedmore » analog signals through flexible-print-circuit cables or PCB board to dedicated ASIC front-end electronics to output digital timing pulses that encode interaction information. These digital pulses can be transferred to, through standard LVDS cables, and decoded by a FPGA-based data acquisition of coincidence events and data transfer. The modular detector and scalable electronics/data acquisition will enable flexible PET system configuration for different imaging geometry. Results: Initial detector performance measurement shows excellent crystal identification even with 30 mm long crystals, ∼18% and 2.8 ns energy and timing resolutions, and around 2–3 mm DOI resolution. A small prototype PET scanner with one detector ring has been built and evaluated, validating the technology and design. A large size detector panel has been fabricated by scaling up from modular detectors. Different designs of resistor and capacitor based signal multiplexing boards were tested and selected based on optimal crystal identification and timing performance. Stackable readout electronics boards and FPGA-based data acquisition boards were developed and tested. A brain PET is under construction. Conclusion: Technology of large-size DOI detector based on SiPM array and advanced readout has been developed. PET imaging performance and initial phantom studies of on-line proton beam-range measurement will be conducted and reported. NIH grant R21CA187717; Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas grant RP120326.« less

Simulation of a tagged neutron inspection system prototype

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Donzella, A.; Boghen, G.; Bonomi, G.; Fontana, A.; Formisano, P.; Pesente, S.; Sudac, D.; Valkovic, V.; Zenoni, A.

2006-05-01

The illicit trafficking of explosive materials in cargo containers has become, in recent years, a serious problem. Currently used X-ray or γ-ray based systems provide only limited information about the elemental composition of the inspected cargo items. During the last years, a new neutron interrogation technique, named TNIS (Tagged Neutron Inspection System), has been developed, which should permit to determine the chemical composition of the suspect item by coincidence measurements between alpha particles and photons produced. A prototype of such a system for container inspection has been built, at the Institute Ruder Boskovic (IRB) in Zagreb, Croatia, for the European Union 6FP EURITRACK project. We present the results of a detailed simulation of the IRB prototype performed with the MCNP Monte Carlo program and a comparison with beam attenuation calculations performed with GEANT3/MICAP. Detector signals, rates and signal over background ratios have been calculated for 100 kg of TNT explosive located inside a cargo container filled with a metallic matrix of density 0.2 g/cm3. The case of an organic filling material is discussed too.

Deep inelastic neutron scattering on 207Pb and NaHF 2 as a test of a detectors array on the VESUVIO spectrometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pietropaolo, A.; Senesi, R.

2008-01-01

A prototype array of resonance detectors for deep inelastic neutron scattering experiments has been installed on the VESUVIO spectrometer, at the ISIS spallation neutron source. Deep inelastic neutron scattering measurements on a reference lead sample and on NaHF 2 molecular system are presented. Despite on an explorative level, the results obtained for the values of mean kinetic energy are found in good agreement with the theoretical predictions, thus assessing the potential capability of the device for a routine use on the instrument.

Experimental studies with two novel silicon detectors for the development of time-of-flight spectrometry of laser-accelerated proton beams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Würl, M.; Reinhardt, S.; Rosenfeld, A.; Petasecca, M.; Lerch, M.; Tran, L.; Karsch, S.; Assmann, W.; Schreiber, J.; Parodi, K.

2017-01-01

Laser-accelerated proton beams exhibit remarkably different beam characteristics as compared to conventionally accelerated ion beams. About 105 to 107 particles per MeV and msr are accelerated quasi-instantaneously within about 1 ps. The resulting energy spectrum typically shows an exponentially decaying distribution. Our planned approach to determine the energy spectrum of the particles generated in each pulse is to exploit the time-of-flight (TOF) difference of protons with different kinetic energies at 1 m distance from the laser-target interaction. This requires fast and sensitive detectors. We therefore tested two prototype silicon detectors, developed at the Centre for Medical Radiation Physics at the University of Wollongong with a current amplifier, regarding their suitability for TOF-spectrometry in terms of sensitivity and timing properties. For the latter, we illuminated the detectors with short laser pulses, measured the signal current and compared it to the signal of a fast photodiode. The comparison revealed that the timing properties of both prototypes are not yet sufficient for our purpose. In contrast, our results regarding the detectors’ sensitivity are promising. The lowest detectable proton flux at 10 MeV was found to be 25 protons per ns on the detector. With this sensitivity and with a smaller pixelation of the detectors, the timing properties can be improved for new prototypes, making them potential candidates for TOF-spectrometry of laser-accelerated particle beams.

A feasibility study of a PET/MRI insert detector using strip-line and waveform sampling data acquisition.

PubMed

Kim, H; Chen, C-T; Eclov, N; Ronzhin, A; Murat, P; Ramberg, E; Los, S; Wyrwicz, Alice M; Li, Limin; Kao, C-M

2015-06-01

We are developing a time-of-flight Positron Emission Tomography (PET) detector by using silicon photo-multipliers (SiPM) on a strip-line and high speed waveform sampling data acquisition. In this design, multiple SiPMs are connected on a single strip-line and signal waveforms on the strip-line are sampled at two ends of the strip to reduce readout channels while fully exploiting the fast time response of SiPMs. In addition to the deposited energy and time information, the position of the hit SiPM along the strip-line is determined by the arrival time difference of the waveform. Due to the insensitivity of the SiPMs to magnetic fields and the compact front-end electronics, the detector approach is highly attractive for developing a PET insert system for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner to provide simultaneous PET/MR imaging. To investigate the feasibility, experimental tests using prototype detector modules have been conducted inside a 9.4 Tesla small animal MRI scanner (Bruker BioSpec 94/30 imaging spectrometer). On the prototype strip-line board, 16 SiPMs (5.2 mm pitch) are installed on two strip-lines and coupled to 2 × 8 LYSO scintillators (5.0 × 5.0 × 10.0 mm 3 with 5.2 mm pitch). The outputs of the strip-line boards are connected to a Domino-Ring-Sampler (DRS4) evaluation board for waveform sampling. Preliminary experimental results show that the effect of interference on the MRI image due to the PET detector is negligible and that PET detector performance is comparable with the results measured outside the MRI scanner.

Prototyping of Silicon Strip Detectors for the Inner Tracker of the ALICE Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sokolov, Oleksiy

2006-04-01

The ALICE experiment at CERN will study heavy ion collisions at a center-of-mass energy 5.5˜TeV per nucleon. Particle tracking around the interaction region at radii r<45 cm is done by the Inner Tracking System (ITS), consisting of six cylindrical layers of silicon detectors. The outer two layers of the ITS use double-sided silicon strip detectors. This thesis focuses on testing of these detectors and performance studies of the detector module prototypes at the beam test. Silicon strip detector layers will require about 20 thousand HAL25 front-end readout chips and about 3.5 thousand hybrids each containing 6 HAL25 chips. During the assembly procedure, chips are bonded on a patterned TAB aluminium microcables which connect to all the chip input and output pads, and then the chips are assembled on the hybrids. Bonding failures at the chip or hybrid level may either render the component non-functional or deteriorate its the performance such that it can not be used for the module production. After each bonding operation, the component testing is done to reject the non-functional or poorly performing chips and hybrids. The LabView-controlled test station for this operation has been built at Utrecht University and was successfully used for mass production acceptance tests of chips and hybrids at three production labs. The functionality of the chip registers, bonding quality and analogue functionality of the chips and hybrids are addressed in the test. The test routines were optimized to minimize the testing time to make sure that testing is not a bottleneck of the mass production. For testing of complete modules the laser scanning station with 1060 nm diode laser has been assembled at Utrecht University. The testing method relies of the fact that a response of the detector module to a short collimated laser beam pulse resembles a response to a minimum ionizing particle. A small beam spot size (˜7 μm ) allows to deposit the charge in a narrow region and measure the response of individual detector channels. First several module prototypes have been studied with this setup, the strip gain and charge sharing function have been measured, the later is compared with the model predictions. It was also shown that for a laser beam of a high monochromaticity, interference in the sensor bulk significantly modulates the deposited charge and introduces a systematic error of the gain measurement. Signatures of disconnected strips and pinholes defects have been observed, the response of the disconnected strips to the laser beam has been correlated with the noise measurements. Beam test of four prototype modules have been carried out at PS accelerator at CERN using 7 GeV/c pions. It was demonstrated that the modules provide an excellent signal-to-noise ratio in the range 40-75. The estimated spatial resolution for the normally incident tracks is about 18 μm using the center-of-gravity cluster reconstruction method. A non-iterative method for spatial resolution determination was developed, it was shown that in order to determine the resolution of each individual detector in the telescope, the telescope should consist of at least 5 detectors. The detectors showed high detection efficiency, in the order 99%. It was shown that the particle loss occurs mostly in the defected regions near the noisy strips or strips with a very low gain. The efficiency of the sensor area with nominal characteristics is consistent with 100%.

MicroCT with energy-resolved photon-counting detectors

PubMed Central

Wang, X; Meier, D; Mikkelsen, S; Maehlum, G E; Wagenaar, D J; Tsui, BMW; Patt, B E; Frey, E C

2011-01-01

The goal of this paper was to investigate the benefits that could be realistically achieved on a microCT imaging system with an energy-resolved photon-counting x-ray detector. To this end, we built and evaluated a prototype microCT system based on such a detector. The detector is based on cadmium telluride (CdTe) radiation sensors and application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) readouts. Each detector pixel can simultaneously count x-ray photons above six energy thresholds, providing the capability for energy-selective x-ray imaging. We tested the spectroscopic performance of the system using polychromatic x-ray radiation and various filtering materials with Kabsorption edges. Tomographic images were then acquired of a cylindrical PMMA phantom containing holes filled with various materials. Results were also compared with those acquired using an intensity-integrating x-ray detector and single-energy (i.e. non-energy-selective) CT. This paper describes the functionality and performance of the system, and presents preliminary spectroscopic and tomographic results. The spectroscopic experiments showed that the energy-resolved photon-counting detector was capable of measuring energy spectra from polychromatic sources like a standard x-ray tube, and resolving absorption edges present in the energy range used for imaging. However, the spectral quality was degraded by spectral distortions resulting from degrading factors, including finite energy resolution and charge sharing. We developed a simple charge-sharing model to reproduce these distortions. The tomographic experiments showed that the availability of multiple energy thresholds in the photon-counting detector allowed us to simultaneously measure target-to-background contrasts in different energy ranges. Compared with single-energy CT with an integrating detector, this feature was especially useful to improve differentiation of materials with different attenuation coefficient energy dependences. PMID:21464527

MicroCT with energy-resolved photon-counting detectors.

PubMed

Wang, X; Meier, D; Mikkelsen, S; Maehlum, G E; Wagenaar, D J; Tsui, B M W; Patt, B E; Frey, E C

2011-05-07

The goal of this paper was to investigate the benefits that could be realistically achieved on a microCT imaging system with an energy-resolved photon-counting x-ray detector. To this end, we built and evaluated a prototype microCT system based on such a detector. The detector is based on cadmium telluride (CdTe) radiation sensors and application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) readouts. Each detector pixel can simultaneously count x-ray photons above six energy thresholds, providing the capability for energy-selective x-ray imaging. We tested the spectroscopic performance of the system using polychromatic x-ray radiation and various filtering materials with K-absorption edges. Tomographic images were then acquired of a cylindrical PMMA phantom containing holes filled with various materials. Results were also compared with those acquired using an intensity-integrating x-ray detector and single-energy (i.e. non-energy-selective) CT. This paper describes the functionality and performance of the system, and presents preliminary spectroscopic and tomographic results. The spectroscopic experiments showed that the energy-resolved photon-counting detector was capable of measuring energy spectra from polychromatic sources like a standard x-ray tube, and resolving absorption edges present in the energy range used for imaging. However, the spectral quality was degraded by spectral distortions resulting from degrading factors, including finite energy resolution and charge sharing. We developed a simple charge-sharing model to reproduce these distortions. The tomographic experiments showed that the availability of multiple energy thresholds in the photon-counting detector allowed us to simultaneously measure target-to-background contrasts in different energy ranges. Compared with single-energy CT with an integrating detector, this feature was especially useful to improve differentiation of materials with different attenuation coefficient energy dependences.

Construction and test of a fine-grained liquid argon preshower prototype

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davis, R. A.; Gingrich, D. M.; Pinfold, J. L.; Rodning, N. L.; Boos, E.; Zhautykov, B. O.; Aubert, B.; Bazan, A.; Beaugiraud, B.; Boniface, J.; Colas, J.; Eynard, G.; Jezequel, S.; Leflour, T.; Linossier, O.; Nicoleau, S.; Rival, F.; Sauvage, G.; Thion, J.; VanDenPlas, D.; Wingerter-Seez, I.; Zitoun, R.; Zolnierowski, Y. P.; Chmeissani, M.; Fernandez, E.; Garrido, Ll.; Martinez, M.; Padilla, C.; Gordon, H. A.; Radeka, V.; Rahm, D.; Stephani, D.; Baisin, L.; Berset, J. C.; Chevalley, J. L.; Gianotti, F.; Gildemeister, O.; Marin, C. P.; Nessi, M.; Poggioli, L.; Richter, W.; Vuillemin, V.; Baze, J. M.; Gosset, L.; Lavocat, P.; Lottin, J. P.; Mansoulié, B.; Meyer, J. P.; Renardy, J. F.; Schwindling, J.; Teiger, J.; Collot, J.; de Saintignon, P.; Dzahini, D.; Hostachy, J. Y.; Hoummada, A.; Laborie, G.; Mahout, G.; Hervas, L.; Chekhtman, A.; Cousinou, M. C.; Dargent, P.; Dinkespiller, B.; Etienne, F.; Fassnacht, P.; Fouchez, D.; Martin, L.; Miotto, A.; Monnier, E.; Nagy, E.; Olivetto, C.; Tisserant, S.; Battistoni, G.; Camin, D. V.; Cavalli, D.; Costa, G.; Cozzi, L.; Fedyakin, N.; Ferrari, A.; Mandelli, L.; Mazzanti, M.; Perini, L.; Resconi, S.; Sala, P.; Beaudoin, G.; Depommier, P.; León-Florián, E.; Leroy, C.; Roy, P.; Augé, E.; Chase, R.; Chollet, J. C.; de La Taille, C.; Fayard, L.; Fournier, D.; Hrisoho, A.; Merkel, B.; Noppe, J. M.; Parrour, G.; Pétroff, P.; Schaffer, A.; Seguin-Moreau, N.; Serin, L.; Tisserand, V.; Vichou, I.; Canton, B.; David, J.; Genat, J. F.; Imbault, D.; Le Dortz, O.; Savoy-Navarro, A.; Schwemling, P.; Eek, L. O.; Lund-Jensen, B.; Söderqvist, J.; Lefebvre, M.; Robertson, S.; RD3 Collaboration

1997-02-01

A separate liquid argon preshower detector consisting of two layers featuring a fine granularity of 2.5 × 10 -3 was studied by the RD3 collaboration. A prototype covering approximately 0.8 in pseudo-rapidity and 9° in azimuth was built and tested at CERN in July 94. CMOS and GaAs VLSI preamplifiers were designed and tested for this occasion. The combined response of this detector and an accordion electromagnetic calorimeter prototype to muons, electrons and photons is presented. For minimum ionizing tracks a signal-to-noise ratio of 4.5 per preshower layer was measured. Above 150 GeV the space resolution for electrons is better than 250 μm in both directions. The precision on the electromagnetic shower direction, determined together with the calorimeter, is better than 4 mrad above 50 GeV. It is concluded that the preshower detector would adequately fulfil its role for future operation at CERN Large Hadron Collider.

An artificial retina processor for track reconstruction at the LHC crossing rate

DOE PAGES

Bedeschi, F.; Cenci, R.; Marino, P.; ...

2017-11-23

The goal of the INFN-RETINA R&D project is to develop and implement a computational methodology that allows to reconstruct events with a large number (> 100) of charged-particle tracks in pixel and silicon strip detectors at 40 MHz, thus matching the requirements for processing LHC events at the full bunch-crossing frequency. Our approach relies on a parallel pattern-recognition algorithm, dubbed artificial retina, inspired by the early stages of image processing by the brain. In order to demonstrate that a track-processing system based on this algorithm is feasible, we built a sizable prototype of a tracking processor tuned to 3 000more » patterns, based on already existing readout boards equipped with Altera Stratix III FPGAs. The detailed geometry and charged-particle activity of a large tracking detector currently in operation are used to assess its performances. Here, we report on the test results with such a prototype.« less

MAPS development for the ALICE ITS upgrade

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, P.; Aglieri, G.; Cavicchioli, C.; Chalmet, P. L.; Chanlek, N.; Collu, A.; Gao, C.; Hillemanns, H.; Junique, A.; Kofarago, M.; Keil, M.; Kugathasan, T.; Kim, D.; Kim, J.; Lattuca, A.; Marin Tobon, C. A.; Marras, D.; Mager, M.; Martinengo, P.; Mazza, G.; Mugnier, H.; Musa, L.; Puggioni, C.; Rousset, J.; Reidt, F.; Riedler, P.; Snoeys, W.; Siddhanta, S.; Usai, G.; van Hoorne, J. W.; Yi, J.

2015-03-01

Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors (MAPS) offer the possibility to build pixel detectors and tracking layers with high spatial resolution and low material budget in commercial CMOS processes. Significant progress has been made in the field of MAPS in recent years, and they are now considered for the upgrades of the LHC experiments. This contribution will focus on MAPS detectors developed for the ALICE Inner Tracking System (ITS) upgrade and manufactured in the TowerJazz 180 nm CMOS imaging sensor process on wafers with a high resistivity epitaxial layer. Several sensor chip prototypes have been developed and produced to optimise both charge collection and readout circuitry. The chips have been characterised using electrical measurements, radioactive sources and particle beams. The tests indicate that the sensors satisfy the ALICE requirements and first prototypes with the final size of 1.5 × 3 cm2 have been produced in the first half of 2014. This contribution summarises the characterisation measurements and presents first results from the full-scale chips.

An artificial retina processor for track reconstruction at the LHC crossing rate

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bedeschi, F.; Cenci, R.; Marino, P.

The goal of the INFN-RETINA R&D project is to develop and implement a computational methodology that allows to reconstruct events with a large number (> 100) of charged-particle tracks in pixel and silicon strip detectors at 40 MHz, thus matching the requirements for processing LHC events at the full bunch-crossing frequency. Our approach relies on a parallel pattern-recognition algorithm, dubbed artificial retina, inspired by the early stages of image processing by the brain. In order to demonstrate that a track-processing system based on this algorithm is feasible, we built a sizable prototype of a tracking processor tuned to 3 000more » patterns, based on already existing readout boards equipped with Altera Stratix III FPGAs. The detailed geometry and charged-particle activity of a large tracking detector currently in operation are used to assess its performances. Here, we report on the test results with such a prototype.« less

Progress in the development of a S-RETGEM-based detector for an early forest fire warning system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Charpak, G.; Benaben, P.; Breuil, P.; Martinengo, P.; Nappi, E.; Peskov, V.

2009-12-01

We present a prototype of a Strip Resistive Thick GEM (S-RETGEM) photosensitive gaseous detector filled with Ne and ethylferrocene (EF) vapours at a total pressure of 1 atm for an early forest fire detection system. Measurements show that it is one hundred times more sensitive than the best commercial ultraviolet (UV) flame detectors; and therefore, it is able to reliably detect a flame of ~ 1.5 × 1.5 × 1.5 m3 at a distance of about 1 km. An additional and unique feature of this detector is its imaging capability, which in combination with other techniques, may significantly reduce false fire alarms rate when operating in an automatic mode. Preliminary results conducted with air-filled photosensitive gaseous detectors are also presented. The main advantages of this approach include both the simplicity of manufacturing and affordability of construction materials such as plastics and glues specifically reducing detector production cost. The sensitivity of these air-filled detectors at certain conditions may be as high as those filled with Ne and EF. Long-term tests of such sealed detectors indicate a significant progress in this direction. We believe that our detectors utilized in addition to other flame and smoke sensors will exceptionally increase the capability to detect forest fire at a very early stage of development. Our future efforts will be focused on attempts to commercialize such detectors utilizing our aforementioned findings.

Advanced optical systems for ultra high energy cosmic rays detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gambicorti, L.; Pace, E.; Mazzinghi, P.

2017-11-01

A new advanced optical system is proposed and analysed in this work with the purpose to improve the photons collection efficiency of Multi-AnodePhotoMultipliers (MAPMT) detectors, which will be used to cover large focal surface of instruments dedicated to the Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECRs, above 1019eV) and Ultra High Energy Neutrino (UHEN) detection. The employment of the advanced optical system allows to focus all photons inside the sensitive area of detectors and to improve the signal-to-noise ratios in the wavelength range of interest (300-400nm), thus coupling imaging and filtering capability. Filter is realised with a multilayer coating to reach high transparency in UV range and with a sharp cut-off outside. In this work the applications on different series of PMTs have been studied and results of simulations are shown. First prototypes have been realised. Finally, this paper proposes another class of adapters to be optically coupled on each pixel of MAPMT detector selected, consisting of non-imaging concentrators as Winston cones.

Demonstration of motionless Knudsen pump based micro-gas chromatography featuring micro-fabricated columns and on-column detectors.

PubMed

Liu, Jing; Gupta, Naveen K; Wise, Kensall D; Gianchandani, Yogesh B; Fan, Xudong

2011-10-21

This paper reports the investigation of a micro-gas chromatography (μGC) system that utilizes an array of miniaturized motionless Knudsen pumps (KPs) as well as microfabricated separation columns and optical detectors. A prototype system was built to achieve a flow rate of 1 mL min(-1) and 0.26 mL min(-1) for helium and dry air, respectively, when they were used as carrier gas. This system was then employed to evaluate GC performance compromises and demonstrate the ability to separate and detect gas mixtures containing analytes of different volatilities and polarities. Furthermore, the use of pressure programming of the KP array was demonstrated to significantly shorten the analysis time while maintaining a high detection resolution. Using this method, we obtained a high resolution detection of 5 alkanes of different volatilities within 5 min. Finally, we successfully detected gas mixtures of various polarities using a tandem-column μGC configuration by installing two on-column optical detectors to obtain complementary chromatograms.

A compact cosmic muon veto detector and possible use with the Iron Calorimeter detector for neutrinos

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panchal, N.; Mohanraj, S.; Kumar, A.; Dey, T.; Majumder, G.; Shinde, R.; Verma, P.; Satyanarayana, B.; Datar, V. M.

2017-11-01

The motivation for a cosmic muon veto (CMV) detector is to explore the possibility of locating the proposed large Iron Calorimeter (ICAL) detector at the India based Neutrino Observatory (INO) at a shallow depth. An initial effort in that direction, through the assembly and testing of a ~1 m × 1 m × 0.3 m plastic scintillator based detector, is described. The plan for making a CMV detector for a smaller prototype mini-ICAL is also outlined.

Caliste 64: detection unit of a spectro imager array for a hard x-ray space telescope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Limousin, O.; Meuris, A.; Lugiez, F.; Gevin, Olivier; Pinsard, F.; Blondel, C.; Le Mer, I.; Delagnes, E.; Vassal, M. C.; Soufflet, F.; Bocage, R.; Penquer, A.; Billot, M.

2017-11-01

In the frame of the hard X-ray Simbol-X observatory, a joint CNES-ASI space mission to be flown in 2014, a prototype of miniature Cd(Zn)Te camera equipped with 64 pixels has been designed. The device, called Caliste 64, is a spectro-imager with high resolution event timetagging capability. Caliste 64 integrates a Cd(Zn)Te semiconductor detector with segmented electrode and its front-end electronics made of 64 independent analog readout channels. This 1 × 1 × 2 cm3 camera, able to detect photons in the range from 2 keV up to 250 keV, is an elementary detection unit juxtaposable on its four sides. Consequently, large detector array can be made assembling a mosaic of Caliste 64 units. Electronics readout module is achieved by stacking four IDeF-X V1.1 ASICs, perpendicular to the detection plane. We achieved good noise performances, with a mean Equivalent Noise Charge of 65 electrons rms over the 64 channels. For the first prototypes, we chose Pt//CdTe//Al/Ti/Au Schottky detectors because of their very low dark current and excellent spectroscopic performances. Recently a Caliste 64 prototype has been also equipped with a 2 mm thick Au//CdZnTe//Au detector. This paper presents the performances of these four prototypes and demonstrates spectral performances better than 1 keV fwhm at 59.54 keV when the samples are moderately cooled down to -10°C.

Camera memory study for large space telescope. [charge coupled devices

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hoffman, C. P.; Brewer, J. E.; Brager, E. A.; Farnsworth, D. L.

1975-01-01

Specifications were developed for a memory system to be used as the storage media for camera detectors on the large space telescope (LST) satellite. Detectors with limited internal storage time such as intensities charge coupled devices and silicon intensified targets are implied. The general characteristics are reported of different approaches to the memory system with comparisons made within the guidelines set forth for the LST application. Priority ordering of comparisons is on the basis of cost, reliability, power, and physical characteristics. Specific rationales are provided for the rejection of unsuitable memory technologies. A recommended technology was selected and used to establish specifications for a breadboard memory. Procurement scheduling is provided for delivery of system breadboards in 1976, prototypes in 1978, and space qualified units in 1980.

Development of a DC-DC conversion powering scheme for the CMS Phase-1 pixel upgrade

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feld, L.; Fimmers, C.; Karpinski, W.; Klein, K.; Lipinski, M.; Preuten, M.; Rauch, M.; Rittich, D.; Sammet, J.; Wlochal, M.

2014-01-01

A novel powering scheme based on the DC-DC conversion technique will be exploited to power the CMS Phase-1 pixel detector. DC-DC buck converters for the CMS pixel project have been developed, based on the AMIS5 ASIC designed by CERN. The powering system of the Phase-1 pixel detector is described and the performance of the converter prototypes is detailed, including power efficiency, stability of the output voltage, shielding, and thermal management. Results from a test of the magnetic field tolerance of the DC-DC converters are reported. System tests with pixel modules using many components of the future pixel barrel system are summarized. Finally first impressions from a pre-series of 200 DC-DC converters are presented.

Stationary Digital Tomosynthesis System for Early Detection of Breast Tumors

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-05-01

Vol. 5745. 2005. 14. Y. Zhang, et al., A comparative study of limited-angle cone-beam reconstruction methods 505 for breast tomosynthesis. Med...opening angl em integratio designed line nia Dimension determine the try calibration th the detector ain is sent fro between XC urce not fou here...screening mammography. AJR, 2007. 189: p. 616. 12. P. Baldelli, et al., A prototype of a quasi-monochromatic system for mammography applications . Phys

Title: Accelerator Test of an Angle Detecting Inclined Sensor (ADIS) Prototype with Beams of 48Ca and Fragments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Connell, J. J.; Lopate, C.; McKibben, R. B.; Enman, A.

2006-12-01

The measurement and identification of high energy ions (> few MeV/n) from events originating on the Sun is of direct interest to the Living With a Star Program. These ions are a major source of Single Event Effects (SEE) in space-based electronics. Measurements of these ions also help in understanding phenomena such as Solar particle events and coronal mass ejections. These disturbances can directly affect the Earth and the near-Earth space environment, and thus human technology. The resource constraints on spacecraft generally mean that instruments that measure cosmic rays and Solar energetic particles must have low mass (a few kg) and power (a few W), be robust and reliable yet highly capable. Such instruments should identify ionic species (at least by element, preferably by isotope) from protons through the iron group. The charge and mass resolution of heavy ion instrument in space depends upon determining ions' angles of incidence. The Angle Detecting Inclined Sensor (ADIS) system is a highly innovative and uniquely simple detector configuration used to determine the angle of incidence of heavy ions in space instruments. ADIS replaces complex position sensing detectors (PSDs) with a system of simple, reliable and robust Si detectors inclined at an angle to the instrument axis. In August 2004 we tested ADIS prototypes with a 48Ca beam at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory's (NSCL) Coupled Cyclotron Facility (CCF). We demonstrate that our prototype charged particle instrument design with an ADIS system has a charge resolution of better than 0.25 e. An ADIS based system is being incorporated into the Energetic Heavy Ion Sensor (EHIS), one of the instruments in the Space Environment In-Situ Suite (SEISS) on the next generation of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-R) System. An ADIS based system was also selected for the High Energy Particle Sensor (HEPS), one of the instruments in the Space Environment Sensor Suite (SESS) on the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS). SESS is presently de-scoped from NPOESS. The ADIS instrument development project was 95% funded by NASA under the Living With a Star (LWS) Targeted Research and Technology program (grant NAG5-12493).

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Deng, Zhiqun; Carlson, Thomas J.; Fu, Tao

Power extracted from fast moving tidal currents has been identified as a potential commercial-scale source of renewable energy. Device developers and utilities are pursuing deployment of prototype tidal turbines to assess technology viability, site feasibility, and environmental interactions. Deployment of prototype turbines requires permits from a range of regulatory authorities. Ensuring the safety of marine animals, particularly those under protection of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) and the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 has emerged as a key regulatory challenge for initial MHK deployments. The greatest perceived risk to marine animals is from strike by the rotatingmore » blades of tidal turbines. Development of the marine mammal alert system (MAAS) was undertaken to support monitoring and mitigation requirements for tidal turbine deployments. The prototype system development focused on Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW), an endangered population of killer whales that frequents Puget Sound and is intermittently present in the part of the sound where deployment of prototype tidal turbines is being considered. Passive acoustics were selected as the primary means because of the vocal nature of these animals. The MAAS passive acoustic system consists of two-stage process involving the use of an energy detector and a spectrogram-based classifier to distinguish between SKRW’s calls and noise. A prototype consisting of two 2D symmetrical star arrays separated by 20 m center to center was built and evaluated in the waters of Sequim Bay using whale call playback.« less

A versatile scalable PET processing system

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

H. Dong, A. Weisenberger, J. McKisson, Xi Wenze, C. Cuevas, J. Wilson, L. Zukerman

2011-06-01

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) historically has major clinical and preclinical applications in cancerous oncology, neurology, and cardiovascular diseases. Recently, in a new direction, an application specific PET system is being developed at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) in collaboration with Duke University, University of Maryland at Baltimore (UMAB), and West Virginia University (WVU) targeted for plant eco-physiology research. The new plant imaging PET system is versatile and scalable such that it could adapt to several plant imaging needs - imaging many important plant organs including leaves, roots, and stems. The mechanical arrangement of the detectors is designed tomore » accommodate the unpredictable and random distribution in space of the plant organs without requiring the plant be disturbed. Prototyping such a system requires a new data acquisition system (DAQ) and data processing system which are adaptable to the requirements of these unique and versatile detectors.« less

First neutron spectroscopy measurements with a pixelated diamond detector at JET

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Muraro, A., E-mail: muraro@ifp.cnr.it; Giacomelli, L.; Grosso, G.

2016-11-15

A prototype Single crystal Diamond Detector (SDD) was installed at the Joint European Torus (JET) in 2013 along an oblique line of sight and demonstrated the possibility to carry out neutron spectroscopy measurements with good energy resolution and detector stability in discharges heated by neutral beam injection and radio-frequency waves. Starting from these positive results, within the Vertical Neutron Spectrometer project of the Joint European Torus, we have developed a pixelated instrument consisting of a matrix of 12 independent SDDs, called the Diamond Vertical Neutron Spectrometer (DVNS), which boosts the detection efficiency of a single SDD by an order ofmore » magnitude. In this paper we describe the main features of the DVNS, including the detector design, energy resolution, and data acquisition system for on-line processing. Preliminary spectroscopy measurements of 2.5 MeV neutrons from the present deuterium plasma at JET are finally presented.« less

New concepts for HgI2 scintillator gamma ray spectroscopy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Iwanczyk, Jan S.

1994-01-01

The primary goals of this project are development of the technology for HgI2 photodetectors (PD's), development of a HgI2/scintillator gamma detector, development of electronics, and development of a prototype gamma spectrometer. Work on the HgI2 PD's involved HgI2 purification and crystal growth, detector surface and electrical contact studies, PD structure optimization, encapsulation and packaging, and testing. Work on the HgI2/scintillator gamma detector involved a study of the optical - mechanical coupling for the optimization of CsI(Tl)/HgI2 gamma ray detectors and determination of the relationship between resolution versus scintillator type and size. The development of the electronics focused on low noise amplification circuits using different preamp input FET's and the use of a coincidence technique to maximize the signal, minimize the noise contribution in the gamma spectra, and improve the overall system resolution.

Construction and Performance Studies of Large Resistive Micromegas Quadruplets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farina, E.; Iengo, P.; Bianco, M.; Sidiropoulou, O.; Kuger, F.; Sekhniaidze, G.; Vergain, M.; Wotschack, J.; Danielsson, H.; Degrange, J.; De Oliveira, R.; Schott, M.; Lin, Tai-Hua; Valderanis, C.; Düdder, A.

2018-02-01

In view of the use of Micromegas detectors for the upgrade of the ATLAS muon system, two detector quadruplets with an area of 0.3 m2 per plane serving as prototypes for future ATLAS chambers have been constructed. They are based on the resistive-strip technology and thus spark tolerant. The detectors were built in a modular way. The quadruplets consist of two double-sided readout panels and three support (or drift) panels equipped with the micromesh and the drift electrode. The panels are bolted together such that the detector can be opened and cleaned, if required. Two of the readout planes are equipped with readout strips inclined by 1.5 degree. In this talk, we present the results of detailed performance studies based on X-Ray and cosmic ray measurements as well as measurements with 855 MeV electrons at the MAMI accelerator. In particular, results on reconstruction efficiencies, track resolution and gain homogeneity is presented.

Developments towards the LHCb VELO upgrade

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cid Vidal, Xabier

2016-09-01

The Vertex Locator (VELO) is a silicon strip detector surrounding the interaction region of the LHCb experiment. The upgrade of the VELO is planned to be installed in 2019-2020, and the current detector will be replaced by a hybrid pixel system equipped with electronics capable of reading out at a rate of 40 MHz. The new detector is designed to withstand the radiation dose expected at an integrated luminosity of 50 fb-1. The detector will be composed of silicon pixel sensors, read out by the VeloPix ASIC that is being developed based on the TimePix/MediPix family. The prototype sensors for the VELO upgrade are being irradiated in five different facilities and the post-irradiation performance is being measured with testbeams, and in the lab. These proceedings present the VELO upgrade and briefly discuss the results of the sensor testing campaign.

Measurements on a full-field digital mammography system with a photon counting crystalline silicon detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lundqvist, Mats; Danielsson, Mats; Cederstroem, Bjoern; Chmill, Valery; Chuntonov, Alexander; Aslund, Magnus

2003-06-01

Sectra Microdose is the first single photon counting mammography detector. An edge-on crystalline silicon detector is connected to application specific integrated circuits that individually process each photon. The detector is scanned across the breast and the rejection of scattered radiation exceeds 97% without the use of a Bucky. Processing of each x-rays individually enables an optimization of the information transfer from the x-rays to the image in a way previously not possible. Combined with an almost absence of noise from scattered radiation and from electronics we foresee a possibility to reduce the radiation dose and/or increase the image quality. We will discuss fundamental features of the new direct photon counting technique in terms of dose efficiency and present preliminary measurements for a prototype on physical parameters such as Noise Power Spectra (NPS), MTF and DQE.

First neutron spectroscopy measurements with a pixelated diamond detector at JET.

PubMed

Muraro, A; Giacomelli, L; Nocente, M; Rebai, M; Rigamonti, D; Belli, F; Calvani, P; Figueiredo, J; Girolami, M; Gorini, G; Grosso, G; Murari, A; Popovichev, S; Trucchi, D M; Tardocchi, M

2016-11-01

A prototype Single crystal Diamond Detector (SDD) was installed at the Joint European Torus (JET) in 2013 along an oblique line of sight and demonstrated the possibility to carry out neutron spectroscopy measurements with good energy resolution and detector stability in discharges heated by neutral beam injection and radio-frequency waves. Starting from these positive results, within the Vertical Neutron Spectrometer project of the Joint European Torus, we have developed a pixelated instrument consisting of a matrix of 12 independent SDDs, called the Diamond Vertical Neutron Spectrometer (DVNS), which boosts the detection efficiency of a single SDD by an order of magnitude. In this paper we describe the main features of the DVNS, including the detector design, energy resolution, and data acquisition system for on-line processing. Preliminary spectroscopy measurements of 2.5 MeV neutrons from the present deuterium plasma at JET are finally presented.

Reactor antineutrino detector iDREAM.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gromov, M. B.; Lukyanchenko, G. A.; Novikova, G. J.; Obinyakov, B. A.; Oralbaev, A. Y.; Skorokhvatov, M. D.; Sukhotin, S. V.; Chepurnov, A. S.; Etenko, A. V.

2017-09-01

Industrial Detector for Reactor Antineutrino Monitoring (iDREAM) is a compact (≈ 3.5m 2) industrial electron antineutrino spectrometer. It is dedicated for remote monitoring of PWR reactor operational modes by neutrino method in real-time. Measurements of antineutrino flux from PWR allow to estimate a fuel mixture in active zone and to check the status of the reactor campaign for non-proliferation purposes. LAB-based gadolinium doped scintillator is exploited as a target. Multizone architecture of the detector with gamma-catcher surrounding fiducial volume and plastic muon veto above and below ensure high efficiency of IBD detection and background suppression. DAQ is based on Flash ADC with PSD discrimination algorithms while digital trigger is programmable and flexible due to FPGA. The prototype detector was started up in 2014. Preliminary works on registration Cerenkov radiation produced by cosmic muons were established with distilled water inside the detector in order to test electronic and slow control systems. Also in parallel a long-term measurements with different scintillator samples were conducted.

MIXS on BepiColombo and its DEPFET based focal plane instrumentation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Treis, J.; Andricek, L.; Aschauer, F.; Heinzinger, K.; Herrmann, S.; Hilchenbach, M.; Lauf, T.; Lechner, P.; Lutz, G.; Majewski, P.; Porro, M.; Richter, R. H.; Schaller, G.; Schnecke, M.; Schopper, F.; Soltau, H.; Stefanescu, A.; Strüder, L.; de Vita, G.

2010-12-01

Focal plane instrumentation based on DEPFET Macropixel devices, being a combination of the Detector-Amplifier structure DEPFET with a silicon drift chamber (SDD), has been proposed for the MIXS (Mercury Imaging X-ray Spectrometer) instrument on ESA's Mercury exploration mission BepiColombo. MIXS images X-ray fluorescent radiation from the Mercury surface with a lightweight X-ray mirror system on the focal plane detector to measure the spatially resolved element abundance in Mercury's crust. The sensor needs to have an energy resolution better than 200 eV FWHM at 1 keV and is required to cover an energy range from 0.5 to 10 keV, for a pixel size of 300×300μm2. Main challenges for the instrument are radiation damage and the difficult thermal environment in the mercury orbit. The production of the first batch of flight devices has been finished at the MPI semiconductor laboratory. Prototype modules have been assembled to verify the electrical properties of the devices; selected results are presented here. The prototype devices, Macropixel prototypes for the SIMBOL-X focal plane, are electrically fully compatible, but have a pixel size of 0.5×0.5 mm2. Excellent homogeneity and near Fano-limited energy resolution at high readout speeds have been observed on these devices.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mankey, G J; Morton, S A; Tobin, J G

A spin- and angle-resolved x-ray photoelectron spectrometer for the study of magnetic materials will be discussed. It consists of a turntable with electron lenses connected to a large hemispherical analyzer. A mini-Mott spin detector is fitted to the output of the hemispherical analyzer. This system, when coupled to a synchrotron radiation source will allow determination of a complete set of quantum numbers of a photoelectron. This instrument will be used to study ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic and nonmagnetic materials. Some prototypical materials systems to be studied with this instrument system will be proposed.

A gamma beam profile imager for ELI-NP Gamma Beam System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cardarelli, P.; Paternò, G.; Di Domenico, G.; Consoli, E.; Marziani, M.; Andreotti, M.; Evangelisti, F.; Squerzanti, S.; Gambaccini, M.; Albergo, S.; Cappello, G.; Tricomi, A.; Veltri, M.; Adriani, O.; Borgheresi, R.; Graziani, G.; Passaleva, G.; Serban, A.; Starodubtsev, O.; Variola, A.; Palumbo, L.

2018-06-01

The Gamma Beam System of ELI-Nuclear Physics is a high brilliance monochromatic gamma source based on the inverse Compton interaction between an intense high power laser and a bright electron beam with tunable energy. The source, currently being assembled in Magurele (Romania), is designed to provide a beam with tunable average energy ranging from 0.2 to 19.5 MeV, rms energy bandwidth down to 0.5% and flux of about 108 photons/s. The system includes a set of detectors for the diagnostic and complete characterization of the gamma beam. To evaluate the spatial distribution of the beam a gamma beam profile imager is required. For this purpose, a detector based on a scintillator target coupled to a CCD camera was designed and a prototype was tested at INFN-Ferrara laboratories. A set of analytical calculations and Monte Carlo simulations were carried out to optimize the imager design and evaluate the performance expected with ELI-NP gamma beam. In this work the design of the imager is described in detail, as well as the simulation tools used and the results obtained. The simulation parameters were tuned and cross-checked with the experimental measurements carried out on the assembled prototype using the beam from an x-ray tube.

The Si/CdTe semiconductor Compton camera of the ASTRO-H Soft Gamma-ray Detector (SGD)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Watanabe, Shin; Tajima, Hiroyasu; Fukazawa, Yasushi; Ichinohe, Yuto; Takeda, Shin`ichiro; Enoto, Teruaki; Fukuyama, Taro; Furui, Shunya; Genba, Kei; Hagino, Kouichi; Harayama, Atsushi; Kuroda, Yoshikatsu; Matsuura, Daisuke; Nakamura, Ryo; Nakazawa, Kazuhiro; Noda, Hirofumi; Odaka, Hirokazu; Ohta, Masayuki; Onishi, Mitsunobu; Saito, Shinya; Sato, Goro; Sato, Tamotsu; Takahashi, Tadayuki; Tanaka, Takaaki; Togo, Atsushi; Tomizuka, Shinji

2014-11-01

The Soft Gamma-ray Detector (SGD) is one of the instrument payloads onboard ASTRO-H, and will cover a wide energy band (60-600 keV) at a background level 10 times better than instruments currently in orbit. The SGD achieves low background by combining a Compton camera scheme with a narrow field-of-view active shield. The Compton camera in the SGD is realized as a hybrid semiconductor detector system which consists of silicon and cadmium telluride (CdTe) sensors. The design of the SGD Compton camera has been finalized and the final prototype, which has the same configuration as the flight model, has been fabricated for performance evaluation. The Compton camera has overall dimensions of 12 cm×12 cm×12 cm, consisting of 32 layers of Si pixel sensors and 8 layers of CdTe pixel sensors surrounded by 2 layers of CdTe pixel sensors. The detection efficiency of the Compton camera reaches about 15% and 3% for 100 keV and 511 keV gamma rays, respectively. The pixel pitch of the Si and CdTe sensors is 3.2 mm, and the signals from all 13,312 pixels are processed by 208 ASICs developed for the SGD. Good energy resolution is afforded by semiconductor sensors and low noise ASICs, and the obtained energy resolutions with the prototype Si and CdTe pixel sensors are 1.0-2.0 keV (FWHM) at 60 keV and 1.6-2.5 keV (FWHM) at 122 keV, respectively. This results in good background rejection capability due to better constraints on Compton kinematics. Compton camera energy resolutions achieved with the final prototype are 6.3 keV (FWHM) at 356 keV and 10.5 keV (FWHM) at 662 keV, which satisfy the instrument requirements for the SGD Compton camera (better than 2%). Moreover, a low intrinsic background has been confirmed by the background measurement with the final prototype.

A small Unix-based data acquisition system

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Engberg, D.; Glanzman, T.

1994-02-01

The proposed SLAC B Factory detector plans to use Unix-based machines for all aspects of computing, including real-time data acquisition and experimental control. A R and D program has been established to investigate the use of Unix in the various aspects of experimental computation. Earlier R and D work investigated the basic real-time aspects of the IBM RS/6000 workstation running AIX, which claims to be a real-time operating system. The next step in this R and D is the construction of a prototype data acquisition system which attempts to exercise many of the features needed in the final on-line systemmore » in a realistic situation. For this project, the authors have combined efforts with a team studying the use of novel cell designs and gas mixtures in a new prototype drift chamber.« less

Imaging hadron calorimetry for future Lepton Colliders

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Repond, José

2013-12-01

To fully exploit the physics potential of a future Lepton Collider requires detectors with unprecedented jet energy and dijet-mass resolution. To meet these challenges, detectors optimized for the application of Particle Flow Algorithms (PFAs) are being designed and developed. The application of PFAs, in turn, requires calorimeters with very fine segmentation of the readout, so-called imaging calorimeters. This talk reviews progress in imaging hadron calorimetry as it is being developed for implementation in a detector at a future Lepton Collider. Recent results from the large prototypes built by the CALICE Collaboration, such as the Scintillator Analog Hadron Calorimeter (AHCAL) and the Digital Hadron Calorimeters (DHCAL and SDHCAL) are being presented. In addition, various R&D efforts beyond the present prototypes are being discussed.

The GlueX central drift chamber: Design and performance

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Van Haarlem, Y; Barbosa, F; Dey, B

2010-10-01

Tests and studies concerning the design and performance of the GlueX Central Drift Chamber (CDC) are presented. A full-scale prototype was built to test and steer the mechanical and electronic design. Small scale prototypes were constructed to test for sagging and to do timing and resolution studies of the detector. These studies were used to choose the gas mixture and to program a Monte Carlo simulation that can predict the detector response in an external magnetic field. Particle identification and charge division possibilities were also investigated.

A new strips tracker for the upgraded ATLAS ITk detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

David, C.

2018-01-01

The ATLAS detector has been designed and developed to function in the environment of the present Large Hadron Collider (LHC). At the next-generation tracking detector proposed for the High Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC), the so-called ATLAS Phase-II Upgrade, the fluences and radiation levels will be higher by as much as a factor of ten. The new sub-detectors must thus be faster, of larger area, more segmented and more radiation hard while the amount of inactive material should be minimized and the power supply to the front-end systems should be increased. For those reasons, the current inner tracker of the ATLAS detector will be fully replaced by an all-silicon tracking system that consists of a pixel detector at small radius close to the beam line and a large area strip tracker surrounding it. This document gives an overview of the design of the strip inner tracker (Strip ITk) and summarises the intensive R&D activities performed over the last years by the numerous institutes within the Strips ITk collaboration. These studies are accompanied with a strong prototyping effort to contribute to the optimisation of the Strip ITk's structure and components. This effort culminated recently in the release of the ATLAS Strips ITk Technical Design Report (TDR).

The O H stretching band in ice Ih derived via eV neutron spectroscopy on VESUVIO using the new very low angle detector bank

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perelli-Cippo, E.; Gorini, G.; Tardocchi, M.; Andreani, C.; Pietropaolo, A.; Senesi, R.; Rhodes, N. J.; Schooneveld, E. M.

2006-06-01

Strong demand exists for an experimental facility enabling new experimental investigations on condensed matter systems based on epithermal neutron scattering at high energy and low momentum transfers. This need will be met by the very low angle detector (VLAD) bank, to be installed on the VESUVIO spectrometer at the ISIS spallation neutron source. The equipment will operate in the scattering angular range 1°<2θ<5°. Scattering measurements from a polycrystalline ice sample using a VLAD prototype demonstrates the effectiveness of the detection technique adopted for the construction of the full detector array. The resulting density of states in ice is 9±2 atoms/cell, in agreement with previous measurements.

Thermal and hydrodynamic studies for micro-channel cooling for large area silicon sensors in high energy physics experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Flaschel, Nils; Ariza, Dario; Díez, Sergio; Gerboles, Marta; Gregor, Ingrid-Maria; Jorda, Xavier; Mas, Roser; Quirion, David; Tackmann, Kerstin; Ullan, Miguel

2017-08-01

Micro-channel cooling initially aiming at small-sized high-power integrated circuits is being transferred to the field of high energy physics. Today's prospects of micro-fabricating silicon opens a door to a more direct cooling of detector modules. The challenge in high energy physics is to save material in the detector construction and to cool large areas. In this paper, we are investigating micro-channel cooling as a candidate for a future cooling system for silicon detectors in a generic research and development approach. The work presented in this paper includes the production and the hydrodynamic and thermal testing of a micro-channel equipped prototype optimized to achieve a homogeneous flow distribution. Furthermore, the device was simulated using finite element methods.

The GlueX DIRC detector

DOE PAGES

Barbosa, F.; Bessuille, J.; Chudakov, E.; ...

2017-02-03

We present the GlueX DIRC (Detection of Internally Reflected Cherenkov light) detector that is being developed to upgrade the particle identification capabilities in the forward region of the GlueX experiment at Jefferson Lab. The GlueX DIRC will utilize four existing decommissioned BaBar DIRC bar boxes, which will be oriented to form a plane roughly 4 m away from the fixed target of the experiment. A new photon camera has been designed that is based on the SuperB FDIRC prototype. The full GlueX DIRC system will consist of two such cameras, with the first planned to be built and installed inmore » 2017. In addition, we present the current status of the design and R&D, along with the future plans of the GlueX DIRC detector.« less

Pi of the Sky full system and the new telescope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mankiewicz, L.; Batsch, T.; Castro-Tirado, A.; Czyrkowski, H.; Cwiek, A.; Cwiok, M.; Dabrowski, R.; Jelínek, M.; Kasprowicz, G.; Majcher, A.; Majczyna, A.; Malek, K.; Nawrocki, K.; Obara, L.; Opiela, R.; Piotrowski, L. W.; Siudek, M.; Sokolowski, M.; Wawrzaszek, R.; Wrochna, G.; Zaremba, M.; Żarnecki, A. F.

2014-12-01

The Pi of the Sky is a system of wide field of view robotic telescopes, which search for short timescale astrophysical phenomena, especially for prompt optical GRB emission. The system was designed for autonomous operation, monitoring a large fraction of the sky to a depth of 12(m}-13({m)) and with time resolution of the order of 1 - 10 seconds. The system design and observation strategy were successfully tested with a prototype detector operational at Las Campanas Observatory, Chile from 2004-2009 and moved to San Pedro de Atacama Observatory in March 2011. In October 2010 the first unit of the final Pi of the Sky detector system, with 4 CCD cameras, was successfully installed at the INTA El Arenosillo Test Centre in Spain. In July 2013 three more units (12 CCD cameras) were commissioned and installed, together with the first one, on a new platform in INTA, extending sky coverage to about 6000 square degrees.

Experimental characterization of a direct conversion amorphous selenium detector with thicker conversion layer for dual-energy contrast-enhanced breast imaging.

PubMed

Scaduto, David A; Tousignant, Olivier; Zhao, Wei

2017-08-01

Dual-energy contrast-enhanced imaging is being investigated as a tool to identify and localize angiogenesis in the breast, a possible indicator of malignant tumors. This imaging technique requires that x-ray images are acquired at energies above the k-shell binding energy of an appropriate radiocontrast agent. Iodinated contrast agents are commonly used for vascular imaging, and require x-ray energies greater than 33 keV. Conventional direct conversion amorphous selenium (a-Se) flat-panel imagers for digital mammography show suboptimal absorption efficiencies at these higher energies. We use spatial-frequency domain image quality metrics to evaluate the performance of a prototype direct conversion flat-panel imager with a thicker a-Se layer, specifically fabricated for dual-energy contrast-enhanced breast imaging. Imaging performance was evaluated in a prototype digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) system. The spatial resolution, noise characteristics, detective quantum efficiency, and temporal performance of the detector were evaluated for dual-energy imaging for both conventional full-field digital mammography (FFDM) and DBT. The zero-frequency detective quantum efficiency of the prototype detector is improved by approximately 20% over the conventional detector for higher energy beams required for imaging with iodinated contrast agents. The effect of oblique entry of x-rays on spatial resolution does increase with increasing photoconductor thickness, specifically for the most oblique views of a DBT scan. Degradation of spatial resolution due to focal spot motion was also observed. Temporal performance was found to be comparable to conventional mammographic detectors. Increasing the a-Se thickness in direct conversion flat-panel imagers results in better performance for dual-energy contrast-enhanced breast imaging. The reduction in spatial resolution due to oblique entry of x-rays is appreciable in the most extreme clinically relevant cases, but may not profoundly affect reconstructed images due to the algorithms and filters employed. Degradation to projection domain spatial resolution is thus outweighed by the improvement in detective quantum efficiency for high-energy x-rays. © 2017 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

Neutron detection with plastic scintillators coupled to solid state photomultiplier detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Christian, James F.; Johnson, Erik B.; Fernandez, Daniel E.; Vogel, Samuel; Frank, Rebecca; Stoddard, Graham; Stapels, Christopher; Pereira, Jorge; Zegers, Remco

2017-09-01

The recent reduction of dark current in Silicon Solid-state photomultipliers (SiSSPMs) makes them an attractive alternative to conventional photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) for scintillation detection applications. Nuclear Physics experiments often require large detector volumes made using scintillation materials, which require sensitive photodetectors, such as a PMTs. PMTs add to the size, fragility, and high-voltage requirements as well as distance requirements for experiments using magnetic fields. This work compares RMD's latest detector modules, denoted as the "year 2 prototype", of plastic scintillators that discriminate gamma and high-energy particle events from neutron events using pulse shape discrimination (PSD) coupled to a SiSSPM to the following two detector modules: a similar "year 1 prototype" and a scintillator coupled to a PMT module. It characterizes the noise floor, relative signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), the timing performance, the PSD figure-of-merit (FOM) and the neutron detection efficiency of RMD's detectors. This work also evaluates the scaling of SiSSPM detector modules to accommodate the volumes needed for many Nuclear Physics experiments. The Si SSPM detector module provides a clear advantage in Nuclear Physics experiments that require the following attributes: discrimination of neutron and gamma-ray events, operation in or near strong magnetic fields, and segmentation of the detector.

Cosmic Ray Inspection and Passive Tomography for SNM Detection

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Armitage, John; Oakham, Gerald; Bryman, Douglas

2009-12-02

The Cosmic Ray Inspection and Passive Tomography (CRIPT) project has recently started investigating the detection of illicit Special Nuclear Material in cargo using cosmic ray muon tomography and complementary neutron detectors. We are currently performing simulation studies to help with the design of small scale prototypes. Based on the prototype tests and refined simulations, we will determine whether the muon tracking system for the full scale prototype will be based on drift chambers or extruded scintillator trackers. An analysis of the operations of the Port of Montreal has determined how long muon scan times should take if all or amore » subset of the cargo is to be screened. As long as the throughput of the muon system(s) is equal to the rate at which containers are unloaded from ships, the impact on port operations would not be great if a muon scanning stage were required for all cargo. We also show preliminary simulation results indicating that excellent separation between Al, Fe and Pb is possible under ideal conditions. The discrimination power is reduced but still significant when realistic momentum resolution measurements are considered.« less

Cosmic Ray Inspection and Passive Tomography for SNM Detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Armitage, John; Bryman, Douglas; Cousins, Thomas; Gallant, Grant; Jason, Andrew; Jonkmans, Guy; Noël, Scott; Oakham, Gerald; Stocki, Trevor J.; Waller, David

2009-12-01

The Cosmic Ray Inspection and Passive Tomography (CRIPT) project has recently started investigating the detection of illicit Special Nuclear Material in cargo using cosmic ray muon tomography and complementary neutron detectors. We are currently performing simulation studies to help with the design of small scale prototypes. Based on the prototype tests and refined simulations, we will determine whether the muon tracking system for the full scale prototype will be based on drift chambers or extruded scintillator trackers. An analysis of the operations of the Port of Montreal has determined how long muon scan times should take if all or a subset of the cargo is to be screened. As long as the throughput of the muon system(s) is equal to the rate at which containers are unloaded from ships, the impact on port operations would not be great if a muon scanning stage were required for all cargo. We also show preliminary simulation results indicating that excellent separation between Al, Fe and Pb is possible under ideal conditions. The discrimination power is reduced but still significant when realistic momentum resolution measurements are considered.

Microcomputed tomography with a second generation photon-counting x-ray detector: contrast analysis and material separation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, X.; Meier, D.; Oya, P.; Maehlum, G. E.; Wagenaar, D. J.; Tsui, B. M. W.; Patt, B. E.; Frey, E. C.

2010-04-01

The overall aim of this work was to evaluate the potential for improving in vivo small animal microCT through the use of an energy resolved photon-counting detector. To this end, we developed and evaluated a prototype microCT system based on a second-generation photon-counting x-ray detector which simultaneously counted photons with energies above six energy thresholds. First, we developed a threshold tuning procedure to reduce the dependence of detector uniformity and to reduce ring artifacts. Next, we evaluated the system in terms of the contrast-to-noise ratio in different energy windows for different target materials. These differences provided the possibility to weight the data acquired in different windows in order to optimize the contrast-to-noise ratio. We also explored the ability of the system to use data from different energy windows to aid in distinguishing various materials. We found that the energy discrimination capability provided the possibility for improved contrast-to-noise ratios and allowed separation of more than two materials, e.g., bone, soft-tissue and one or more contrast materials having K-absorption edges in the energy ranges of interest.

The Trigger and Data Acquisition System for the 8 tower subsystem of the KM3NeT detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manzali, M.; Chiarusi, T.; Favaro, M.; Giacomini, F.; Margiotta, A.; Pellegrino, C.

2016-07-01

KM3NeT is a deep-sea research infrastructure being constructed in the Mediterranean Sea. It will host a large Cherenkov neutrino telescope that will collect photons emitted along the path of the charged particles produced in neutrino interactions in the vicinity of the detector. The philosophy of the DAQ system of the detector foresees that all data are sent to shore after a proper sampling of the photomultiplier signals. No off-shore hardware trigger is implemented and a software selection of the data is performed with an on-line Trigger and Data Acquisition System (TriDAS) to reduce the large throughput due to the environmental light background. A first version of the TriDAS has been developed to operate a prototype detection unit deployed in March 2013 in the abyssal site of Capo Passero (Sicily, Italy), about 3500 m deep. A revised and improved version has been developed to meet the requirements of the final detector, using new tools and modern design solutions. First installation and scalability tests have been performed at the Bologna Common Infrastructure and results comparable to what expected have been observed.

Photoacoustic projection imaging using an all-optical detector array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bauer-Marschallinger, J.; Felbermayer, K.; Berer, T.

2018-02-01

We present a prototype for all-optical photoacoustic projection imaging. By generating projection images, photoacoustic information of large volumes can be retrieved with less effort compared to common photoacoustic computed tomography where many detectors and/or multiple measurements are required. In our approach, an array of 60 integrating line detectors is used to acquire photoacoustic waves. The line detector array consists of fiber-optic MachZehnder interferometers, distributed on a cylindrical surface. From the measured variation of the optical path lengths of the interferometers, induced by photoacoustic waves, a photoacoustic projection image can be reconstructed. The resulting images represent the projection of the three-dimensional spatial light absorbance within the imaged object onto a two-dimensional plane, perpendicular to the line detector array. The fiber-optic detectors achieve a noise-equivalent pressure of 24 Pascal at a 10 MHz bandwidth. We present the operational principle, the structure of the array, and resulting images. The system can acquire high-resolution projection images of large volumes within a short period of time. Imaging large volumes at high frame rates facilitates monitoring of dynamic processes.

Design of a muonic tomographic detector to scan travelling containers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pugliatti, C.; Antonuccio, V.; Bandieramonte, M.; Becciani, U.; Belluomo, F.; Belluso, M.; Billotta, S.; Blancato, A. A.; Bonanno, D. L.; Bonanno, G.; Costa, A.; Fallica, G.; Garozzo, S.; Indelicato, V.; La Rocca, P.; Leonora, E.; Longhitano, F.; Longo, S.; Lo Presti, D.; Massimino, P.; Petta, C.; Pistagna, C.; Puglisi, M.; Randazzo, N.; Riggi, F.; Riggi, S.; Romeo, G.; Russo, G. V.; Santagati, G.; Valvo, G.; Vitello, F.; Zaia, A.; Zappalà, G.

2014-05-01

The Muon Portal Project aims at the construction of a large volume detector to inspect the content of travelling containers for the identification of high-Z hidden materials (U, Pu or other fissile samples), exploiting the secondary cosmic-ray muon radiation. An image of these materials is achieved reconstructing the deviations of the muons from their original trajectories inside the detector volume, by means of two particle trackers, placed one below and one above the container. The scan is performed without adding any external radiation, in a few minutes and with a high spatial and angular resolution. The detector consists of 4800 scintillating strips with two wavelength shifting (WLS) fibers inside each strip, coupled to Silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs). A smart strategy for the read out system allows a considerable reduction of the number of the read-out channels. Actually, an intense measurement campaign is in progress to carefully characterize any single component of the detector. A prototype of one of the 48 detection modules (1 × 3 m2) is actually under construction. This paper presents the detector architecture and the preliminary results.

A Medipix3 readout system based on the National Instruments FlexRIO card and using the LabVIEW programming environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Horswell, I.; Gimenez, E. N.; Marchal, J.; Tartoni, N.

2011-01-01

Hybrid silicon photon-counting detectors are becoming standard equipment for many synchrotron applications. The latest in the Medipix family of read-out chips designed as part of the Medipix Collaboration at CERN is the Medipix3, which while maintaining the same pixel size as its predecessor, offers increased functionality and operating modes. The active area of the Medipix3 chip is approx 14mm × 14mm (containing 256 × 256 pixels) which is not large enough for many detector applications, this results in the need to tile many sensors and chips. As a first step on the road to develop such a detector, it was decided to build a prototype single chip readout system to gain the necessary experience in operating a Medipix3 chip. To provide a flexible learning and development tool it was decided to build an interface based on the recently released FlexRIOTM system from National Instruments and to use the LabVIEWTM graphical programming environment. This system and the achieved performance are described in this paper.

Construction and performance of a silicon photomultiplier/extruded scintillator tail-catcher and muon-tracker

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adloff, C.; Blaha, J.; Blaising, J.-J.; Drancourt, C.; Espargilière, A.; Gaglione, R.; Geffroy, N.; Karyotakis, Y.; Prast, J.; Vouters, G.; Bilki, B.; Francis, K.; Repond, J.; Smith, J.; Xia, L.; Baldolemar, E.; Li, J.; Park, S. T.; Sosebee, M.; White, A. P.; Yu, J.; Buanes, T.; Eigen, G.; Mikami, Y.; Watson, N. K.; Mavromanolakis, G.; Thomson, M. A.; Ward, D. R.; Yan, W.; Benchekroun, D.; Hoummada, A.; Khoulaki, Y.; Benyamna, M.; Cârloganu, C.; Fehr, F.; Gay, P.; Manen, S.; Royer, L.; Blazey, G. C.; Boona, S.; Chakraborty, D.; Dyshkant, A.; Hedin, D.; Lima, J. G. R.; Powell, J.; Rykalin, V.; Scurti, N.; Smith, M.; Tran, N.; Zutshi, V.; Hostachy, J.-Y.; Morin, L.; Cornett, U.; David, D.; Dietrich, J.; Falley, G.; Gadow, K.; Göttlicher, P.; Günter, C.; Hermberg, B.; Karstensen, S.; Krivan, F.; Lucaci-Timoce, A.-I.; Lu, S.; Lutz, B.; Marchesini, I.; Morozov, S.; Morgunov, V.; Reinecke, M.; Sefkow, F.; Smirnov, P.; Terwort, M.; Vargas-Trevino, A.; Feege, N.; Garutti, E.; Eckert, P.; Kaplan, A.; Schultz-Coulon, H.-Ch; Shen, W.; Stamen, R.; Tadday, A.; Norbeck, E.; Onel, Y.; Wilson, G. W.; Kawagoe, K.; Uozumi, S.; Dauncey, P. D.; Magnan, A.-M.; Bartsch, V.; Wing, M.; Salvatore, F.; Calvo Alamillo, E.; Fouz, M.-C.; Puerta-Pelayo, J.; Bobchenko, B.; Chadeeva, M.; Danilov, M.; Epifantsev, A.; Markin, O.; Mizuk, R.; Novikov, E.; Rusinov, V.; Tarkovsky, E.; Kirikova, N.; Kozlov, V.; Soloviev, Y.; Buzhan, P.; Dolgoshein, B.; Ilyin, A.; Kantserov, V.; Kaplin, V.; Karakash, A.; Popova, E.; Smirnov, S.; Frey, A.; Kiesling, C.; Seidel, K.; Simon, F.; Soldner, C.; Weuste, L.; Bonis, J.; Bouquet, B.; Callier, S.; Cornebise, P.; Doublet, Ph; Dulucq, F.; Faucci Giannelli, M.; Fleury, J.; Li, H.; Martin-Chassard, G.; Richard, F.; de la Taille, Ch; Pöschl, R.; Raux, L.; Seguin-Moreau, N.; Wicek, F.; Anduze, M.; Boudry, V.; Brient, J.-C.; Jeans, D.; Mora de Freitas, P.; Musat, G.; Reinhard, M.; Ruan, M.; Videau, H.; Bulanek, B.; Zacek, J.; Cvach, J.; Gallus, P.; Havranek, M.; Janata, M.; Kvasnicka, J.; Lednicky, D.; Marcisovsky, M.; Polak, I.; Popule, J.; Tomasek, L.; Tomasek, M.; Ruzicka, P.; Sicho, P.; Smolik, J.; Vrba, V.; Zalesak, J.; Belhorma, B.; Ghazlane, H.; Takeshita, T.

2012-04-01

A prototype module for an International Linear Collider (ILC) detector was built, installed, and tested between 2006 and 2009 at CERN and Fermilab as part of the CALICE test beam program, in order to study the possibilities of extending energy sampling behind a hadronic calorimeter and to study the possibilities of providing muon tracking. The ``tail catcher/muon tracker'' (TCMT) is composed of 320 extruded scintillator strips (dimensions 1000 × 50 × 5 mm3) packaged in 16 one-meter square planes interleaved between steel plates. The scintillator strips were read out with wavelength shifting fibers and silicon photomultipliers. The planes were arranged with alternating horizontal and vertical strip orientations. Data were collected for muons and pions in the energy range 6 GeV to 80 GeV. Utilizing data taken in 2006, this paper describes the design and construction of the TCMT, performance characteristics, and a beam-based evaluation of the ability of the TCMT to improve hadronic energy resolution in a prototype ILC detector. For a typical configuration of an ILC detector with a coil situated outside a calorimeter system with a thickness of 5.5 nuclear interaction lengths, a TCMT would improve relative energy resolution by 6-16% for pions between 20 and 80 GeV.

Soft gamma-ray detector for the ASTRO-H Mission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Watanabe, Shin; Tajima, Hiroyasu; Fukazawa, Yasushi; Blandford, Roger; Enoto, Teruaki; Kataoka, Jun; Kawaharada, Madoka; Kokubun, Motohide; Laurent, Philippe; Lebrun, François; Limousin, Olivier; Madejski, Greg; Makishima, Kazuo; Mizuno, Tsunefumi; Nakamori, Takeshi; Nakazawa, Kazuhiro; Mori, Kunishiro; Odaka, Hirokazu; Ohno, Masanori; Ohta, Masayuki; Sato, Goro; Sato, Rie; Takeda, Shin'ichiro; Takahashi, Hiromitsu; Takahashi, Tadayuki; Tanaka, Takaaki; Tashiro, Makoto; Terada, Yukikatsu; Uchiyama, Hideki; Uchiyama, Yasunobu; Yamada, Shinya; Yatsu, Yoichi; Yonetoku, Daisuke; Yuasa, Takayuki

2012-09-01

ASTRO-H is the next generation JAXA X-ray satellite, intended to carry instruments with broad energy coverage and exquisite energy resolution. The Soft Gamma-ray Detector (SGD) is one of ASTRO-H instruments and will feature wide energy band (60-600 keV) at a background level 10 times better than the current instruments on orbit. The SGD is complimentary to ASTRO-H’s Hard X-ray Imager covering the energy range of 5-80 keV. The SGD achieves low background by combining a Compton camera scheme with a narrow field-of-view active shield where Compton kinematics is utilized to reject backgrounds. The Compton camera in the SGD is realized as a hybrid semiconductor detector system which consists of silicon and CdTe (cadmium telluride) sensors. Good energy resolution is afforded by semiconductor sensors, and it results in good background rejection capability due to better constraints on Compton kinematics. Utilization of Compton kinematics also makes the SGD sensitive to the gamma-ray polarization, opening up a new window to study properties of gamma-ray emission processes. In this paper, we will present the detailed design of the SGD and the results of the final prototype developments and evaluations. Moreover, we will also present expected performance based on the measurements with prototypes.

Prototype positron emission tomography insert with electro-optical signal transmission for simultaneous operation with MRI.

PubMed

Olcott, Peter; Kim, Ealgoo; Hong, Keyjo; Lee, Brian J; Grant, Alexander M; Chang, Chen-Ming; Glover, Gary; Levin, Craig S

2015-05-07

The simultaneous acquisition of PET and MRI data shows promise to provide powerful capabilities to study disease processes in human subjects, guide the development of novel treatments, and monitor therapy response and disease progression. A brain-size PET detector ring insert for an MRI system is being developed that, if successful, can be inserted into any existing MRI system to enable simultaneous PET and MRI images of the brain to be acquired without mutual interference. The PET insert uses electro-optical coupling to relay all the signals from the PET detectors out of the MRI system using analog modulated lasers coupled to fiber optics. Because the fibers use light instead of electrical signals, the PET detector can be electrically decoupled from the MRI making it partially transmissive to the RF field of the MRI. The SiPM devices and low power lasers were powered using non-magnetic MRI compatible batteries. Also, the number of laser-fiber channels in the system was reduced using techniques adapted from the field of compressed sensing. Using the fact that incoming PET data is sparse in time and space, electronic circuits implementing constant weight codes uniquely encode the detector signals in order to reduce the number of electro-optical readout channels by 8-fold. Two out of a total of sixteen electro-optical detector modules have been built and tested with the entire RF-shielded detector gantry for the PET ring insert. The two detectors have been tested outside and inside of a 3T MRI system to study mutual interference effects and simultaneous performance with MRI. Preliminary results show that the PET insert is feasible for high resolution simultaneous PET/MRI imaging for applications in the brain.

Prototype positron emission tomography insert with electro-optical signal transmission for simultaneous operation with MRI

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olcott, Peter; Kim, Ealgoo; Hong, Keyjo; Lee, Brian J.; Grant, Alexander M.; Chang, Chen-Ming; Glover, Gary; Levin, Craig S.

2015-05-01

The simultaneous acquisition of PET and MRI data shows promise to provide powerful capabilities to study disease processes in human subjects, guide the development of novel treatments, and monitor therapy response and disease progression. A brain-size PET detector ring insert for an MRI system is being developed that, if successful, can be inserted into any existing MRI system to enable simultaneous PET and MRI images of the brain to be acquired without mutual interference. The PET insert uses electro-optical coupling to relay all the signals from the PET detectors out of the MRI system using analog modulated lasers coupled to fiber optics. Because the fibers use light instead of electrical signals, the PET detector can be electrically decoupled from the MRI making it partially transmissive to the RF field of the MRI. The SiPM devices and low power lasers were powered using non-magnetic MRI compatible batteries. Also, the number of laser-fiber channels in the system was reduced using techniques adapted from the field of compressed sensing. Using the fact that incoming PET data is sparse in time and space, electronic circuits implementing constant weight codes uniquely encode the detector signals in order to reduce the number of electro-optical readout channels by 8-fold. Two out of a total of sixteen electro-optical detector modules have been built and tested with the entire RF-shielded detector gantry for the PET ring insert. The two detectors have been tested outside and inside of a 3T MRI system to study mutual interference effects and simultaneous performance with MRI. Preliminary results show that the PET insert is feasible for high resolution simultaneous PET/MRI imaging for applications in the brain.

Novel Photon-Counting Detectors for Free-Space Communication

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Krainak, Michael A.; Yang, Guan; Sun, Xiaoli; Lu, Wei; Merritt, Scott; Beck, Jeff

2016-01-01

We present performance data for novel photon counting detectors for free space optical communication. NASA GSFC is testing the performance of three novel photon counting detectors 1) a 2x8 mercury cadmium telluride avalanche array made by DRS Inc. 2) a commercial 2880 silicon avalanche photodiode array and 3) a prototype resonant cavity silicon avalanche photodiode array. We will present and compare dark count, photon detection efficiency, wavelength response and communication performance data for these detectors. We discuss system wavelength trades and architectures for optimizing overall communication link sensitivity, data rate and cost performance. The HgCdTe APD array has photon detection efficiencies of greater than 50 were routinely demonstrated across 5 arrays, with one array reaching a maximum PDE of 70. High resolution pixel-surface spot scans were performed and the junction diameters of the diodes were measured. The junction diameter was decreased from 31 m to 25 m resulting in a 2x increase in e-APD gain from 470 on the 2010 array to 1100 on the array delivered to NASA GSFC. Mean single photon SNRs of over 12 were demonstrated at excess noise factors of 1.2-1.3.The commercial silicon APD array has a fast output with rise times of 300ps and pulse widths of 600ps. Received and filtered signals from the entire array are multiplexed onto this single fast output. The prototype resonant cavity silicon APD array is being developed for use at 1 micron wavelength.

Cryogenic and radiation hard ASIC design for large format NIR/SWIR detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Peng; Dupont, Benoit; Dierickx, Bart; Müller, Eric; Verbruggen, Geert; Gielis, Stijn; Valvekens, Ramses

2014-10-01

An ASIC is developed to control and data quantization for large format NIR/SWIR detector arrays. Both cryogenic and space radiation environment issue are considered during the design. Therefore it can be integrated in the cryogenic chamber, which reduces significantly the vast amount of long wires going in and out the cryogenic chamber, i.e. benefits EMI and noise concerns, as well as the power consumption of cooling system and interfacing circuits. In this paper, we will describe the development of this prototype ASIC for image sensor driving and signal processing as well as the testing in both room and cryogenic temperature.

ICARUS 600 ton: A status report

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vignoli, C.; Arneodo, F.; Badertscher, A.; Barbieri, E.; Benetti, P.; di Tigliole, A. Borio; Brunetti, R.; Bueno, A.; Calligarich, E.; Campanelli, M.; Carli, F.; Carpanese, C.; Cavalli, D.; Cavanna, F.; Cennini, P.; Centro, S.; Cesana, A.; Chen, C.; Chen, Y.; Cinquini, C.; Cline, D.; De Mitri, I.; Dolfini, R.; Favaretto, D.; Ferrari, A.; Berzolari, A. Gigli; Goudsmit, P.; He, K.; Huang, X.; Li, Z.; Lu, F.; Ma, J.; Mannocchi, G.; Mauri, F.; Mazza, D.; Mazzone, L.; Montanari, C.; Nurzia, G. P.; Otwinowski, S.; Palamara, O.; Pascoli, D.; Pepato, A.; Periale, L.; Petrera, S.; Piano-Mortari, G.; Piazzoli, A.; Picchi, P.; Pietropaolo, F.; Rancati, T.; Rappoldi, A.; Raselli, G. L.; Rebuzzi, D.; Revol, J. P.; Rico, J.; Rossella, M.; Rossi, C.; Rubbia, A.; Rubbia, C.; Sala, P.; Scannicchio, D.; Sergiampietri, F.; Suzuki, S.; Terrani, M.; Ventura, S.; Verdecchia, M.; Wang, H.; Woo, J.; Xu, G.; Xu, Z.; Zhang, C.; Zhang, Q.; Zheng, S.

2000-05-01

The goal of the ICARUS Project is the installation of a multi-kiloton LAr TPC in the underground Gran Sasso Laboratory. The programme foresees the realization of the detector in a modular way. The first step is the construction of a 600 ton module which is now at an advanced phase. It will be mounted and tested in Pavia in one year and then it will be moved to Gran Sasso for the final operation. The major cryogenic and purification systems and the mechanical components of the detector have been constructed and tested in a 10 m 3 prototype. The results of these tests are here summarized.

Feasibility studies for the Forward Spectrometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Biernat, Jacek; P¯ANDA Collaboration

2015-04-01

The Forward Spectrometer designed for the P¯ANDA detector will consist of many different detector systems allowing for precise track reconstruction and particle identification. Feasibility studies for Forward Spectrometer done by means of specific reactions will be presented. In the first part of the paper, results of simulations focussing on rate estimates of the tracking stations based on straw tubes will be presented. Next, the importance of the Forward Tracker will be demonstrated through the reconstruction of the ψ(4040) → DD¯ decay. Finally, results from the analysis of the experimental data collected with a straw tube prototype designed and constructed at the Research Center in Juelich will be discussed.

Development of a multi-element microdosimetric detector based on a thick gas electron multiplier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anjomani, Z.; Hanu, A. R.; Prestwich, W. V.; Byun, S. H.

2017-03-01

A prototype multi-element gaseous microdosimetric detector was developed using the Thick Gas Electron Multiplier (THGEM) technique. The detector aims at measuring neutron and gamma-ray dose rates for weak neutron-gamma radiation fields. The multi-element design was employed to increase the neutron detection efficiency. The prototype THGEM multi-element detector consists of three layers of tissue equivalent plastic hexagons and each layer houses a hexagonal array of seven cylindrical gas cavity elements with equal heights and diameters of 17 mm. The final detector structure incorporates 21 gaseous volumes. Owing to the absence of wire electrodes, the THGEM multi-element detector offers flexible and convenient fabrication. The detector responses to neutron and gamma-ray were investigated using the McMaster Tandetron 7Li(p,n) neutron source. The dosimetric performance of the detector is presented in contrast to the response of a commercial tissue equivalent proportional counter. Compared to the standard TEPC response, the detector gave a consistent microdosimetric response with an average discrepancy of 8 % in measured neutron absorbed dose. An improvement of a factor of 3.0 in neutron detection efficiency has been accomplished with only a small degradation in energy resolution. However, its low energy cut off is about 6 keV/μm, which is not sufficient to measure the gamma-ray dose. This problem will be addressed by increasing the electron multiplication gain using double THGEM layers.

JUNGFRAU 0.2: prototype characterization of a gain-switching, high dynamic range imaging system for photon science at SwissFEL and synchrotrons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jungmann-Smith, J. H.; Bergamaschi, A.; Cartier, S.; Dinapoli, R.; Greiffenberg, D.; Johnson, I.; Maliakal, D.; Mezza, D.; Mozzanica, A.; Ruder, Ch; Schaedler, L.; Schmitt, B.; Shi, X.; Tinti, G.

2014-12-01

JUNGFRAU (adJUstiNg Gain detector FoR the Aramis User station) is a two-dimensional pixel detector for photon science applications at free electron lasers and synchrotron light sources. It is developed for the SwissFEL currently under construction at the Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland. Characteristics of this application-specific integrating circuit readout chip include single photon sensitivity and low noise over a dynamic range of over four orders of magnitude of photon input signal. These characteristics are achieved by a three-fold gain-switching preamplifier in each pixel, which automatically adjusts its gain to the amount of charge deposited on the pixel. The final JUNGFRAU chip comprises 256 × 256 pixels of 75 × 75 μm2 each. Arrays of 2 × 4 chips are bump-bonded to monolithic detector modules of about 4 × 8 cm2. Multi-module systems up to 16 Mpixels are planned for the end stations at SwissFEL. A readout rate in excess of 2 kHz is anticipated, which serves the readout requirements of SwissFEL and enables high count rate synchrotron experiments with a linear count rate capability of > 20 MHz/pixel. Promising characterization results from a 3.6 × 3.6 mm2 prototype (JUNGFRAU 0.2) with fluorescence X-ray, infrared laser and synchrotron irradiation are shown. The results include an electronic noise as low as 100 electrons root-mean-square, which enables single photon detection down to X-ray energies of about 2 keV. Noise below the Poisson fluctuation of the photon number and a linearity error of the pixel response of about 1% are demonstrated. First imaging experiments successfully show automatic gain switching. The edge spread function of the imaging system proves to be comparable in quality to single photon counting hybrid pixel detectors.

Beam tracking with micromegas & wire chambers in secondary electron detection configuration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Voštinar, M.; Fernández, B.; Pancin, J.; Alvarez, M. A. G.; Chaminade, T.; Damoy, S.; Doré, D.; Drouart, A.; Druillole, F.; Frémont, G.; Kebbiri, M.; Materna, T.; Monmarthe, E.; Panebianco, S.; Papaevangelou, T.; Riallot, M.; Savajols, H.; Spitaels, C.

2013-12-01

The focal plane of S3 (Super Separator Spectrometer), a new experimental area of SPIRAL2 at GANIL, will be used for identification of nuclei, and requires the reconstruction of their trajectories and velocities by the Time Of Flight (TOF) method. Classical tracking detectors used in-beam would generate a lot of angular and energy straggling due to their thickness. One solution is the use of a SED (Secondary Electron Detection), which consists of a thin emissive foil in beam coupled to a low pressure gaseous detector out of the beam, for the detection of secondary electrons ejected from the foil. Moreover, this type of detector can be used for classical beam tracking at low energies, or for example at NFS (GANIL) for the FALSTAFF experiment for the reconstruction of fission fragments trajectories. Several low pressure gaseous detectors such as wire chambers and Micromegas have been constructed and tested since 2008. High counting rate capabilities and good time resolution obtained in previous tests motivated the construction of a new real-size 2D prototype wire chamber and a 2D bulk Micromegas at low pressure. For the first time, spatial resolution of the Micromegas at low pressure (below 20 mbar) in the SED configuration was measured. Different tests have been performed in order to characterize time and spatial properties of both prototypes, giving spatial resolution in the horizontal (X) direction of 0.90(0.02) mm FWHM for the real size prototype and 0.72(0.08) mm FWHM for Micromegas, and a time resolution of ~ 110(25) ps for the real size prototype.

Polarimetric performance of a Laue lens gamma-ray CdZnTe focal plane prototype

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Curado da Silva, R. M.; Caroli, E.; Stephen, J. B.; Pisa, A.; Auricchio, N.; Del Sordo, S.; Frontera, F.; Honkimäki, V.; Schiavone, F.; Donati, A.; Trindade, A. M. F.; Ventura, G.

2008-10-01

A gamma-ray telescope mission concept [gamma ray imager (GRI)] based on Laue focusing techniques has been proposed in reply to the European Space Agency call for mission ideas within the framework of the next decade planning (Cosmic Vision 2015-2025). In order to optimize the design of a focal plane for this satellite mission, a CdZnTe detector prototype has been tested at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility under an ~100% polarized gamma-ray beam. The spectroscopic, imaging, and timing performances were studied and in particular its potential as a polarimeter was evaluated. Polarization has been recognized as being a very important observational parameter in high energy astrophysics (>100 keV) and therefore this capability has been specifically included as part of the GRI mission proposal. The prototype detector tested was a 5 mm thick CdZnTe array with an 11×11 active pixel matrix (pixel area of 2.5×2.5 mm2). The detector was irradiated by a monochromatic linearly polarized beam with a spot diameter of about 0.5 mm over the energy range between 150 and 750 keV. Polarimetric Q factors of 0.35 and double event relative detection efficiency of 20% were obtained. Further measurements were performed with a copper Laue monochromator crystal placed between the beam and the detector prototype. In this configuration we have demonstrated that a polarized beam does not change its polarization level and direction after undergoing a small angle (<1°) Laue diffraction inside a crystal.

Liquid argon scintillation detection utilizing wavelength-shifting plates and light guides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Howard, B.

2018-02-01

In DUNE, the event timing provided by the detection of the relatively prompt scintillation photons will improve spatial resolution in the drift direction of the time-projection chamber (TPC) and is especially useful for non-beam physics topics such as supernova neutrinos and nucleon decay. The baseline design for the first 10kt single phase TPC fits the photon detector system in the natural gap between the wire planes of adjacent TPC volumes. A prototype photon detector design utilizes wavelength-shifter coated plates to convert the vacuum ultraviolet scintillation light to the optical and commercially-produced wavelength-shifting light guides to trap some of this light and transport it to an array of silicon photomultipliers at the end. This system and the testing performed to characterize the system and determine the efficiency are discussed.

Liquid Argon Scintillation Detection Utilizing Wavelength-Shifting Plates and Light Guides

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Howard, B.

In DUNE, the event timing provided by the detection of the relatively prompt scintillation photons will improve spatial resolution in the drift direction of the time-projection chamber (TPC) and is especially useful for non-beam physics topics such as supernova neutrinos and nucleon decay. The baseline design for the first 10kt single phase TPC fits the photon detector system in the natural gap between the wire planes of adjacent TPC volumes. A prototype photon detector design utilizes wavelength-shifter coated plates to convert the vacuum ultraviolet scintillation light to the optical and commercially-produced wavelength-shifting light guides to trap some of this lightmore » and transport it to an array of silicon photomultipliers at the end. This system and the testing performed to characterize the system and determine the efficiency are discussed.« less

A high time and spatial resolution MRPC designed for muon tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, L.; Wang, Y.; Huang, X.; Wang, X.; Zhu, W.; Li, Y.; Cheng, J.

2014-12-01

A prototype of cosmic muon scattering tomography system has been set up in Tsinghua University in Beijing. Multi-gap Resistive Plate Chamber (MRPC) is used in the system to get the muon tracks. Compared with other detectors, MRPC can not only provide the track but also the Time of Flight (ToF) between two detectors which can estimate the energy of particles. To get a more accurate track and higher efficiency of the tomography system, a new type of high time and two-dimensional spatial resolution MRPC has been developed. A series of experiments have been done to measure the efficiency, time resolution and spatial resolution. The results show that the efficiency can reach 95% and its time resolution is around 65 ps. The cluster size is around 4 and the spatial resolution can reach 200 μ m.

An FPGA-based data acquisition system for directional dark matter detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Chen; Nicoloff, Catherine; Sanaullah, Ahmed; Sridhar, Arvind; Herbordt, Martin; Battat, James; Battat Lab at Wellesley College Team; CAAD Lab at Boston University Team

2017-01-01

Directional dark matter detection is a powerful tool in the search for dark matter. Low-pressure gas TPCs are commonly used for directional detection, and dark-matter-induced recoils are mm long. These tracks can be reconstructed by micropatterned readouts. Because large detector volumes are needed, a cost-effective data acquisition system capable of scaling to large channel counts (105 or 106) is required. The Directional Recoil Identification From Tracks (DRIFT) collaboration has pioneered the use of TPCs for directional detection. We employ a negative ion gas with drift speed comparable to the electron drift speed in liquid argon (LAr). We aim to use electronics developed for million-channel readouts in large LAr neutrino detectors. We have built a prototype Micromegas-based directional detector with 103 channels. A FPGA-based back-end system (BE) receives a 12 Gbps data stream from eight ASIC-based front-end boards (FE), each with 128 detector channels. The BE buffers 3 μs of pretrigger data for all channels in DRAM, and streams triggered data to a host PC. We will describe the system architecture and present preliminary measurements from the DAQ. We acknowledge the support of the Research Corporation for Science Advancement, the NSF and the Massachusetts Space Grant Consortium.

Controller and data acquisition system for SIDECAR ASIC driven HAWAII detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramaprakash, Anamparambu; Burse, Mahesh; Chordia, Pravin; Chillal, Kalpesh; Kohok, Abhay; Mestry, Vilas; Punnadi, Sujit; Sinha, Sakya

2010-07-01

SIDECAR is an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), which can be used for control and data acquisition from near-IR HAWAII detectors offered by Teledyne Imaging Sensors (TIS), USA. The standard interfaces provided by Teledyne are COM API and socket servers running under MS Windows platform. These interfaces communicate to the ASIC (and the detector) through an intermediate card called JWST ASIC Drive Electronics (JADE2). As part of an ongoing programme of several years, for developing astronomical focal plane array (CCDs, CMOS and Hybrid) controllers and data acquisition systems (CDAQs), IUCAA is currently developing the next generation controllers employing Virtex-5 family FPGA devices. We present here the capabilities which are built into these new CDAQs for handling HAWAII detectors. In our system, the computer which hosts the application programme, user interface and device drivers runs on a Linux platform. It communicates through a hot-pluggable USB interface (with an optional optical fibre extender) to the FPGA-based card which replaces the JADE2. The FPGA board in turn, controls the SIDECAR ASIC and through it a HAWAII-2RG detector, both of which are located in a cryogenic test Dewar set up which is liquid nitrogen cooled. The system can acquire data over 1, 4, or 32 readout channels, with or without binning, at different speeds, can define sub-regions for readout, offers various readout schemes like Fowler sampling, up-theramp etc. In this paper, we present the performance results obtained from a prototype system.

Test Plan for Cask Identification Detector

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rauch, Eric Benton

2016-09-29

This document serves to outline the testing of a Used Fuel Cask Identification Detector (CID) currently being designed under the DOE-NE MPACT Campaign. A bench-scale prototype detector will be constructed and tested using surrogate neutron sources. The testing will serve to inform the design of the full detector that is to be used as a way of fingerprinting used fuel storage casks based on the neutron signature produced by the used fuel inside the cask.

Investigation of CMOS pixel sensor with 0.18 μm CMOS technology for high-precision tracking detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, L.; Fu, M.; Zhang, Y.; Yan, W.; Wang, M.

2017-01-01

The Circular Electron Positron Collider (CEPC) proposed by the Chinese high energy physics community is aiming to measure Higgs particles and their interactions precisely. The tracking detector including Silicon Inner Tracker (SIT) and Forward Tracking Disks (FTD) has driven stringent requirements on sensor technologies in term of spatial resolution, power consumption and readout speed. CMOS Pixel Sensor (CPS) is a promising candidate to approach these requirements. This paper presents the preliminary studies on the sensor optimization for tracking detector to achieve high collection efficiency while keeping necessary spatial resolution. Detailed studies have been performed on the charge collection using a 0.18 μm CMOS image sensor process. This process allows high resistivity epitaxial layer, leading to a significant improvement on the charge collection and therefore improving the radiation tolerance. Together with the simulation results, the first exploratory prototype has bee designed and fabricated. The prototype includes 9 different pixel arrays, which vary in terms of pixel pitch, diode size and geometry. The total area of the prototype amounts to 2 × 7.88 mm2.

A fast method for optical simulation of flood maps of light-sharing detector modules.

PubMed

Shi, Han; Du, Dong; Xu, JianFeng; Moses, William W; Peng, Qiyu

2015-12-01

Optical simulation of the detector module level is highly desired for Position Emission Tomography (PET) system design. Commonly used simulation toolkits such as GATE are not efficient in the optical simulation of detector modules with complicated light-sharing configurations, where a vast amount of photons need to be tracked. We present a fast approach based on a simplified specular reflectance model and a structured light-tracking algorithm to speed up the photon tracking in detector modules constructed with polished finish and specular reflector materials. We simulated conventional block detector designs with different slotted light guide patterns using the new approach and compared the outcomes with those from GATE simulations. While the two approaches generated comparable flood maps, the new approach was more than 200-600 times faster. The new approach has also been validated by constructing a prototype detector and comparing the simulated flood map with the experimental flood map. The experimental flood map has nearly uniformly distributed spots similar to those in the simulated flood map. In conclusion, the new approach provides a fast and reliable simulation tool for assisting in the development of light-sharing-based detector modules with a polished surface finish and using specular reflector materials.

A Time of Flight Fast Neutron Imaging System Design Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Canion, Bonnie; Glenn, Andrew; Sheets, Steven; Wurtz, Ron; Nakae, Les; Hausladen, Paul; McConchie, Seth; Blackston, Matthew; Fabris, Lorenzo; Newby, Jason

2017-09-01

LLNL and ORNL are designing an active/passive fast neutron imaging system that is flexible to non-ideal detector positioning. It is often not possible to move an inspection object in fieldable imager applications such as safeguards, arms control treaty verification, and emergency response. Particularly, we are interested in scenarios which inspectors do not have access to all sides of an inspection object, due to interfering objects or walls. This paper will present the results of a simulation-based design parameter study, that will determine the optimum system design parameters for a fieldable system to perform time-of-flight based imaging analysis. The imaging analysis is based on the use of an associated particle imaging deuterium-tritium (API DT) neutron generator to get the time-of-flight of radiation induced within an inspection object. This design study will investigate the optimum design parameters for such a system (e.g. detector size, ideal placement, etc.), as well as the upper and lower feasible design parameters that the system can expect to provide results within a reasonable amount of time (e.g. minimum/maximum detector efficiency, detector standoff, etc.). Ideally the final prototype from this project will be capable of using full-access techniques, such as transmission imaging, when the measurement circumstances allow, but with the additional capability of producing results at reduced accessibility.

MO-A-BRD-01: An Investigation of the Dynamic Response of a Novel Acousto-Optic Liquid Crystal Detector for Full-Field Transmission Ultrasound Breast Imaging

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rosenfield, J.R.; La Riviere, P.J.; Sandhu, J.S.

Purpose: To characterize the dynamic response of a novel acousto-optic (AO) liquid crystal detector for high-resolution transmission ultrasound breast imaging. Transient and steady-state lesion contrast were investigated to identify optimal transducer settings for our prototype imaging system consistent with the FDA limits of 1 W/cm{sup 2} and 50 J/cm{sup 2} on the incident acoustic intensity and the transmitted acoustic energy flux density. Methods: We have developed a full-field transmission ultrasound breast imaging system that uses monochromatic plane-wave illumination to acquire projection images of the compressed breast. The acoustic intensity transmitted through the breast is converted into a visual image bymore » a proprietary liquid crystal detector operating on the basis of the AO effect. The dynamic response of the AO detector in the absence of an imaged breast was recorded by a CCD camera as a function of the acoustic field intensity and the detector exposure time. Additionally, a stereotactic needle biopsy breast phantom was used to investigate the change in opaque lesion contrast with increasing exposure time for a range of incident acoustic field intensities. Results: Using transducer voltages between 0.3 V and 0.8 V and exposure times of 3 minutes, a unique one-to-one mapping of incident acoustic intensity to steady-state optical brightness in the AO detector was observed. A transfer curve mapping acoustic intensity to steady-state optical brightness shows a high-contrast region analogous to the linear portion of the Hurter-Driffield curves of radiography. Using transducer voltages between 1 V and 1.75 V and exposure times of 90 s, the lesion contrast study demonstrated increasing lesion contrast with increasing breast exposure time and acoustic field intensity. Lesion-to-background contrast on the order of 0.80 was observed. Conclusion: Maximal lesion contrast in our prototype system can be obtained using the highest acoustic field intensity and the longest breast exposure time allowable under FDA standards. Department of Defense (DOD) Breast Cancer Research Program IDEA Award W81XWH-11-1-0332; National Institutes of Health (NIH) Grant T32 EB002103-21 from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)« less

Sensitivity of the DANSS detector to short range neutrino oscillations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Danilov, Mikhail; DANSS Collaboration

2016-04-01

DANSS is a highly segmented 1 m3 plastic scintillator detector. Its 2500 scintillator strips have a Gd loaded reflective cover. Light is collected with 3 wave length shifting fibers per strip and read out with 50 PMTs and 2500 SiPMs. The DANSS will be installed under the industrial 3 GWth reactor of the Kalinin Nuclear Power Plant at distances varying from 9.7 m to 12.2 m from the reactor core. PMTs and SiPMs collect about 30 photo electrons per MeV distributed approximately equally between two types of the readout. Light collection non-uniformity across and along the strip is about ±13% from maximum to minimum. The resulting energy resolution is modest, σ / E = 15% at 5 MeV. This leads to a smearing of the oscillation pattern comparable with the smearing due to the large size of the reactor core. Nevertheless because of the large counting rate (˜10000/day), small background (< 1%) and good control of systematic uncertainties due to frequent changes of positions, the DANSS is quite sensitive to reactor antineutrino oscillations to hypothetical sterile neutrinos with a mass in eV ballpark suggested recently to explain a so-called reactor anomaly. DANSS will have an elaborated calibration system. The high granularity of the detector allows calibration of every strip with about 40 thousand cosmic muons every day. The expected systematic effects do not reduce much the sensitivity region. Tests of the detector prototype DANSSino demonstrated that in spite of a small size (4% of DANSS), it is quite sensitive to reactor antineutrinos, detecting about 70 Inverse Beta Decay events per day with the signal-to-background ratio of about unity. The prototype tests have demonstrated feasibility to reach the design performance of the DANSS detector.

Helical cone beam CT with an asymmetrical detector.

PubMed

Zamyatin, Alexander A; Taguchi, Katsuyuki; Silver, Michael D

2005-10-01

If a multislice or other area detector is shifted to one side to cover a larger field of view, then the data are truncated on one side. We propose a method to restore the missing data in helical cone-beam acquisitions that uses measured data on the longer side of the asymmetric detector array. The method is based on the idea of complementary rays, which is well known in fan beam geometry; in this paper we extend this concept to the cone-beam case. Different cases of complementary data coverage and dependence on the helical pitch are considered. The proposed method is used in our prototype 16-row CT scanner with an asymmetric detector and a 700 mm field of view. For evaluation we used scanned body phantom data and computer-simulated data. To simulate asymmetric truncation, the full, symmetric datasets were truncated by dropping either 22.5% or 45% from one side of the detector. Reconstructed images from the prototype scanner with the asymmetrical detector show excellent image quality in the extended field of view. The proposed method allows flexible helical pitch selection and can be used with overscan, short-scan, and super-short-scan reconstructions.

Silicon Drift Detectors - A Novel Technology for Vertex Detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lynn, D.

1996-10-01

Silicon Drift Detectors (SDD) are novel position sensing silicon detectors which operate in a manner analogous to gas drift detectors. Single SDD's were shown in the CERN NA45 experiment to permit excellent spatial resolution (< 10 μm), to handle large particle occupancy, and to require a small fraction of the number of electronic channels of an equivalent pixel detector. The Silicon Vertex Tracker (SVT) for the STAR experiment at RHIC is based on this new technology. The SVT will consist of 216 SDD's, each 6.3 cm by 6.3 cm, arranged in a three layer barrel design, covering 2 π in azimuth and ±1 in pseudo-rapidity. Over the last three years we undertook a concentrated R+D effort to optimize the performance of the detector by minimizing the inactive area, the operating voltage and the data volume. We will present test results from several wafer prototypes. The charge produced by the passage of ionizing particles through the bulk of the detectors is collected on segmented anodes, with a pitch of 250 μm, on the far edges of the detector. The anodes are wire-bonded to a thick film multi-chip module which contains preamplifier/shaper chips and CMOS based switched capacitor arrays used as an analog memory pipeline. The ADC is located off-detector. The complete readout chain from the wafer to the DAQ will be presented. Finally we will show physics performance simulations based on the resolution achieved by the SVT prototypes.

Development of the Double Etalon Fabry-Perot Interferometer for Determining Total and Tropospheric Ozone Concentrations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cook, William

1999-01-01

Measuring and understanding the distribution of ozone through the lower levels of Earth's atmosphere are high priorities in global change and climate research. Of particular interest now is the global distribution of ozone in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. Global coverage of the stratospheric ozone is feasible only via remote sensing instruments on a space-based platform. And though extensive monitoring tropospheric ozone is possible using instruments flown aboard conventional aircraft, a space-based system would be significantly less costly and provide information over a much broader area and produce more uniform coverage. Here we describe the prototype of an instrument being developed to monitor, from an orbiting spacecraft, the ozone found in Earth's upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. Our new spectrometer is an infrared Fabry-Perot interferometer which uses two synchrounously tuned etalons: a high resolution narrow band device and a lower resolution broader band filtering etalon. The prototype is a scanning device making use of nearly collimated input radiation and a single element detector. As presently configured, it is capable of providing a resolution better than 0.07/cm with a spectral band width approximately 5/cm wide and centered at 1054.7/cm. For the future space-based emission device a modification of the the prototype was to be made to employ innovative circle-to-line detector optics, those developed or in development at UM/SPRL, and a focal plane array detector. These enhancements would enable a simultaneous recording of the entire spectral range of interest, but with simple detection electronics and a significant gain in signal-to-noise over that of the scanning version.

A 100 micro Kelvin bolometer system for SIRTF

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bernstein, G. M.; Timbie, P. T.; Richards, P. L.

1989-01-01

Progress toward a prototype of 100 mK bolometric detection system for the Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) is described. Two adiabatic demagnetization refrigerators (ADR's) were constructed and used to investigate the capabilities necessary for orbital operation. The first, a laboratory ADR, demonstrated a hold time at 0.1 K of over 12 hours, with temperature stability approx. 3 micro-K RMS achieved by controlling the magnetic field. A durable salt pill and an efficient support system have been demonstrated. A second ADR, the SIRTF flight prototype, has been built and will be flown on a balloon. Techniques for magnetic shielding, low heat leak current leads, and a mechanical heat switch are being developed in this ADR. Plans for construction of 100 mK bolometers are discussed. Three important cosmological investigations which will be carried out by these longest wavelength SIRTF detectors are described.

Evaluation of an MR-compatible blood sampler for PET

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Breuer, J.; Grazioso, R.; Zhang, N.; Schmand, M.; Wienhard, K.

2010-10-01

The integration of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) is an upcoming hybrid imaging technique. Prototype scanners for pre-clinical and clinical research have been built and tested. However, the potential of the PET part can be better exploited if the arterial input function (AIF) of the administered tracer is known. This work presents a dedicated MR-compatible blood sampling system for precise measurement of the AIF in an MR-PET study. The device basically consists of an LSO/APD-detector assembly which performs a coincidence measurement of the annihilation photons resulting from positron decays. During the measurement, arterial blood is drawn continuously from an artery and lead through the detector unit. Besides successful tests of the MR compatibility and the detector performance, measurements of the AIF of rats have been carried out. The results show that the developed blood sampling system is a practical and reliable tool for measuring the AIF in MR-PET studies.

Microbolometer characterization with the electronics prototype of the IRCAM for the JEM-EUSO mission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martín, Yolanda; Joven, Enrique; Reyes, Marcos; Licandro, Javier; Maroto, Oscar; Díez-Merino, Laura; Tomas, Albert; Carbonell, Jordi; Morales de los Ríos, J. A.; del Peral, Luis; Rodríguez-Frías, M. D.

2014-08-01

JEM-EUSO is a space observatory that will be attached to the Japanese module of the International Space Station (ISS) to observe the UV photon tracks produced by Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECR) interacting with atmospheric nuclei. The observatory comprises an Atmospheric Monitoring System (AMS) to gather data about the status of the atmosphere, including an infrared camera (IRCAM) for cloud coverage and cloud top height detection. This paper describes the design and characterization tests of IRCAM, which is the responsibility of the Spanish JEM-EUSO Consortium. The core of IRCAM is a 640x480 microbolometer array, the ULIS 04171, sensitive to radiation in the range 7 to 14 microns. The microbolometer array has been tested using the Front End Electronics Prototype (FEEP). This custom designed electronics corresponds to the Breadboard Model, a design built to verify the camera requirements in the laboratory. The FEEP controls the configuration of the microbolometer, digitizes the detector output, sends data to the Instrument Control Unit (ICU), and controls the microbolometer temperature to a 10 mK stability. Furthermore, the FEEP allows IRCAM to preprocess images by the addition of a powerful FPGA. This prototype has been characterized in the laboratories of Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias (IAC). Main results, including detector response as a function of the scene temperature, NETD and Non-Uniformity Correction (NUC) are shown. Results about thermal resolution meet the system requirements with a NETD lower than 1K including the narrow band filters which allow us to retrieve the clouds temperature using stereovision algorithms.

Mars Spark Source Prototype

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eichenberg, Dennis J.; Lindamood, Glenn R.; Weiland, Karen J.; VanderWal, Randall L.

1999-01-01

The Mars Spark Source Prototype (MSSP) hardware has been developed as part of a proof of concept system for the detection of trace metals such as lead, cadmium, and arsenic in Martian dusts and soils. A spark discharge produces plasma from a soil sample and detectors measure the optical emission from metals in the plasma that will allow their identification and quantification. Trace metal measurements are vital for the assessment of the potential toxicity of the Martian environment for human exploration. The current method of X-ray fluorescence can yield concentrations only of major species. Other instruments are incompatible with the volume, weight, and power constraints for a Mars mission. The instrument will be developed primarily for use in the Martian environment, but would be adaptable for terrestrial use in environmental monitoring. This paper describes the Mars Spark Source Prototype hardware, the results of the characterization tests, and future plans for hardware development.

Characterisation of a neutron diffraction detector prototype based on the Trench-MWPC technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buffet, J. C.; Clergeau, J. F.; Cuccaro, S.; Guérard, B.; Mandaroux, N.; Marchal, J.; Pentenero, J.; Platz, M.; Van Esch, P.

2017-12-01

The Trench Multi-Wire-Proportional-Chamber is a new type of MWPC which has been designed to fulfill the requirements of the 2D curved neutron detector under development for the XtremeD neutron diffractometer, under construction at ILL. In this design, anode wires are mounted orthogonally to a stack of metallic cathode plates which are insulated from each other by ceramic spacers. A row of teeth is spark-eroded along the edge of the cathode plates so that anode wires appear to be stretched along trenches machined across a segmented cathode plane. This design was tested on a prototype detector module mounted in a vessel filled with a mixture of 3He-Ar-CO2 at 7 bar. The detector configuration as well as measurements performed on this prototype at ILL neutron test beam line are presented. Results show that the Trench-MWPC design provides uniform amplification gain across the detection area despite the absence of the top cathode wires used to balance the electric field in standard Cathode-Anode-Cathode MWPC configurations. The presence of cathode trench side-walls surrounding anode wires minimises the spread of neutron-induced charge across electrodes, allowing for detector operation at reduced amplification gain without compromising the signal to noise per electrode. Pulse-height spectra acquired under various neutron flux conditions demonstrated that the Trench-MWPC design minimises space-charge effects, thanks to its low amplification gain combined with the fast collection of ions by cathode trench side-walls surrounding anode wires. Measurements also showed that this space-charge effect reduction results in a high local count-rate of ~100 kHz at 10% count loss when irradiating the detector with a small 5 mm × 5 mm neutron beam.

Joint measurement of the atmospheric muon flux through the Puy de Dôme volcano with plastic scintillators and Resistive Plate Chambers detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ambrosino, F.; Anastasio, A.; Bross, A.; Béné, S.; Boivin, P.; Bonechi, L.; Cârloganu, C.; Ciaranfi, R.; Cimmino, L.; Combaret, Ch.; D'Alessandro, R.; Durand, S.; Fehr, F.; Français, V.; Garufi, F.; Gailler, L.; Labazuy, Ph.; Laktineh, I.; Lénat, J.-F.; Masone, V.; Miallier, D.; Mirabito, L.; Morel, L.; Mori, N.; Niess, V.; Noli, P.; Pla-Dalmau, A.; Portal, A.; Rubinov, P.; Saracino, G.; Scarlini, E.; Strolin, P.; Vulpescu, B.

2015-11-01

The muographic imaging of volcanoes relies on the measured transmittance of the atmospheric muon flux through the target. An important bias affecting the result comes from background contamination mimicking a higher transmittance. The MU-RAY and TOMUVOL collaborations measured independently in 2013 the atmospheric muon flux transmitted through the Puy de Dôme volcano using their early prototype detectors, based on plastic scintillators and on Glass Resistive Plate Chambers, respectively. These detectors had three (MU-RAY) or four (TOMUVOL) detection layers of 1 m2 each, tens (MU-RAY) or hundreds (TOMUVOL) of nanosecond time resolution, a few millimeter position resolution, an energy threshold of few hundreds MeV, and no particle identification capabilities. The prototypes were deployed about 1.3 km away from the summit, where they measured, behind rock depths larger than 1000 m, remnant fluxes of 1.83±0.50(syst)±0.07(stat) m-2 d-1 deg-2 (MU-RAY) and 1.95±0.16(syst)±0.05(stat) m-2 d-1 deg-2 (TOMUVOL), that roughly correspond to the expected flux of high-energy atmospheric muons crossing 600 meters water equivalent (mwe) at 18° elevation. This implies that imaging depths larger than 500 mwe from 1 km away using such prototype detectors suffer from an overwhelming background. These measurements confirm that a new generation of detectors with higher momentum threshold, time-of-flight measurement, and/or particle identification is needed. The MU-RAY and TOMUVOL collaborations expect shortly to operate improved detectors, suitable for a robust muographic imaging of kilometer-scale volcanoes.

Joint measurement of the atmospheric muon flux through the Puy de Dome volcano with plastic scintillators and Resistive Plate Chambers detectors

DOE PAGES

Ambrosino, F.; Anastasio, A.; Bross, A.; ...

2015-11-14

The muographic imaging of volcanoes relies on the measured transmittance of the atmospheric muon flux through the target. An important bias affecting the result comes from background contamination mimicking a higher transmittance. The MU-RAY and TOMUVOL collaborations measured independently in 2013 the atmospheric muon flux transmitted through the Puy de Dôme volcano using their early prototype detectors, based on plastic scintillators and on Glass Resistive Plate Chambers, respectively. These detectors had three (MU-RAY) or four (TOMUVOL) detection layers of 1 m 2 each, tens (MU-RAY) or hundreds (TOMUVOL) of nanosecond time resolution, a few millimeter position resolution, an energy thresholdmore » of few hundreds MeV, and no particle identification capabilities. The prototypes were deployed about 1.3 km away from the summit, where they measured, behind rock depths larger than 1000 m, remnant fluxes of 1.83±0.50(syst)±0.07(stat) m –2 d –1 deg –2 (MU-RAY) and 1.95±0.16(syst)±0.05(stat) m –2 d –1 deg –2 (TOMUVOL), that roughly correspond to the expected flux of high-energy atmospheric muons crossing 600 meters water equivalent (mwe) at 18° elevation. This implies that imaging depths larger than 500 mwe from 1 km away using such prototype detectors suffer from an overwhelming background. These measurements confirm that a new generation of detectors with higher momentum threshold, time-of-flight measurement, and/or particle identification is needed. As a result, the MU-RAY and TOMUVOL collaborations expect shortly to operate improved detectors, suitable for a robust muographic imaging of kilometer-scale volcanoes.« less

Joint measurement of the atmospheric muon flux through the Puy de Dome volcano with plastic scintillators and Resistive Plate Chambers detectors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ambrosino, F.; Anastasio, A.; Bross, A.

The muographic imaging of volcanoes relies on the measured transmittance of the atmospheric muon flux through the target. An important bias affecting the result comes from background contamination mimicking a higher transmittance. The MU-RAY and TOMUVOL collaborations measured independently in 2013 the atmospheric muon flux transmitted through the Puy de Dôme volcano using their early prototype detectors, based on plastic scintillators and on Glass Resistive Plate Chambers, respectively. These detectors had three (MU-RAY) or four (TOMUVOL) detection layers of 1 m 2 each, tens (MU-RAY) or hundreds (TOMUVOL) of nanosecond time resolution, a few millimeter position resolution, an energy thresholdmore » of few hundreds MeV, and no particle identification capabilities. The prototypes were deployed about 1.3 km away from the summit, where they measured, behind rock depths larger than 1000 m, remnant fluxes of 1.83±0.50(syst)±0.07(stat) m –2 d –1 deg –2 (MU-RAY) and 1.95±0.16(syst)±0.05(stat) m –2 d –1 deg –2 (TOMUVOL), that roughly correspond to the expected flux of high-energy atmospheric muons crossing 600 meters water equivalent (mwe) at 18° elevation. This implies that imaging depths larger than 500 mwe from 1 km away using such prototype detectors suffer from an overwhelming background. These measurements confirm that a new generation of detectors with higher momentum threshold, time-of-flight measurement, and/or particle identification is needed. As a result, the MU-RAY and TOMUVOL collaborations expect shortly to operate improved detectors, suitable for a robust muographic imaging of kilometer-scale volcanoes.« less

Results from a Grazing Incidence X-Ray Interferometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Joy, Marshall K.; Shipley, Ann; Cash, Webster; Carter, James

2000-01-01

A prototype grazing incidence interferometer has been built and tested at EUV and X-ray wavelengths using a 120 meter long vacuum test facility at Marshall Space Flight Center. We describe the design and construction of the interferometer, the EUV and x-ray sources, the detector systems, and compare the interferometric fringe measurements with theoretical predictions. We also describe the next-generation grazing incidence system which is designed to provide laboratory demonstration of key technologies that will be needed for a space-based x-ray interferometer.

The design of a Nai(Tl) crystal in a system optimised for high-throughput and emergency measurement of iodine 131 in the human thyroid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vrba, Tomas; Fojtik, Pavel

2014-11-01

In the case of an accidental release of 131I, a system for large-scale monitoring of the population for the radionuclide intake is needed. A monitoring system is required to be capable of measuring adult as well as child subjects across a wide range of ages. Such system has been developed by the National Radiation Protection Institute in Prague (NRPI) and the Evinet company (member of the Nuvia Group). This paper describes the optimisation of the NaI(Tl) detector chosen for this system. The design of the crystal was based on Monte Carlo (MC) simulations, and supported by literature. These simulations examined three different crystal shapes and several dimensions. Based on the MC study, two prototype detectors, with crystal diameters 80 and 73 mm, were manufactured and compared with the crystals having dimensions ∅45×40 mm used for thyroid measurement at NRPI and with a standard NaI(Tl) probe (∅76.2×76.2 mm). The detector with a crystal of 80 mm diameter gave the best results and was chosen for further production.

Arrays of Position-Sensitive Virtual Frisch-Grid CdZnTe Detectors: Results From a $$4\\times 4$$ Array Prototype

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ocampo Giraldo, L. A.; Bolotnikov, A. E.; Camarda, G. S.

Position-sensitive virtual Frisch-grid (VFG) CdZnTe (CZT) detectors offer a unique capability for correcting the response nonuniformities caused by crystal defects. This allowed us to achieve high energy resolution, while using typical-grade commercial CZT crystals with relaxed requirements to their quality, thus reducing the overall cost of detectors. Another advantage of the VFG detectors is that they can be integrated into arrays and used in small compact hand-held instruments or large-area gamma cameras that will enhance detection capability for many practical applications, including nonproliferation, medical imaging, and gamma-ray astronomy. Here in this paper, we present the results from testing small arraymore » prototypes coupled with front-end application-specified integrated circuit. Each detector in the array is furnished with 5-mm-wide charge-sensing pads placed near the anode. The pads signals are converted into XY coordinates, which combined with the cathode signals (for Z coordinates) provide 3-D position information of all interaction points. The basic array consists of a number of detectors grouped into 2×2 subarrays, each having a common cathode made by connecting together the cathodes of the individual detectors. Lastly, these features can significantly improve the performance of detectors while using typical-grade low-cost CZT crystals to reduce the overall cost of the proposed instrument.« less

Arrays of Position-Sensitive Virtual Frisch-Grid CdZnTe Detectors: Results From a $$4\\times 4$$ Array Prototype

DOE PAGES

Ocampo Giraldo, L. A.; Bolotnikov, A. E.; Camarda, G. S.; ...

2017-08-22

Position-sensitive virtual Frisch-grid (VFG) CdZnTe (CZT) detectors offer a unique capability for correcting the response nonuniformities caused by crystal defects. This allowed us to achieve high energy resolution, while using typical-grade commercial CZT crystals with relaxed requirements to their quality, thus reducing the overall cost of detectors. Another advantage of the VFG detectors is that they can be integrated into arrays and used in small compact hand-held instruments or large-area gamma cameras that will enhance detection capability for many practical applications, including nonproliferation, medical imaging, and gamma-ray astronomy. Here in this paper, we present the results from testing small arraymore » prototypes coupled with front-end application-specified integrated circuit. Each detector in the array is furnished with 5-mm-wide charge-sensing pads placed near the anode. The pads signals are converted into XY coordinates, which combined with the cathode signals (for Z coordinates) provide 3-D position information of all interaction points. The basic array consists of a number of detectors grouped into 2×2 subarrays, each having a common cathode made by connecting together the cathodes of the individual detectors. Lastly, these features can significantly improve the performance of detectors while using typical-grade low-cost CZT crystals to reduce the overall cost of the proposed instrument.« less

Preliminary evaluation of a novel energy-resolved photon-counting gamma ray detector.

PubMed

Meng, L-J; Tan, J W; Spartiotis, K; Schulman, T

2009-06-11

In this paper, we present the design and preliminary performance evaluation of a novel energy-resolved photon-counting (ERPC) detector for gamma ray imaging applications. The prototype ERPC detector has an active area of 4.4 cm × 4.4 cm, which is pixelated into 128 × 128 square pixels with a pitch size of 350 µm × 350µm. The current detector consists of multiple detector hybrids, each with a CdTe crystal of 1.1 cm × 2.2 cm × 1 mm, bump-bonded onto a custom-designed application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The ERPC ASIC has 2048 readout channels arranged in a 32 × 64 array. Each channel is equipped with pre- and shaping-amplifiers, a discriminator, peak/hold circuitry and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for digitizing the signal amplitude. In order to compensate for the pixel-to-pixel variation, two 8-bit digital-to-analog converters (DACs) are implemented into each channel for tuning the gain and offset. The ERPC detector is designed to offer a high spatial resolution, a wide dynamic range of 12-200 keV and a good energy resolution of 3-4 keV. The hybrid detector configuration provides a flexible detection area that can be easily tailored for different imaging applications. The intrinsic performance of a prototype ERPC detector was evaluated with various gamma ray sources, and the results are presented.

A One ppm NDIR Methane Gas Sensor with Single Frequency Filter Denoising Algorithm

PubMed Central

Zhu, Zipeng; Xu, Yuhui; Jiang, Binqing

2012-01-01

A non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) methane gas sensor prototype has achieved a minimum detection limit of 1 parts per million by volume (ppm). The central idea of the design of the sensor is to decrease the detection limit by increasing the signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the system. In order to decrease the noise level, a single frequency filter algorithm based on fast Fourier transform (FFT) is adopted for signal processing. Through simulation and experiment, it is found that the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the filter narrows with the extension of sampling period and the increase of lamp modulation frequency, and at some optimum sampling period and modulation frequency, the filtered signal maintains a noise to signal ratio of below 1/10,000. The sensor prototype provides the key techniques for a hand-held methane detector that has a low cost and a high resolution. Such a detector may facilitate the detection of leakage of city natural gas pipelines buried underground, the monitoring of landfill gas, the monitoring of air quality and so on.

Fission-fragment detector for DANCE based on thin scintillating films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rusev, G.; Roman, A. R.; Daum, J. K.; Springs, R. K.; Bond, E. M.; Jandel, M.; Baramsai, B.; Bredeweg, T. A.; Couture, A.; Favalli, A.; Ianakiev, K. D.; Iliev, M. L.; Mosby, S.; Ullmann, J. L.; Walker, C. L.

2015-12-01

A fission-fragment detector based on thin scintillating films has been built to serve as a trigger/veto detector in neutron-induced fission measurements at DANCE. The fissile material is surrounded by scintillating films providing 4 π detection of the fission fragments. The scintillation photons were registered with silicon photomultipliers. A measurement of the 235U (n , f) reaction with this detector at DANCE revealed a correct time-of-flight spectrum and provided an estimate for the efficiency of the prototype detector of 11.6(7)%. Design and test measurements with the detector are described.

Management system for the SND experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pugachev, K.; Korol, A.

2017-09-01

A new management system for the SND detector experiments (at VEPP-2000 collider in Novosibirsk) is developed. We describe here the interaction between a user and the SND databases. These databases contain experiment configuration, conditions and metadata. The new system is designed in client-server architecture. It has several logical layers corresponding to the users roles. A new template engine is created. A web application is implemented using Node.js framework. At the time the application provides: showing and editing configuration; showing experiment metadata and experiment conditions data index; showing SND log (prototype).

Development of 3He LPSDs and read-out system for the SANS spectrometer at CPHS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, T. C.; Gong, H.; Shao, B. B.; Wang, X. W.; Zhang, Y.; Pang, B. B.

2014-01-01

The Compact Pulsed Hadron Source (CPHS) is a 13-MeV proton-linac-driven neutron source under construction in Tsinghua University. Time-of-flight (TOF) small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) spectrometer is one of the first instruments to be built. It is designed to use linear position-sensitive detectors (LPSDs) of 3He gas proportional counters to cover a 1 m×1 m area. Prototypical LPSDs (Φ = 12 mm, L=1 m) have been made and read-out system is developed based on charge division. This work describes the in-house fabrication of the prototypical LPSDs and design of the read-out system including front-end electronics and data acquisition (DAQ) system. Key factors of the front-end electronics are studied and optimized with PSPICE simulation. DAQ system is designed based on VME bus architecture and FPGA Mezzanine Card (FMC) standard with high flexibility and extendibility. Preliminary experiments are carried out and the results are present and discussed.

Toward Simultaneous Real-Time Fluoroscopic and Nuclear Imaging in the Intervention Room.

PubMed

Beijst, Casper; Elschot, Mattijs; Viergever, Max A; de Jong, Hugo W A M

2016-01-01

To investigate the technical feasibility of hybrid simultaneous fluoroscopic and nuclear imaging. An x-ray tube, an x-ray detector, and a gamma camera were positioned in one line, enabling imaging of the same field of view. Since a straightforward combination of these elements would block the lines of view, a gamma camera setup was developed to be able to view around the x-ray tube. A prototype was built by using a mobile C-arm and a gamma camera with a four-pinhole collimator. By using the prototype, test images were acquired and sensitivity, resolution, and coregistration error were analyzed. Nuclear images (two frames per second) were acquired simultaneously with fluoroscopic images. Depending on the distance from point source to detector, the system resolution was 1.5-1.9-cm full width at half maximum, the sensitivity was (0.6-1.5) × 10(-5) counts per decay, and the coregistration error was -0.13 to 0.15 cm. With good spatial and temporal alignment of both modalities throughout the field of view, fluoroscopic images can be shown in grayscale and corresponding nuclear images in color overlay. Measurements obtained with the hybrid imaging prototype device that combines simultaneous fluoroscopic and nuclear imaging of the same field of view have demonstrated the feasibility of real-time simultaneous hybrid imaging in the intervention room. © RSNA, 2015

High Performance Thermoelectric Cryocoolers Based on II-VI Low Dimensional Structures

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-05-26

around 210-250K and where the requirement of noise reduction and improving the signal resolution is crucial, such as in case of infrared detectors ...Development of TEC Integrated HOT MWIR detector for Tactical applications .................... 12 SECTION III – DISSEMINATION OF RESULTS...Integrated Dewar- Detector Cooler Assembly (IDDCA). The IDDCA will incorporate the prototype TEC into a typical Long Range thermal Imager dewar package

Results from a Prototype Multi-Element CdZnTe Gamma-Ray Detector for Planetary Missions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moss, C. E.; Browne, M. C.; Ianakiev, K. D.; Prettyman, T. H.; Reedy, R. C.

2001-01-01

We present high energy results for a 2 x 2 x 2 array of eight 10 mm x 10 mm x 5 mm coplanar grid CdZnTe detectors. We conclude that such an array can provide a room-temperature detector with good resolution and efficiency for planetary missions. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

LLIMAS: Revolutionizing integrating modeling and analysis at MIT Lincoln Laboratory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doyle, Keith B.; Stoeckel, Gerhard P.; Rey, Justin J.; Bury, Mark E.

2017-08-01

MIT Lincoln Laboratory's Integrated Modeling and Analysis Software (LLIMAS) enables the development of novel engineering solutions for advanced prototype systems through unique insights into engineering performance and interdisciplinary behavior to meet challenging size, weight, power, environmental, and performance requirements. LLIMAS is a multidisciplinary design optimization tool that wraps numerical optimization algorithms around an integrated framework of structural, thermal, optical, stray light, and computational fluid dynamics analysis capabilities. LLIMAS software is highly extensible and has developed organically across a variety of technologies including laser communications, directed energy, photometric detectors, chemical sensing, laser radar, and imaging systems. The custom software architecture leverages the capabilities of existing industry standard commercial software and supports the incorporation of internally developed tools. Recent advances in LLIMAS's Structural-Thermal-Optical Performance (STOP), aeromechanical, and aero-optical capabilities as applied to Lincoln prototypes are presented.

SNM detection with an optimized water Cherenkov neutron detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dazeley, S.; Sweany, M.; Bernstein, A.

2012-11-01

Special Nuclear Material (SNM) can either spontaneously fission or be induced to do so: either case results in neutron emission. For this reason, neutron detection performs a crucial role in the functionality of Radiation Portal Monitoring (RPM) devices. Since neutrons are highly penetrating and difficult to shield, they could potentially be detected escaping even a well-shielded cargo container. If the shielding were sophisticated, detecting escaping neutrons would require a highly efficient detector with close to full solid angle coverage. In 2008, we reported the successful detection of neutrons with a 250 liter (l) gadolinium doped water Cherenkov prototype [1]—a technology that could potentially be employed cost effectively with full solid angle coverage. More recently we have built and tested both 1-kl and 3.5-kl versions [2], demonstrating that very large, cost effective, non-flammable and environmentally benign neutron detectors can be operated efficiently without being overwhelmed by background. In this paper, we present a new design for a modular system of water-based neutron detectors that could be deployed as a real RPM. The modules contain a number of optimizations that have not previously been combined within a single system. We present simulations of the new system, based on the performance of our previous detectors. Our simulations indicate that an optimized system such as is presented here could achieve SNM sensitivity competitive with a large 3He-based system. Moreover, the realization of large, cost effective neutron detectors could, for the first time, enable the detection of multiple neutrons per fission from within a large object such as a cargo container. Such a signal would provide a robust indication of the presence of fissioning material, reducing the frequency of false alarms while increasing sensitivity.

Analysis of Current-mode Detectors For Resonance Detection In Neutron Optics Time Reversal Symmetry Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Forbes, Grant; Noptrex Collaboration

2017-09-01

One of the most promising explanations for the observed matter-antimatter asymmetry in our universe is the search for new sources of time-reversal (T) symmetry violation. The current amount of violation seen in the kaon and B-meson systems is not sufficient to describe this asymmetry. The Neutron Optics Time Reversal Experiment Collaboration (NOPTREX) is a null test for T violation in polarized neutron transmission through a polarized 139La target. Due to the high neutron flux needed for this experiment, as well as the ability to effectively subtract background noise, a current-mode neutron detector that can resolve resonances at epithermal energies has been proposed. In order to ascertain if this detector design would meet the requirements for the eventual NOPTREX experiment, prototypical detectors were tested at the NOBORU beam at the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (JPARC) facility. Resonances in In and Ta were measured and the collected data was analyzed. This presentation will describe the analysis process and the efficacy of the detectors will be discussed. Department of Energy under Contract DE-SC0008107, UGRAS Scholarship.

Fast and high resolution thermal detector based on an aluminum nitride piezoelectric microelectromechanical resonator with an integrated suspended heat absorbing element

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hui, Yu; Rinaldi, Matteo

2013-03-01

This letter presents a miniaturized, fast, and high resolution thermal detector, in which a heat absorbing element and a temperature sensitive microelectromechanical system (MEMS) resonator are perfectly overlapped but separated by a microscale air gap. This unique design guarantees efficient and fast (˜10s μs) heat transfer from the absorbing element to the temperature sensitive device and enables high resolution thermal power detection (˜nW), thanks to the low noise performance of the high quality factor (Q = 2305) MEMS resonant thermal detector. A device prototype was fabricated, and its detection capabilities were experimentally characterized. A thermal power as low as 150 nW was experimentally measured, and a noise equivalent power of 6.5 nW/Hz1/2 was extracted. A device thermal time constant of only 350 μs was measured (smallest ever reported for MEMS resonant thermal detectors), indicating the great potential of the proposed technology for the implementation of ultra-fast and high resolution un-cooled resonant thermal detectors.

An integrated fluorescence detection system in poly(dimethylsiloxane) for microfluidic applications.

PubMed

Chabinyc, M L; Chiu, D T; McDonald, J C; Stroock, A D; Christian, J F; Karger, A M; Whitesides, G M

2001-09-15

This paper describes a prototype of an integrated fluorescence detection system that uses a microavalanche photodiode (microAPD) as the photodetector for microfluidic devices fabricated in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). The prototype device consisted of a reusable detection system and a disposable microfluidic system that was fabricated using rapid prototyping. The first step of the procedure was the fabrication of microfluidic channels in PDMS and the encapsulation of a multimode optical fiber (100-microm core diameter) in the PDMS; the tip of the fiber was placed next to the side wall of one of the channels. The optical fiber was used to couple light into the microchannel for the excitation of fluorescent analytes. The photodetector, a prototype solid-state microAPD array, was embedded in a thick slab (1 cm) of PDMS. A thin (80 microm) colored polycarbonate filter was placed on the top of the embedded microAPD to absorb scattered excitation light before it reached the detector. The microAPD was placed below the microchannel and orthogonal to the axis of the optical fiber. The close proximity (approximately 200 microm) of the microAPD to the microchannel made it unnecessary to incorporate transfer optics; the pixel size of the microAPD (30 microm) matched the dimensions of the channels (50 microm). A blue light-emitting diode was used for fluorescence excitation. The microAPD was operated in Geiger mode to detect the fluorescence. The detection limit of the prototype (approximately 25 nM) was determined by finding the minimum detectable concentration of a solution of fluorescein. The device was used to detect the separation of a mixture of proteins and small molecules by capillary electrophoresis; the separation illustrated the suitability of this integrated fluorescence detection system for bioanalytical applications.

Zero suppression logic of the ALICE muon forward tracker pixel chip prototype PIXAM and associated readout electronics development

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Flouzat, C.; Değerli, Y.; Guilloux, F.; Orsini, F.; Venault, P.

2015-05-01

In the framework of the ALICE experiment upgrade at HL-LHC, a new forward tracking detector, the Muon Forward Tracker (MFT), is foreseen to overcome the intrinsic limitations of the present Muon Spectrometer and will perform new measurements of general interest for the whole ALICE physics. To fulfill the new detector requirements, CMOS Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors (MAPS) provide an attractive trade-off between readout speed, spatial resolution, radiation hardness, granularity, power consumption and material budget. This technology has been chosen to equip the Muon Forward Tracker and also the vertex detector: the Inner Tracking System (ITS). Since few years, an intensive R&D program has been performed on the design of MAPS in the 0.18 μ m CMOS Image Sensor (CIS) process. In order to avoid pile up effects in the experiment, the classical rolling shutter readout system of MAPS has been improved to overcome the readout speed limitation. A zero suppression algorithm, based on a 3 by 3 cluster finding (position and data), has been chosen for the MFT. This algorithm allows adequate data compression for the sensor. This paper presents the large size prototype PIXAM, which represents 1/3 of the final chip, and will focus specially on the zero suppression block architecture. This chip is designed and under fabrication in the 0.18 μ m CIS process. Finally, the readout electronics principle to send out the compressed data flow is also presented taking into account the cluster occupancy per MFT plane for a single central Pb-Pb collision.

Initial tests of a prototype MRI-compatible PET imager

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raylman, Raymond R.; Majewski, Stan; Lemieux, Susan; Velan, S. Sendhil; Kross, Brain; Popov, Vladimir; Smith, Mark F.; Weisenberger, Andrew G.; Wojcik, Randy

2006-12-01

Multi-modality imaging is rapidly becoming a valuable tool in the diagnosis of disease and in the development of new drugs. Functional images produced with PET fused with anatomical structure images created by MRI, will allow the correlation of form with function. Our group (a collaboration of West Virginia University and Jefferson Lab) is developing a system to acquire MRI and PET images contemporaneously. The prototype device consists of two opposed detector heads, operating in coincidence mode with an active FOV of 5×5×4 cm 3. Each MRI-PET detector module consists of an array of LSO detector elements (2.5×2.5×15 mm 3) coupled through a long fiber optic light guide to a single Hamamatsu flat panel PSPMT. The fiber optic light guide is made of a glued assembly of 2 mm diameter acrylic fibers with a total length of 2.5 m. The use of a light guides allows the PSPMTs to be positioned outside the bore of the 3 T General Electric MRI scanner used in the tests. Photon attenuation in the light guides resulted in an energy resolution of ˜60% FWHM, interaction of the magnetic field with PSPMT further reduced energy resolution to ˜85% FWHM. Despite this effect, excellent multi-plane PET and MRI images of a simple disk phantom were acquired simultaneously. Future work includes improved light guides, optimized magnetic shielding for the PSPMTs, construction of specialized coils to permit high-resolution MRI imaging, and use of the system to perform simultaneous PET and MRI or MR-spectroscopy .

A cylindrical tripleGEM detector for the BESIII experiment: Measurement of the performance in a magnetic field and project status

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farinelli, R.; BESIII CGEM Group

2017-01-01

A new cylindrical GEM detector is under development to upgrade the tracking system of the BESIII experiment at the IHEP in Beijing. The new detector will replace the current inner drift chamber of the experiment in order to increase significantly the spatial resolution along the beam direction (σ_z ˜ 300 μ m) and to grant the performance of momentum resolution (σ_{p_t}/p_t ˜ 0.5% at 1GeV) and spatial resolution (σ_{xy} ˜ 130 μ m). A cylindrical prototype with the final detector dimensions has been built and the assembly procedure has been successfully validated. Moreover the performance of a 10 × 10 cm ^2 planar GEM has been studied inside a magnetic field by means of a beam test at CERN. The data have been analyzed using two different readout mode: the charge centroid (CC) and the micro time projection chamber ( μ TPC) method.

Device localization and dynamic scan plane selection using a wireless magnetic resonance imaging detector array.

PubMed

Riffe, Matthew J; Yutzy, Stephen R; Jiang, Yun; Twieg, Michael D; Blumenthal, Colin J; Hsu, Daniel P; Pan, Li; Gilson, Wesley D; Sunshine, Jeffrey L; Flask, Christopher A; Duerk, Jeffrey L; Nakamoto, Dean; Gulani, Vikas; Griswold, Mark A

2014-06-01

A prototype wireless guidance device using single sideband amplitude modulation (SSB) is presented for a 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging system. The device contained three fiducial markers each mounted to an independent receiver coil equipped with wireless SSB technology. Acquiring orthogonal projections of these markers determined the position and orientation of the device, which was used to define the scan plane for a subsequent image acquisition. Device localization and scan plane update required approximately 30 ms, so it could be interleaved with high temporal resolution imaging. Since the wireless device is used for localization and does not require full imaging capability, the design of the SSB wireless system was simplified by allowing an asynchronous clock between the transmitter and receiver. When coupled to a high readout bandwidth, the error caused by the lack of a shared frequency reference was quantified to be less than one pixel (0.78 mm) in the projection acquisitions. Image guidance with the prototype was demonstrated with a phantom where a needle was successfully guided to a target and contrast was delivered. The feasibility of active tracking with a wireless detector array is demonstrated. Wireless arrays could be incorporated into devices to assist in image-guided procedures. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Hadamard spectrometer for passive LWIR standoff surveillance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kruzelecky, Roman V.; Wong, Brian; Zou, Jing; Mohammad, Najeeb; Jamroz, Wes; Soltani, Mohammed; Chaker, Mohamed; Haddad, Emile; Laou, Philips; Paradis, Suzanne

2007-06-01

Based on the principle of the Integrated Optical Spectrometer (IOSPEC), a waveguide-based, longwave infrared (LWIR) dispersive spectrometer with multiple input slits for Hadamard spectroscopy was designed and built intended for passive standoff chemical agent detection in 8 to 12μm spectral range. This prototype unit equips with a three-inch input telescope providing a field-of-view of 1.2 degrees, a 16-microslit array (each slit 60 μm by 1.8 mm) module for Hadamard binary coding, a 2-mm core ZnS/ZnSe/ZnS slab waveguide with a 2 by 2 mm2 optical input and micro-machined integrated optical output condensor, a Si micro-machined blazing grating, a customized 128-pixel LWIR mercury-cadmium-telluride (MCT) LN2 cooled detector array, proprietary signal processing technique, software and electronics. According to the current configuration, it was estimated that the total system weight to be ~4 kg, spectral resolution <4cm -1 and Noise Equivalent Spectral Radiance (NESR) <10 -8 Wcm -2 sr -1cm -1 in 8 to 12 μm. System design and preliminary test results of some components will be presented. Upon the arrival of the MCT detector array, the prototype unit will be further tested and its performance validated in fall of 2007.

Device localization and dynamic scan plane selection using a wireless MRI detector array

PubMed Central

Riffe, Matthew J.; Yutzy, Stephen R.; Jiang, Yun; Twieg, Michael D.; Blumenthal, Colin J.; Hsu, Daniel P.; Pan, Li; Gilson, Wesley D.; Sunshine, Jeffrey L.; Flask, Christopher A.; Duerk, Jeffrey L.; Nakamoto, Dean; Gulani, Vikas; Griswold, Mark A.

2013-01-01

Purpose A prototype wireless guidance device using single sideband amplitude modulation (SSB) is presented for a 1.5T MRI system. Methods The device contained three fiducial markers each mounted to an independent receiver coil equipped with wireless SSB technology. Acquiring orthogonal projections of these markers determined the position and orientation of the device, which was used to define the scan plane for a subsequent image acquisition. Device localization and scan plane update required approximately 30 ms, so it could be interleaved with high temporal resolution imaging. Since the wireless device is used for localization and doesn’t require full imaging capability, the design of the SSB wireless system was simplified by allowing an asynchronous clock between the transmitter and receiver. Results When coupled to a high readout bandwidth, the error caused by the lack of a shared frequency reference was quantified to be less than one pixel (0.78 mm) in the projection acquisitions. Image-guidance with the prototype was demonstrated with a phantom where a needle was successfully guided to a target and contrast was delivered. Conclusion The feasibility of active tracking with a wireless detector array is demonstrated. Wireless arrays could be incorporated into devices to assist in image-guided procedures. PMID:23900921

Design and development of MR-compatible SPECT systems for simultaneous SPECT-MR imaging of small animals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsui, Benjamin M. W.; Hugg, James W.; Xu, Jingyan; Chen, Si; Meier, Dirk; Edelstein, William; El-Sharkawy, Abdel; Wagenaar, Douglas J.; Patt, Bradley E.

2011-03-01

We describe a continuing design and development of MR-compatible SPECT systems for simultaneous SPECT-MR imaging of small animals. A first generation prototype SPECT system was designed and constructed to fit inside a MRI system with a gradient bore inner diameter of 12 cm. It consists of 3 angularly offset rings of 8 detectors (1"x1", 16x16 pixels MR-compatible solid-state CZT). A matching 24-pinhole collimator sleeve, made of a tungsten-compound, provides projections from a common FOV of ~25 mm. A birdcage RF coil for MRI data acquisition surrounds the collimator. The SPECT system was tested inside a clinical 3T MRI system. Minimal interference was observed on the simultaneously acquired SPECT and MR images. We developed a sparse-view image reconstruction method based on accurate modeling of the point response function (PRF) of each of the 24 pinholes to provide artifact-free SPECT images. The stationary SPECT system provides relatively low resolution of 3-5 mm but high geometric efficiency of 0.5- 1.2% for fast dynamic acquisition, demonstrated in a SPECT renal kinetics study using Tc-99m DTPA. Based on these results, a second generation prototype MR-compatible SPECT system with an outer diameter of 20 cm that fits inside a mid-sized preclinical MRI system is being developed. It consists of 5 rings of 19 CZT detectors. The larger ring diameter allows the use of optimized multi-pinhole collimator designs, such as high system resolution up to ~1 mm, high geometric efficiency, or lower system resolution without collimator rotation. The anticipated performance of the new system is supported by simulation data.

Demonstrator Detection System for the Active Target and Time Projection Chamber (ACTAR TPC) project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roger, T.; Pancin, J.; Grinyer, G. F.; Mauss, B.; Laffoley, A. T.; Rosier, P.; Alvarez-Pol, H.; Babo, M.; Blank, B.; Caamaño, M.; Ceruti, S.; Daemen, J.; Damoy, S.; Duclos, B.; Fernández-Domínguez, B.; Flavigny, F.; Giovinazzo, J.; Goigoux, T.; Henares, J. L.; Konczykowski, P.; Marchi, T.; Lebertre, G.; Lecesne, N.; Legeard, L.; Maugeais, C.; Minier, G.; Osmond, B.; Pedroza, J. L.; Pibernat, J.; Poleshchuk, O.; Pollacco, E. C.; Raabe, R.; Raine, B.; Renzi, F.; Saillant, F.; Sénécal, P.; Sizun, P.; Suzuki, D.; Swartz, J. A.; Wouters, C.; Wittwer, G.; Yang, J. C.

2018-07-01

The design, realization and operation of a prototype or "demonstrator" version of an active target and time projection chamber (ACTAR TPC) for experiments in nuclear physics is presented in detail. The heart of the detection system features a MICROMEGAS gas amplifier coupled to a high-density pixelated pad plane with square pad sizes of 2 × 2 mm2. The detector has been thoroughly tested with several different gas mixtures over a wide range of pressures and using a variety of sources of ionizing radiation including laser light, an α-particle source and heavy-ion beams of 24Mg and 58Ni accelerated to energies of 4.0 MeV/u. Results from these tests and characterization of the detector response over a wide range of operating conditions will be described. These developments have served as the basis for the design of a larger detection system that is presently under construction.

Timing in a FLASH

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoek, M.; Cardinali, M.; Corell, O.; Dickescheid, M.; Ferretti B., M. I.; Lauth, W.; Schlimme, B. S.; Sfienti, C.; Thiel, M.

2017-12-01

A prototype detector, called FLASH (Fast Light Acquiring Start Hodoscope), was built to provide precise Time-of-Flight (TOF) measurements and reference timestamps for detector setups at external beam lines. Radiator bars, made of synthetic fused silica, were coupled to a fast MCP-PMT with 64 channels and read out with custom electronics using Time-over-Threshold (TOT) for signal characterization. The TRB3 system, a high-precision TDC implemented in an FPGA, was used as data acquisition system. The performance of a system consisting of two FLASH units was investigated at a dedicated test experiment at the Mainz Microtron (MAMI) accelerator using its 855 MeV electron beam. The TOT measurement enabled time walk corrections and an overall TOF resolution of ∼70 ps could be achieved which translates into a resolution of ∼50 ps per FLASH unit. The intrinsic resolution of the frontend electronics including the TDC was measured to be less than 25 ps.

The design and realization of a three-dimensional video system by means of a CCD array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boizard, J. L.

1985-12-01

Design features and principles and initial tests of a prototype three-dimensional robot vision system based on a laser source and a CCD detector array is described. The use of a laser as a coherent illumination source permits the determination of the relief using one emitter since the location of the source is a known quantity with low distortion. The CCD signal detector array furnishes an acceptable signal/noise ratio and, when wired to an appropriate signal processing system, furnishes real-time data on the return signals, i.e., the characteristic points of an object being scanned. Signal processing involves integration of 29 kB of data per 100 samples, with sampling occurring at a rate of 5 MHz (the CCDs) and yielding an image every 12 msec. Algorithms for filtering errors from the data stream are discussed.

MO-G-17A-01: Innovative High-Performance PET Imaging System for Preclinical Imaging and Translational Researches

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sun, X; Lou, K; Rice University, Houston, TX

Purpose: To develop a practical and compact preclinical PET with innovative technologies for substantially improved imaging performance required for the advanced imaging applications. Methods: Several key components of detector, readout electronics and data acquisition have been developed and evaluated for achieving leapfrogged imaging performance over a prototype animal PET we had developed. The new detector module consists of an 8×8 array of 1.5×1.5×30 mm{sup 3} LYSO scintillators with each end coupled to a latest 4×4 array of 3×3 mm{sup 2} Silicon Photomultipliers (with ∼0.2 mm insensitive gap between pixels) through a 2.0 mm thick transparent light spreader. Scintillator surface andmore » reflector/coupling were designed and fabricated to reserve air-gap to achieve higher depth-of-interaction (DOI) resolution and other detector performance. Front-end readout electronics with upgraded 16-ch ASIC was newly developed and tested, so as the compact and high density FPGA based data acquisition and transfer system targeting 10M/s coincidence counting rate with low power consumption. The new detector module performance of energy, timing and DOI resolutions with the data acquisition system were evaluated. Initial Na-22 point source image was acquired with 2 rotating detectors to assess the system imaging capability. Results: No insensitive gaps at the detector edge and thus it is capable for tiling to a large-scale detector panel. All 64 crystals inside the detector were clearly separated from a flood-source image. Measured energy, timing, and DOI resolutions are around 17%, 2.7 ns and 1.96 mm (mean value). Point source image is acquired successfully without detector/electronics calibration and data correction. Conclusion: Newly developed advanced detector and readout electronics will be enable achieving targeted scalable and compact PET system in stationary configuration with >15% sensitivity, ∼1.3 mm uniform imaging resolution, and fast acquisition counting rate capability for substantially improved imaging and quantification performance for small animal imaging and image-guided radiotherapy applications. This work was supported by a research award RP120326 from Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.« less

Multi-detector system approach for unattended uranium enrichment monitoring at gas centrifuge enrichment plants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Favalli, A.; Lombardi, M.; MacArthur, D. W.; McCluskey, C.; Moss, C. E.; Paffett, M. T.; Ianakiev, K. D.

2018-01-01

Improving the quality of safeguards measurements at Gas Centrifuge Enrichment Plants while reducing the inspection effort is an important objective given the number of existing and new plants that need to be safeguarded. A useful tool in many safeguards approaches is the on-line monitoring of enrichment in process pipes. One requirement of such a monitor is a simple, reliable and precise passive measurement of the 186-keV line from 235U. The other information required is the amount of gas in the pipe, which can be obtained by a transmission or pressure measurement. We describe our research to develop such a passive measurement system. Unfortunately, a complication arises in the interpretation of the gamma measurements, from the contribution of uranium deposits on the wall of the pipe to the 186-keV peak. A multi-detector approach to address this complication is presented where two measurements, one with signal primarily from gas and one with signal primarily from deposits, are performed simultaneously with different detectors and geometries. This allows a correction to be made to the 186-keV peak for the contribution from the deposit. We present the design of the multi-detector system and the results of the experimental calibration of the proof-of-principle prototype built at LANL.

An infrared based sensor system for the detection of ethylene for the discrimination of fruit ripening

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kathirvelan, J.; Vijayaraghavan, R.

2017-09-01

We report the fabrication and testing of a prototype ethylene sensing device for use in fruit ripening applications. A sensor based on infrared (IR) thermal emission was developed and used to detect the ethylene level released during the fruit ripening process. An IR thermal source tuned to the 10.6 μm wavelength was linked to a high-sensitivity silicon temperature detector. When introduced into the wave path between the IR source and temperature detector, ethylene absorbs the 10.6 μm IR waves and decreases the surface temperature of the detector. The output is then converted to an electrical signal (in mV), which gives a direct measurement of the ethylene level. Using this sensor, ethylene concentration measured from a fruit sample continuously decreased from 59 to 5 ppm during the natural ripening process. The sensor exhibited a sensitivity of 3.3 ± 0.2% (change in detector output (mV)/ppm × 100) and could measure concentrations as low as 5 ppm with rise and recovery times of 1 and 3 s, respectively. The system demonstrated good reproducibility. Devices employing this sensor system may be used for fruit ripening applications on site and in the field and for screening artificially ripened fruits, therefore contributing to ensure food safety.

Correlation Of Terrestrial gamma flashes, Electric fields, and Lightning strikes (COTEL) in thunderstorms using networked balloon payloads developed by university and community college students

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Landry, B. J.; Blair, D.; Causey, J.; Collins, J.; Davis, A.; Fernandez-Kim, V.; Kennedy, J.; Pate, N.; Kearney, C.; Schayer, C.; Turk, E.; Cherry, M. L.; Fava, C.; Granger, D.; Stewart, M.; Guzik, T. G.

2017-12-01

High energy gamma ray flashes from terrestrial sources have been observed by satellites for decades, but the actual mechanism, assumed to be thunderstorm lightning, has yet to be fully characterized. The goal of COTEL, funded by NASA through the University Student Instrument Project (USIP) program, is to correlate in time TGF events, lightning strikes, and electric fields inside of thunderstorms. This will be accomplished using a small network of balloon-borne payloads suspended in and around thunderstorm environments. The payloads will detect and timestamp gamma radiation bursts, lightning strikes, and the intensity of localized electric fields. While in flight, data collected by the payloads will be transmitted to a ground station in real-time and will be analyzed post-flight to investigate potential correlations between lightning, TGFs, and electric fields. The COTEL student team is in its second year of effort having spent the first year developing the basic balloon payloads and ground tracking system. Currently the team is focusing on prototype electric field and gamma radiation detectors. Testing and development of these systems will continue into 2018, and flight operations will take place during the spring 2018 Louisiana thunderstorm season. The presentation, led by undergraduate Physics student Brad Landry, will cover the student team effort in developing the COTEL system, an overview of the system architecture, balloon flight tests conducted to date, preliminary results from prototype detectors, lessons learned for student-led science projects, and future plans.

Prototypes of self-powered radiation detectors employing intrinsic high-energy current.

PubMed

Zygmanski, Piotr; Shrestha, Suman; Briovio, Davide; Karellas, Andrew; Sajo, Erno

2016-01-01

The authors experimentally investigate the effect of direct energy conversion of x-rays via selfpowered Auger- and photocurrent, potentially suitable to practical radiation detection and dosimetry in medical applications. Experimental results are compared to computational predictions. The detector the authors consider is a thin-film multilayer device, composed of alternating disparate electrically conductive and insulating layers. This paper focuses on the experiments while a companion paper introduces the fundamental concepts of high-energy current (HEC) detectors. The energy of ionizing radiation is directly converted to detector signal via electric current induced by high-energy secondary electrons generated in the detector material by the incident primary radiation. The HEC electrons also ionize the dielectric and the resultant charge carriers are selfcollected due to the contact potential of the disparate electrodes. Thus, an electric current is induced in the conductors in two different ways without the need for externally applied bias voltage or amplification. Thus, generated signal in turn is digitized by a data acquisition system. To determine the fundamental properties of the HEC detector and to demonstrate its feasibility for medical applications, the authors used a planar geometry composed of multilayer microstructures. Various detectors with up to seven conducting layers with different combinations of materials (250 μm Al, 35 μm Cu, 100 μm Pb) and air gaps (100 μm) were exposed to nearly plane-parallel 60-120 kVp x-ray beams. For the experimental design and verification, the authors performed coupled electron-photon radiation transport computations. The detector signal was measured using a commercial data acquisition system with 24 bits dynamic range, 0.4 fC sensitivity, and 0.9 ms sampling time. Measured signals for the prototype detector varied depending on the number of layers, material type, and incident photon energy, and it was in the range of 30-150 nA/cm(2) for unit air kerma (1 Gy), which is viable for practical applications. The experiments had an excellent agreement with the computations. Within the examined range of 60-120 kVp, the energy dependence of the HEC (normalized to the x-ray tube output) was relatively small. Based on the experimental results for 100 ms sampling time, it would be possible to measure the time dependence of x-ray beams for x-ray tube current of 0.1 mA or higher. Significant advantages of the HEC device are that generation of its signal does not require external power supply, it can be made in any size and shape, including flexible curvilinear forms, and it is inexpensive. It remains to be determined, which of the potential applications in medical dosimetry (both in vivo and external), or radiation protection would benefit from such selfpowered detectors.

Topological detector: measuring continuous dosimetric quantities with few-element detector array.

PubMed

Han, Zhaohui; Brivio, Davide; Sajo, Erno; Zygmanski, Piotr

2016-08-21

A prototype topological detector was fabricated and investigated for quality assurance of radiation producing medical devices. Unlike a typical array or flat panel detector, a topological detector, while capable of achieving a very high spatial resolution, consists of only a few elements and therefore is much simpler in construction and more cost effective. The key feature allowing this advancement is a geometry-driven design that is customized for a specific dosimetric application. In the current work, a topological detector of two elements was examined for the positioning verification of the radiation collimating devices (jaws, MLCs, and blades etc). The detector was diagonally segmented from a rectangular thin film strip (2.5 cm  ×  15 cm), giving two contiguous but independent detector elements. The segmented area was the central portion of the strip measuring 5 cm in length. Under irradiation, signals from each detector element were separately digitized using a commercial multichannel data acquisition system. The center and size of an x-ray field, which were uniquely determined by the collimator positions, were shown mathematically to relate to the difference and sum of the two signals. As a proof of concept, experiments were carried out using slit x-ray fields ranging from 2 mm to 20 mm in size. It was demonstrated that, the collimator positions can be accurately measured with sub-millimeter precisions.

ADC interface for data server with data preselection for luminosity detector in AIDA-2020 project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Daniluk, W.; Dziedzic, B.; Korcyl, G.; Wojtoń, T.; Zawiejski, L.

2017-08-01

Main aim of the AIDA-2020 project is development of detectors for future accelerators. In FCAL Colaboration we are working on forward subdetectors for ILC and CLIC accelerators. My team is developing prototype module which receives data from ADC, provides the data preselection, and transmits them as packages to the data server for further their analysis. Common prototype is based on AC701 evaluation board which contains Artix-7 FPGA and is equipped with SMA connectors for gigabit transceivers and ethernet connector. In my talk I will describe architecture of the device and current state of module development.

Juvenile Radio-Tag Study: Lower Granite Dam, 1985 Annual Report.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stuehrenberg, Lowell C.

The concept of using mass releases of juvenile radio tags represents a new and potentially powerful research tool that could be effectively applied to juvenile salmonid passage problems at dams on the Columbia and Snake Rivers. A system of detector antennas, strategically located, would automatically detect and record individually tagged juvenile salmonids as they pass through the spillway, powerhouse, bypass system, or tailrace areas below the dam. Accurate measurements of spill effectiveness, fish guiding efficiency (FGE), collection efficiency (CE), spillway survival, powerhouse survival, and bypass survival would be possible without handling large numbers of unmarked fish. A prototype juvenile radio-tagmore » system was developed and tested by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) at John Day Dam and at Lower Granite Dam. This report summarizes research to: (1) evaluate the effectiveness of the prototype juvenile radio-tag system in a field situation and (2) to test the basic assumptions inherent in using the juvenile radio tag as a research tool.« less

Development of a 3D CZT detector prototype for Laue Lens telescope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caroli, Ezio; Auricchio, Natalia; Del Sordo, Stefano; Abbene, Leonardo; Budtz-Jørgensen, Carl; Casini, Fabio; Curado da Silva, Rui M.; Kuvvetlli, Irfan; Milano, Luciano; Natalucci, Lorenzo; Quadrini, Egidio M.; Stephen, John B.; Ubertini, Pietro; Zanichelli, Massimiliano; Zappettini, Andrea

2010-07-01

We report on the development of a 3D position sensitive prototype suitable as focal plane detector for Laue lens telescope. The basic sensitive unit is a drift strip detector based on a CZT crystal, (~19×8 mm2 area, 2.4 mm thick), irradiated transversally to the electric field direction. The anode side is segmented in 64 strips, that divide the crystal in 8 independent sensor (pixel), each composed by one collecting strip and 7 (one in common) adjacent drift strips. The drift strips are biased by a voltage divider, whereas the anode strips are held at ground. Furthermore, the cathode is divided in 4 horizontal strips for the reconstruction of the third interaction position coordinate. The 3D prototype will be made by packing 8 linear modules, each composed by one basic sensitive unit, bonded on a ceramic layer. The linear modules readout is provided by a custom front end electronics implementing a set of three RENA-3 for a total of 128 channels. The front-end electronics and the operating logics (in particular coincidence logics for polarisation measurements) are handled by a versatile and modular multi-parametric back end electronics developed using FPGA technology.

A tetrahedron beam computed tomography benchtop system with a multiple pixel field emission x-ray tube.

PubMed

Xu, Xiaochao; Kim, Joshua; Laganis, Philip; Schulze, Derek; Liang, Yongguang; Zhang, Tiezhi

2011-10-01

To demonstrate the feasibility of Tetrahedron Beam Computed Tomography (TBCT) using a carbon nanotube (CNT) multiple pixel field emission x-ray (MPFEX) tube. A multiple pixel x-ray source facilitates the creation of novel x-ray imaging modalities. In a previous publication, the authors proposed a Tetrahedron Beam Computed Tomography (TBCT) imaging system which comprises a linear source array and a linear detector array that are orthogonal to each other. TBCT is expected to reduce scatter compared with Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) and to have better detector performance. Therefore, it may produce improved image quality for image guided radiotherapy. In this study, a TBCT benchtop system has been developed with an MPFEX tube. The tube has 75 CNT cold cathodes, which generate 75 x-ray focal spots on an elongated anode, and has 4 mm pixel spacing. An in-house-developed, 5-row CT detector array using silicon photodiodes and CdWO(4) scintillators was employed in the system. Hardware and software were developed for tube control and detector data acquisition. The raw data were preprocessed for beam hardening and detector response linearity and were reconstructed with an FDK-based image reconstruction algorithm. The focal spots were measured at about 1 × 2 mm(2) using a star phantom. Each cathode generates around 3 mA cathode current with 2190 V gate voltage. The benchtop system is able to perform TBCT scans with a prolonged scanning time. Images of a commercial CT phantom were successfully acquired. A prototype system was developed, and preliminary phantom images were successfully acquired. MPFEX is a promising x-ray source for TBCT. Further improvement of tube output is needed in order for it to be used in clinical TBCT systems.

The low energy detector of Simbol-X

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lechner, P.; Andricek, L.; Briel, U.; Hasinger, G.; Heinzinger, K.; Herrmann, S.; Huber, H.; Kendziorra, E.; Lauf, T.; Lutz, G.; Richter, R.; Santangelo, A.; Schaller, G.; Schnecke, M.; Schopper, F.; Segneri, G.; Strüder, L.; Treis, J.

2008-07-01

Simbol-X is a French-Italian-German hard energy X-ray mission with a projected launch in 2014. Being sensitive in the energy range from 500 eV to 80 keV it will cover the sensitivity gap beyond the energy interval of today's telescopes XMM-Newton and Chandra. Simbol-X will use an imaging telescope of nested Wolter-I mirrors. To provide a focal length of 20 m it will be the first mission of two independent mirror and detector spacecrafts in autonomous formation flight. The detector spacecraft's payload is composed of an imaging silicon low energy detector in front of a pixelated cadmium-telluride hard energy detector. Both have a sensitive area of 8 × 8 cm2 to cover a 12 arcmin field of view and a pixel size of 625 × 625 μm2 adapted to the telescope's resolution of 20 arcsec. The additional LED specifications are: high energy resolution, high quantum efficiency, fast readout and optional window mode, monolithic device with 100 % fill factor and suspension mounting, and operation at warm temperature. To match these requirements the low energy detector is composed of 'active macro pixels', combining the large, scalable area of a Silicon Drift Detector and the low-noise, on-demand readout of an integrated DEPFET amplifier. Flight representative prototypes have been processed at the MPI semiconductor laboratory, and the prototype's measured performance demonstrates the technology readiness.

High-speed large angle mammography tomosynthesis system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eberhard, Jeffrey W.; Staudinger, Paul; Smolenski, Joe; Ding, Jason; Schmitz, Andrea; McCoy, Julie; Rumsey, Michael; Al-Khalidy, Abdulrahman; Ross, William; Landberg, Cynthia E.; Claus, Bernhard E. H.; Carson, Paul; Goodsitt, Mitchell; Chan, Heang-Ping; Roubidoux, Marilyn; Thomas, Jerry A.; Osland, Jacqueline

2006-03-01

A new mammography tomosynthesis prototype system that acquires 21 projection images over a 60 degree angular range in approximately 8 seconds has been developed and characterized. Fast imaging sequences are facilitated by a high power tube and generator for faster delivery of the x-ray exposure and a high speed detector read-out. An enhanced a-Si/CsI flat panel digital detector provides greater DQE at low exposure, enabling tomo image sequence acquisitions at total patient dose levels between 150% and 200% of the dose of a standard mammographic view. For clinical scenarios where a single MLO tomographic acquisition per breast may replace the standard CC and MLO views, total tomosynthesis breast dose is comparable to or below the dose in standard mammography. The system supports co-registered acquisition of x-ray tomosynthesis and 3-D ultrasound data sets by incorporating an ultrasound transducer scanning system that flips into position above the compression paddle for the ultrasound exam. Initial images acquired with the system are presented.

Efficient system modeling for a small animal PET scanner with tapered DOI detectors.

PubMed

Zhang, Mengxi; Zhou, Jian; Yang, Yongfeng; Rodríguez-Villafuerte, Mercedes; Qi, Jinyi

2016-01-21

A prototype small animal positron emission tomography (PET) scanner for mouse brain imaging has been developed at UC Davis. The new scanner uses tapered detector arrays with depth of interaction (DOI) measurement. In this paper, we present an efficient system model for the tapered PET scanner using matrix factorization and a virtual scanner geometry. The factored system matrix mainly consists of two components: a sinogram blurring matrix and a geometrical matrix. The geometric matrix is based on a virtual scanner geometry. The sinogram blurring matrix is estimated by matrix factorization. We investigate the performance of different virtual scanner geometries. Both simulation study and real data experiments are performed in the fully 3D mode to study the image quality under different system models. The results indicate that the proposed matrix factorization can maintain image quality while substantially reduce the image reconstruction time and system matrix storage cost. The proposed method can be also applied to other PET scanners with DOI measurement.

Prototype Imaging Spectrograph for Coronagraphic Exoplanet Studies (PISCES) for WFIRST/AFTA

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gong, Qian; McElwain, Michael; Greeley, Bradford; Grammer, Bryan; Marx, Catherine; Memarsadeghi, Nargess; Hilton, George; Perrin, Marshall; Sayson, Llop; Domingo, Jorge;

Reliability issues for a bolometer detector for ITER at high operating temperatures.

PubMed

Meister, H; Kannamüller, M; Koll, J; Pathak, A; Penzel, F; Trautmann, T; Detemple, P; Schmitt, S; Langer, H

2012-10-01

The first detector prototypes for the ITER bolometer diagnostic featuring a 12.5 μm thick Pt-absorber have been realized and characterized in laboratory tests. The results show linear dependencies of the calibration parameters and are in line with measurements of prototypes with thinner absorbers. However, thermal cycling tests up to 450 °C of the prototypes with thick absorbers demonstrated that their reliability at these elevated operating temperatures is not yet sufficient. Profilometer measurements showed a deflection of the membrane hinting to stresses due to the deposition processes of the absorber. Finite element analysis (FEA) managed to reproduce the deflection and identified the highest stresses in the membrane in the region around the corners of the absorber. FEA was further used to identify changes in the geometry of the absorber with a positive impact on the intrinsic stresses of the membrane. However, further improvements are still necessary.

Phase I - Final report: Improved position sensitive detectors for thermal neutrons. Design, fabrication, and results of testing the Phase I - Proof-of-Principal Improved Position Sensitive Thermal Neutron Detector Prototype in the laboratory and at the Intense Pulsed Neutron Source (IPNS), Argonne National Laboratory

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hull, Carter D.

A position sensitive neutron detector was designed and fabricated with bundles of individual detector elements with diameters of 120 mm. These neutron scintillating fibers were coupled with optoelectronic arrays to produce a ''Fiber Detector.'' A fiber position sensitive detector was completed and tested with scattered and thermal neutrons. Deployment of improved 2D PSDs with high signal to noise ratios at lower costs per area was the overall objective of the project.

An AC modulated near infrared gain calibration system for a "Violin-Mode" transimpedance amplifier, intended for advanced LIGO suspensions.

PubMed

Lockerbie, N A; Tokmakov, K V

2016-07-01

The background to this work was a prototype shadow sensor, which was designed for retro-fitting to an advanced LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory) test-mass/mirror suspension, in which a 40 kg test-mass/mirror is suspended by four approximately 600 mm long by 0.4 mm diameter fused-silica suspension fibres. The shadow sensor comprised a LED source of Near InfraRed (NIR) radiation, and a "tall-thin" rectangular silicon photodiode detector, which together were to bracket the fibre under test. The photodiode was positioned so as to be sensitive (primarily) to transverse "Violin-Mode" vibrations of such a fibre, via the oscillatory movement of the shadow cast by the fibre, as this moved across the face of the detector. In this prototype shadow sensing system the photodiode was interfaced to a purpose-built transimpedance amplifier, this having both AC and DC outputs. A quasi-static calibration was made of the sensor's DC responsivity, i.e., incremental rate of change of output voltage versus fibre position, by slowly scanning a fused-silica fibre sample transversely through the illuminating beam. The work reported here concerns the determination of the sensor's more important AC (Violin-Mode) responsivity. Recognition of the correspondence between direct AC modulation of the source, and actual Violin-Mode signals, and of the transformative role of the AC/DC gain ratio for the amplifier, at any modulation frequency, f, resulted in the construction of the AC/DC calibration source described here. A method for determining in practice the transimpedance AC/DC gain ratio of the photodiode and amplifier, using this source, is illustrated by a specific numerical example, and the gain ratio for the prototype sensing system is reported over the frequency range 1 Hz-300 kHz. In fact, a maximum DC responsivity of 1.26 kV.m(-1) was measured using the prototype photodiode sensor and amplifier discussed here. Therefore, the measured AC/DC transimpedance gain ratio of 922.5 for this sensor, at 500 Hz, translated into a maximum Violin-Mode (AC) responsivity of (1.16 ± 0.05) MV m(-1), at that frequency.

WE-AB-207A-10: Transmission Characteristics of a Two Dimensional Antiscatter Grid Prototype for CBCT

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Altunbas, C; Kavanagh, B; Miften, M

2016-06-15

Purpose: Scattered radiation remains to be a major contributor to image quality degradation in CBCT. To address the scatter problem, a focused, 2D antiscatter grid (2DASG) prototype was designed, and fabricated using additive manufacturing processes. Its scatter and primary transmission properties were characterized using a linac mounted CBCT system. Methods: The prototype 2DASG was composed of rectangular grid holes separated by tungsten septa, and has a grid pitch of 2.91 mm, grid ratio of 8, and a septal thickness of 0.1 mm. Each grid hole was aligned or focused towards the x-ray source in half-fan (i.e. offset detector) geometry ofmore » the Varian TrueBeam CBCT system. Scatter and primary transmission experiments were performed by using acrylic blocks and the beam-stop method. Transmission properties of a radiographic ASG (1DASG) (grid ratio of 10) was also performed by using the identical setup. Results: At 30 cm phantom thickness, scatter to primary ratio (SPR) was 4.51 without any ASG device. SPR was reduced to 1.28 with 1DASG, and it was further reduced to 0.28 with 2DASG. Scatter transmission fraction (Ts) of 1DASG was 21%, and Ts was reduced to 5.8% with 2DASG. The average primary transmission fraction (Tp) of 1DASG was 70.6%, whereas Tp increased to 85.1% with 2DASG. Variation of Tp across 40 cm length (the long axis of flat panel detector) was 2.6%. Conclusion: When compared to conventional ASGs, the focused 2DASG can vastly improve scatter suppression and primary transmission performance. Due to precise alignment of 2DASG’s grid holes with respect to beam divergence, high degree of primary transmission through the 2DASG was maintained across the full length of the prototype. We strongly believe that robust scatter rejection and primary transmission characteristics of our 2DASG can translate into both improved quantitative accuracy and soft tissue resolution in linac mounted CBCT systems.« less

A fast method for optical simulation of flood maps of light-sharing detector modules

PubMed Central

Shi, Han; Du, Dong; Xu, JianFeng; Moses, William W.; Peng, Qiyu

2016-01-01

Optical simulation of the detector module level is highly desired for Position Emission Tomography (PET) system design. Commonly used simulation toolkits such as GATE are not efficient in the optical simulation of detector modules with complicated light-sharing configurations, where a vast amount of photons need to be tracked. We present a fast approach based on a simplified specular reflectance model and a structured light-tracking algorithm to speed up the photon tracking in detector modules constructed with polished finish and specular reflector materials. We simulated conventional block detector designs with different slotted light guide patterns using the new approach and compared the outcomes with those from GATE simulations. While the two approaches generated comparable flood maps, the new approach was more than 200–600 times faster. The new approach has also been validated by constructing a prototype detector and comparing the simulated flood map with the experimental flood map. The experimental flood map has nearly uniformly distributed spots similar to those in the simulated flood map. In conclusion, the new approach provides a fast and reliable simulation tool for assisting in the development of light-sharing-based detector modules with a polished surface finish and using specular reflector materials. PMID:27660376

A fast method for optical simulation of flood maps of light-sharing detector modules

DOE PAGES

Shi, Han; Du, Dong; Xu, JianFeng; ...

2015-09-03

Optical simulation of the detector module level is highly desired for Position Emission Tomography (PET) system design. Commonly used simulation toolkits such as GATE are not efficient in the optical simulation of detector modules with complicated light-sharing configurations, where a vast amount of photons need to be tracked. Here, we present a fast approach based on a simplified specular reflectance model and a structured light-tracking algorithm to speed up the photon tracking in detector modules constructed with polished finish and specular reflector materials. We also simulated conventional block detector designs with different slotted light guide patterns using the new approachmore » and compared the outcomes with those from GATE simulations. And while the two approaches generated comparable flood maps, the new approach was more than 200–600 times faster. The new approach has also been validated by constructing a prototype detector and comparing the simulated flood map with the experimental flood map. The experimental flood map has nearly uniformly distributed spots similar to those in the simulated flood map. In conclusion, the new approach provides a fast and reliable simulation tool for assisting in the development of light-sharing-based detector modules with a polished surface finish and using specular reflector materials.« less

Microwave SQUID Multiplexer for the Readout of Metallic Magnetic Calorimeters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kempf, S.; Gastaldo, L.; Fleischmann, A.; Enss, C.

2014-06-01

We have realized a frequency-domain multiplexing technique for the readout of large metallic magnetic calorimeter detector arrays. It is based on non-hysteretic single-junction SQUIDs and allows for a simultaneous readout of hundreds or thousands of detectors by using a single cryogenic high electron mobility transistor amplifier and two coaxial cables that are routed from room-temperature to the detector array. We discuss the working principle of the multiplexer and present details about our prototype multiplexer design. We show that fabricated devices are fully operational and that characteristic SQUID parameters such as the input sensitivity of the SQUID or the resonance frequency of the readout circuit can be predicted with confidence. Our best device so far has shown a magnetic flux white noise level of 1.4 m which can in future be reduced by an optimization of the fabrication processes as well as an improved microwave readout system.

The majorana experiment

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rielage, Keith R; Elliott, Steven R; Boswell, Melissa

2010-12-13

The MAJORANA Collaboration is assembling an array of HPGe detectors to search for neutrinoless double-beta decay in {sup 76}Ge. Initially, MAJORANA aims to construct a prototype module to demonstrate the potential of a future 1-tonne experiment. The design and potential reach of this prototype DEMONSTRATOR module are presented. Our proposed method uses the well-established technique of searching for neutrinoless double-beta decay in high purity Ge-diode radiation detectors that play both roles of source and detector. The use of P-PC Ge detectors present advances in background rejection and a Significantly lower energy threshold than conventional Ge detector technologies. The lower energymore » threshold opens up a broader and exciting physics program including searches for dark matter and axions concurrent with the double-beta decay search. The DEMONSTRATOR should establish that the backgrounds are low enough to justify scaling to tonne-scale experiment, probe the neutrino effective mass region above 100 meV, and search the low energy region with a sensitivity to dark matter. The DEMONSTRATOR will be sited at the 4850-ft level (4200 m.w.e) of the Sanford Underground Laboratory at Homestake and preparations for construction are currently underway.« less

Optimization and Characterization of a Novel Self Powered Solid State Neutron Detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clinton, Justin

There is a strong interest in detecting both the diversion of special nuclear material (SNM) from legitimate, peaceful purposes and the transport of illicit SNM across domestic and international borders and ports. A simple solid-state detector employs a planar solar-cell type p-n junction and a thin conversion layer that converts incident neutrons into detectable charged particles, such as protons, alpha-particles, and heavier ions. Although simple planar devices can act as highly portable, low cost detectors, they have historically been limited to relatively low detection efficiencies; ˜10% and ˜0.2% for thermal and fast detectors, respectively. To increase intrinsic detection efficiency, the incorporation of 3D microstructures into p-i-n silicon devices was proposed. In this research, a combination of existing and new types of detector microstructures were investigated; Monte Carlo models, based on analytical calculations, were constructed and characterized using the GEANT4 simulation toolkit. The simulation output revealed that an array of etched hexagonal holes arranged in a honeycomb pattern and filled with either enriched (99% 10B) boron or parylene resulted in the highest intrinsic detection efficiencies of 48% and 0.88% for thermal and fast neutrons, respectively. The optimal parameters corresponding to each model were utilized as the basis for the fabrication of several prototype detectors. A calibrated 252Cf spontaneous fission source was utilized to generate fast neutrons, while thermal neutrons were created by placing the 252Cf in an HDPE housing designed and optimized using the MCNP simulation software. Upon construction, thermal neutron calibration was performed via activation analysis of gold foils and measurements from a 6Li loaded glass scintillator. Experimental testing of the prototype detectors resulted in maximum intrinsic efficiencies of 4.5 and 0.12% for the thermal and fast devices, respectively. The prototype thermal device was filled with natural (19% 10B) boron; scaling the response to 99% 10B enriched boron resulted in an intrinsic efficiency of 22.5%, one of the highest results in the literature. A comparison of simulated and experimental detector responses demonstrated a high degree of correlation, validating the conceptual models.

The GCT camera for the Cherenkov Telescope Array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lapington, J. S.; Abchiche, A.; Allan, D.; Amans, J.-P.; Armstrong, T. P.; Balzer, A.; Berge, D.; Boisson, C.; Bousquet, J.-J.; Bose, R.; Brown, A. M.; Bryan, M.; Buchholtz, G.; Buckley, J.; Chadwick, P. M.; Costantini, H.; Cotter, G.; Daniel, M. K.; De Franco, A.; De Frondat, F.; Dournaux, J.-L.; Dumas, D.; Ernenwein, J.-P.; Fasola, G.; Funk, S.; Gironnet, J.; Graham, J. A.; Greenshaw, T.; Hervet, O.; Hidaka, N.; Hinton, J. A.; Huet, J.-M.; Jankowsky, D.; Jegouzo, I.; Jogler, T.; Kawashima, T.; Kraus, M.; Laporte, P.; Leach, S.; Lefaucheur, J.; Markoff, S.; Melse, T.; Minaya, I. A.; Mohrmann, L.; Molyneux, P.; Moore, P.; Nolan, S. J.; Okumura, A.; Osborne, J. P.; Parsons, R. D.; Rosen, S.; Ross, D.; Rowell, G.; Rulten, C. B.; Sato, Y.; Sayede, F.; Schmoll, J.; Schoorlemmer, H.; Servillat, M.; Sol, H.; Stamatescu, V.; Stephan, M.; Stuik, R.; Sykes, J.; Tajima, H.; Thornhill, J.; Tibaldo, L.; Trichard, C.; Varner, G.; Vink, J.; Watson, J. J.; White, R.; Yamane, N.; Zech, A.; Zink, A.; Zorn, J.; CTA Consortium

2017-12-01

The Gamma Cherenkov Telescope (GCT) is one of the designs proposed for the Small Sized Telescope (SST) section of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA). The GCT uses dual-mirror optics, resulting in a compact telescope with good image quality and a large field of view with a smaller, more economical, camera than is achievable with conventional single mirror solutions. The photon counting GCT camera is designed to record the flashes of atmospheric Cherenkov light from gamma and cosmic ray initiated cascades, which last only a few tens of nanoseconds. The GCT optics require that the camera detectors follow a convex surface with a radius of curvature of 1 m and a diameter of 35 cm, which is approximated by tiling the focal plane with 32 modules. The first camera prototype is equipped with multi-anode photomultipliers, each comprising an 8×8 array of 6×6 mm2 pixels to provide the required angular scale, adding up to 2048 pixels in total. Detector signals are shaped, amplified and digitised by electronics based on custom ASICs that provide digitisation at 1 GSample/s. The camera is self-triggering, retaining images where the focal plane light distribution matches predefined spatial and temporal criteria. The electronics are housed in the liquid-cooled, sealed camera enclosure. LED flashers at the corners of the focal plane provide a calibration source via reflection from the secondary mirror. The first GCT camera prototype underwent preliminary laboratory tests last year. In November 2015, the camera was installed on a prototype GCT telescope (SST-GATE) in Paris and was used to successfully record the first Cherenkov light of any CTA prototype, and the first Cherenkov light seen with such a dual-mirror optical system. A second full-camera prototype based on Silicon Photomultipliers is under construction. Up to 35 GCTs are envisaged for CTA.

Open ISEmeter: An open hardware high-impedance interface for potentiometric detection.

PubMed

Salvador, C; Mesa, M S; Durán, E; Alvarez, J L; Carbajo, J; Mozo, J D

2016-05-01

In this work, a new open hardware interface based on Arduino to read electromotive force (emf) from potentiometric detectors is presented. The interface has been fully designed with the open code philosophy and all documentation will be accessible on web. The paper describes a comprehensive project including the electronic design, the firmware loaded on Arduino, and the Java-coded graphical user interface to load data in a computer (PC or Mac) for processing. The prototype was tested by measuring the calibration curve of a detector. As detection element, an active poly(vinyl chloride)-based membrane was used, doped with cetyltrimethylammonium dodecylsulphate (CTA(+)-DS(-)). The experimental measures of emf indicate Nernstian behaviour with the CTA(+) content of test solutions, as it was described in the literature, proving the validity of the developed prototype. A comparative analysis of performance was made by using the same chemical detector but changing the measurement instrumentation.

Optical characterization of ultra-sensitive TES bolometers for SAFARI

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Audley, Michael D.; de Lange, Gerhard; Gao, Jian-Rong; Khosropanah, Pourya; Mauskopf, Philip D.; Morozov, Dmitry; Trappe, Neil A.; Doherty, Stephen; Withington, Stafford

2014-07-01

We have characterized the optical response of prototype detectors for SAFARI, the far-infrared imaging spectrometer for the SPICA satellite. SAFARI's three bolometer arrays will image a 2'×2' field of view with spectral information over the wavelength range 34—210 μm. SAFARI requires extremely sensitive detectors (goal NEP ~ 0.2 aW/√Hz), with correspondingly low saturation powers (~5 fW), to take advantage of SPICA's cooled optics. We have constructed an ultra-low background optical test facility containing an internal cold black-body illuminator and have recently added an internal hot black-body source and a light-pipe for external illumination. We illustrate the performance of the test facility with results including spectral-response measurements. Based on an improved understanding of the optical throughput of the test facility we find an optical efficiency of 60% for prototype SAFARI detectors.

Compton camera study for high efficiency SPECT and benchmark with Anger system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fontana, M.; Dauvergne, D.; Létang, J. M.; Ley, J.-L.; Testa, É.

2017-12-01

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is at present one of the major techniques for non-invasive diagnostics in nuclear medicine. The clinical routine is mostly based on collimated cameras, originally proposed by Hal Anger. Due to the presence of mechanical collimation, detection efficiency and energy acceptance are limited and fixed by the system’s geometrical features. In order to overcome these limitations, the application of Compton cameras for SPECT has been investigated for several years. In this study we compare a commercial SPECT-Anger device, the General Electric HealthCare Infinia system with a High Energy General Purpose (HEGP) collimator, and the Compton camera prototype under development by the French collaboration CLaRyS, through Monte Carlo simulations (GATE—GEANT4 Application for Tomographic Emission—version 7.1 and GEANT4 version 9.6, respectively). Given the possible introduction of new radio-emitters at higher energies intrinsically allowed by the Compton camera detection principle, the two detectors are exposed to point-like sources at increasing primary gamma energies, from actual isotopes already suggested for nuclear medicine applications. The Compton camera prototype is first characterized for SPECT application by studying the main parameters affecting its imaging performance: detector energy resolution and random coincidence rate. The two detector performances are then compared in terms of radial event distribution, detection efficiency and final image, obtained by gamma transmission analysis for the Anger system, and with an iterative List Mode-Maximum Likelihood Expectation Maximization (LM-MLEM) algorithm for the Compton reconstruction. The results show for the Compton camera a detection efficiency increased by a factor larger than an order of magnitude with respect to the Anger camera, associated with an enhanced spatial resolution for energies beyond 500 keV. We discuss the advantages of Compton camera application for SPECT if compared to present commercial Anger systems, with particular focus on dose delivered to the patient, examination time, and spatial uncertainties.

A novel semi-robotized device for high-precision 18F-FDG-guided breast cancer biopsy.

PubMed

Hellingman, D; Teixeira, S C; Donswijk, M L; Rijkhorst, E J; Moliner, L; Alamo, J; Loo, C E; Valdés Olmos, R A; Stokkel, M P M

To assess the 3D geometric sampling accuracy of a new PET-guided system for breast cancer biopsy (BCB) from areas within the tumour with high 18 F-FDG uptake. In the context of the European Union project MammoCare, a prototype semi-robotic stereotactic prototype BCB-device was incorporated into a dedicated high resolution PET-detector for breast imaging. The system consists of 2 stacked rings, each containing 12 plane detectors, forming a dodecagon with a 186mm aperture for 3D reconstruction (1mm 3 voxel). A vacuum-assisted biopsy needle attached to a robot-controlled arm was used. To test the accuracy of needle placement, the needle tip was labelled with 18 F-FDG and positioned at 78 target coordinates distributed over a 35mm×24mm×28mm volume within the PET-detector field-of-view. At each position images were acquired from which the needle positioning accuracy was calculated. Additionally, phantom-based biopsy proofs, as well as MammoCare images of 5 breast cancer patients, were evaluated for the 3D automated locating of 18 F-FDG uptake areas within the tumour. Needle positioning tests revealed an average accuracy of 0.5mm (range 0-1mm), 0.6mm (range 0-2mm), and 0.4mm (range 0-2mm) for the x/y/z-axes, respectively. Furthermore, the MammoCare system was able to visualize and locate small (<10mm) regions with high 18 F-FDG uptake within the tumour suitable for PET-guided biopsy after being located by the 3D automated application. Accuracy testing demonstrated high-precision of this semi-automatic 3D PET-guided system for breast cancer core needle biopsy. Its clinical feasibility evaluation in breast cancer patients scheduled for neo-adjuvant chemotherapy will follow. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier España, S.L.U. y SEMNIM. All rights reserved.

A SPECT Scanner for Rodent Imaging Based on Small-Area Gamma Cameras

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lage, Eduardo; Villena, José L.; Tapias, Gustavo; Martinez, Naira P.; Soto-Montenegro, Maria L.; Abella, Mónica; Sisniega, Alejandro; Pino, Francisco; Ros, Domènec; Pavia, Javier; Desco, Manuel; Vaquero, Juan J.

2010-10-01

We developed a cost-effective SPECT scanner prototype (rSPECT) for in vivo imaging of rodents based on small-area gamma cameras. Each detector consists of a position-sensitive photomultiplier tube (PS-PMT) coupled to a 30 x 30 Nal(Tl) scintillator array and electronics attached to the PS-PMT sockets for adapting the detector signals to an in-house developed data acquisition system. The detector components are enclosed in a lead-shielded case with a receptacle to insert the collimators. System performance was assessed using 99mTc for a high-resolution parallel-hole collimator, and for a 0.75-mm pinhole collimator with a 60° aperture angle and a 42-mm collimator length. The energy resolution is about 10.7% of the photopeak energy. The overall system sensitivity is about 3 cps/μCi/detector and planar spatial resolution ranges from 2.4 mm at 1 cm source-to-collimator distance to 4.1 mm at 4.5 cm with parallel-hole collimators. With pinhole collimators planar spatial resolution ranges from 1.2 mm at 1 cm source-to-collimator distance to 2.4 mm at 4.5 cm; sensitivity at these distances ranges from 2.8 to 0.5 cps/μCi/detector. Tomographic hot-rod phantom images are presented together with images of bone, myocardium and brain of living rodents to demonstrate the feasibility of preclinical small-animal studies with the rSPECT.

Nondestructive Inspection System for Special Nuclear Material Using Inertial Electrostatic Confinement Fusion Neutrons and Laser Compton Scattering Gamma-Rays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ohgaki, H.; Daito, I.; Zen, H.; Kii, T.; Masuda, K.; Misawa, T.; Hajima, R.; Hayakawa, T.; Shizuma, T.; Kando, M.; Fujimoto, S.

2017-07-01

A Neutron/Gamma-ray combined inspection system for hidden special nuclear materials (SNMs) in cargo containers has been developed under a program of Japan Science and Technology Agency in Japan. This inspection system consists of an active neutron-detection system for fast screening and a laser Compton backscattering gamma-ray source in coupling with nuclear resonance fluorescence (NRF) method for precise inspection. The inertial electrostatic confinement fusion device has been adopted as a neutron source and two neutron-detection methods, delayed neutron noise analysis method and high-energy neutron-detection method, have been developed to realize the fast screening system. The prototype system has been constructed and tested in the Reactor Research Institute, Kyoto University. For the generation of the laser Compton backscattering gamma-ray beam, a race track microtron accelerator has been used to reduce the size of the system. For the NRF measurement, an array of LaBr3(Ce) scintillation detectors has been adopted to realize a low-cost detection system. The prototype of the gamma-ray system has been demonstrated in the Kansai Photon Science Institute, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology. By using numerical simulations based on the data taken from these prototype systems and the inspection-flow, the system designed by this program can detect 1 kg of highly enriched 235U (HEU) hidden in an empty 20-ft container within several minutes.

Development of Ultrasonic and Fabry-Perot Interferometer for Non-Destruction Inspection of Aging Aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, Alphonso C.

1998-01-01

Fabry-Perot Interferometer (FPI) sensor detection system was continued and refined modifications were made in the data acquisition and evaluation process during the last year. The ultrasonic and FPI detection system was improved from one to multiple sensor detectors. Physical models were developed to understand the physical phenomenon of this work. Multilayered flawed samples were fabricated for inspection by a prototype ultrasonic and FPI detection. Experimental data was verified with simulated results. Undergraduate students that were associated with this research gained valuable knowledge from this experience. This was a learning process helping students to understand the importance of research and its application to solve important technological problems. As a result of our students exposure to this research two and planning to continue this type of research work in graduate school. A prototype instrument package was laboratory tested an actual airframe structure for documentation purposes.

A portable lidar using a diode-pumped YAG laser

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Takeuchi, N.; Okumura, H.; Sugita, T.; Matsumoto, H.; Yamaguchi, S.

1992-01-01

A Mie lidar system is technically established and is used for monitoring air pollution, stratospheric and boundary layer aerosol distribution, plume dispersion, visibility, and the study of atmospheric structure and cloud physics. However, a lidar system is not widely used because of its cumbersome handling and unwieldy portability. Although the author developed a laser diode lidar system based on RM-CW technique, it has a limit of measurement distance. Here we report the development of an all solid Mie lidar system using a diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser and a Si-APD detector. This was constructed as a prototype of a handy lidar system.

Modeling the Anisotropic Resolution and Noise Properties of Digital Breast Tomosynthesis Image Reconstructions

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-01-01

DM system with a detector field -of-view (FOV) of 24 30 cm and a source-to- image distance of 70 cm measured at the midpoint of the chest wall. In...DNCs in frequency space have an opening angle spanning approximately -7.5° to +7.5° for measurements made near the midpoint of the chest wall. At...conference abstract). 18Ren B, Ruth C, Stein J, Smith A, Shaw I, Jing Z. Design and performance of the prototype full field breast tomosynthesis system

Development of silicon detectors for Beam Loss Monitoring at HL-LHC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Verbitskaya, E.; Eremin, V.; Zabrodskii, A.; Bogdanov, A.; Shepelev, A.; Dehning, B.; Bartosik, M. R.; Alexopoulos, A.; Glaser, M.; Ravotti, F.; Sapinski, M.; Härkönen, J.; Egorov, N.; Galkin, A.

2017-03-01

Silicon detectors were proposed as novel Beam Loss Monitors (BLM) for the control of the radiation environment in the vicinity of the superconductive magnets of the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider. The present work is aimed at enhancing the BLM sensitivity and therefore the capability of triggering the beam abort system before a critical radiation load hits the superconductive coils. We report here the results of three in situ irradiation tests of Si detectors carried out at the CERN PS at 1.9-4.2 K. The main experimental result is that all silicon detectors survived irradiation up to 1.22× 1016 p/cm2. The third test, focused on the detailed characterization of the detectors with standard (300 μm) and reduced (100 μm) thicknesses, showed only a marginal difference in the sensitivity of thinned detectors in the entire fluence range and a smaller rate of signal degradation that promotes their use as BLMs. The irradiation campaigns produced new information on radiation damage and carrier transport in Si detectors irradiated at the temperatures of 1.9-4.2 K. The results were encouraging and permitted to initiate the production of the first BLM prototype modules which were installed at the end of the vessel containing the superconductive coil of a LHC magnet immersed in superfluid helium to be able to test the silicon detectors in real operational conditions.

System for particle concentration and detection

DOEpatents

Morales, Alfredo M.; Whaley, Josh A.; Zimmerman, Mark D.; Renzi, Ronald F.; Tran, Huu M.; Maurer, Scott M.; Munslow, William D.

2013-03-19

A new microfluidic system comprising an automated prototype insulator-based dielectrophoresis (iDEP) triggering microfluidic device for pathogen monitoring that can eventually be run outside the laboratory in a real world environment has been used to demonstrate the feasibility of automated trapping and detection of particles. The system broadly comprised an aerosol collector for collecting air-borne particles, an iDEP chip within which to temporarily trap the collected particles and a laser and fluorescence detector with which to induce a fluorescence signal and detect a change in that signal as particles are trapped within the iDEP chip.

Commutated automatic gain control system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yost, S. R.

1982-01-01

A commutated automatic gain control (AGC) system was designed and built for a prototype Loran C receiver. The receiver uses a microcomputer to control a memory aided phase-locked loop (MAPLL). The microcomputer also controls the input/output, latitude/longitude conversion, and the recently added AGC system. The circuit designed for the AGC is described, and bench and flight test results are presented. The AGC circuit described actually samples starting at a point 40 microseconds after a zero crossing determined by the software lock pulse ultimately generated by a 30 microsecond delay and add network in the receiver front end envelope detector.

A TTC upgrade proposal using bidirectional 10G-PON FTTH technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kolotouros, D. M.; Baron, S.; Soos, C.; Vasey, F.

2015-04-01

A new generation FPGA-based Timing-Trigger and Control (TTC) system based on emerging Passive Optical Network (PON) technology is being proposed to replace the existing off-detector TTC system used by the LHC experiments. High split ratio, dynamic software partitioning, low and deterministic latency, as well as low jitter are required. Exploiting the latest available technologies allows delivering higher capacity together with bidirectionality, a feature absent from the legacy TTC system. This article focuses on the features and capabilities of the latest TTC-PON prototype based on 10G-PON FTTH components along with some metrics characterizing its performance.

Optical properties of Argonne/KICP TES bolometers for CMB polarimetry.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Crites, A. T.; Bleem, L. E.; Carlstrom, J. E.

2009-01-01

We present optical data on prototype polarization sensitive Argonne/KICP detectors fabricated at Argonne National Labs which are designed to be installed on the South Pole Telescope and used to measure the polarization of the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation. The detectors are Mo/Au transition edge sensors (TES) suspended on silicon nitride, with radiation coupled to the TES using a gold bar absorber. Two stacked detectors with bars in orthogonal directions will be used to measure both polarizations. We discuss measurements of the optical bandpass, time constants and cross-polarization of the detectors.

Design of T-GEM detectors for X-ray diagnostics on JET

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rzadkiewicz, J.; Dominik, W.; Scholz, M.; Chernyshova, M.; Czarski, T.; Czyrkowski, H.; Dabrowski, R.; Jakubowska, K.; Karpinski, L.; Kasprowicz, G.; Kierzkowski, K.; Pozniak, K.; Salapa, Z.; Zabolotny, W.; Blanchard, P.; Tyrrell, S.; Zastrow, K.-D.; JET EFDA Contributors

2013-08-01

Upgraded high-resolution X-ray diagnostics on JET is expected to monitor the plasma radiation emitted by W46+ and Ni26+ ions at 2.4 keV and 7.8 keV photon energies, respectively. Both X-ray lines will be monitored by new generation energy-resolved micropattern gas detectors with 1-D position reconstruction capability. The detection structure is based on triple GEM (T-GEM) amplification structure followed by the strip readout electrode. This article presents a design of new detectors and prototype detector tests.

Study of prototypes of LFoundry active CMOS pixels sensors for the ATLAS detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vigani, L.; Bortoletto, D.; Ambroz, L.; Plackett, R.; Hemperek, T.; Rymaszewski, P.; Wang, T.; Krueger, H.; Hirono, T.; Caicedo Sierra, I.; Wermes, N.; Barbero, M.; Bhat, S.; Breugnon, P.; Chen, Z.; Godiot, S.; Pangaud, P.; Rozanov, A.

2018-02-01

Current high energy particle physics experiments at the LHC use hybrid silicon detectors, in both pixel and strip configurations, for their inner trackers. These detectors have proven to be very reliable and performant. Nevertheless, there is great interest in depleted CMOS silicon detectors, which could achieve a similar performance at lower cost of production. We present recent developments of this technology in the framework of the ATLAS CMOS demonstrator project. In particular, studies of two active sensors from LFoundry, CCPD_LF and LFCPIX, are shown.

Optical Properties of Argonne/KICP TES Bolometers for CMB Polarimetry

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Crites, A. T.; Bleem, L. E.; Carlstrom, J. E.

2009-12-16

We present optical data on prototype polarization sensitive Argonne/KICP detectors fabricated at Argonne National Labs which are designed to be installed on the South Pole Telescope and used to measure the polarization of the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation. The detectors are Mo/Au transition edge sensors (TES) suspended on silicon nitride, with radiation coupled to the TES using a gold bar absorber. Two stacked detectors with bars in orthogonal directions will be used to measure both polarizations. We discuss measurements of the optical bandpass, time constants and cross-polarization of the detectors.

A new passive radon-thoron discriminative measurement system.

PubMed

Sciocchetti, G; Sciocchetti, A; Giovannoli, P; DeFelice, P; Cardellini, F; Cotellessa, G; Pagliari, M

2010-10-01

A new passive radon-thoron discriminative measurement system has been developed for monitoring radon and thoron individually. It consists of a 'couple' of passive integrating devices with a CR39 nuclear track detector (NTD). The experimental prototype is based on the application of a new concept of NTD instrument developed at ENEA, named Alpha-PREM, acronym of piston radon exposure meter, which allows controlling the detector exposure with a patented sampling technique (Int. Eu. Pat. and US Pat.). The 'twin diffusion chambers system' was based on two A-PREM devices consisting of the standard device, named NTD-Rn, and a modified version, named NTD-Rn/Tn, which was set up to improve thoron sampling efficiency of the diffusion chamber, without changing the geometry and the start/stop function of the NTD-Rn device. Coupling devices fitted on each device allowed getting a system, which works as a double-chamber structure when deployed at the monitoring position. In this paper both technical and physical aspects are considered.

3D scanning characteristics of an amorphous silicon position sensitive detector array system.

PubMed

Contreras, Javier; Gomes, Luis; Filonovich, Sergej; Correia, Nuno; Fortunato, Elvira; Martins, Rodrigo; Ferreira, Isabel

2012-02-13

The 3D scanning electro-optical characteristics of a data acquisition prototype system integrating a 32 linear array of 1D amorphous silicon position sensitive detectors (PSD) were analyzed. The system was mounted on a platform for imaging 3D objects using the triangulation principle with a sheet-of-light laser. New obtained results reveal a minimum possible gap or simulated defect detection of approximately 350 μm. Furthermore, a first study of the angle for 3D scanning was also performed, allowing for a broad range of angles to be used in the process. The relationship between the scanning angle of the incident light onto the object and the image displacement distance on the sensor was determined for the first time in this system setup. Rendering of 3D object profiles was performed at a significantly higher number of frames than in the past and was possible for an incident light angle range of 15 ° to 85 °.

Test systems of the STS-XYTER2 ASIC: from wafer-level to in-system verification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kasinski, Krzysztof; Zubrzycka, Weronika

2016-09-01

The STS/MUCH-XYTER2 ASIC is a full-size prototype chip for the Silicon Tracking System (STS) and Muon Chamber (MUCH) detectors in the new fixed-target experiment Compressed Baryonic Matter (CBM) at FAIR-center, Darmstadt, Germany. The STS assembly includes more than 14000 ASICs. The complicated, time-consuming, multi-step assembly process of the detector building blocks and tight quality assurance requirements impose several intermediate testing to be performed for verifying crucial assembly steps (e.g. custom microcable tab-bonding before wire-bonding to the PCB) and - if necessary - identifying channels or modules for rework. The chip supports the multi-level testing with different probing / contact methods (wafer probe-card, pogo-probes, in-system tests). A huge number of ASICs to be tested restricts the number and kind of tests possible to be performed within a reasonable time. The proposed architectures of test stand equipment and a brief summary of methodologies are presented in this paper.

First Year PIDDP Report on gamma-ray and x-ray spectroscopy: X-ray remote sensing and in situ spectroscopy for planetary exploration missions and gamma-ray remote sensing and in situ spectroscopy for planetary exploration missions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mahdavi, M.; Giboni, K. L.; Vajda, S.; Schweitzer, J. S.; Truax, J. A.

1994-01-01

Detectors that will be used for planetary missions must have their responses calibrated in a reproducible manner. In addition, it is important to characterize a detector system at uneven portions of its life cycle, for example after exposure to different amounts of radiation. A calibration and response characterization facility has been constructed at Schlumberger-Doll Research for all types of gamma- and x-ray detectors that may be used for planetary measurement. This facility is currently being tested. Initial use is expected for the MARS 94 detectors. The facility will then also be available for calibrating other detectors as well as arrays of detectors such as the NEAR detector with its central Nal(TI) crystal surrounded with a large BGO crystal. Cadmium telluride detectors are investigated for applications in space explorations. These detectors show an energy resolution of 5 keV for the 122 keV 57Co line. Earlier reported polarization effects are not observed. The detectors can be used at temperatures up to 100 C, although with reduced energy resolution. The thickness of standard detectors is limited to 2 mm. These detectors become fully efficient at bias voltages above 200 V. Initial results for a 1 cm thick detector show that the quality of the material is inferior to the thinner standard detectors and hole trapping affects the pulse height. A detailed characterization of the detector is in progress. Prototypes of photomultipliers based on a Channel Electron Multiplier (CEM) are being built to study their performance. Such photomultipliers promise better timing characteristics and a higher dynamic range while being more compact and of lower in weight.

The Simbol-X Low Energy Detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lechner, Peter

2009-05-01

For the Low Energy Detector of Simbol-X a new type of active pixel sensor based on the integrated amplifier DEPFET has been developed. This concept combines large area, scalable pixel size, low noise, and ultra-fast readout. Flight representative prototypes have been processed with a performance matching the Simbol-X specifications and demonstrating the technology readiness.

The AGILE silicon tracker: testbeam results of the prototype silicon detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barbiellini, G.; Fedel, G.; Liello, F.; Longo, F.; Pontoni, C.; Prest, M.; Tavani, M.; Vallazza, E.

2002-09-01

AGILE (Light Imager for Gamma-ray Astrophysics) is a small scientific satellite for the detection of cosmic γ-ray sources in the energy range 30MeV-50GeV with a very large field of view (1/4 of the sky). It is planned to be operational in the years 2003-2006, a period in which no other γ-ray mission in the same energy range is foreseen. The heart of the AGILE scientific instrument is a silicon-tungsten tracker made of 14 planes of single sided silicon detectors for a total of 43000 readout channels. Each detector has a dimension of 9.5×9.5cm2 and a thickness of 410μm. We present here a detailed description of the performance of the detector prototype during a testbeam period at the CERN PS in May 2000. The Tracker performance is described in terms of position resolution and signal-to-noise ratio for on and off-axis incident charged particles. The measured 40μm resolution for a large range of incident angles will provide an excellent angular resolution for cosmic γ-ray imaging.

A beam monitor based on MPGD detectors for hadron therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Altieri, P. R.; Di Benedetto, D.; Galetta, G.; Intonti, R. A.; Mercadante, A.; Nuzzo, S.; Verwilligen, P.

2018-02-01

Remarkable scientific and technological progress during the last years has led to the construction of accelerator based facilities dedicated to hadron therapy. This kind of technology requires precise and continuous control of position, intensity and shape of the ions or protons used to irradiate cancers. Patient safety, accelerator operation and dose delivery should be optimized by a real time monitoring of beam intensity and profile during the treatment, by using non-destructive, high spatial resolution detectors. In the framework of AMIDERHA (AMIDERHA - Enhanced Radiotherapy with HAdron) project funded by the Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca (Italian Ministry of Education and Research) the authors are studying and developing an innovative beam monitor based on Micro Pattern Gaseous Detectors (MPDGs) characterized by a high spatial resolution and rate capability. The Monte Carlo simulation of the beam monitor prototype was carried out to optimize the geometrical set up and to predict the behavior of the detector. A first prototype has been constructed and successfully tested using 55Fe, 90Sr and also an X-ray tube. Preliminary results on both simulations and tests will be presented.

A novel high resolution, high sensitivity SPECT detector for molecular imaging of cardiovascular diseases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cusanno, F.; Argentieri, A.; Baiocchi, M.; Colilli, S.; Cisbani, E.; De Vincentis, G.; Fratoni, R.; Garibaldi, F.; Giuliani, F.; Gricia, M.; Lucentini, M.; Magliozzi, M. L.; Majewski, S.; Marano, G.; Musico, P.; Musumeci, M.; Santavenere, F.; Torrioli, S.; Tsui, B. M. W.; Vitelli, L.; Wang, Y.

2010-05-01

Cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of death in western countries. Understanding the rupture of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques and monitoring the effect of innovative therapies of heart failure is of fundamental importance. A flexible, high resolution, high sensitivity detector system for molecular imaging with radionuclides on small animal models has been designed for this aim. A prototype has been built using tungsten pinhole and LaBr3(Ce) scintillator coupled to Hamamatsu Flat Panel PMTs. Compact individual-channel readout has been designed, built and tested. Measurements with phantoms as well as pilot studies on mice have been performed, the results show that the myocardial perfusion in mice can be determined with sufficient precision. The detector will be improved replacing the Hamamatsu Flat Panel with Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs) to allow integration of the system with MRI scanners. Application of LaBr3(Ce) scintillator coupled to photosensor with high photon detection efficiency and excellent energy resolution will allow dual-label imaging to monitor simultaneously the cardiac perfusion and the molecular targets under investigation during the heart therapy.

Simultaneous acquisition of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) data and positron emission tomography (PET) images with a prototype MR-compatible, small animal PET imager

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raylman, Raymond R.; Majewski, Stan; Velan, S. Sendhil; Lemieux, Susan; Kross, Brian; Popov, Vladimir; Smith, Mark F.; Weisenberger, Andrew G.

2007-06-01

Multi-modality imaging (such as PET-CT) is rapidly becoming a valuable tool in the diagnosis of disease and in the development of new drugs. Functional images produced with PET, fused with anatomical images created by MRI, allow the correlation of form with function. Perhaps more exciting than the combination of anatomical MRI with PET, is the melding of PET with MR spectroscopy (MRS). Thus, two aspects of physiology could be combined in novel ways to produce new insights into the physiology of normal and pathological processes. Our team is developing a system to acquire MRI images and MRS spectra, and PET images contemporaneously. The prototype MR-compatible PET system consists of two opposed detector heads (appropriate in size for small animal imaging), operating in coincidence mode with an active field-of-view of ˜14 cm in diameter. Each detector consists of an array of LSO detector elements coupled through a 2-m long fiber optic light guide to a single position-sensitive photomultiplier tube. The use of light guides allows these magnetic field-sensitive elements of the PET imager to be positioned outside the strong magnetic field of our 3T MRI scanner. The PET scanner imager was integrated with a 12-cm diameter, 12-leg custom, birdcage coil. Simultaneous MRS spectra and PET images were successfully acquired from a multi-modality phantom consisting of a sphere filled with 17 brain relevant substances and a positron-emitting radionuclide. There were no significant changes in MRI or PET scanner performance when both were present in the MRI magnet bore. This successful initial test demonstrates the potential for using such a multi-modality to obtain complementary MRS and PET data.

Development and Testing of the Positron Identification By Coincident Annihilation Photons (PICAP) System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tran, D.; Connell, J. J.; Lopate, C.; Bickford, B.

2014-12-01

Moderate energy positrons (~few to 10 MeV) have seldom been observed in the Heliosphere, due primarily to there not having been dedicated instruments for such measurements. Their detection would have implications in the study of Solar energetic particle events and the transport and modulation of the Solar wind and Galactic cosmic rays. The Positron Identification by Coincident Annihilation Photons (PICAP) system is designed specifically to measure these moderate energy positrons by simultaneously detecting the two 511-keV γ-ray photons that result from a positron stopping in the instrument and the subsequent electron-positron annihilation. This method is also expected to effectively discriminate positrons from protons by measuring the amount of energy deposited in the detectors (dE/dx versus residual energy). PICAP offers a low-mass, low-power option for measuring positrons, electrons, and ions in space. Following Monte Carlo modeling, a PICAP laboratory prototype, adaptable to a space-flight design, was designed, built, and tested. This instrument is comprised of (Si) solid-state detectors, plastic scintillation detectors, and high-Z BGO crystal scintillator suitable for detecting the 511-keV γ rays. The prototype underwent preliminary laboratory testing and calibration using radioactive sources for the purpose of establishing functionality. It has since been exposed to beams of energetic protons (up to ~200 MeV) at Massachusetts General Hospital's Francis H. Burr Proton Beam Therapy Center and positrons and electrons (up to ~10 MeV) at Idaho State University's Idaho Accelerator Center. The goal is to validate modeling and determine the performance of the instrument concept. We will present a summary of modeling calculations and analysis of data taken at the accelerator tests. This work is 95% supported by NASA Grant NNX10AC10G.

Solution for the nonuniformity correction of infrared focal plane arrays.

PubMed

Zhou, Huixin; Liu, Shangqian; Lai, Rui; Wang, Dabao; Cheng, Yubao

2005-05-20

Based on the S-curve model of the detector response of infrared focal plan arrays (IRFPAs), an improved two-point correction algorithm is presented. The algorithm first transforms the nonlinear image data into linear data and then uses the normal two-point algorithm to correct the linear data. The algorithm can effectively overcome the influence of nonlinearity of the detector's response, and it enlarges the correction precision and the dynamic range of the response. A real-time imaging-signal-processing system for IRFPAs that is based on a digital signal processor and field-programmable gate arrays is also presented. The nonuniformity correction capability of the presented solution is validated by experimental imaging procedures of a 128 x 128 pixel IRFPA camera prototype.

LENS: μLENS Simulations, Analysis, and Results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rasco, Charles

2013-04-01

Simulations of the Low-Energy Neutrino Spectrometer prototype, μLENS, have been performed in order to benchmark the first measurements of the μLENS detector at the Kimballton Underground Research Facility (KURF). μLENS is a 6x6x6 celled scintillation lattice filled with Linear Alkylbenzene based scintillator. We have performed simulations of μLENS using the GEANT4 toolkit. We have measured various radioactive sources, LEDs, and environmental background radiation measurements at KURF using up to 96 PMTs with a simplified data acquisition system of QDCs and TDCs. In this talk we will demonstrate our understanding of the light propagation and we will compare simulation results with measurements of the μLENS detector of various radioactive sources, LEDs, and the environmental background radiation.

Coded aperture detector: an image sensor with sub 20-nm pixel resolution.

PubMed

Miyakawa, Ryan; Mayer, Rafael; Wojdyla, Antoine; Vannier, Nicolas; Lesser, Ian; Aron-Dine, Shifrah; Naulleau, Patrick

2014-08-11

We describe the coded aperture detector, a novel image sensor based on uniformly redundant arrays (URAs) with customizable pixel size, resolution, and operating photon energy regime. In this sensor, a coded aperture is scanned laterally at the image plane of an optical system, and the transmitted intensity is measured by a photodiode. The image intensity is then digitally reconstructed using a simple convolution. We present results from a proof-of-principle optical prototype, demonstrating high-fidelity image sensing comparable to a CCD. A 20-nm half-pitch URA fabricated by the Center for X-ray Optics (CXRO) nano-fabrication laboratory is presented that is suitable for high-resolution image sensing at EUV and soft X-ray wavelengths.

Applications and testing of the LSCAD system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Althouse, Mark L.; Gross, Robert L.; Ditillo, John T.; Lagna, William M.; Kolodzey, Steve J.; Keiser, Christopher C.; Nasers, Gary D.

1996-06-01

The lightweight standoff chemical agent detector (LSCAD) is an infrared Michelson interferometer operating in the 8 - 13 micron band and is designed primarily for military contamination avoidance and early warning applications. The system is designed to be operated autonomously from a vehicle while on the move and provide 360 degree coverage. The first group of prototypes were delivered in 1994 and have undergone integration into several platforms including the HMMWV, the M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle, the M109 self- propelled Howitzer and the Pioneer and Hurricane unmanned air vehicles (UAVs). Additional vehicles and platforms are planned. To meet the restrictions of military applications, the prototype interferometer subsystem has a weight of about 10 lbs and is approximately 0.20 cu fit in size. The full system size and weight depends upon the particular platform and its operational requirements. LSCAD employs onboard instrument control, data collection, analysis and target detection decision software, all of which are critical to real-time operation. The hardware, software, and test results are discussed.

Design and characterization of the PREC (Prototype Readout Electronics for Counting particles)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Assis, P.; Brogueira, P.; Ferreira, M.; Luz, R.; Mendes, L.

2016-08-01

The design, tests and performance of a novel, low noise, acquisition system—the PREC (Prototype Readout Electronics for Counting particles) is presented in this article. PREC is a system developed using discrete electronics for particle counting applications using RPCs (Resistive Plate Chamber) detectors. PREC can, however, be used with other kind of detectors that present fast pulses, e.g. Silicon Photomultipliers. The PREC system consists in several Front-End boards that transmit data to a purely digital Motherboard. The amplification and discrimination of the signal is performed in the Front-End boards, making them the critical component of the system. In this paper, the Front-End was tested extensively by measuring the gain, noise level, crosstalk, trigger efficiency, propagation time and power consumption. The gain shows a decrease with the working temperature and an increase with the power supply voltage. The Front-End board shows a low noise level (<= 1.6 mV at 3σ level) and no crosstalk is detected above this level. The s-curve of the trigger efficiency is characterized by a 3 mV gap from the region where most of the signals are triggered to almost no signal is triggered. The signal transit time between the Front-End input and the digital Motherboard is estimated to be 5.82 ns. The maximum power consumption is 3.372 W for the Motherboard and 3.576 W and 1.443 W for each Front-End analogue circuitry and digital part, respectively.

Back-end and interface implementation of the STS-XYTER2 prototype ASIC for the CBM experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kasinski, K.; Szczygiel, R.; Zabolotny, W.

2016-11-01

Each front-end readout ASIC for the High-Energy Physics experiments requires robust and effective hit data streaming and control mechanism. A new STS-XYTER2 full-size prototype chip for the Silicon Tracking System and Muon Chamber detectors in the Compressed Baryonic Matter experiment at Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR, Germany) is a 128-channel time and amplitude measuring solution for silicon microstrip and gas detectors. It operates at 250 kHit/s/channel hit rate, each hit producing 27 bits of information (5-bit amplitude, 14-bit timestamp, position and diagnostics data). The chip back-end implements fast front-end channel read-out, timestamp-wise hit sorting, and data streaming via a scalable interface implementing the dedicated protocol (STS-HCTSP) for chip control and hit transfer with data bandwidth from 9.7 MHit/s up to 47 MHit/s. It also includes multiple options for link diagnostics, failure detection, and throttling features. The back-end is designed to operate with the data acquisition architecture based on the CERN GBTx transceivers. This paper presents the details of the back-end and interface design and its implementation in the UMC 180 nm CMOS process.

Technical Note: Detective quantum efficiency simulation of a-Se imaging detectors using ARTEMIS.

PubMed

Fang, Yuan; Ito, Takaaki; Nariyuki, Fumito; Kuwabara, Takao; Badano, Aldo; Karim, Karim S

2017-08-01

This work studies the detective quantum efficiency (DQE) of a-Se-based solid state x-ray detectors for medical imaging applications using ARTEMIS, a Monte Carlo simulation tool for modeling x-ray photon, electron and charged carrier transport in semiconductors with the presence of applied electric field. ARTEMIS is used to model the signal formation process in a-Se. The simulation model includes x-ray photon and high-energy electron interactions, and detailed electron-hole pair transport with applied detector bias taking into account drift, diffusion, Coulomb interactions, recombination and trapping. For experimental validation, the DQE performance of prototype a-Se detectors is measured following IEC Testing Standard 62220-1-3. Comparison of simulated and experimental DQE results show reasonable agreement for RQA beam qualities. Experimental validation demonstrated within 5% percentage difference between simulation and experimental DQE results for spatial frequency above 0.25 cycles/mm using uniform applied electric field for RQA beam qualities (RQA5, RQA7 and RQA9). Results include two different prototype detectors with thicknesses of 240 μm and 1 mm. ARTEMIS can be used to model the DQE of a-Se detectors as a function of x-ray energy, detector thickness, and spatial frequency. The ARTEMIS model can be used to improve understanding of the physics of x-ray interactions in a-Se and in optimization studies for the development of novel medical imaging applications. © 2017 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

A new detector for mass spectrometry: direct detection of low energy ions using a multi-pixel photon counter.

PubMed

Wilman, Edward S; Gardiner, Sara H; Nomerotski, Andrei; Turchetta, Renato; Brouard, Mark; Vallance, Claire

2012-01-01

A new type of ion detector for mass spectrometry and general detection of low energy ions is presented. The detector consists of a scintillator optically coupled to a single-photon avalanche photodiode (SPAD) array. A prototype sensor has been constructed from a LYSO (Lu(1.8)Y(0.2)SiO(5)(Ce)) scintillator crystal coupled to a commercial SPAD array detector. As proof of concept, the detector is used to record the time-of-flight mass spectra of butanone and carbon disulphide, and the dependence of detection sensitivity on the ion kinetic energy is characterised.

Metal-oxide-metal point contact junction detectors. [detection mechanism and mechanical stability

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baird, J.; Havemann, R. H.; Fults, R. D.

1973-01-01

The detection mechanism(s) and design of a mechanically stable metal-oxide-metal point contact junction detector are considered. A prototype for a mechanically stable device has been constructed and tested. A technique has been developed which accurately predicts microwave video detector and heterodyne mixer SIM (semiconductor-insulator-metal) diode performance from low dc frequency volt-ampere curves. The difference in contact potential between the two metals and geometrically induced rectification constitute the detection mechanisms.

Multi-detector system approach for unattended uranium enrichment monitoring at gas centrifuge enrichment plants

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Favalli, A.; Lombardi, M.; MacArthur, D. W.

Improving the quality of safeguards measurements at Gas Centrifuge Enrichment Plants while reducing the inspection effort is an important objective given the number of existing and new plants that need to be safeguarded. A useful tool in many safeguards approaches is the on-line monitoring of enrichment in process pipes. One requirement of such a monitor is a simple, reliable and precise passive measurement of the 186-keV line from 235U. The other information required is the amount of gas in the pipe, which can be obtained by a transmission or pressure measurement. Here, we describe our research to develop such amore » passive measurement system. Unfortunately, a complication arises in the interpretation of the gamma measurements, from the contribution of uranium deposits on the wall of the pipe to the 186-keV peak. A multi-detector approach to address this complication is presented where two measurements, one with signal primarily from gas and one with signal primarily from deposits, are performed simultaneously with different detectors and geometries. This allows a correction to be made to the 186-keV peak for the contribution from the deposit. Finally, we present the design of the multi-detector system and the results of the experimental calibration of the proof-of-principle prototype built at LANL.« less

Multi-detector system approach for unattended uranium enrichment monitoring at gas centrifuge enrichment plants

DOE PAGES

Favalli, A.; Lombardi, M.; MacArthur, D. W.; ...

2017-09-14

Improving the quality of safeguards measurements at Gas Centrifuge Enrichment Plants while reducing the inspection effort is an important objective given the number of existing and new plants that need to be safeguarded. A useful tool in many safeguards approaches is the on-line monitoring of enrichment in process pipes. One requirement of such a monitor is a simple, reliable and precise passive measurement of the 186-keV line from 235U. The other information required is the amount of gas in the pipe, which can be obtained by a transmission or pressure measurement. Here, we describe our research to develop such amore » passive measurement system. Unfortunately, a complication arises in the interpretation of the gamma measurements, from the contribution of uranium deposits on the wall of the pipe to the 186-keV peak. A multi-detector approach to address this complication is presented where two measurements, one with signal primarily from gas and one with signal primarily from deposits, are performed simultaneously with different detectors and geometries. This allows a correction to be made to the 186-keV peak for the contribution from the deposit. Finally, we present the design of the multi-detector system and the results of the experimental calibration of the proof-of-principle prototype built at LANL.« less

Design and experiment of spectrometer based on scanning micro-grating integrating with angle sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Biao, Luo; Wen, Zhi-yu

2014-01-01

A compact, low cost, high speed, non-destructive testing NIR (near infrared) spectrometer optical system based on MOEMS grating device is developed. The MOEMS grating works as the prismatic element and wavelength scanning element in our optical system. The MOEMS grating enables the design of compact grating spectrometers capable of acquiring full spectra using a single detector element. This MOEMS grating is driven by electromagnetic force and integrated with angle sensor which used to monitored deflection angle while the grating working. Comparing with the traditional spectral system, there is a new structure with a single detector and worked at high frequency. With the characteristics of MOEMS grating, the structure of the spectrometer system is proposed. After calculating the parameters of the optical path, ZEMAX optical software is used to simulate the system. According the ZEMAX output file of the 3D model, the prototype is designed by SolidWorks rapidly, fabricated. Designed for a wavelength range between 800 nm and 1500 nm, the spectrometer optical system features a spectral resolution of 16 nm with the volume of 97 mm × 81.7 mm × 81 mm. For the purpose of reduce modulated effect of sinusoidal rotation, spectral intensity of the different wavelength should be compensated by software method in the further. The system satisfies the demand of NIR micro-spectrometer with a single detector.

A Muon Tomography Station with GEM Detectors for Nuclear Threat Detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Staib, Michael; Gnanvo, Kondo; Grasso, Leonard; Hohlmann, Marcus; Locke, Judson; Costa, Filippo; Martoiu, Sorin; Muller, Hans

2011-10-01

Muon tomography for homeland security aims at detecting well-shielded nuclear contraband in cargo and imaging it in 3D. The technique exploits multiple scattering of atmospheric cosmic ray muons, which is stronger in dense, high-Z nuclear materials, e.g. enriched uranium, than in low-Z and medium-Z shielding materials. We have constructed and operated a compact Muon Tomography Station (MTS) that tracks muons with six to ten 30 cm x 30 cm Triple Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) detectors placed on the sides of a 27-liter cubic imaging volume. The 2D strip readouts of the GEMs achieve a spatial resolution of ˜130 μm in both dimensions and the station is operated at a muon trigger rate of ˜20 Hz. The 1,536 strips per GEM detector are read out with the first medium-size implementation of the Scalable Readout System (SRS) developed specifically for Micro-Pattern Gas Detectors by the RD51 collaboration at CERN. We discuss the performance of this MTS prototype and present experimental results on tomographic imaging of high-Z objects with and without shielding.

A CMOS-based high-resolution fluoroscope (HRF) detector prototype with 49.5μm pixels for use in endovascular image guided interventions (EIGI)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Russ, M.; Shankar, A.; Setlur Nagesh, S. V.; Ionita, C. N.; Bednarek, D. R.; Rudin, S.

2017-03-01

X-ray detectors to meet the high-resolution requirements for endovascular image-guided interventions (EIGIs) are being developed and evaluated. A new 49.5-micron pixel prototype detector is being investigated and compared to the current suite of high-resolution fluoroscopic (HRF) detectors. This detector featuring a 300-micron thick CsI(Tl) scintillator, and low electronic noise CMOS readout is designated the HRF- CMOS50. To compare the abilities of this detector with other existing high resolution detectors, a standard performance metric analysis was applied, including the determination of the modulation transfer function (MTF), noise power spectra (NPS), noise equivalent quanta (NEQ), and detective quantum efficiency (DQE) for a range of energies and exposure levels. The advantage of the smaller pixel size and reduced blurring due to the thin phosphor was exemplified when the MTF of the HRF-CMOS50 was compared to the other high resolution detectors, which utilize larger pixels, other optical designs or thicker scintillators. However, the thinner scintillator has the disadvantage of a lower quantum detective efficiency (QDE) for higher diagnostic x-ray energies. The performance of the detector as part of an imaging chain was examined by employing the generalized metrics GMTF, GNEQ, and GDQE, taking standard focal spot size and clinical imaging parameters into consideration. As expected, the disparaging effects of focal spot unsharpness, exacerbated by increasing magnification, degraded the higher-frequency performance of the HRF-CMOS50, while increasing scatter fraction diminished low-frequency performance. Nevertheless, the HRF-CMOS50 brings improved resolution capabilities for EIGIs, but would require increased sensitivity and dynamic range for future clinical application.

Design of a prototype tri-electrode ion-chamber for megavoltage X-ray imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Samant, Sanjiv S.; Gopal, Arun; Jain, Jinesh; Xia, Junyi; DiBianca, Frank A.

2007-04-01

High-energy (megavoltage) X-ray imaging is widely used in industry (e.g., aerospace, construction, material sciences) as well as in health care (radiation therapy). One of the fundamental problems with megavoltage imaging is poor contrast and spatial resolution in the detected images due to the dominance of Compton scattering at megavoltage X-ray energies. Therefore, although megavoltage X-rays can be used to image highly attenuating objects that cannot be imaged at kilovoltage energies, the former does not provide the high image quality that is associated with the latter. A high contrast and spatial resolution detector for high-energy X-ray fields called the kinestatic charge detector (KCD) is presented here. The KCD is a tri-electrode ion-chamber based on highly pressurized noble gas. The KCD operates in conjunction with a strip-collimated X-ray beam (for high scatter rejection) to scan across the imaging field. Its thick detector design and unique operating principle provides enhanced charge signal integration for high quality imaging (quantum efficiency ˜50%) despite the unfavorable implications of high-energy X-ray interactions on image quality. The proposed design for a large-field prototype KCD includes a cylindrical pressure chamber along with 576 signal-collecting electrodes capable of resolving at 2 mm -1. The collecting electrodes are routed out of the chamber through the flat end-cap, thereby optimizing the mechanical strength of the chamber. This article highlights the simplified design of the chamber using minimal components for simple assembly. In addition, fundamental imaging measurements and estimates of ion recombination that were performed on a proof-of-principle test chamber are presented. The imaging performance of the prototype KCD was found to be an order-of-magnitude greater than commercial phosphor screen based flat-panel systems, demonstrating the potential for high-quality megavoltage imaging for a variety of industrial applications.

Development of prototype induced-fission-based Pu accountancy instrument for safeguards applications.

PubMed

Seo, Hee; Lee, Seung Kyu; An, Su Jung; Park, Se-Hwan; Ku, Jeong-Hoe; Menlove, Howard O; Rael, Carlos D; LaFleur, Adrienne M; Browne, Michael C

2016-09-01

Prototype safeguards instrument for nuclear material accountancy (NMA) of uranium/transuranic (U/TRU) products that could be produced in a future advanced PWR fuel processing facility has been developed and characterized. This is a new, hybrid neutron measurement system based on fast neutron energy multiplication (FNEM) and passive neutron albedo reactivity (PNAR) methods. The FNEM method is sensitive to the induced fission rate by fast neutrons, while the PNAR method is sensitive to the induced fission rate by thermal neutrons in the sample to be measured. The induced fission rate is proportional to the total amount of fissile material, especially plutonium (Pu), in the U/TRU product; hence, the Pu amount can be calibrated as a function of the induced fission rate, which can be measured using either the FNEM or PNAR method. In the present study, the prototype system was built using six (3)He tubes, and its performance was evaluated for various detector parameters including high-voltage (HV) plateau, efficiency profiles, dead time, and stability. The system's capability to measure the difference in the average neutron energy for the FNEM signature also was evaluated, using AmLi, PuBe, (252)Cf, as well as four Pu-oxide sources each with a different impurity (Al, F, Mg, and B) and producing (α,n) neutrons with different average energies. Future work will measure the hybrid signature (i.e., FNEM×PNAR) for a Pu source with an external interrogating neutron source after enlarging the cavity size of the prototype system to accommodate a large-size Pu source (~600g Pu). Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Energy reconstruction of hadrons in highly granular combined ECAL and HCAL systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Israeli, Y.

2018-05-01

This paper discusses the hadronic energy reconstruction of two combined electromagnetic and hadronic calorimeter systems using physics prototypes of the CALICE collaboration: the silicon-tungsten electromagnetic calorimeter (Si-W ECAL) and the scintillator-SiPM based analog hadron calorimeter (AHCAL); and the scintillator-tungsten electromagnetic calorimeter (ScECAL) and the AHCAL. These systems were operated in hadron beams at CERN and FNAL, permitting the study of the performance in combined ECAL and HCAL systems. Two techniques for the energy reconstruction are used, a standard reconstruction based on calibrated sub-detector energy sums, and one based on a software compensation algorithm making use of the local energy density information provided by the high granularity of the detectors. The software compensation-based algorithm improves the hadronic energy resolution by up to 30% compared to the standard reconstruction. The combined system data show comparable energy resolutions to the one achieved for data with showers starting only in the AHCAL and therefore demonstrate the success of the inter-calibration of the different sub-systems, despite of their different geometries and different readout technologies.

Si:Bi switched photoconducttor infrared detector array

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eakin, C. E.

1983-01-01

A multiplexed infrared detector array is described. The small demonstration prototype consisted of two cryogenically cooled, bismuth doped silicon, extrinsic photoconductor pixels multiplexed onto a single output channel using an on focal plane switch integration sampling technique. Noise levels of the order of 400 to 600 rms electrons per sample were demonstrated for this chip and wire hybrid version.

Test of prototype ITER vacuum ultraviolet spectrometer and its application to impurity study in KSTAR plasmas.

PubMed

Seon, C R; Hong, J H; Jang, J; Lee, S H; Choe, W; Lee, H H; Cheon, M S; Pak, S; Lee, H G; Biel, W; Barnsley, R

2014-11-01

To optimize the design of ITER vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) spectrometer, a prototype VUV spectrometer was developed. The sensitivity calibration curve of the spectrometer was calculated from the mirror reflectivity, the grating efficiency, and the detector efficiency. The calibration curve was consistent with the calibration points derived in the experiment using the calibrated hollow cathode lamp. For the application of the prototype ITER VUV spectrometer, the prototype spectrometer was installed at KSTAR, and various impurity emission lines could be measured. By analyzing about 100 shots, strong positive correlation between the O VI and the C IV emission intensities could be found.

Performance of a large size triple GEM detector at high particle rate for the CBM Experiment at FAIR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adak, Rama Prasad; Kumar, Ajit; Dubey, Anand Kumar; Chattopadhyay, Subhasis; Das, Supriya; Raha, Sibaji; Samanta, Subhasis; Saini, Jogender

2017-02-01

In CBM Experiment at FAIR, dimuons will be detected by a Muon Chamber (MUCH) consisting of segmented absorbers of varying widths and tracking chambers sandwiched between the absorber-pairs. In this fixed target heavy-ion collision experiment, operating at highest interaction rate of 10 MHz for Au+Au collision, the inner region of the 1st detector will face a particle rate of 1 MHz/cm2. To operate at such a high particle density, GEM technology based detectors have been selected for the first two stations of MUCH. We have reported earlier the performance of several small-size GEM detector prototypes built at VECC for use in MUCH. In this work, we report on a large GEM prototype tested with proton beam of momentum 2.36 GeV/c at COSY-Jülich Germany. The detector was read out using nXYTER operated in self-triggering mode. An efficiency higher than 96% at ΔVGEM = 375.2 V was achieved. The variation of efficiency with the rate of incoming protons has been found to vary within 2% when tested up to a maximum rate of 2.8 MHz/cm2. The gain was found to be stable at high particle rate with a maximum variation of ∼9%.

The MiniPET: a didactic PET system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pedro, R.; Silva, J.; Gurriana, L.; Silva, J. M.; Maio, A.; Soares Augusto, J.

2013-03-01

The MiniPET project aims to design and build a small PET system. It consists of two 4 × 4 matrices of 16 LYSO scintillator crystals and two PMTs with 16 channels resulting in a low cost system with the essential functionality of a clinical PET instrument. It is designed to illustrate the physics of the PET technique and to provide a didactic platform for the training of students and nuclear imaging professionals as well as for scientific outreach. The PET modules can be configured to test for the coincidence of 511 keV gamma rays. The model has a flexible mechanical setup [1] and can simulate 14 diferent ring geometries, from a configuration with as few as 18 detectors per ring (ring radius phi=51 mm), up to a geometry with 70 detectors per ring (phi=200 mm). A second version of the electronic system [2] allowed measurement and recording of the energy deposited in 4 detector channels by photons from a 137Cs radioactive source and by photons resulting of the annihilation of positrons from a 22Na radioactive source. These energy spectra are used for detector performance studies, as well as angular dependency studies. In this paper, the mechanical setup, the front-end high-speed analog electronics, the digital acquisition and control electronics implemented in a FPGA, as well as the data-transfer interface between the FPGA board and a host PC are described. Recent preliminary results obtained with the 4 active channels in the prototype are also presented.

Fire protection for launch facilities using machine vision fire detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schwartz, Douglas B.

1993-02-01

Fire protection of critical space assets, including launch and fueling facilities and manned flight hardware, demands automatic sensors for continuous monitoring, and in certain high-threat areas, fast-reacting automatic suppression systems. Perhaps the most essential characteristic for these fire detection and suppression systems is high reliability; in other words, fire detectors should alarm only on actual fires and not be falsely activated by extraneous sources. Existing types of fire detectors have been greatly improved in the past decade; however, fundamental limitations of their method of operation leaves open a significant possibility of false alarms and restricts their usefulness. At the Civil Engineering Laboratory at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, a new type of fire detector is under development which 'sees' a fire visually, like a human being, and makes a reliable decision based on known visual characteristics of flames. Hardware prototypes of the Machine Vision (MV) Fire Detection System have undergone live fire tests and demonstrated extremely high accuracy in discriminating actual fires from false alarm sources. In fact, this technology promises to virtually eliminate false activations. This detector could be used to monitor fueling facilities, launch towers, clean rooms, and other high-value and high-risk areas. Applications can extend to space station and in-flight shuttle operations as well; fiber optics and remote camera heads enable the system to see around obstructed areas and crew compartments. The capability of the technology to distinguish fires means that fire detection can be provided even during maintenance operations, such as welding.

Towards a disposable in vivo miniature implantable fluorescence detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bellis, Stephen; Jackson, J. Carlton; Mathewson, Alan

2006-02-01

In the field of fluorescent microscopy, neuronal activity, diabetes and drug treatment are a few of the wide ranging biomedical applications that can be monitored with the use of dye markers. Historically, in-vivo fluorescent detectors consist of implantable probes coupled by optical fibre to sophisticated bench-top instrumentation. These systems typically use laser light to excite the fluorescent marker dies and using sensors, such as the photo-multiplier tube (PMT) or charge coupled devices (CCD), detect the fluorescent light that is filtered from the total excitation. Such systems are large and expensive. In this paper we highlight the first steps toward a fully implantable in-vivo fluorescence detection system. The aim is to make the detector system small, low cost and disposable. The current prototype is a hybrid platform consisting of a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) to provide the excitation and a filtered solid state Geiger mode avalanche photo-diode (APD) to detect the emitted fluorescence. Fluorescence detection requires measurement of extremely low levels of light so the proposed APD detectors combine the ability to count individual photons with the added advantage of being small in size. At present the exciter and sensor are mounted on a hybrid PCB inside a 3mm diameter glass tube.This is wired to external electronics, which provide quenching, photon counting and a PC interface. In this configuration, the set-up can be used for in-vitro experimentation and in-vivo analysis conducted on animals such as mice.

Fire protection for launch facilities using machine vision fire detection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schwartz, Douglas B.

1993-01-01

Fire protection of critical space assets, including launch and fueling facilities and manned flight hardware, demands automatic sensors for continuous monitoring, and in certain high-threat areas, fast-reacting automatic suppression systems. Perhaps the most essential characteristic for these fire detection and suppression systems is high reliability; in other words, fire detectors should alarm only on actual fires and not be falsely activated by extraneous sources. Existing types of fire detectors have been greatly improved in the past decade; however, fundamental limitations of their method of operation leaves open a significant possibility of false alarms and restricts their usefulness. At the Civil Engineering Laboratory at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, a new type of fire detector is under development which 'sees' a fire visually, like a human being, and makes a reliable decision based on known visual characteristics of flames. Hardware prototypes of the Machine Vision (MV) Fire Detection System have undergone live fire tests and demonstrated extremely high accuracy in discriminating actual fires from false alarm sources. In fact, this technology promises to virtually eliminate false activations. This detector could be used to monitor fueling facilities, launch towers, clean rooms, and other high-value and high-risk areas. Applications can extend to space station and in-flight shuttle operations as well; fiber optics and remote camera heads enable the system to see around obstructed areas and crew compartments. The capability of the technology to distinguish fires means that fire detection can be provided even during maintenance operations, such as welding.

Reproducibility and calibration of MMC-based high-resolution gamma detectors

DOE PAGES

Bates, C. R.; Pies, C.; Kempf, S.; ...

2016-07-15

Here, we describe a prototype γ-ray detector based on a metallic magnetic calorimeter with an energy resolution of 46 eV at 60 keV and a reproducible response function that follows a simple second-order polynomial. The simple detector calibration allows adding high-resolution spectra from different pixels and different cool-downs without loss in energy resolution to determine γ-ray centroids with high accuracy. As an example of an application in nuclear safeguards enabled by such a γ-ray detector, we discuss the non-destructive assay of 242Pu in a mixed-isotope Pu sample.

A compact muon tracking system for didactic and outreach activities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Antolini, R.; Candela, A.; Conicella, V.; De Deo, M.; D` Incecco, M.; Sablone, D.; Arneodo, F.; Benabderrahmane, M. L.; Di Giovanni, A.; Pazos Clemens, L.; Franchi, G.; d`Inzeo, M.

2016-07-01

We present a cosmic ray telescope based on the use of plastic scintillator bars coupled to ASD-RGB1S-M Advansid Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPM) through wavelength shifter fibers. The system is comprised of 200 electronic channels organized into 10 couples of orthogonal planes allowing the 3D reconstruction of crossing muons. Two monolithic PCB boards have been designed to bias, readout all the SiPMs enclosed in the system, to monitor the working parameters and to remotely connect the detector. To make easier the display of muon tracks to non-expert users, two LED matrices, triggered by particle interactions, have been implemented. To improve the usability of the muon telescope, a controller board unit permits to select different levels of trigger and allows data acquisition for refined analyses for the more proficient user. A first prototype, funded by INFN and deployed in collaboration with NYUAD, is operating at the Toledo Metro station of Naples, while two further detectors will be developed and installed in Abu Dhabi in the next few months.

Micro Cantilever Movement Detection with an Amorphous Silicon Array of Position Sensitive Detectors

PubMed Central

Contreras, Javier; Costa, Daniel; Pereira, Sonia; Fortunato, Elvira; Martins, Rodrigo; Wierzbicki, Rafal; Heerlein, Holger; Ferreira, Isabel

2010-01-01

The movement of a micro cantilever was detected via a self constructed portable data acquisition prototype system which integrates a linear array of 32 1D amorphous silicon position sensitive detectors (PSD). The system was mounted on a microscope using a metal structure platform and the movement of the 30 μm wide by 400 μm long cantilever was tracked by analyzing the signals acquired by the 32 sensor array electronic readout system and the relevant data algorithm. The obtained results show a linear behavior of the photocurrent relating X and Y movement, with a non-linearity of about 3%, a spatial resolution of less than 2 μm along the lateral dimension of the sensor as well as of less than 3 μm along the perpendicular dimension of the sensor, when detecting just the micro-cantilever, and a spatial resolution of less than 1 μm when detecting the holding structure. PMID:22163648

Multi-anode microchannel arrays. [for use in ground-based and spaceborne telescopes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Timothy, J. G.; Mount, G. H.; Bybee, R. L.

1979-01-01

The Multi-Anode Microchannel Arrays (MAMA's) are a family of photoelectric, photon-counting array detectors being developed for use in instruments on both ground-based and space-borne telescopes. These detectors combine high sensitivity and photometric stability with a high-resolution imaging capability. MAMA detectors can be operated in a windowless configuration at extreme-ultraviolet and soft X-ray wavelengths or in a sealed configuration at ultraviolet and visible wavelengths. Prototype MAMA detectors with up to 512 x 512 pixels are now being tested in the laboratory and telescope operation of a simple (10 x 10)-pixel visible-light detector has been initiated. The construction and modes-of-operation of the MAMA detectors are briefly described and performance data are presented.

Small Pixel Hybrid CMOS X-ray Detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hull, Samuel; Bray, Evan; Burrows, David N.; Chattopadhyay, Tanmoy; Falcone, Abraham; Kern, Matthew; McQuaide, Maria; Wages, Mitchell

2018-01-01

Concepts for future space-based X-ray observatories call for a large effective area and high angular resolution instrument to enable precision X-ray astronomy at high redshift and low luminosity. Hybrid CMOS detectors are well suited for such high throughput instruments, and the Penn State X-ray detector lab, in collaboration with Teledyne Imaging Sensors, has recently developed new small pixel hybrid CMOS X-ray detectors. These prototype 128x128 pixel devices have 12.5 micron pixel pitch, 200 micron fully depleted depth, and include crosstalk eliminating CTIA amplifiers and in-pixel correlated double sampling (CDS) capability. We report on characteristics of these new detectors, including the best read noise ever measured for an X-ray hybrid CMOS detector, 5.67 e- (RMS).

Imaging performance of an amorphous selenium digital mammography detector in a breast tomosynthesis system

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhao Bo; Zhao Wei

2008-05-15

In breast tomosynthesis a rapid sequence of N images is acquired when the x-ray tube sweeps through different angular views with respect to the breast. Since the total dose to the breast is kept the same as that in regular mammography, the exposure used for each image of tomosynthesis is 1/N. The low dose and high frame rate pose a tremendous challenge to the imaging performance of digital mammography detectors. The purpose of the present work is to investigate the detector performance in different operational modes designed for tomosynthesis acquisition, e.g., binning or full resolution readout, the range of viewmore » angles, and the number of views N. A prototype breast tomosynthesis system with a nominal angular range of {+-}25 deg. was used in our investigation. The system was equipped with an amorphous selenium (a-Se) full field digital mammography detector with pixel size of 85 {mu}m. The detector can be read out in full resolution or 2x1 binning (binning in the tube travel direction). The focal spot blur due to continuous tube travel was measured for different acquisition geometries, and it was found that pixel binning, instead of focal spot blur, dominates the detector modulation transfer function (MTF). The noise power spectrum (NPS) and detective quantum efficiency (DQE) of the detector were measured with the exposure range of 0.4-6 mR, which is relevant to the low dose used in tomosynthesis. It was found that DQE at 0.4 mR is only 20% less than that at highest exposure for both detector readout modes. The detector temporal performance was categorized as lag and ghosting, both of which were measured as a function of x-ray exposure. The first frame lags were 8% and 4%, respectively, for binning and full resolution mode. Ghosting is negligible and independent of the frame rate. The results showed that the detector performance is x-ray quantum noise limited at the low exposures used in each view of tomosynthesis, and the temporal performance at high frame rate (up to 2 frames per second) is adequate for tomosynthesis.« less

Development of a prototype chest digital tomosynthesis R/F system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, Sunghoon; Lee, Haenghwa; Lee, Donghoon; Choi, Seungyeon; Shin, Jungwook; Jang, Woojin; Seo, Chang-Woo; Kim, Hee-Joung

2017-03-01

Digital tomosynthesis has an advantage of low radiation dose compared to conventional computed tomography (CT) by utilizing small number of projections ( 80) acquired over a limited angular range. It can produce 3D volumetric data although they may have some artifacts due to incomplete sampling. Based upon these attractive merits, we developed a prototype digital tomosynthesis R/F system especially for the purpose of applications in chest imaging. Prototype chest digital tomosynthesis (CDT) R/F system contains an X-ray tube with high power R/F pulse generator, flat-panel detector, R/F table, electromechanical radiographic subsystems including precise motor controller, and a reconstruction server. For image reconstruction, users could select the reconstruction option between analytic and iterative methods. Reconstructed images of Catphan700 and LUNGMAN phantoms clearly and rapidly described the internal structures of the phantoms using graphics processing unit (GPU) programming. Contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) values of the CTP682 module was higher in images using the simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique (SART) than those using filtered backprojection (FBP) for all materials by factors of 2.60, 3.78, 5.50, 2.30, 3.70, and 2.52 for air, lung foam, low density polyethylene (LDPE), Delrin (acetal homopolymer resin), bone 50% (hydroxyapatite), and Teflon, respectively. Total elapsed times for producing 3D volume were 2.92 sec and 86.29 sec on average for FBP and SART (20 iterations), respectively. The times required for reconstruction were clinically feasible. Moreover, the total radiation dose from the system (5.68 mGy) could demonstrate a significant lowered radiation dose compared to conventional chest CT scan. Consequently, our prototype tomosynthesis R/F system represents an important advance in digital tomosynthesis applications.

Development of a prototype chest digital tomosynthesis (CDT) R/F system with fast image reconstruction using graphics processing unit (GPU) programming

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, Sunghoon; Lee, Seungwan; Lee, Haenghwa; Lee, Donghoon; Choi, Seungyeon; Shin, Jungwook; Seo, Chang-Woo; Kim, Hee-Joung

2017-03-01

Digital tomosynthesis offers the advantage of low radiation doses compared to conventional computed tomography (CT) by utilizing small numbers of projections ( 80) acquired over a limited angular range. It produces 3D volumetric data, although there are artifacts due to incomplete sampling. Based upon these characteristics, we developed a prototype digital tomosynthesis R/F system for applications in chest imaging. Our prototype chest digital tomosynthesis (CDT) R/F system contains an X-ray tube with high power R/F pulse generator, flat-panel detector, R/F table, electromechanical radiographic subsystems including a precise motor controller, and a reconstruction server. For image reconstruction, users select between analytic and iterative reconstruction methods. Our reconstructed images of Catphan700 and LUNGMAN phantoms clearly and rapidly described the internal structures of phantoms using graphics processing unit (GPU) programming. Contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) values of the CTP682 module of Catphan700 were higher in images using a simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique (SART) than in those using filtered back-projection (FBP) for all materials by factors of 2.60, 3.78, 5.50, 2.30, 3.70, and 2.52 for air, lung foam, low density polyethylene (LDPE), Delrin® (acetal homopolymer resin), bone 50% (hydroxyapatite), and Teflon, respectively. Total elapsed times for producing 3D volume were 2.92 s and 86.29 s on average for FBP and SART (20 iterations), respectively. The times required for reconstruction were clinically feasible. Moreover, the total radiation dose from our system (5.68 mGy) was lower than that of conventional chest CT scan. Consequently, our prototype tomosynthesis R/F system represents an important advance in digital tomosynthesis applications.

Lightweight autonomous chemical identification system (LACIS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lozos, George; Lin, Hai; Burch, Timothy

2012-06-01

Smiths Detection and Intelligent Optical Systems have developed prototypes for the Lightweight Autonomous Chemical Identification System (LACIS) for the US Department of Homeland Security. LACIS is to be a handheld detection system for Chemical Warfare Agents (CWAs) and Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TICs). LACIS is designed to have a low limit of detection and rapid response time for use by emergency responders and could allow determination of areas having dangerous concentration levels and if protective garments will be required. Procedures for protection of responders from hazardous materials incidents require the use of protective equipment until such time as the hazard can be assessed. Such accurate analysis can accelerate operations and increase effectiveness. LACIS is to be an improved point detector employing novel CBRNE detection modalities that includes a militaryproven ruggedized ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) with an array of electro-resistive sensors to extend the range of chemical threats detected in a single device. It uses a novel sensor data fusion and threat classification architecture to interpret the independent sensor responses and provide robust detection at low levels in complex backgrounds with minimal false alarms. The performance of LACIS prototypes have been characterized in independent third party laboratory tests at the Battelle Memorial Institute (BMI, Columbus, OH) and indoor and outdoor field tests at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS). LACIS prototypes will be entering operational assessment by key government emergency response groups to determine its capabilities versus requirements.

Measured and calculated K-fluorescence effects on the MTF of an amorphous-selenium based CCD x-ray detector.

PubMed

Hunter, David M; Belev, George; Kasap, Safa; Yaffe, Martin J

2012-02-01

Theoretical reasoning suggests that direct conversion digital x-ray detectors based upon photoconductive amorphous-selenium (a-Se) could attain very high values of the MTF (modulation transfer function) at spatial frequencies well beyond 20 cycles mm(-1). One of the fundamental factors affecting resolution loss, particularly at x-ray energies just above the K-edge of selenium (12.66 keV), is the K-fluorescence reabsorption mechanism, wherein energy can be deposited in the detector at locations laterally displaced from the initial x-ray interaction site. This paper compares measured MTF changes above and below the Se K-edge of a CCD based a-Se x-ray detector with theoretical expectations. A prototype 25 μm sampling pitch (Nyquist frequency = 20 cycles mm(-1), 200 μm thick a-Se layer based x-ray detector, utilizing a specialized CCD readout device (200 × 400 area array), was used to make edge images with monochromatic x-rays above and below the K-edge of Se. A vacuum double crystal monochromator, exposed to polychromatic x-rays from a synchrotron, formed the monochromatic x-ray source. The monochromaticity of the x-rays was 99% or better. The presampling MTF was determined using the slanted edge method. The theory modeling the MTF performance of the detector includes the basic x-ray interaction physics in the a-Se layer as well as effects related to the operation of the CCD and charge trapping at a blocking layer present at the CCD/a-Se interface. The MTF performance of the prototype a-Se CCD was reduced from the theoretical value prescribed by the basic Se x-ray interaction physics, principally by the presence of a blocking layer. Nevertheless, the K-fluorescence reduction in the MTF was observed, approximately as predicted by theory. For the CCD prototype detector, at five cycles mm(-1), there was a 14% reduction of the MTF, from a value of 0.7 below the K-edge of Se, to 0.6 just above the K-edge. The MTF of an a-Se x-ray detector has been measured using monochromatic x-rays above and below the K-edge of selenium. The MTF is poorer above the K-edge by an amount consistent with theoretical expectations.

First results of performance tests of the newly designed Vacuum Silicon Photo Multiplier Tube (VSiPMT).

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Asmundis, R.; Barbarino, G.; Barbato, F. C. T.; Campajola, L.; De Rosa, G.; Fiorillo, G.; Migliozzi, P.; Mollo, C. M.; Rossi, B.; Vivolo, D.

2014-04-01

We invented (2007) the VSiPMT, a novel, high-gain, photo detector device and we publically proposed this idea in an International Conference for the first time at the 11th Topical Seminar on Innovative Particle and Radiation Detectors (IPRD08) in Siena, triggering deep discussions on the feasibility of the device itself and on the convenience of such a solution. After several years spent in designing, evaluation, tests and eventually negotiations with some suppliers, we finally got a couple of prototypes of the Vacuum Silicon Photo Multiplier Tube (VSiPMT) made under our specifications by Hamamatsu. We present in this paper the most important results of characterization tests of the first prototypes of the VSiPMT.

Mobile system for in-situ imaging of cultural objects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zemlicka, J.; Jakubek, J.; Krejci, F.; Hradil, D.; Hradilova, J.; Mislerova, H.

2012-01-01

Non-invasive analytical techniques recently developed with the Timepix pixel detector have shown great potential for the inspection of objects of cultural heritage. We have developed new instrumentation and methodology for in-situ X-ray transmission radiography and X-ray fluorescence imaging and successfully tested and evaluated a mobile system for remote terrain tasks. The prototype portable imaging device comprises the radiation source tube and the spectral sensitive X-ray camera. Both components can be moreover mounted on independent motorized positioning systems allowing adaptation of irradiation geometry to the object shape. Both parts are placed onto a pair of universal portable holders (tripods). The detector is placed in a shielded box with exchangeable entrance window (beam filters and pinhole collimator). This adjustable setup allows performing in-situ measurements for both transmission and emission (XRF) radiography. The assembled system has been successfully tested in our laboratory with phantoms and real samples. The obtained and evaluated results are presented in this paper. Future work will include successive adaptation of the current system for real in-situ utilization and preparation of software allowing semi-automatic remote control of measurements.

CO2 evaporative cooling: The future for tracking detector thermal management

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tropea, P.; Daguin, J.; Petagna, P.; Postema, H.; Verlaat, B.; Zwalinski, L.

2016-07-01

In the last few years, CO2 evaporative cooling has been one of the favourite technologies chosen for the thermal management of tracking detectors at LHC. ATLAS Insertable B-Layer and CMS Pixel phase 1 upgrade have adopted it and their systems are now operational or under commissioning. The CERN PH-DT team is now merging the lessons learnt on these two systems in order to prepare the design and construction of the cooling systems for the new Upstream Tracker and the Velo upgrade in LHCb, due by 2018. Meanwhile, the preliminary design of the ATLAS and CMS full tracker upgrades is started, and both concepts heavily rely on CO2 evaporative cooling. This paper highlights the performances of the systems now in operation and the challenges to overcome in order to scale them up to the requirements of the future generations of trackers. In particular, it focuses on the conceptual design of a new cooling system suited for the large phase 2 upgrade programmes, which will be validated with the construction of a common prototype in the next years.

Test of the CLAS12 RICH large-scale prototype in the direct proximity focusing configuration

DOE PAGES

Anefalos Pereira, S.; Baltzell, N.; Barion, L.; ...

2016-02-11

A large area ring-imaging Cherenkov detector has been designed to provide clean hadron identification capability in the momentum range from 3 GeV/c up to 8 GeV/c for the CLAS12 experiments at the upgraded 12 GeV continuous electron beam accelerator facility of Jefferson Laboratory. The adopted solution foresees a novel hybrid optics design based on aerogel radiator, composite mirrors and high-packed and high-segmented photon detectors. Cherenkov light will either be imaged directly (forward tracks) or after two mirror reflections (large angle tracks). We report here the results of the tests of a large scale prototype of the RICH detector performed withmore » the hadron beam of the CERN T9 experimental hall for the direct detection configuration. As a result, the tests demonstrated that the proposed design provides the required pion-to-kaon rejection factor of 1:500 in the whole momentum range.« less

Precision Timing with shower maximum detectors based on pixelated micro-channel plates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bornheim, A.; Apresyan, A.; Ronzhin, A.; Xie, S.; Spiropulu, M.; Trevor, J.; Pena, C.; Presutti, F.; Los, S.

2017-11-01

Future calorimeters and shower maximum detectors at high luminosity colliders need to be highly radiation resistant and very fast. One exciting option for such a detector is a calorimeter composed of a secondary emitter as the active element. In this report we outline the study and development of a secondary emission calorimeter prototype using micro-channel plates (MCP) as the active element, which directly amplify the electromagnetic shower signal. We demonstrate the feasibility of using a bare MCP within an inexpensive and robust housing without the need for any photo cathode, which is a key requirement for high radiation tolerance. Test beam measurements of the prototype were performed with 120 GeV primary protons and secondary beams at the Fermilab Test Beam Facility, demonstrating basic calorimetric measurements and precision timing capabilities. Using multiple pixel readout on the MCP, we demonstrate a transverse spatial resolution of 0.8 mm, and time resolution better than 40 ps for electromagnetic showers.

The NEW detector: construction, commissioning and first results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nebot-Guinot, M.; NEXT Collaboration

2017-09-01

NEXT (Neutrino Experiment with a Xenon TPC) is a neutrinoless double-beta (ββ0ν) decay experiment at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory (LSC). It seeks to detect the ββ0ν decay of Xe-136 using a high pressure xenon gas TPC with electroluminescent (EL) amplification. The NEXT-White (NEW) detector, with an active xenon mass of about 10 kg at 15 bar, is the first NEXT prototype installed at LSC. It implements the NEXT detector concept tested in smaller prototypes using the same radiopure sensors and materials that will be used in the future NEXT-100, serving as a benchmark for technical solutions as well as for the signal selection and background rejection algorithms. NEW is currently under commissioning at the LSC. In this poster proceedings we describe the technical solutions adopted for NEW construction, the lessons learned from the commissioning phase, and the first results on energy calibration and energy resolution obtained with low-energy radioactive source data.

Precision Timing with shower maximum detectors based on pixelated micro-channel plates

DOE PAGES

Bornheim, A.; Apresyan, A.; Ronzhin, A.; ...

2017-11-27

Future calorimeters and shower maximum detectors at high luminosity colliders need to be highly radiation resistant and very fast. One exciting option for such a detector is a calorimeter composed of a secondary emitter as the active element. Here, we outline the study and development of a secondary emission calorimeter prototype using micro-channel plates (MCP) as the active element, which directly amplify the electromagnetic shower signal. We also demonstrate the feasibility of using a bare MCP within an inexpensive and robust housing without the need for any photo cathode, which is a key requirement for high radiation tolerance. Test beammore » measurements of the prototype were performed with 120 GeV primary protons and secondary beams at the Fermilab Test Beam Facility, demonstrating basic calorimetric measurements and precision timing capabilities. Using multiple pixel readout on the MCP, we demonstrate a transverse spatial resolution of 0.8 mm, and time resolution better than 40 ps for electromagnetic showers.« less

Fast-Neutron Survey With Compact Plastic Scintillation Detectors.

PubMed

Preston, Rhys M; Tickner, James R

2017-07-01

With the rise of the Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM), it is now practical to build compact scintillation detectors well suited to portable use. A prototype survey meter for fast-neutrons and gamma-rays, based around an EJ-299-34 plastic scintillator with SiPM readout, has been developed and tested. A custom digital pulse processor was used to perform pulse shape discrimination on-the-fly. Ambient dose equivalent H*(10) was calculated by means of two energy-dependent 'G-functions'. The sensitivity was calculated to be between 0.10 and 0.22 cps/(µSv/hr) for fast-neutrons with energies above 2.5 MeV. The prototype was used to survey various laboratory radiation fields, with the readings compared with commercial survey meters. The high sensitivity and lightweight nature of this detector makes it promising for rapid survey of the mixed neutron/gamma-ray fields encountered in industry and homeland security. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Furuta, H.; Imura, A.; Furuta, Y.

Recently, technique of Gadolinium loaded liquid scintillator (Gd-LS) for reactor neutrino oscillation experiments has attracted attention as a monitor of reactor operation and 'nuclear Gain (GA)' for IAEA safeguards. For the practical use, R and D of the 1 ton class compact detector, which is measurable above ground, is necessary. Especially, it is important to reduce much amount of fast neutron background induced by cosmic muons with data analysis for the measurement above ground. We developed a prototype of the Gd-LS detector with 200 L of the target volume, which has Pulse Shape Discrimination (PSD) ability for the fast neutronmore » reduction with data analysis. Usually, it is well known that it is difficult to keep high fast neutron reduction power of PSD with the large volume size such as the neutrino reactor monitor. We evaluated the PSD ability of our prototype with real fast neutrons induced by the muons in our laboratory above ground, and we could confirm to keep the high fast neutron reduction power with even our large detector size. (authors)« less

Open ISEmeter: An open hardware high-impedance interface for potentiometric detection

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Salvador, C.; Carbajo, J.; Mozo, J. D., E-mail: jdaniel.mozo@diq.uhu.es

In this work, a new open hardware interface based on Arduino to read electromotive force (emf) from potentiometric detectors is presented. The interface has been fully designed with the open code philosophy and all documentation will be accessible on web. The paper describes a comprehensive project including the electronic design, the firmware loaded on Arduino, and the Java-coded graphical user interface to load data in a computer (PC or Mac) for processing. The prototype was tested by measuring the calibration curve of a detector. As detection element, an active poly(vinyl chloride)-based membrane was used, doped with cetyltrimethylammonium dodecylsulphate (CTA{sup +}-DS{supmore » −}). The experimental measures of emf indicate Nernstian behaviour with the CTA{sup +} content of test solutions, as it was described in the literature, proving the validity of the developed prototype. A comparative analysis of performance was made by using the same chemical detector but changing the measurement instrumentation.« less

Precision Timing with shower maximum detectors based on pixelated micro-channel plates

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bornheim, A.; Apresyan, A.; Ronzhin, A.

Future calorimeters and shower maximum detectors at high luminosity colliders need to be highly radiation resistant and very fast. One exciting option for such a detector is a calorimeter composed of a secondary emitter as the active element. Here, we outline the study and development of a secondary emission calorimeter prototype using micro-channel plates (MCP) as the active element, which directly amplify the electromagnetic shower signal. We also demonstrate the feasibility of using a bare MCP within an inexpensive and robust housing without the need for any photo cathode, which is a key requirement for high radiation tolerance. Test beammore » measurements of the prototype were performed with 120 GeV primary protons and secondary beams at the Fermilab Test Beam Facility, demonstrating basic calorimetric measurements and precision timing capabilities. Using multiple pixel readout on the MCP, we demonstrate a transverse spatial resolution of 0.8 mm, and time resolution better than 40 ps for electromagnetic showers.« less

Inertial confinement fusion quarterly report, October--December 1992. Volume 3, No. 1

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dixit, S.N.

1992-12-31

This report contains papers on the following topics: The Beamlet Front End: Prototype of a new pulse generation system;imaging biological objects with x-ray lasers; coherent XUV generation via high-order harmonic generation in rare gases; theory of high-order harmonic generation; two-dimensional computer simulations of ultra- intense, short-pulse laser-plasma interactions; neutron detectors for measuring the fusion burn history of ICF targets; the recirculator; and lasnex evolves to exploit computer industry advances.

Data Acquisition System for Silicon Ultra Fast Cameras for Electron and Gamma Sources in Medical Applications (sucima Imager)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Czermak, A.; Zalewska, A.; Dulny, B.; Sowicki, B.; Jastrząb, M.; Nowak, L.

2004-07-01

The needs for real time monitoring of the hadrontherapy beam intensity and profile as well as requirements for the fast dosimetry using Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors (MAPS) forced the SUCIMA collaboration to the design of the unique Data Acquisition System (DAQ SUCIMA Imager). The DAQ system has been developed on one of the most advanced XILINX Field Programmable Gate Array chip - VERTEX II. The dedicated multifunctional electronic board for the detector's analogue signals capture, their parallel digital processing and final data compression as well as transmission through the high speed USB 2.0 port has been prototyped and tested.

SU-E-T-571: Newly Emerging Integrated Transmission Detector Systems Provide Online Quality Assurance of External Beam Radiation Therapy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hoffman, D; Chung, E; Hess, C

2015-06-15

Purpose: Two newly emerging transmission detectors positioned upstream from the patient have been evaluated for online quality assurance of external beam radiotherapy. The prototype for the Integral Quality Monitor (IQM), developed by iRT Systems GmbH (Koblenz, Germany) is a large-area ion chamber mounted on the linac accessory tray to monitor photon fluence, energy, beam shape, and gantry position during treatment. The ion chamber utilizes a thickness gradient which records variable response dependent on beam position. The prototype of Delta4 Discover™, developed by ScandiDos (Uppsala, Sweden) is a linac accessory tray mounted 4040 diode array that measures photon fluence during patientmore » treatment. Both systems are employable for patient specific QA prior to treatment delivery. Methods: Our institution evaluated the reproducibility of measurements using various beam types, including VMAT treatment plans with both the IQM ion chamber and the Delta4 Discover diode array. Additionally, the IQM’s effect on photon fluence, dose response, simulated beam error detection, and the accuracy of the integrated barometer, thermometer, and inclinometer were characterized. The evaluated photon beam errors are based on the annual tolerances specified in AAPM TG-142. Results: Repeated VMAT treatments were measured with 0.16% reproducibility by the IQM and 0.55% reproducibility by the Delta4 Discover. The IQM attenuated 6, 10, and 15 MV photon beams by 5.43±0.02%, 4.60±0.02%, and 4.21±0.03% respectively. Photon beam profiles were affected <1.5% in the non-penumbra regions. The IQM’s ion chamber’s dose response was linear and the thermometer, barometer, and inclinometer agreed with other calibrated devices. The device detected variations in monitor units delivered (1%), field position (3mm), single MLC leaf positions (13mm), and photon energy. Conclusion: We have characterized two new transmissions detector systems designed to provide in-vivo like measurements upstream from the patient. Both systems demonstrate substantial utility for online treatment verification and QA of photon external beam radiotherapy.« less

The High Energy Detector of Simbol-X

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meuris, A.; Limousin, O.; Lugiez, F.; Gevin, O.; Blondel, C.; Le Mer, I.; Pinsard, F.; Cara, C.; Goetschy, A.; Martignac, J.; Tauzin, G.; Hervé, S.; Laurent, P.; Chipaux, R.; Rio, Y.; Fontignie, J.; Horeau, B.; Authier, M.; Ferrando, P.

2009-05-01

The High Energy Detector (HED) is one of the three detection units on board the Simbol-X detector spacecraft. It is placed below the Low Energy Detector so as to collect focused photons in the energy range from 8 to 80 keV. It consists of a mosaic of 64 independent cameras, divided in 8 sectors. Each elementary detection unit, called Caliste, is the hybridization of a 256-pixel Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) detector with full custom front-end electronics into a unique component. The status of the HED design will be reported. The promising results obtained from the first micro-camera prototypes called Caliste 64 and Caliste 256 will be presented to illustrate the expected performance of the instrument.

A generic readout system for astrophysical detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doumayrou, E.; Lortholary, M.

2012-09-01

We have developed a generic digital platform to fulfill the needs for the development of new detectors in astrophysics, which is used in lab, for ground-based telescopes instruments and also in prototype versions for space instruments development. This system is based on hardware FPGA electronic board (called MISE) together with software on a PC computer (called BEAR). The MISE board generates the fast clocking which reads the detectors thanks to a programmable digital sequencer and performs data acquisition, buffering of digitalized pixels outputs and interfaces with others boards. The data are then sent to the PC via a SpaceWire or Usb link. The BEAR software sets the MISE board up, makes data acquisition and enables the visualization, processing and the storage of data in line. These software tools are made of C++ and Labview (NI) on a Linux OS. MISE and BEAR make a generic acquisition architecture, on which dedicated analog boards are plugged, so that to accommodate with detectors specificity: number of pixels, the readout channels and frequency, analog bias and clock interfaces. We have used this concept to build a camera for the P-ARTEMIS project including a 256 pixels sub-millimeter bolometer detector at 10Kpixel/s (SPIE 7741-12 (2010)). For the EUCLID project, a lab camera is now working for the test of CCDs 4Mpixels at 4*200Kpixel/s. Another is working for the testing of new near infrared detectors (NIR LFSA for the ESA TRP program) 110Kpixels at 2*100Kpixels/s. Other projects are in progress for the space missions PLATO and SPICA.

Modular detector for deep underwater registration of muons and muon groups

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Demianov, A. I.; Sarycheva, L. I.; Sinyov, N. B.; Varadanyan, I. N.; Yershov, A. A.

1985-01-01

Registration and identification of muons and muon groups penetrating into the ocean depth, can be performed using a modular multilayer detector with high resolution bidimensional readout - deep underwater calorimeter (project NADIR). Laboratory testing of a prototype sensor cell with liquid scintillator in light-tight casing, testifies to the practicability of the full-scale experiment within reasonable expences.

Studying the High Energy Gamma Ray Sky with Gamma Ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kamae, T.; Ohsugi, T.; Thompson, D. J.; Watanabe, K.

1998-01-01

Building on the success of the Energetic Gamma Ray Experiment Telescope (EGRET) on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, the Gamma Ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST) will make a major step in the study of such subjects as blazars, gamma Ray bursts, the search for dark matter, supernova remnants, pulsars, diffuse radiation, and unidentified high energy sources. The instrument will be built on new and mature detector technologies such as silicon strip detectors, low-power low-noise LSI, and a multilevel data acquisition system. GLAST is in the research and development phase, and one full tower (of 25 total) is now being built in collaborating institutes. The prototype tower will be tested thoroughly at Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) in the fall of 1999.

Alignment of the Pixel and SCT Modules for the 2004 ATLAS Combined Test Beam

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

ATLAS Collaboration; Ahmad, A.; Andreazza, A.

2008-06-02

A small set of final prototypes of the ATLAS Inner Detector silicon tracking system(Pixel Detector and SemiConductor Tracker), were used to take data during the 2004 Combined Test Beam. Data were collected from runs with beams of different flavour (electrons, pions, muons and photons) with a momentum range of 2 to 180 GeV/c. Four independent methods were used to align the silicon modules. The corrections obtained were validated using the known momenta of the beam particles and were shown to yield consistent results among the different alignment approaches. From the residual distributions, it is concluded that the precision attained inmore » the alignmentof the silicon modules is of the order of 5 mm in their most precise coordinate.« less

DarkSide search for dark matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alexander, T.; Alton, D.; Arisaka, K.; Back, H. O.; Beltrame, P.; Benziger, J.; Bonfini, G.; Brigatti, A.; Brodsky, J.; Bussino, S.; Cadonati, L.; Calaprice, F.; Candela, A.; Cao, H.; Cavalcante, P.; Chepurnov, A.; Chidzik, S.; Cocco, A. G.; Condon, C.; D'Angelo, D.; Davini, S.; De Vincenzi, M.; De Haas, E.; Derbin, A.; Di Pietro, G.; Dratchnev, I.; Durben, D.; Empl, A.; Etenko, A.; Fan, A.; Fiorillo, G.; Franco, D.; Fomenko, K.; Forster, G.; Gabriele, F.; Galbiati, C.; Gazzana, S.; Ghiano, C.; Goretti, A.; Grandi, L.; Gromov, M.; Guan, M.; Guo, C.; Guray, G.; Hungerford, E. V.; Ianni, Al; Ianni, An; Joliet, C.; Kayunov, A.; Keeter, K.; Kendziora, C.; Kidner, S.; Klemmer, R.; Kobychev, V.; Koh, G.; Komor, M.; Korablev, D.; Korga, G.; Li, P.; Loer, B.; Lombardi, P.; Love, C.; Ludhova, L.; Luitz, S.; Lukyanchenko, L.; Lund, A.; Lung, K.; Ma, Y.; Machulin, I.; Mari, S.; Maricic, J.; Martoff, C. J.; Meregaglia, A.; Meroni, E.; Meyers, P.; Mohayai, T.; Montanari, D.; Montuschi, M.; Monzani, M. E.; Mosteiro, P.; Mount, B.; Muratova, V.; Nelson, A.; Nemtzow, A.; Nurakhov, N.; Orsini, M.; Ortica, F.; Pallavicini, M.; Pantic, E.; Parmeggiano, S.; Parsells, R.; Pelliccia, N.; Perasso, L.; Perasso, S.; Perfetto, F.; Pinsky, L.; Pocar, A.; Pordes, S.; Randle, K.; Ranucci, G.; Razeto, A.; Romani, A.; Rossi, B.; Rossi, N.; Rountree, S. D.; Saggese, P.; Saldanha, R.; Salvo, C.; Sands, W.; Seigar, M.; Semenov, D.; Shields, E.; Skorokhvatov, M.; Smirnov, O.; Sotnikov, A.; Sukhotin, S.; Suvarov, Y.; Tartaglia, R.; Tatarowicz, J.; Testera, G.; Thompson, J.; Tonazzo, A.; Unzhakov, E.; Vogelaar, R. B.; Wang, H.; Westerdale, S.; Wojcik, M.; Wright, A.; Xu, J.; Yang, C.; Zavatarelli, S.; Zehfus, M.; Zhong, W.; Zuzel, G.

2013-11-01

The DarkSide staged program utilizes a two-phase time projection chamber (TPC) with liquid argon as the target material for the scattering of dark matter particles. Efficient background reduction is achieved using low radioactivity underground argon as well as several experimental handles such as pulse shape, ratio of ionization over scintillation signal, 3D event reconstruction, and active neutron and muon vetos. The DarkSide-10 prototype detector has proven high scintillation light yield, which is a particularly important parameter as it sets the energy threshold for the pulse shape discrimination technique. The DarkSide-50 detector system, currently in commissioning phase at the Gran Sasso Underground Laboratory, will reach a sensitivity to dark matter spin-independent scattering cross section of 10-45 cm2 within 3 years of operation.

Timing resolution studies of the optical part of the AFP Time-of-flight detector

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chytka, L.; Avoni, G.; Brandt, A.

We present results of the timing performance studies of the optical part and front-end electronics of the time-of-flight subdetector prototype for the ATLAS Forward Proton (AFP) detector obtained during the test campaigns at the CERN-SPS test-beam facility (120 GeV π + particles) in July 2016 and October 2016. The time-of-flight (ToF) detector in conjunction with a 3D silicon pixel tracker will tag and measure protons originating in central exclusive interactions p + p → p + X + p, where the two outgoing protons are scattered in the very forward directions. The ToF is required to reduce so-called pileup backgroundsmore » that arise from multiple proton interactions in the same bunch crossing at high luminosity. The background can fake the signal of interest, and the extra rejection from the ToF allows the proton tagger to operate at the high luminosity required for the measurement of the processes. The prototype detector uses fused silica bars emitting Cherenkov radiation as a relativistic particle passes through them. The emitted Cherenkov photons are detected by a multi-anode micro-channel plate photomultiplier tube (MCP-PMT) and processed by fast electronics.« less

Timing resolution studies of the optical part of the AFP Time-of-flight detector

DOE PAGES

Chytka, L.; Avoni, G.; Brandt, A.; ...

2018-04-02

We present results of the timing performance studies of the optical part and front-end electronics of the time-of-flight subdetector prototype for the ATLAS Forward Proton (AFP) detector obtained during the test campaigns at the CERN-SPS test-beam facility (120 GeV π + particles) in July 2016 and October 2016. The time-of-flight (ToF) detector in conjunction with a 3D silicon pixel tracker will tag and measure protons originating in central exclusive interactions p + p → p + X + p, where the two outgoing protons are scattered in the very forward directions. The ToF is required to reduce so-called pileup backgroundsmore » that arise from multiple proton interactions in the same bunch crossing at high luminosity. The background can fake the signal of interest, and the extra rejection from the ToF allows the proton tagger to operate at the high luminosity required for the measurement of the processes. The prototype detector uses fused silica bars emitting Cherenkov radiation as a relativistic particle passes through them. The emitted Cherenkov photons are detected by a multi-anode micro-channel plate photomultiplier tube (MCP-PMT) and processed by fast electronics.« less

Independent Testing of JWST Detector Prototypes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Figer, D. F.; Rauscher, B. J.; Regan, M. W.; Balleza, J.; Bergeron, L.; Morse, E.; Stockman, H. S.

2003-01-01

The Independent Detector Testing Laboratory (IDTL) is jointly operated by the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) and the Johns Hopkins University (MU), and is assisting the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) mission in choosing and operating the best near-infrared detectors under a NASA Grant. The JWST is the centerpiece of the NASA Office of Space Science theme, the Astronomical Search for Origins, and the highest priority astronomy project for the next decade, according to the National Academy of Science. JWST will need to have the sensitivity to see the first light in the Universe to determine how galaxies formed in the web of dark matter that existed when the Universe was in its infancy (z approx. 10 - 20). To achieve this goal, the JWST Project must pursue an aggressive technology program and advance infrared detectors to performance levels beyond what is now possible. As part of this program, NASA has selected the IDTL to verify comparative performance between prototype JWST detectors developed by Rockwell Scientific (HgCdTe) and Raytheon (InSb). The IDTL is charged with obtaining an independent assessment of the ability of these two competing technologies to achieve the demanding specifications of the JWST program within the 0.6 - 5 approx. mum bandpass and in an ultra-low background (less than 0.01 e'/s/pixel) environment. We describe results from the JWST Detector Characterization Project that is being performed in the IDTL. In this project, we are measuring first-order detector parameters, i.e. dark current, read noise, QE, intra-pixel sensitivity, linearity, as functions of temperature, well size, and operational mode.

Independent Testing of JWST Detector Prototypes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Figer, Donald F.; Rauscher, Bernie J.; Regan, Michael W.; Morse, Ernie; Balleza, Jesus; Bergeron, Louis; Stockman, H. S.

2004-01-01

The Independent Detector Testing Laboratory (IDTL) is jointly operated by the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) and the Johns Hopkins University (JHU), and is assisting the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) mission in choosing and operating the best near-infrared detectors. The JWST is the centerpiece of the NASA Office of Space Science theme, the Astronomical Search for Origins, and the highest priority astronomy project for the next decade, according to the National Academy of Science. JWST will need to have the sensitivity to see the first light in the Universe to determine how galaxies formed in the web of dark matter that existed when the Universe was in its infancy (z is approximately 10-20). To achieve this goal, the JWST Project must pursue an aggressive technology program and advance infrared detectors to performance levels beyond what is now possible. As part of this program, NASA has selected the IDTL to verify comparative performance between prototype JWST detectors developed by Rockwell Scientific (HgCdTe) and Raytheon (InSb). The IDTL is charged with obtaining an independent assessment of the ability of these two competing technologies to achieve the demanding specifications of the JWST program within the 0.6-5 micron bandpass and in an ultra-low background (less than 0.01 e(-)/s/pixel) environment. We describe results from the JWST Detector Characterization Project that is being performed in the LDTL. In this project, we are measuring first-order detector parameters, i.e. dark current, read noise, QE, intra-pixel sensitivity, linearity, as functions of temperature, well size, and operational mode.

A tetrahedron beam computed tomography benchtop system with a multiple pixel field emission x-ray tube

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Xu, Xiaochao; Kim, Joshua; Laganis, Philip

2011-10-15

Purpose: To demonstrate the feasibility of Tetrahedron Beam Computed Tomography (TBCT) using a carbon nanotube (CNT) multiple pixel field emission x-ray (MPFEX) tube. Methods: A multiple pixel x-ray source facilitates the creation of novel x-ray imaging modalities. In a previous publication, the authors proposed a Tetrahedron Beam Computed Tomography (TBCT) imaging system which comprises a linear source array and a linear detector array that are orthogonal to each other. TBCT is expected to reduce scatter compared with Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) and to have better detector performance. Therefore, it may produce improved image quality for image guided radiotherapy. Inmore » this study, a TBCT benchtop system has been developed with an MPFEX tube. The tube has 75 CNT cold cathodes, which generate 75 x-ray focal spots on an elongated anode, and has 4 mm pixel spacing. An in-house-developed, 5-row CT detector array using silicon photodiodes and CdWO{sub 4} scintillators was employed in the system. Hardware and software were developed for tube control and detector data acquisition. The raw data were preprocessed for beam hardening and detector response linearity and were reconstructed with an FDK-based image reconstruction algorithm. Results: The focal spots were measured at about 1 x 2 mm{sup 2} using a star phantom. Each cathode generates around 3 mA cathode current with 2190 V gate voltage. The benchtop system is able to perform TBCT scans with a prolonged scanning time. Images of a commercial CT phantom were successfully acquired. Conclusions: A prototype system was developed, and preliminary phantom images were successfully acquired. MPFEX is a promising x-ray source for TBCT. Further improvement of tube output is needed in order for it to be used in clinical TBCT systems.« less

Conceptual design and optimization of a plastic scintillator array for 2D tomography using a compact D-D fast neutron generator.

PubMed

Adams, Robert; Zboray, Robert; Cortesi, Marco; Prasser, Horst-Michael

2014-04-01

A conceptual design optimization of a fast neutron tomography system was performed. The system is based on a compact deuterium-deuterium fast neutron generator and an arc-shaped array of individual neutron detectors. The array functions as a position sensitive one-dimensional detector allowing tomographic reconstruction of a two-dimensional cross section of an object up to 10 cm across. Each individual detector is to be optically isolated and consists of a plastic scintillator and a Silicon Photomultiplier for measuring light produced by recoil protons. A deterministic geometry-based model and a series of Monte Carlo simulations were used to optimize the design geometry parameters affecting the reconstructed image resolution. From this, it is expected that with an array of 100 detectors a reconstructed image resolution of ~1.5mm can be obtained. Other simulations were performed in order to optimize the scintillator depth (length along the neutron path) such that the best ratio of direct to scattered neutron counts is achieved. This resulted in a depth of 6-8 cm and an expected detection efficiency of 33-37%. Based on current operational capabilities of a prototype neutron generator being developed at the Paul Scherrer Institute, planned implementation of this detector array design should allow reconstructed tomograms to be obtained with exposure times on the order of a few hours. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Software platform for simulation of a prototype proton CT scanner.

PubMed

Giacometti, Valentina; Bashkirov, Vladimir A; Piersimoni, Pierluigi; Guatelli, Susanna; Plautz, Tia E; Sadrozinski, Hartmut F-W; Johnson, Robert P; Zatserklyaniy, Andriy; Tessonnier, Thomas; Parodi, Katia; Rosenfeld, Anatoly B; Schulte, Reinhard W

2017-03-01

Proton computed tomography (pCT) is a promising imaging technique to substitute or at least complement x-ray CT for more accurate proton therapy treatment planning as it allows calculating directly proton relative stopping power from proton energy loss measurements. A proton CT scanner with a silicon-based particle tracking system and a five-stage scintillating energy detector has been completed. In parallel a modular software platform was developed to characterize the performance of the proposed pCT. The modular pCT software platform consists of (1) a Geant4-based simulation modeling the Loma Linda proton therapy beam line and the prototype proton CT scanner, (2) water equivalent path length (WEPL) calibration of the scintillating energy detector, and (3) image reconstruction algorithm for the reconstruction of the relative stopping power (RSP) of the scanned object. In this work, each component of the modular pCT software platform is described and validated with respect to experimental data and benchmarked against theoretical predictions. In particular, the RSP reconstruction was validated with both experimental scans, water column measurements, and theoretical calculations. The results show that the pCT software platform accurately reproduces the performance of the existing prototype pCT scanner with a RSP agreement between experimental and simulated values to better than 1.5%. The validated platform is a versatile tool for clinical proton CT performance and application studies in a virtual setting. The platform is flexible and can be modified to simulate not yet existing versions of pCT scanners and higher proton energies than those currently clinically available. © 2017 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

An AC modulated near infrared gain calibration system for a “Violin-Mode” transimpedance amplifier, intended for advanced LIGO suspensions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lockerbie, N. A.; Tokmakov, K. V.

The background to this work was a prototype shadow sensor, which was designed for retro-fitting to an advanced LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory) test-mass/mirror suspension, in which a 40 kg test-mass/mirror is suspended by four approximately 600 mm long by 0.4 mm diameter fused-silica suspension fibres. The shadow sensor comprised a LED source of Near InfraRed (NIR) radiation, and a “tall-thin” rectangular silicon photodiode detector, which together were to bracket the fibre under test. The photodiode was positioned so as to be sensitive (primarily) to transverse “Violin-Mode” vibrations of such a fibre, via the oscillatory movement of the shadowmore » cast by the fibre, as this moved across the face of the detector. In this prototype shadow sensing system the photodiode was interfaced to a purpose-built transimpedance amplifier, this having both AC and DC outputs. A quasi-static calibration was made of the sensor’s DC responsivity, i.e., incremental rate of change of output voltage versus fibre position, by slowly scanning a fused-silica fibre sample transversely through the illuminating beam. The work reported here concerns the determination of the sensor’s more important AC (Violin-Mode) responsivity. Recognition of the correspondence between direct AC modulation of the source, and actual Violin-Mode signals, and of the transformative role of the AC/DC gain ratio for the amplifier, at any modulation frequency, f, resulted in the construction of the AC/DC calibration source described here. A method for determining in practice the transimpedance AC/DC gain ratio of the photodiode and amplifier, using this source, is illustrated by a specific numerical example, and the gain ratio for the prototype sensing system is reported over the frequency range 1 Hz–300 kHz. In fact, a maximum DC responsivity of 1.26 kV.m{sup −1} was measured using the prototype photodiode sensor and amplifier discussed here. Therefore, the measured AC/DC transimpedance gain ratio of 922.5 for this sensor, at 500 Hz, translated into a maximum Violin-Mode (AC) responsivity of (1.16 ± 0.05) MV m{sup −1}, at that frequency.« less

Design considerations for a new, high resolution Micro-Angiographic Fluoroscope based on a CMOS sensor (MAF-CMOS).

PubMed

Loughran, Brendan; Swetadri Vasan, S N; Singh, Vivek; Ionita, Ciprian N; Jain, Amit; Bednarek, Daniel R; Titus, Albert; Rudin, Stephen

2013-03-06

The detectors that are used for endovascular image-guided interventions (EIGI), particularly for neurovascular interventions, do not provide clinicians with adequate visualization to ensure the best possible treatment outcomes. Developing an improved x-ray imaging detector requires the determination of estimated clinical x-ray entrance exposures to the detector. The range of exposures to the detector in clinical studies was found for the three modes of operation: fluoroscopic mode, high frame-rate digital angiographic mode (HD fluoroscopic mode), and DSA mode. Using these estimated detector exposure ranges and available CMOS detector technical specifications, design requirements were developed to pursue a quantum limited, high resolution, dynamic x-ray detector based on a CMOS sensor with 50 μm pixel size. For the proposed MAF-CMOS, the estimated charge collected within the full exposure range was found to be within the estimated full well capacity of the pixels. Expected instrumentation noise for the proposed detector was estimated to be 50-1,300 electrons. Adding a gain stage such as a light image intensifier would minimize the effect of the estimated instrumentation noise on total image noise but may not be necessary to ensure quantum limited detector operation at low exposure levels. A recursive temporal filter may decrease the effective total noise by 2 to 3 times, allowing for the improved signal to noise ratios at the lowest estimated exposures despite consequent loss in temporal resolution. This work can serve as a guide for further development of dynamic x-ray imaging prototypes or improvements for existing dynamic x-ray imaging systems.

Low-cost flexible thin-film detector for medical dosimetry applications.

PubMed

Zygmanski, P; Abkai, C; Han, Z; Shulevich, Y; Menichelli, D; Hesser, J

2014-03-06

The purpose of this study is to characterize dosimetric properties of thin film photovoltaic sensors as a platform for development of prototype dose verification equipment in radiotherapy. Towards this goal, flexible thin-film sensors of dose with embedded data acquisition electronics and wireless data transmission are prototyped and tested in kV and MV photon beams. Fundamental dosimetric properties are determined in view of a specific application to dose verification in multiple planes or curved surfaces inside a phantom. Uniqueness of the new thin-film sensors consists in their mechanical properties, low-power operation, and low-cost. They are thinner and more flexible than dosimetric films. In principle, each thin-film sensor can be fabricated in any size (mm² - cm² areas) and shape. Individual sensors can be put together in an array of sensors spreading over large areas and yet being light. Photovoltaic mode of charge collection (of electrons and holes) does not require external electric field applied to the sensor, and this implies simplicity of data acquisition electronics and low power operation. The prototype device used for testing consists of several thin film dose sensors, each of about 1.5 cm × 5 cm area, connected to simple readout electronics. Sensitivity of the sensors is determined per unit area and compared to EPID sensitivity, as well as other standard photodiodes. Each sensor independently measures dose and is based on commercially available flexible thin-film aSi photodiodes. Readout electronics consists of an ultra low-power microcontroller, radio frequency transmitter, and a low-noise amplification circuit implemented on a flexible printed circuit board. Detector output is digitized and transmitted wirelessly to an external host computer where it is integrated and processed. A megavoltage medical linear accelerator (Varian Tx) equipped with kilovoltage online imaging system and a Cobalt source are used to irradiate different thin-film detector sensors in a Solid Water phantom under various irradiation conditions. Different factors are considered in characterization of the device attributes: energies (80 kVp, 130 kVp, 6 MV, 15 MV), dose rates (different ms × mA, 100-600 MU/min), total doses (0.1 cGy-500 cGy), depths (0.5 cm-20 cm), irradiation angles with respect to the detector surface (0°-180°), and IMRT tests (closed MLC, sweeping gap). The detector response to MV radiation is both linear with total dose (~1-400 cGy) and independent of dose rate (100-600 Mu/min). The sensitivity per unit area of thin-film sensors is lower than for aSi flat-panel detectors, but sufficient to acquire stable and accurate signals during irradiations. The proposed thin-film photodiode system has properties which make it promising for clinical dosimetry. Due to the mechanical flexibility of each sensor and readout electronics, low-cost, and wireless data acquisition, it could be considered for quality assurance (e.g., IMRT, mechanical linac QA), as well as real-time dose monitoring in challenging setup configurations, including large area and 3D detection (multiple planes or curved surfaces).

Low‐cost flexible thin‐film detector for medical dosimetry applications

PubMed Central

Abkai, C.; Han, Z.; Shulevich, Y.; Menichelli, D.; Hesser, J.

2014-01-01

The purpose of this study is to characterize dosimetric properties of thin film photovoltaic sensors as a platform for development of prototype dose verification equipment in radiotherapy. Towards this goal, flexible thin‐film sensors of dose with embedded data acquisition electronics and wireless data transmission are prototyped and tested in kV and MV photon beams. Fundamental dosimetric properties are determined in view of a specific application to dose verification in multiple planes or curved surfaces inside a phantom. Uniqueness of the new thin‐film sensors consists in their mechanical properties, low‐power operation, and low‐cost. They are thinner and more flexible than dosimetric films. In principle, each thin‐film sensor can be fabricated in any size (mm2 – cm2 areas) and shape. Individual sensors can be put together in an array of sensors spreading over large areas and yet being light. Photovoltaic mode of charge collection (of electrons and holes) does not require external electric field applied to the sensor, and this implies simplicity of data acquisition electronics and low power operation. The prototype device use for testing consists of several thin film dose sensors, each of about 1.5 cm×5 cm area, connected to simple readout electronics. Sensitivity of the sensors is determined per unit area and compared to EPID sensitivity, as well as other standard photodiodes. Each sensor independently measures dose and is based on commercially available flexible thin‐film aSi photodiodes. Readout electronics consists of an ultra low‐power microcontroller, radio frequency transmitter, and a low‐noise amplification circuit implemented on a flexible printed circuit board. Detector output is digitized and transmitted wirelessly to an external host computer where it is integrated and processed. A megavoltage medical linear accelerator (Varian Tx) equipped with kilovoltage online imaging system and a Cobalt source are use to irradiate different thin‐film detector sensors in a Solid Water phantom under various irradiation conditions. Different factors are considered in characterization of the device attributes: energies (80 kVp, 130 kVp, 6 MV, 15 MV), dose rates (different ms × mA, 100–600 MU/min), total doses (0.1 cGy‐500 cGy), depths (0.5 cm–20 cm), irradiation angles with respect to the detector surface (0°‐180°), and IMRT tests (closed MLC, sweeping gap). The detector response to MV radiation is both linear with total dose (~1‐400 cGy) and independent of dose rate (100‐600 Mu/min). The sensitivity per unit area of thin‐film sensors is lower than for aSi flat‐panel detectors, but sufficient to acquire stable and accurate signals during irradiations. The proposed thin‐film photodiode system has properties which make it promising for clinical dosimetry. Due to the mechanical flexibility of each sensor and readout electronics, low‐cost, and wireless data acquisition, it could be considered for quality assurance (e.g., IMRT, mechanical linac QA), as well as real‐time dose monitoring in challenging setup configurations, including large area and 3D detection (multiple planes or curved surfaces). PACS number: 87.56.Fc PMID:24710432

CsI-Silicon Particle detector for Heavy ions Orbiting in Storage rings (CsISiPHOS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Najafi, M. A.; Dillmann, I.; Bosch, F.; Faestermann, T.; Gao, B.; Gernhäuser, R.; Kozhuharov, C.; Litvinov, S. A.; Litvinov, Yu. A.; Maier, L.; Nolden, F.; Popp, U.; Sanjari, M. S.; Spillmann, U.; Steck, M.; Stöhlker, T.; Weick, H.

2016-11-01

A heavy-ion detector was developed for decay studies in the Experimental Storage Ring (ESR) at the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research in Darmstadt, Germany. This detector serves as a prototype for the in-pocket particle detectors for future experiments with the Collector Ring (CR) at FAIR (Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research). The detector includes a stack of six silicon pad sensors, a double-sided silicon strip detector (DSSD), and a CsI(Tl) scintillation detector. It was used successfully in a recent experiment for the detection of the β+-decay of highly charged 142Pm60+ ions. Based on the ΔE / E technique for particle identification and an energy resolution of 0.9% for ΔE and 0.5% for E (Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM)), the detector is well-suited to distinguish neighbouring isobars in the region of interest.

Simulations and Data analysis for the 35 ton Liquid Argon detector as a prototype for the DUNE experiment

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Warburton, Thomas Karl

2017-01-01

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is a next-generation neutrino experiment which will be built at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF), and will receive a wide-band neutrino beam from Fermilab, 1300~km away. At this baseline DUNE will be able to study many of the properties of neutrino mixing, including the neutrino mass hierarchy and the value of the CP-violating complex phase (more » $$\\delta_{CP}$$). DUNE will utilise Liquid Argon (LAr) Time Projection Chamber (TPC) (LArTPC) technology, and the Far Detector (FD) will consist of four modules, each containing 17.1~kt of LAr with a fiducial mass of around 10~kt. Each of these FD modules represents around an order of magnitude increase in size, when compared to existing LArTPC experiments. \\\\ The 35 ton detector is the first DUNE prototype for the single (LAr) phase design of the FD. There were two running periods, one from November 2013 to February 2014, and a second from November 2015 to March 2016. During t he second running period, a system of TPCs was installed, and cosmic-ray data were collected. A method of particle identification was developed using simulations, though this was not applied to the data due to the higher than expected noise level. A new method of determining the interaction time of a track, using the effects of longitudinal diffusion, was developed using the cosmic-ray data. A camera system was also installed in the detector for monitoring purposes, and to look for high voltage breakdowns. \\\\ Simulations concerning the muon-induced background rate to nucleon decay are performed, following the incorporation of the MUon Simulations UNderground (MUSUN) generator into the DUNE software framework. A series of cuts which are based on Monte Carlo truth information is developed, designed to reject simulated background events, whilst preserving simulated signal events in the $$n \\rightarrow K^{+} + e^{-}$$ decay channel. No background events are seen to survive the app lication of these cuts in a sample of 2~$$\\times$$~10$^9$ muon! s, representing 401.6~years of detector live time. This corresponds to an annual background rate of <~0.44~events$$\\cdot$$Mt$$^{-1}\\cdot$$year$$^{-1}$$ at 90\\% confidence, using a fiducial mass of 13.8~kt.« less

Moving belt metal detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nelson, Carl V.; Mendat, Deborah P.; Huynh, Toan B.

2006-05-01

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) has developed a prototype metal detection survey system that will increase the search speed of conventional technology while maintaining high sensitivity. Higher search speeds will reduce the time to clear roads of landmines and improvised explosive devices (IED) and to locate unexploded ordnance (UXO) at Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) sites, thus reducing remediation costs. The new survey sensor system is called the moving belt metal detector (MBMD) and operates by both increasing sensor speed over the ground while maintaining adequate sensor dwell time over the target for good signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and reducing motion-induced sensor noise. The MBMD uses an array of metal detection sensors mounted on a flexible belt similar to a tank track. The belt motion is synchronized with the forward survey speed so individual sensor elements remain stationary relative to the ground. A single pulsed transmitter coil is configured to provide a uniform magnetic field along the length of the receivers in ground contact. Individual time-domain electromagnetic induction (EMI) receivers are designed to sense a single time-gate measurement of the total metal content. Each sensor module consists of a receiver coil, amplifier, digitizing electronics and a low power UHF wireless transmitter. This paper presents the survey system design concepts and metal detection data from various targets at several survey speeds. Although the laboratory prototype is designed to demonstrate metal detection survey speeds up to 10 m/s, higher speeds are achievable with a larger sensor array. In addition, the concept can be adapted to work with other sensor technologies not previously considered for moving platforms.

Studies of prototype DEPFET sensors for the Wide Field Imager of Athena

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Treberspurg, Wolfgang; Andritschke, Robert; Bähr, Alexander; Behrens, Annika; Hauser, Günter; Lechner, Peter; Meidinger, Norbert; Müller-Seidlitz, Johannes; Treis, Johannes

2017-08-01

The Wide Field Imager (WFI) of ESA's next X-ray observatory Athena will combine a high count rate capability with a large field of view, both with state-of-the-art spectroscopic performance. To meet these demands, specific DEPFET active pixel detectors have been developed and operated. Due to the intrinsic amplification of detected signals they are best suited to achieve a high speed and low noise performance. Different fabrication technologies and transistor geometries have been implemented on a dedicated prototype production in the course of the development of the DEPFET sensors. The main modifications between the sensors concern the shape of the transistor gate - regarding the layout - and the thickness of the gate oxide - regarding the technology. To facilitate the fabrication and testing of the resulting variety of sensors the presented studies were carried out with 64×64 pixel detectors. The detector comprises a control ASIC (Switcher-A), a readout ASIC (VERITAS- 2) and the sensor. In this paper we give an overview on the evaluation of different prototype sensors. The most important results, which have been decisive for the identification of the optimal fabrication technology and transistor layout for subsequent sensor productions are summarized. It will be shown that the developments result in an excellent performance of spectroscopic X-ray DEPFETs with typical noise values below 2.5 ENC at 2.5 μs/row.

Preliminary results of a prototype C-shaped PET designed for an in-beam PET system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Hyun-Il; Chung, Yong Hyun; Lee, Kisung; Kim, Kyeong Min; Kim, Yongkwon; Joung, Jinhun

2016-06-01

Positron emission tomography (PET) can be utilized in particle beam therapy to verify the dose distribution of the target volume as well as the accuracy of the treatment. We present an in-beam PET scanner that can be integrated into a particle beam therapy system. The proposed PET scanner consisted of 14 detector modules arranged in a C-shape to avoid blockage of the particle beam line by the detector modules. Each detector module was composed of a 9×9 array of 4.0 mm×4.0 mm×20.0 mm LYSO crystals optically coupled to four 29-mm-diameter PMTs using the photomultiplier-quadrant-sharing (PQS) technique. In this study, a Geant4 Application for Tomographic Emission (GATE) simulation study was conducted to design a C-shaped PET scanner and then experimental evaluation of the proposed design was performed. The spatial resolution and sensitivity were measured according to NEMA NU2-2007 standards and were 6.1 mm and 5.61 cps/kBq, respectively, which is in good agreement with our simulation, with an error rate of 12.0%. Taken together, our results demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed C-shaped in-beam PET system, which we expect will be useful for measuring dose distribution in particle therapy.

An update on the development of IO:I: a NIR imager for the Liverpool Telescope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barnsley, R. M.; Steele, I. A.; Bates, S. D.; Mottram, C. J.

2014-07-01

IO:I is a new instrument in development for the Liverpool Telescope, extending current imaging capabilities beyond the optical and into the near infrared. Cost has been minimised by use of a previously decommissioned instrument's dewar as the base for a prototype, and retrofitting it with a 1.7μm cutoff Hawaii-2RG HgCdTe detector, SIDECAR ASIC controller and JADE2 interface card. Development of this prototype is nearing completion and will be operational mid 2014. In this paper, the mechanical, electronic and cryogenic facets of the dewar retrofitting process will be discussed together with a description of the instrument control system software/hardware setup. Finally, a brief overview of some initial testing undertaken on the engineering grade array will be given, along with future commissioning plans for the instrument.

A novel fully integrated handheld gamma camera

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Massari, R.; Ucci, A.; Campisi, C.; Scopinaro, F.; Soluri, A.

2016-10-01

In this paper, we present an innovative, fully integrated handheld gamma camera, namely designed to gather in the same device the gamma ray detector with the display and the embedded computing system. The low power consumption allows the prototype to be battery operated. To be useful in radioguided surgery, an intraoperative gamma camera must be very easy to handle since it must be moved to find a suitable view. Consequently, we have developed the first prototype of a fully integrated, compact and lightweight gamma camera for radiopharmaceuticals fast imaging. The device can operate without cables across the sterile field, so it may be easily used in the operating theater for radioguided surgery. The prototype proposed consists of a Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM) array coupled with a proprietary scintillation structure based on CsI(Tl) crystals. To read the SiPM output signals, we have developed a very low power readout electronics and a dedicated analog to digital conversion system. One of the most critical aspects we faced designing the prototype was the low power consumption, which is mandatory to develop a battery operated device. We have applied this detection device in the lymphoscintigraphy technique (sentinel lymph node mapping) comparing the results obtained with those of a commercial gamma camera (Philips SKYLight). The results obtained confirm a rapid response of the device and an adequate spatial resolution for the use in the scintigraphic imaging. This work confirms the feasibility of a small gamma camera with an integrated display. This device is designed for radioguided surgery and small organ imaging, but it could be easily combined into surgical navigation systems.

Results from a Prototype Proton-CT Head Scanner

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnson, R. P.; Bashkirov, V. A.; Coutrakon, G.; Giacometti, V.; Karbasi, P.; Karonis, N. T.; Ordoñez, C. E.; Pankuch, M.; Sadrozinski, H. F.-W.; Schubert, K. E.; Schulte, R. W.

We are exploring low-dose proton radiography and computed tomography (pCT) as techniques to improve the accuracy of proton treatment planning and to provide artifact-free images for verification and adaptive therapy at the time of treatment. Here we report on comprehensive beam test results with our prototype pCT head scanner. The detector system and data acquisition attain a sustained rate of more than a million protons individually measured per second, allowing a full CT scan to be completed in six minutes or less of beam time. In order to assess the performance of the scanner for proton radiography as well as computed tomography, we have performed numerous scans of phantoms at the Northwestern Medicine Chicago Proton Center including a custom phantom designed to assess the spatial resolution, a phantom to assess the measurement of relative stopping power, and a dosimetry phantom. Some images, performance, and dosimetry results from those phantom scans are presented together with a description of the instrument, the data acquisition system, and the calibration methods.

A prototype optical-CT system for PRESAGE 3D dosimeter readout

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miles, Devin; Yoon, Paul; Kodra, Jacob; Adamovics, John; Oldham, Mark

2017-05-01

This work introduces the Duke Integrated-lens Optical Scanner (DIOS), a prototype optical-CT system designed for convenient and low-cost readout of PRESAGE 3D dosimeters. A key novelty of the DIOS is the incorporation of a multi-purpose light-collimating tank (the LC-tank). The LC-tank collimates light from a point source, maintains parallel ray geometry through a dosimeter mounted inside the tank, and refocuses emergent light onto a CCD detector. A second purpose is to dramatically reduce the amount of refractive matched fluid required in prior optical-CT scanners. This is achieved by substituting large quantities of refractive-matched fluid with solid RI-matched polyurethane. The advantages of DIOS include eliminating the need for expensive telecentric lenses, and eliminating the impracticality of large volumes of RI matched fluid. The DIOS is potentially more susceptible to stray-light artifacts. Preliminary phantom testing shows promising agreement between PRESAGE/DIOS readout and prior commissioned optical-CT scanners, as well as with Eclipse dose calculations.

Two-dimensional antiscatter grid: A novel scatter rejection device for Cone-beam computed tomography.

PubMed

Alexeev, Timur; Kavanagh, Brian; Miften, Moyed; Altunbas, Cem

2018-02-01

Scattered radiation remains to be a major cause of image quality degradation in Flat Panel Detector (FPD)-based Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). We have been investigating a novel two-dimensional antiscatter grid (2D-ASG) concept to reduce scatter intensity, and hence improve CBCT image quality. We present the first CBCT imaging experiments performed with the 2D-ASG prototype, and demonstrate its efficacy in improving CBCT image quality. A 2D-ASG prototype with septa focused to x-ray source was additively manufactured from tungsten and mounted on a Varian TrueBeam CBCT system. CBCT projections of phantoms were acquired with an offset detector geometry using TrueBeam's "developer" mode. To minimize the effect of gantry flex, projections were gain corrected on angle-specific bases. CBCT images were reconstructed using a filtered backprojection algorithm and image quality improvement was quantified by measuring contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and CT number accuracy in images acquired with no antiscatter grid (NO-ASG), conventional one dimensional antiscatter grid (1D-ASG), and the 2D-ASG prototype. A significant improvement in contrast resolution was achieved using our 2D-ASG prototype compared to results of 1D-ASG and NO-ASG acquisitions. Compared to NO-ASG and 1D-ASG experiments, the CNR of material inserts improved by as much as 86% and 54% respectively. Using 2D-ASG, CT number underestimation in water equivalent material section of the phantom was reduced by up to 325 HU when compared to NO-ASG and up to 179 HU when compared to 1D-ASG. We successfully performed the first CBCT imaging experiments with a 2D-ASG prototype. 2D-ASG provided significantly higher CT number accuracy, higher CNR, and diminished scatter-induced image artifacts in qualitative evaluations. We strongly believe that utilization of a 2D-ASG may potentially lead to better soft tissue visualization in CBCT and may enable novel clinical applications that require high CT number accuracy. © 2017 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

Characterization of the ETEL D784UKFLB 11 in. photomultiplier tube

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barros, N.; Kaptanoglu, T.; Kimelman, B.; Klein, J. R.; Moore, E.; Nguyen, J.; Stavreva, K.; Svoboda, R.

2017-04-01

Water Cherenkov and scintillator detectors are a critical tool for neutrino physics. Their large size, low threshold, and low operational cost make them excellent detectors for long baseline neutrino oscillations, proton decay, supernova and solar neutrinos, double beta decay, and ultra-high energy astrophysical neutrinos. Proposals for a new generation of large detectors rely on the availability of large format, fast, cost-effective photomultiplier tubes. The Electron Tubes Enterprises, Ltd (ETEL) D784KFLB 11 in. Photomultiplier Tube has been developed for large neutrino detectors. We have measured the timing characteristics, relative efficiency, and magnetic field sensitivity of the first fifteen prototypes.

A T0/Trigger detector for the External Target Experiment at CSR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, D.; Shao, M.; Sun, Y.; Li, C.; Chen, H.; Tang, Z.; Zhang, Y.; Zhou, J.; Zeng, H.; Zhao, X.; You, W.; Song, G.; Deng, P.; Lu, J.; Zhao, L.

2017-06-01

A new T0/Trigger detector based on multi-gap resistive plate chamber (MRPC) technology has been constructed and tested for the external target experiment (ETE) at HIRFL-CSR. It measures the multiplicity and timing information of particles produced in heavy-ion collisions at the target region, providing necessary event collision time (T0) and collision centrality with high precision. Monte-Carlo simulation shows a time resolution of several tens of picosecond can be achieved at central collisions. The experimental tests have been performed for this prototype detector at the CSR-ETE. The preliminary results are shown to demonstrate the performance of the T0/Trigger detector.

Belle II silicon vertex detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adamczyk, K.; Aihara, H.; Angelini, C.; Aziz, T.; Babu, V.; Bacher, S.; Bahinipati, S.; Barberio, E.; Baroncelli, Ti.; Baroncelli, To.; Basith, A. K.; Batignani, G.; Bauer, A.; Behera, P. K.; Bergauer, T.; Bettarini, S.; Bhuyan, B.; Bilka, T.; Bosi, F.; Bosisio, L.; Bozek, A.; Buchsteiner, F.; Casarosa, G.; Ceccanti, M.; Červenkov, D.; Chendvankar, S. R.; Dash, N.; Divekar, S. T.; Doležal, Z.; Dutta, D.; Enami, K.; Forti, F.; Friedl, M.; Hara, K.; Higuchi, T.; Horiguchi, T.; Irmler, C.; Ishikawa, A.; Jeon, H. B.; Joo, C. W.; Kandra, J.; Kang, K. H.; Kato, E.; Kawasaki, T.; Kodyš, P.; Kohriki, T.; Koike, S.; Kolwalkar, M. M.; Kvasnička, P.; Lanceri, L.; Lettenbicher, J.; Maki, M.; Mammini, P.; Mayekar, S. N.; Mohanty, G. B.; Mohanty, S.; Morii, T.; Nakamura, K. R.; Natkaniec, Z.; Negishi, K.; Nisar, N. K.; Onuki, Y.; Ostrowicz, W.; Paladino, A.; Paoloni, E.; Park, H.; Pilo, F.; Profeti, A.; Rashevskaya, I.; Rao, K. K.; Rizzo, G.; Rozanska, M.; Sandilya, S.; Sasaki, J.; Sato, N.; Schultschik, S.; Schwanda, C.; Seino, Y.; Shimizu, N.; Stypula, J.; Suzuki, J.; Tanaka, S.; Tanida, K.; Taylor, G. N.; Thalmeier, R.; Thomas, R.; Tsuboyama, T.; Uozumi, S.; Urquijo, P.; Vitale, L.; Volpi, M.; Watanuki, S.; Watson, I. J.; Webb, J.; Wiechczynski, J.; Williams, S.; Würkner, B.; Yamamoto, H.; Yin, H.; Yoshinobu, T.; Belle II SVD Collaboration

2016-09-01

The Belle II experiment at the SuperKEKB collider in Japan is designed to indirectly probe new physics using approximately 50 times the data recorded by its predecessor. An accurate determination of the decay-point position of subatomic particles such as beauty and charm hadrons as well as a precise measurement of low-momentum charged particles will play a key role in this pursuit. These will be accomplished by an inner tracking device comprising two layers of pixelated silicon detector and four layers of silicon vertex detector based on double-sided microstrip sensors. We describe herein the design, prototyping and construction efforts of the Belle-II silicon vertex detector.

Results of the engineering run of the Coherent Neutrino Nucleus Interaction Experiment (CONNIE)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aguilar-Arevalo, A.; Bertou, X.; Bonifazi, C.; Butner, M.; Cancelo, G.; Castañeda Vázquez, A.; Cervantes Vergara, B.; Chavez, C. R.; Da Motta, H.; D'Olivo, J. C.; Dos Anjos, J.; Estrada, J.; Fernandez Moroni, G.; Ford, R.; Foguel, A.; Hernández Torres, K. P.; Izraelevitch, F.; Kavner, A.; Kilminster, B.; Kuk, K.; Lima, H. P., Jr.; Makler, M.; Molina, J.; Moreno-Granados, G.; Moro, J. M.; Paolini, E. E.; Sofo Haro, M.; Tiffenberg, J.; Trillaud, F.; Wagner, S.

2016-07-01

The CONNIE detector prototype is operating at a distance of 30 m from the core of a 3.8 GWth nuclear reactor with the goal of establishing Charge-Coupled Devices (CCD) as a new technology for the detection of coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering. We report on the results of the engineering run with an active mass of 4 g of silicon. The CCD array is described, and the performance observed during the first year is discussed. A compact passive shield was deployed around the detector, producing an order of magnitude reduction in the background rate. The remaining background observed during the run was stable, and dominated by internal contamination in the detector packaging materials. The in-situ calibration of the detector using X-ray lines from fluorescence demonstrates good stability of the readout system. The event rates with the reactor ON and OFF are compared, and no excess is observed coming from nuclear fission at the power plant. The upper limit for the neutrino event rate is set two orders of magnitude above the expectations for the standard model. The results demonstrate the cryogenic CCD-based detector can be remotely operated at the reactor site with stable noise below 2 e- RMS and stable background rates. The success of the engineering test provides a clear path for the upgraded 100 g detector to be deployed during 2016.

Kinetic Inductance Detectors for Measuring the Polarization of the Cosmic Microwave Background

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Flanigan, Daniel

Kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs) are superconducting thin-film microresonators that are sensitive photon detectors. These detectors are a candidate for the next generation of experiments designed to measure the polarization of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). I discuss the basic theory needed to understand the response of a KID to light, focusing on the dynamics of the quasiparticle system. I derive an equation that describes the dynamics of the quasiparticle number, solve it in a simplified form not previously published, and show that it can describe the dynamic response of a detector. Magnetic flux vortices in a superconducting thin film can be a significant source of dissipation, and I demonstrate some techniques to prevent their formation. Based on the presented theory, I derive a corrected version of a widely-used equation for the quasiparticle recombination noise in a KID. I show that a KID consisting of a lumped-element resonator can be sensitive enough to be limited by photon noise, which is the fundamental limit for photometry, at a level of optical loading below levels in ground-based CMB experiments. Finally, I describe an ongoing project to develop multichroic KID pixels that are each sensitive to two linear polarization states in two spectral bands, intended for the next generation of CMB experiments. I show that a prototype 23-pixel array can detect millimeter-wave light, and present characterization measurements of the detectors.

Development of a Massive, Highly Multiplexible, Phonon-Mediated Particle Detector Using Kinetic Inductance Detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, Y.-Y.; Cornell, B.; Aralis, T.; Bumble, B.; Golwala, S. R.

2018-04-01

We present a status update on the development of a phonon-mediated particle detector using kinetic inductance detector (KID). The design is intended for O(1) kg substrate, using O(102) KIDs on a single readout line, to image the athermal phonon distribution at < 1 mm position resolution and O(10) eV energy resolution. The design specification is set by the need to improve position reconstruction fidelity while maintaining low energy threshold for future rare-event searches such as for low-mass dark matter. We report on the design, which shows negligible crosstalk and > 95% inductor current uniformity, using the coplanar waveguide feedline, ground shield, and a new class of KIDs with symmetric coplanar stripline (sCPS) inductor. The multiplexing is designed upon the frequency-geometry relation we develop for the sCPS KIDs. We introduce the fabrications of the Nb RF assessment prototypes and the high phonon collection efficiency Al-Nb devices. We achieve ≲ 0.07% frequency displacement on a 80-KID RF assessment prototype, and the result indicates that we may place more than 180 resonances in our 0.4 GHz readout band with minimal frequency misordering. The coupling quality factors are ˜ 105 as designed. Finally, we update our work in progress in fabricating the O(102) KID, bi-material, O(1) kg detectors, and the expected position and energy resolutions.

The XGS instrument on-board THESEUS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fuschino, F.; Campana, R.; Labanti, C.; Marisaldi, M.; Amati, L.; Fiorini, M.; Uslenghi, M.; Baldazzi, G.; Evangelista, Y.; Elmi, I.; Feroci, M.; Frontera, F.; Rachevski, A.; Rignanese, L. P.; Vacchi, A.; Zampa, G.; Zampa, N.; Rashevskaya, I.; Bellutti, P.; Piemonte, C.

2016-10-01

Consolidated techniques used for space-borne X-ray and gamma-ray instruments are based on the use of scintillators coupled to Silicon photo-detectors. This technology associated with modern very low noise read-out electronics allows the design of innovative architectures able to reduce drastically the system complexity and power consumption, also with a moderate-to-high number of channels. These detector architectures can be exploited in the design of space instrumentation for gamma-spectroscopy with the benefit of possible smart background rejection strategies. We describe a detector prototype with 3D imaging capabilities to be employed in future gamma-ray and particle space missions in the 0.002-100 MeV energy range. The instrument is based on a stack of scintillating bars read out by Silicon Drift Detectors (SDDs) at both ends. The spatial segmentation and the crystal double-side readout allow a 3D position reconstruction with ∼3 mm accuracy within the full active volume, using a 2D readout along the two external faces of the detector. Furthermore, one of the side of SDDs can be used simultaneously to detect X-rays in the 2-30 keV energy range. The characteristics of this instrument make it suitable in next generation gamma-ray and particle space missions for Earth or outer space observations, and it will be briefly illustrated.

Prototype pre-clinical PET scanner with depth-of-interaction measurements using single-layer crystal array and single-ended readout

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Min Sun; Kim, Kyeong Yun; Ko, Guen Bae; Lee, Jae Sung

2017-05-01

In this study, we developed a proof-of-concept prototype PET system using a pair of depth-of-interaction (DOI) PET detectors based on the proposed DOI-encoding method and digital silicon photomultiplier (dSiPM). Our novel cost-effective DOI measurement method is based on a triangular-shaped reflector that requires only a single-layer pixelated crystal and single-ended signal readout. The DOI detector consisted of an 18  ×  18 array of unpolished LYSO crystal (1.47  ×  1.47  ×  15 mm3) wrapped with triangular-shaped reflectors. The DOI information was encoded by depth-dependent light distribution tailored by the reflector geometry and DOI correction was performed using four-step depth calibration data and maximum-likelihood (ML) estimation. The detector pair and the object were placed on two motorized rotation stages to demonstrate 12-block ring PET geometry with 11.15 cm diameter. Spatial resolution was measured and phantom and animal imaging studies were performed to investigate imaging performance. All images were reconstructed with and without the DOI correction to examine the impact of our DOI measurement. The pair of dSiPM-based DOI PET detectors showed good physical performances respectively: 2.82 and 3.09 peak-to-valley ratios, 14.30% and 18.95% energy resolution, and 4.28 and 4.24 mm DOI resolution averaged over all crystals and all depths. A sub-millimeter spatial resolution was achieved at the center of the field of view (FOV). After applying ML-based DOI correction, maximum 36.92% improvement was achieved in the radial spatial resolution and a uniform resolution was observed within 5 cm of transverse PET FOV. We successfully acquired phantom and animal images with improved spatial resolution and contrast by using the DOI measurement. The proposed DOI-encoding method was successfully demonstrated in the system level and exhibited good performance, showing its feasibility for animal PET applications with high spatial resolution and sensitivity.

Characterisation of a CZT detector for dosimetry of molecular radiotherapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McAreavey, L. H.; Harkness-Brennan, L. J.; Colosimo, S. J.; Judson, D. S.; Boston, A. J.; Boston, H. C.; Nolan, P. J.; Flux, G. D.; Denis-Bacelar, A. M.; Harris, B.; Radley, I.; Carroll, M.

2017-03-01

A pixelated cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) detector has been characterised for the purpose of developing a quantitative single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) system for dosimetry of molecular radiotherapy (MRT). This is the aim of the Dosimetric Imaging with CZT (DEPICT) project, which is a collaboration between the University of Liverpool, The Royal Marsden Hospital, The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital, and the commercial partner Kromek. CZT is a direct band gap semiconductor with superior energy resolution and stopping power compared to scintillator detectors used in current SPECT systems. The inherent detector properties have been investigated and operational parameters such as bias voltage and peaking time have been selected to optimise the performance of the system. Good energy resolution is required to discriminate γ-rays that are scattered as they are emitted from the body and within the collimator, and high photon throughput is essential due to the high activities of isotopes administered in MRT. The system has an average measured electronic noise of 3.31 keV full width at half maximum (FWHM), determined through the use of an internal pulser. The energy response of the system was measured across the energy region of interest 59.5 keV to 364.5 keV and found to be linear. The reverse bias voltage and peaking time producing the optimum FWHM and maximum photon throughput were 600 V and 0.5 μs respectively. The average dead time of the system was measured as 4.84 μs and charge sharing was quantified to be 0.71 % at 59.5 keV . A pixel sensitivity calibration map was created and planar images of the medical imaging isotopes 99mTc and 123I were acquired by coupling the device to a prototype collimator, thereby demonstrating the suitability of the detector for the DEPICT project.

Scintillator tiles read out with silicon photomultipliers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pooth, O.; Radermacher, T.; Weingarten, S.; Weinstock, L.

2015-10-01

A detector prototype based on a fast plastic scintillator read out with silicon photomultipliers is presented. All studies have been done with cosmic muons and focus on parameter optimization such as coupling the SiPM to the scintillator or wrapping the scintillator with reflective material. The prototype shows excellent results regarding the light-yield and offers a detection efficiency of 99.5% with a signal purity of 99.9% for cosmic muons.