Radioanalytical Chemistry for Automated Nuclear Waste Process Monitoring

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

Devol, Timothy A.

2005-06-01

Comparison of different pulse shape discrimination methods was performed under two different experimental conditions and the best method was identified. Beta/gamma discrimination of 90Sr/90Y and 137Cs was performed using a phoswich detector made of BC400 (2.5 cm OD x 1.2 cm) and BGO (2.5 cm O.D. x 2.5 cm ) scintillators. Alpha/gamma discrimination of 210Po and 137Cs was performed using a CsI:Tl (2.8 x 1.4 x 1.4 cm3) scintillation crystal. The pulse waveforms were digitized with a DGF-4c (X-Ray Instrumentation Associates) and analyzed offline with IGOR Pro software (Wavemetrics, Inc.). The four pulse shape discrimination methods that were compared include:more » rise time discrimination, digital constant fraction discrimination, charge ratio, and constant time discrimination (CTD) methods. The CTD method is the ratio of the pulse height at a particular time after the beginning of the pulse to the time at the maximum pulse height. The charge comparison method resulted in a Figure of Merit (FoM) of 3.3 (9.9 % spillover) and 3.7 (0.033 % spillover) for the phoswich and the CsI:Tl scintillator setups, respectively. The CTD method resulted in a FoM of 3.9 (9.2 % spillover) and 3.2 (0.25 % spillover), respectively. Inverting the pulse shape data typically resulted in a significantly higher FoM than conventional methods, but there was no reduction in % spillover values. This outcome illustrates that the FoM may not be a good scheme for the quantification of a system to perform pulse shape discrimination. Comparison of several pulse shape discrimination (PSD) methods was performed as a means to compare traditional analog and digital PSD methods on the same scintillation pulses. The X-ray Instrumentation Associates DGF-4C (40 Msps, 14-bit) was used to digitize waveforms from a CsI:Tl crystal and BC400/BGO phoswich detector.« less

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

Mabe, Andrew N.; Glenn, Andrew M.; Carman, M. Leslie

Transparent plastic scintillators with pulse shape discrimination containing 6Li salicylate have been synthesized by bulk polymerization with a maximum 6Li loading of 0.40 wt%. Photoluminescence and scintillation responses to gamma-rays and neutrons are reported in this paper. Plastics containing 6Li salicylate exhibit higher light yields and permit a higher loading of 6Li as compared to previously reported plastics based on lithium 3-phenylsalicylate. However, pulse shape discrimination performance is reduced in lithium salicylate plastics due to the requirement of adding more nonaromatic monomers to the polymer matrix as compared to those based on lithium 3-phenylsalicylate. Finally, reduction in light yield andmore » pulse shape discrimination performance in lithium-loaded plastics as compared to pulse shape discrimination plastics without lithium is interpreted in terms of energy transfer interference by the aromatic lithium salts.« less

Control of nitromethane photoionization efficiency with shaped femtosecond pulses.

PubMed

Roslund, Jonathan; Shir, Ofer M; Dogariu, Arthur; Miles, Richard; Rabitz, Herschel

2011-04-21

The applicability of adaptive femtosecond pulse shaping is studied for achieving selectivity in the photoionization of low-density polyatomic targets. In particular, optimal dynamic discrimination (ODD) techniques exploit intermediate molecular electronic resonances that allow a significant increase in the photoionization efficiency of nitromethane with shaped near-infrared femtosecond pulses. The intensity bias typical of high-photon number, nonresonant ionization is accounted for by reference to a strictly intensity-dependent process. Closed-loop adaptive learning is then able to discover a pulse form that increases the ionization efficiency of nitromethane by ∼150%. The optimally induced molecular dynamics result from entry into a region of parameter space inaccessible with intensity-only control. Finally, the discovered pulse shape is demonstrated to interact with the molecular system in a coherent fashion as assessed from the asymmetry between the response to the optimal field and its time-reversed counterpart.

Simulation results of Pulse Shape Discrimination (PSD) for background reduction in INTEGRAL Spectrometer (SPI) germanium detectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Slassi-Sennou, S. A.; Boggs, S. E.; Feffer, P. T.; Lin, R. P.

1997-01-01

Pulse Shape Discrimination (PSD) for background reduction will be used in the INTErnational Gamma Ray Astrophysics Laboratory (INTEGRAL) imaging spectrometer (SPI) to improve the sensitivity from 200 keV to 2 MeV. The observation of significant astrophysical gamma ray lines in this energy range is expected, where the dominant component of the background is the beta(sup -) decay in the Ge detectors due to the activation of Ge nuclei by cosmic rays. The sensitivity of the SPI will be improved by rejecting beta(sup -) decay events while retaining photon events. The PSD technique will distinguish between single and multiple site events. Simulation results of PSD for INTEGRAL-type Ge detectors using a numerical model for pulse shape generation are presented. The model was shown to agree with the experimental results for a narrow inner bore closed end cylindrical detector. Using PSD, a sensitivity improvement factor of the order of 2.4 at 0.8 MeV is expected.

Pulse Shape Discrimination in the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haufe, Christopher; Majorana Collaboration

2017-09-01

The MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR is an experiment constructed to search for neutrinoless double-beta decays in germanium-76 and to demonstrate the feasibility to deploy a large-scale experiment in a phased and modular fashion. It consists of two modular arrays of natural and 76Ge-enriched germanium p-type point contact detectors totaling 44.1 kg, located at the 4850' level of the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, South Dakota, USA. A large effort is underway to analyze the data currently being taken by the DEMONSTRATOR. Key components of this effort are analysis tools that allow for pulse shape discrimination-techniques that significantly reduce background levels in the neutrinoless double-beta decay region of interest. These tools are able to identify and reject multi-site events from Compton scattering as well as events from alpha particle interactions. This work serves as an overview for these analysis tools and highlights the unique advantages that the HPGe p-type point contact detector provides to pulse shape discrimination. This material is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Nuclear Physics, the Particle Astrophysics and Nuclear Physics Programs of the National Science Foundation, and the Sanford Underground Research Facility.

Remote photoacoustic detection of liquid contamination of a surface.

PubMed

Perrett, Brian; Harris, Michael; Pearson, Guy N; Willetts, David V; Pitter, Mark C

2003-08-20

A method for the remote detection and identification of liquid chemicals at ranges of tens of meters is presented. The technique uses pulsed indirect photoacoustic spectroscopy in the 10-microm wavelength region. Enhanced sensitivity is brought about by three main system developments: (1) increased laser-pulse energy (150 microJ/pulse), leading to increased strength of the generated photoacoustic signal; (2) increased microphone sensitivity and improved directionality by the use of a 60-cm-diameter parabolic dish; and (3) signal processing that allows improved discrimination of the signal from noise levels through prior knowledge of the pulse shape and pulse-repetition frequency. The practical aspects of applying the technique in a field environment are briefly examined, and possible applications of this technique are discussed.

Digital pulse shape discrimination.

PubMed

Miller, L F; Preston, J; Pozzi, S; Flaska, M; Neal, J

2007-01-01

Pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) has been utilised for about 40 years as a method to obtain estimates for dose in mixed neutron and photon fields. Digitizers that operate close to GHz are currently available at a reasonable cost, and they can be used to directly sample signals from photomultiplier tubes. This permits one to perform digital PSD rather than the traditional, and well-established, analogoue techniques. One issue that complicates PSD for neutrons in mixed fields is that the light output characteristics of typical scintillators available for PSD, such as BC501A, vary as a function of energy deposited in the detector. This behaviour is more easily accommodated with digital processing of signals than with analogoue signal processing. Results illustrate the effectiveness of digital PSD.

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

Kolbasin, V. A.; Ivanov, A. I.; Pedash, V. Y.

The two pulse shape discrimination methods were implemented in real-time. The pulse gradient analysis method was implemented programmatically on PC. The method based on artificial neural network was programmatically implemented using CUDA platform. It is shown that both implementations can provide up to 10{sup 6} pulses per second processing performance. The results for pulse shape discrimination using polycrystalline stilbene and LiF detectors were shown. (authors)

Alpha-gamma pulse-shape discrimination in Gd3Al2Ga3O12 (GAGG):Ce3+ crystal scintillator using shape indicator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tamagawa, Yoichi; Inukai, Yuji; Ogawa, Izumi; Kobayashi, Masaaki

2015-09-01

The pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) in a GAGG single-crystal scintillator was studied by using a shape indicator (SI) parameter of the optimal digital filter method. SI is one of the most useful PSD methods that use typical pulse shapes. Excellent discrimination between 0.662 MeV γ-rays and 5.48 MeV α-rays was achieved. For a cut at SI=0.0056, 99.95% of the γ-rays and only 0.22% of the α-rays were retained. Selection of background events (γ and α) in the GAGG scintillator was achieved by using the PSD method.

Neutron/ γ-ray digital pulse shape discrimination with organic scintillators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaschuck, Y.; Esposito, B.

2005-10-01

Neutrons and γ-rays produce light pulses with different shapes when interacting with organic scintillators. This property is commonly used to distinguish between neutrons (n) and γ-rays ( γ) in mixed n/ γ fields as those encountered in radiation physics experiments. Although analog electronic pulse shape discrimination (PSD) modules have been successfully used for many years, they do not allow data reprocessing and are limited in count rate capability (typically up to 200 kHz). The performance of a n/ γ digital pulse shape discrimination (DPSD) system by means of a commercial 12-bit 200 MSamples/s transient recorder card is investigated here. Three organic scintillators have been studied: stilbene, NE213 and anthracene. The charge comparison method has been used to obtain simultaneous n/ γ discrimination and pulse height analysis. The importance of DPSD for high-intensity radiation field measurements and its advantages with respect to analog PSD are discussed. Based on post-experiment simulations with acquired data, the requirements for fast digitizers to provide DPSD with organic scintillators are also analyzed.

Transparent plastic scintillators for neutron detection based on lithium salicylate

DOE PAGES

Mabe, Andrew N.; Glenn, Andrew M.; Carman, M. Leslie; ...

2015-10-14

Transparent plastic scintillators with pulse shape discrimination containing 6Li salicylate have been synthesized by bulk polymerization with a maximum 6Li loading of 0.40 wt%. Photoluminescence and scintillation responses to gamma-rays and neutrons are reported in this paper. Plastics containing 6Li salicylate exhibit higher light yields and permit a higher loading of 6Li as compared to previously reported plastics based on lithium 3-phenylsalicylate. However, pulse shape discrimination performance is reduced in lithium salicylate plastics due to the requirement of adding more nonaromatic monomers to the polymer matrix as compared to those based on lithium 3-phenylsalicylate. Finally, reduction in light yield andmore » pulse shape discrimination performance in lithium-loaded plastics as compared to pulse shape discrimination plastics without lithium is interpreted in terms of energy transfer interference by the aromatic lithium salts.« less

Studies of neutron-γ pulse shape discrimination in EJ-309 liquid scintillator using charge integration method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pawełczak, I. A.; Ouedraogo, S. A.; Glenn, A. M.; Wurtz, R. E.; Nakae, L. F.

2013-05-01

Pulse shape discrimination capability based on the charge integration has been investigated for liquid scintillator EJ-309. The effectiveness of neutron-γ discrimination in 4-in. diameter and 3-in. thick EJ-309 cells coupled with 3-in. photomultiplier tubes has been carefully studied in the laboratory environment and compared to the commonly used EJ-301 liquid scintillator formulation. Influences of distortions in pulse shape caused by 13.7-m long cables necessary for some remote operations have been examined. The parameter space for an effective neutron-γ discrimination for these assays, such as position and width of a gate used for integration of the delayed light, has been explored.

[Low level alpha activity measurements with pulse shape discrimination--the analytical system and its characteristics].

PubMed

Noguchi, M; Satoh, K; Higuchi, H

1984-12-01

Pulse shape discrimination of alpha and beta rays with liquid scintillation counting was investigated for the purpose of low level alpha activity measurements. Various liquid scintillators for pulse shape discrimination were examined by means of pulse rise time analysis. A new scintillator of low cost and of superior characteristics was found. The figure of merits better than 3.5 in rise time spectrum and the energy resolution better than 9% were obtained for carefully prepared samples. The background counting rate for a sample of 10 ml was reduced to 0.013 cpm/MeV in the range of alpha ray energy 5 to 7 MeV.

Pulse-shape discrimination techniques for the COBRA double beta-decay experiment at LNGS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zatschler, S.; COBRA Collaboration

2017-09-01

In modern elementary particle physics several questions arise from the fact that neutrino oscillation experiments have found neutrinos to be massive. Among them is the so far unknown nature of neutrinos: either they act as so-called Majorana particles, where one cannot distinguish between particle and antiparticle, or they are Dirac particles like all the other fermions in the Standard Model. The study of neutrinoless double beta-decay (0νββ-decay), where the lepton number conservation is violated by two units, could answer the question regarding the underlying nature of neutrinos and might also shed light on the mechanism responsible for the mass generation. So far there is no experimental evidence for the existence of 0νββ-decay, hence, existing experiments have to be improved and novel techniques should be explored. One of the next-generation experiments dedicated to the search for this ultra-rare decay is the COBRA experiment. This article gives an overview of techniques to identify and reject background based on pulse-shape discrimination.

An algorithm for charge-integration, pulse-shape discrimination and estimation of neutron/photon misclassification in organic scintillators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Polack, J. K.; Flaska, M.; Enqvist, A.; Sosa, C. S.; Lawrence, C. C.; Pozzi, S. A.

2015-09-01

Organic scintillators are frequently used for measurements that require sensitivity to both photons and fast neutrons because of their pulse shape discrimination capabilities. In these measurement scenarios, particle identification is commonly handled using the charge-integration pulse shape discrimination method. This method works particularly well for high-energy depositions, but is prone to misclassification for relatively low-energy depositions. A novel algorithm has been developed for automatically performing charge-integration pulse shape discrimination in a consistent and repeatable manner. The algorithm is able to estimate the photon and neutron misclassification corresponding to the calculated discrimination parameters, and is capable of doing so using only the information measured by a single organic scintillator. This paper describes the algorithm and assesses its performance by comparing algorithm-estimated misclassification to values computed via a more traditional time-of-flight estimation. A single data set was processed using four different low-energy thresholds: 40, 60, 90, and 120 keVee. Overall, the results compared well between the two methods; in most cases, the algorithm-estimated values fell within the uncertainties of the TOF-estimated values.

Alpha/beta pulse shape discrimination in plastic scintillation using commercial scintillation detectors.

PubMed

Bagán, H; Tarancón, A; Rauret, G; García, J F

2010-06-18

Activity determination in different types of samples is a current need in many different fields. Simultaneously analysing alpha and beta emitters is now a routine option when using liquid scintillation (LS) and pulse shape discrimination. However, LS has an important drawback, the generation of mixed waste. Recently, several studies have shown the capability of plastic scintillation (PS) as an alternative to LS, but no research has been carried out to determine its capability for alpha/beta discrimination. The objective of this study was to evaluate the capability of PS to discriminate alpha/beta emitters on the basis of pulse shape analysis (PSA). The results obtained show that PS pulses had lower energy than LS pulses. As a consequence, a lower detection efficiency, a shift to lower energies and a better discrimination of beta and a worst discrimination of alpha disintegrations was observed for PS. Colour quenching also produced a decrease in the energy of the particles, as well as the effects described above. It is clear that in PS, the discrimination capability was correlated with the energy of the particles detected. Taking into account the discrimination capabilities of PS, a protocol for the measurement and the calculation of alpha and beta activities in mixtures using PS and commercial scintillation detectors has been proposed. The new protocol was applied to the quantification of spiked river water samples containing a pair of radionuclides ((3)H-(241)Am or (90)Sr/(90)Y-(241)Am) in different activity proportions. The relative errors in all determinations were lower than 7%. These results demonstrate the capability of PS to discriminate alpha/beta emitters on the basis of pulse shape and to quantify mixtures without generating mixed waste. 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Development of a digital method for neutron/gamma-ray discrimination based on matched filtering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korolczuk, S.; Linczuk, M.; Romaniuk, R.; Zychor, I.

2016-09-01

Neutron/gamma-ray discrimination is crucial for measurements with detectors sensitive to both neutron and gamma-ray radiation. Different techniques to discriminate between neutrons and gamma-rays based on pulse shape analysis are widely used in many applications, e.g., homeland security, radiation dosimetry, environmental monitoring, fusion experiments, nuclear spectroscopy. A common requirement is to improve a radiation detection level with a high detection reliability. Modern electronic components, such as high speed analog to digital converters and powerful programmable digital circuits for signal processing, allow us to develop a fully digital measurement system. With this solution it is possible to optimize digital signal processing algorithms without changing any electronic components in an acquisition signal path. We report on results obtained with a digital acquisition system DNG@NCBJ designed at the National Centre for Nuclear Research. A 2'' × 2'' EJ309 liquid scintillator was used to register mixed neutron and gamma-ray radiation from PuBe sources. A dedicated algorithm for pulse shape discrimination, based on real-time filtering, was developed and implemented in hardware.

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

Joyce, M. J.; Aspinall, M. D.; Cave, F. D.

Pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) in fast, organic scintillation detectors is a long-established technique used to separate neutrons and {gamma} rays in mixed radiation fields. In the analogue domain the method can achieve separation in real time, but all knowledge of the pulses themselves is lost thereby preventing the possibility of any post- or repeated analysis. Also, it is typically reliant on electronic systems that are largely obsolete and which require significant experience to set up. In the digital domain, PSD is often more flexible but significant post-processing has usually been necessary to obtain neutron/{gamma}-ray separation. Moreover, the scintillation media on whichmore » the technique relies usually have a low flash point and are thus deemed hazardous. This complicates the ease with which they are used in industrial applications. In this paper, results obtained with a new portable digital pulse-shape discrimination instrument are described. This instrument provides real-time, digital neutron/{gamma} separation whilst preserving the synchronization with the time-of-arrival for each event, and realizing throughputs of 3 x 10{sup 6} events per second. Furthermore, this system has been tested with a scintillation medium that is non-flammable and not hazardous. (authors)« less

Pulse-Shape Discrimination of Alpha Particles of Different Specific Energy-Loss With Parallel-Plate Avalanche Counters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakhostin, M.; Baba, M.

2014-06-01

Parallel-plate avalanche counters have long been recognized as timing detectors for heavily ionizing particles. However, these detectors suffer from a poor pulse-height resolution which limits their capability to discriminate between different ionizing particles. In this paper, a new approach for discriminating between charged particles of different specific energy-loss with avalanche counters is demonstrated. We show that the effect of the self-induced space-charge in parallel-plate avalanche counters leads to a strong correlation between the shape of output current pulses and the amount of primary ionization created by the incident charged particles. The correlation is then exploited for the discrimination of charged particles with different energy-losses in the detector. The experimental results obtained with α-particles from an 241Am α-source demonstrate a discrimination capability far beyond that achievable with the standard pulse-height discrimination method.

Neutron Detection With Ultra-Fast Digitizer and Pulse Identification Techniques on DIII-D

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Y. B.; Heidbrink, W. W.; Piglowski, D. A.

2013-10-01

A prototype system for neutron detection with an ultra-fast digitizer and pulse identification techniques has been implemented on the DIII-D tokamak. The system consists of a cylindrical neutron fission chamber, a charge sensitive amplifier, and a GaGe Octopus 12-bit CompuScope digitizer card installed in a Linux computer. Digital pulse identification techniques have been successfully performed at maximum data acquisition rate of 50 MSPS with on-board memory of 2 GS. Compared to the traditional approach with fast nuclear electronics for pulse counting, this straightforward digital solution has many advantages, including reduced expense, improved accuracy, higher counting rate, and easier maintenance. The system also provides the capability of neutron-gamma pulse shape discrimination and pulse height analysis. Plans for the upgrade of the old DIII-D neutron counting system with these techniques will be presented. Work supported by the US Department of Energy under SC-G903402, and DE-FC02-04ER54698.

Neutron/gamma pulse shape discrimination (PSD) in plastic scintillators with digital PSD electronics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hutcheson, Anthony L.; Simonson, Duane L.; Christophersen, Marc; Phlips, Bernard F.; Charipar, Nicholas A.; Piqué, Alberto

2013-05-01

Pulse shape discrimination (PSD) is a common method to distinguish between pulses produced by gamma rays and neutrons in scintillator detectors. This technique takes advantage of the property of many scintillators that excitations by recoil protons and electrons produce pulses with different characteristic shapes. Unfortunately, many scintillating materials with good PSD properties have other, undesirable properties such as flammability, toxicity, low availability, high cost, and/or limited size. In contrast, plastic scintillator detectors are relatively low-cost, and easily handled and mass-produced. Recent studies have demonstrated efficient PSD in plastic scintillators using a high concentration of fluorescent dyes. To further investigate the PSD properties of such systems, mixed plastic scintillator samples were produced and tested. The addition of up to 30 wt. % diphenyloxazole (DPO) and other chromophores in polyvinyltoluene (PVT) results in efficient detection with commercial detectors. These plastic scintillators are produced in large diameters up to 4 inches by melt blending directly in a container suitable for in-line detector use. This allows recycling and reuse of materials while varying the compositions. This strategy also avoids additional sample handling and polishing steps required when using removable molds. In this presentation, results will be presented for different mixed-plastic compositions and compared with known scintillating materials

Signal pulse emulation for scintillation detectors using Geant4 Monte Carlo with light tracking simulation.

PubMed

Ogawara, R; Ishikawa, M

2016-07-01

The anode pulse of a photomultiplier tube (PMT) coupled with a scintillator is used for pulse shape discrimination (PSD) analysis. We have developed a novel emulation technique for the PMT anode pulse based on optical photon transport and a PMT response function. The photon transport was calculated using Geant4 Monte Carlo code and the response function with a BC408 organic scintillator. The obtained percentage RMS value of the difference between the measured and simulated pulse with suitable scintillation properties using GSO:Ce (0.4, 1.0, 1.5 mol%), LaBr3:Ce and BGO scintillators were 2.41%, 2.58%, 2.16%, 2.01%, and 3.32%, respectively. The proposed technique demonstrates high reproducibility of the measured pulse and can be applied to simulation studies of various radiation measurements.

Pulse shape discrimination of Cs2LiYCl6:Ce3+ detectors at high count rate based on triangular and trapezoidal filters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wen, Xianfei; Enqvist, Andreas

2017-09-01

Cs2LiYCl6:Ce3+ (CLYC) detectors have demonstrated the capability to simultaneously detect γ-rays and thermal and fast neutrons with medium energy resolution, reasonable detection efficiency, and substantially high pulse shape discrimination performance. A disadvantage of CLYC detectors is the long scintillation decay times, which causes pulse pile-up at moderate input count rate. Pulse processing algorithms were developed based on triangular and trapezoidal filters to discriminate between neutrons and γ-rays at high count rate. The algorithms were first tested using low-rate data. They exhibit a pulse-shape discrimination performance comparable to that of the charge comparison method, at low rate. Then, they were evaluated at high count rate. Neutrons and γ-rays were adequately identified with high throughput at rates of up to 375 kcps. The algorithm developed using the triangular filter exhibits discrimination capability marginally higher than that of the trapezoidal filter based algorithm irrespective of low or high rate. The algorithms exhibit low computational complexity and are executable on an FPGA in real-time. They are also suitable for application to other radiation detectors whose pulses are piled-up at high rate owing to long scintillation decay times.

Pulse shape discrimination and classification methods for continuous depth of interaction encoding PET detectors.

PubMed

Roncali, Emilie; Phipps, Jennifer E; Marcu, Laura; Cherry, Simon R

2012-10-21

In previous work we demonstrated the potential of positron emission tomography (PET) detectors with depth-of-interaction (DOI) encoding capability based on phosphor-coated crystals. A DOI resolution of 8 mm full-width at half-maximum was obtained for 20 mm long scintillator crystals using a delayed charge integration linear regression method (DCI-LR). Phosphor-coated crystals modify the pulse shape to allow continuous DOI information determination, but the relationship between pulse shape and DOI is complex. We are therefore interested in developing a sensitive and robust method to estimate the DOI. Here, linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was implemented to classify the events based on information extracted from the pulse shape. Pulses were acquired with 2×2×20 mm(3) phosphor-coated crystals at five irradiation depths and characterized by their DCI values or Laguerre coefficients. These coefficients were obtained by expanding the pulses on a Laguerre basis set and constituted a unique signature for each pulse. The DOI of individual events was predicted using LDA based on Laguerre coefficients (Laguerre-LDA) or DCI values (DCI-LDA) as discriminant features. Predicted DOIs were compared to true irradiation depths. Laguerre-LDA showed higher sensitivity and accuracy than DCI-LDA and DCI-LR and was also more robust to predict the DOI of pulses with higher statistical noise due to low light levels (interaction depths further from the photodetector face). This indicates that Laguerre-LDA may be more suitable to DOI estimation in smaller crystals where lower collected light levels are expected. This novel approach is promising for calculating DOI using pulse shape discrimination in single-ended readout depth-encoding PET detectors.

Pulse Shape Discrimination and Classification Methods for Continuous Depth of Interaction Encoding PET Detectors

PubMed Central

Roncali, Emilie; Phipps, Jennifer E.; Marcu, Laura; Cherry, Simon R.

2012-01-01

In previous work we demonstrated the potential of positron emission tomography (PET) detectors with depth-of-interaction (DOI) encoding capability based on phosphor-coated crystals. A DOI resolution of 8 mm full-width at half-maximum was obtained for 20 mm long scintillator crystals using a delayed charge integration linear regression method (DCI-LR). Phosphor-coated crystals modify the pulse shape to allow continuous DOI information determination, but the relationship between pulse shape and DOI is complex. We are therefore interested in developing a sensitive and robust method to estimate the DOI. Here, linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was implemented to classify the events based on information extracted from the pulse shape. Pulses were acquired with 2 × 2 × 20 mm3 phosphor-coated crystals at five irradiation depths and characterized by their DCI values or Laguerre coefficients. These coefficients were obtained by expanding the pulses on a Laguerre basis set and constituted a unique signature for each pulse. The DOI of individual events was predicted using LDA based on Laguerre coefficients (Laguerre-LDA) or DCI values (DCI-LDA) as discriminant features. Predicted DOIs were compared to true irradiation depths. Laguerre-LDA showed higher sensitivity and accuracy than DCI-LDA and DCI-LR and was also more robust to predict the DOI of pulses with higher statistical noise due to low light levels (interaction depths further from the photodetector face). This indicates that Laguerre-LDA may be more suitable to DOI estimation in smaller crystals where lower collected light levels are expected. This novel approach is promising for calculating DOI using pulse shape discrimination in single-ended readout depth-encoding PET detectors. PMID:23010690

A triple-crystal phoswich detector with digital pulse shape discrimination for alpha/beta/gamma spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

White, Travis L.; Miller, William H.

1999-02-01

Researchers at the University of Missouri - Columbia have developed a three-crystal phoswich detector coupled to a digital pulse shape discrimination system for use in alpha/beta/gamma spectroscopy. Phoswich detectors use a sandwich of scintillators viewed by a single photomultiplier tube to simultaneously detect multiple types of radiation. Separation of radiation types is based upon pulse shape difference among the phosphors, which has historically been performed with analog circuitry. The system uses a GaGe CompuScope 1012, 12 bit, 10 MHz computer-based oscilloscope that digitally captures the pulses from a phoswich detector and subsequently performs pulse shape discrimination with cross-correlation analysis. The detector, based partially on previous phoswich designs by Usuda et al., uses a 10 mg/cm 2 thick layer of ZnS(Ag) for alpha detection, followed by a 0.254 cm CaF 2(Eu) crystal for beta detection, all backed by a 2.54 cm NaI(Tl) crystal for gamma detection. Individual energy spectra and count rate information for all three radiation types are displayed and updated periodically. The system shows excellent charged particle discrimination with an accuracy of greater than 99%. Future development will include a large area beta probe with gamma-ray discrimination, systems for low-energy photon detection (e.g. Bremsstrahlung or keV-range photon emissions), and other health physics instrumentation.

Improved pulse shape discrimination in EJ-301 liquid scintillators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lang, R. F.; Masson, D.; Pienaar, J.; Röttger, S.

2017-06-01

Digital pulse shape discrimination has become readily available to distinguish nuclear recoil and electronic recoil events in scintillation detectors. We evaluate digital implementations of pulse shape discrimination algorithms discussed in the literature, namely the Charge Comparison Method, Pulse-Gradient Analysis, Fourier Series and Standard Event Fitting. In addition, we present a novel algorithm based on a Laplace Transform. Instead of comparing the performance of these algorithms based on a single Figure of Merit, we evaluate them as a function of recoil energy. Specifically, using commercial EJ-301 liquid scintillators, we examined both the resulting acceptance of nuclear recoils at a given rejection level of electronic recoils, as well as the purity of the selected nuclear recoil event samples. We find that both a Standard Event fit and a Laplace Transform can be used to significantly improve the discrimination capabilities over the whole considered energy range of 0 - 800keVee . Furthermore, we show that the Charge Comparison Method performs poorly in accurately identifying nuclear recoils.

Neutron-gamma discrimination via PSD plastic scintillator and SiPMs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taggart, M. P.; Payne, C.; Sellin, P. J.

2016-10-01

The reduction in availability and inevitable increase in cost of traditional neutron detectors based on the 3He neutron capture reaction has resulted in a concerted effort to seek out new techniques and detection media to meet the needs of national nuclear security. Traditionally, the alternative has been provided through pulse shape discrimination (PSD) using liquid scintillators. However, these are not without their own inherent issues, primarily concerning user safety and ongoing maintenance. A potential system devised to separate neutron and gamma ray pulses utilising the PSD technique takes advantage of recent improvements in silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) technology and the development of plastic scintillators exhibiting the PSD phenomena. In this paper we present the current iteration of this ongoing work having achieved a Figure of Merit (FoM) of 1.39 at 1.5 MeVee.

Principal Component Analysis for pulse-shape discrimination of scintillation radiation detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alharbi, T.

2016-01-01

In this paper, we report on the application of Principal Component analysis (PCA) for pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) of scintillation radiation detectors. The details of the method are described and the performance of the method is experimentally examined by discriminating between neutrons and gamma-rays with a liquid scintillation detector in a mixed radiation field. The performance of the method is also compared against that of the conventional charge-comparison method, demonstrating the superior performance of the method particularly at low light output range. PCA analysis has the important advantage of automatic extraction of the pulse-shape characteristics which makes the PSD method directly applicable to various scintillation detectors without the need for the adjustment of a PSD parameter.

Signal recognition efficiencies of artificial neural-network pulse-shape discrimination in HPGe -decay searches

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caldwell, A.; Cossavella, F.; Majorovits, B.; Palioselitis, D.; Volynets, O.

2015-07-01

A pulse-shape discrimination method based on artificial neural networks was applied to pulses simulated for different background, signal and signal-like interactions inside a germanium detector. The simulated pulses were used to investigate variations of efficiencies as a function of used training set. It is verified that neural networks are well-suited to identify background pulses in true-coaxial high-purity germanium detectors. The systematic uncertainty on the signal recognition efficiency derived using signal-like evaluation samples from calibration measurements is estimated to be 5 %. This uncertainty is due to differences between signal and calibration samples.

Improving the limits of detection of low background alpha emission measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McNally, Brendan D.; Coleman, Stuart; Harris, Jack T.; Warburton, William K.

2018-01-01

Alpha particle emission - even at extremely low levels - is a significant issue in the search for rare events (e.g., double beta decay, dark matter detection). Traditional measurement techniques require long counting times to measure low sample rates in the presence of much larger instrumental backgrounds. To address this, a commercially available instrument developed by XIA uses pulse shape analysis to discriminate alpha emissions produced by the sample from those produced by other surfaces of the instrument itself. Experience with this system has uncovered two residual sources of background: cosmogenics and radon emanation from internal components. An R&D program is underway to enhance the system and extend the pulse shape analysis technique further, so that these residual sources can be identified and rejected as well. In this paper, we review the theory of operation and pulse shape analysis techniques used in XIA's alpha counter, and briefly explore data suggesting the origin of the residual background terms. We will then present our approach to enhance the system's ability to identify and reject these terms. Finally, we will describe a prototype system that incorporates our concepts and demonstrates their feasibility.

Signal pulse emulation for scintillation detectors using Geant4 Monte Carlo with light tracking simulation

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

Ogawara, R.; Ishikawa, M., E-mail: masayori@med.hokudai.ac.jp

The anode pulse of a photomultiplier tube (PMT) coupled with a scintillator is used for pulse shape discrimination (PSD) analysis. We have developed a novel emulation technique for the PMT anode pulse based on optical photon transport and a PMT response function. The photon transport was calculated using Geant4 Monte Carlo code and the response function with a BC408 organic scintillator. The obtained percentage RMS value of the difference between the measured and simulated pulse with suitable scintillation properties using GSO:Ce (0.4, 1.0, 1.5 mol%), LaBr{sub 3}:Ce and BGO scintillators were 2.41%, 2.58%, 2.16%, 2.01%, and 3.32%, respectively. The proposedmore » technique demonstrates high reproducibility of the measured pulse and can be applied to simulation studies of various radiation measurements.« less

Combination neutron-gamma ray detector

DOEpatents

Stuart, Travis P.; Tipton, Wilbur J.

1976-10-26

A radiation detection system capable of detecting neutron and gamma events and distinguishing therebetween. The system includes a detector for a photomultiplier which utilizes a combination of two phosphor materials, the first of which is in the form of small glass beads which scintillate primarily in response to neutrons and the second of which is a plastic matrix which scintillates in response to gammas. A combination of pulse shape and pulse height discrimination techniques is utilized to provide an essentially complete separation of the neutron and gamma events.

Measurement of ortho-positronium properties in liquid scintillators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perasso, S.; Consolati, G.; Franco, D.; Jollet, C.; Meregaglia, A.; Tonazzo, A.; Yeh, M.

2014-03-01

Pulse shape discrimination is a well-established technique for background rejection in liquid scintillator detectors. It is particularly effective in separating heavy particles from light particles, but not in distinguishing electrons from positrons. This inefficiency can be overtaken by exploiting the formation of ortho-positronium (o-Ps), which alters the time profile of light pulses induced by positrons. We characterized the o-Ps properties in the most commonly used liquid scintillators, i.e. PC, PXE, LAB, OIL and PC + PPO. In addition, we studied the effects of scintillator doping on the o-Ps properties for dopants used in neutrino-less double beta decay experiments (Nd and Te) and in anti-neutrino and neutron detection (Gd and Li respectively). We found that the o-Ps properties are similar in all the tested scintillators, with a lifetime around 3 ns and a formation probability of about 50%. This result indicates that an o-Ps-enhanced pulse shape discrimination can be applied in liquid scintillator detectors for neutrino and anti-neutrino detection and for neutrino-less double beta decay search.

Measurement of ortho-positronium properties in liquid scintillators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perasso, S.; Consolati, G.; Franco, D.; Hans, S.; Jollet, C.; Meregaglia, A.; Tonazzo, A.; Yeh, M.

2013-08-01

Pulse shape discrimination in liquid scintillator detectors is a well-established technique for the discrimination of heavy particles from light particles. Nonetheless, it is not efficient in the separation of electrons and positrons, as they give rise to indistinguishable scintillator responses. This inefficiency can be overtaken through the exploitation of the formation of ortho-Positronium (o-Ps), which alters the time profile of light pulses induced by positrons. We characterized the o-Ps properties in the most commonly used liquid scintillators, i.e. PC, PXE, LAB, OIL and PC + PPO. In addition, we studied the effects of scintillator doping on the o-Ps properties for dopants currently used in neutrino experiments, Gd and Nd. Further measurements for Li-loaded and Tl-loaded liquid scintillators are foreseen. We found that the o-Ps properties are suitable for enhancing the electron-positron discrimination.

Polystyrene-based scintillator with pulse-shape discrimination capability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhmurin, P. N.; Lebedev, V. N.; Titskaya, V. D.; Adadurov, A. F.; Elyseev, D. A.; Pereymak, V. N.

2014-10-01

Polystyrene-based scintillators with 2-phenyl-5-(4-tert-butylephenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (tert-BuPPD) or 2,5-di-(3-methylphenyl)-1,3,4 oxadiazole (m-DMePPD) are proposed for pulse-shape n/γ-discrimination. These scintillators have improved mechanical properties, long operational time and high n/γ discrimination parameter - figure of merit (1.49 and 1.81 in a wide energy region), so they can be used as detectors of fast neutrons in the presence of gamma radiation background.

[Low level alpha activity measurements with pulse shape discrimination--application to the determination of alpha-nuclides in environmental samples].

PubMed

Satoh, K; Noguchi, M; Higuchi, H; Kitamura, K

1984-12-01

Liquid scintillation counting of alpha rays with pulse shape discrimination was applied to the analysis of 226Ra and 239+240Pu in environmental samples and of alpha-emitters in/on a filter paper. The instrument used in this study was either a specially designed detector or a commercial liquid scintillation counter with an automatic sample changer, both of which were connected to the pulse shape discrimination circuit. The background counting rate in alpha energy region of 5-7 MeV was 0.01 or 0.04 cpm/MeV, respectively. The figure of merit indicating the resolving power for alpha- and beta-particles in time spectrum was found to be 5.7 for the commercial liquid scintillation counter.

Neutron time-of-flight spectroscopy measurement using a waveform digitizer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Long-Xiang; Wang, Hong-Wei; Ma, Yu-Gang; Cao, Xi-Guang; Cai, Xiang-Zhou; Chen, Jin-Gen; Zhang, Gui-Lin; Han, Jian-Long; Zhang, Guo-Qiang; Hu, Ji-Feng; Wang, Xiao-He

2016-05-01

The photoneutron source (PNS, phase 1), an electron linear accelerator (linac)-based pulsed neutron facility that uses the time-of-flight (TOF) technique, was constructed for the acquisition of nuclear data from the Thorium Molten Salt Reactor (TMSR) at the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics (SINAP). The neutron detector signal used for TOF calculation, with information on the pulse arrival time, pulse shape, and pulse height, was recorded by using a waveform digitizer (WFD). By using the pulse height and pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) analysis to identify neutrons and γ-rays, the neutron TOF spectrum was obtained by employing a simple electronic design, and a new WFD-based DAQ system was developed and tested in this commissioning experiment. The DAQ system developed is characterized by a very high efficiency with respect to millisecond neutron TOF spectroscopy. Supported by Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Science(TMSR) (XDA02010100), National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)(11475245,No.11305239), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Particle Physics and Cosmology (11DZ2260700)

Performance evaluation for 120 four-layer DOI block detectors of the jPET-D4.

PubMed

Inadama, Naoko; Murayama, Hideo; Ono, Yusuke; Tsuda, Tomoaki; Hamamoto, Manabu; Yamaya, Taiga; Yoshida, Eiji; Shibuya, Kengo; Nishikido, Fumihiko; Takahashi, Kei; Kawai, Hideyuki

2008-01-01

The jPET-D4 is a brain positron emission tomography (PET) scanner that we have developed to meet user demands for high sensitivity and high spatial resolution. For this scanner, we developed a four-layer depth-of-interaction (DOI) detector. The four-layer DOI detector is a key component for the jPET-D4, its performance has great influence on the overall system performance. Previously, we reported the original technique for encoding four-layer DOI. Here, we introduce the final design of the jPET-D4 detector and present the results of an investigation on uniformity in performance of the detector. The performance evaluation was done over the 120 DOI crystal blocks for the detectors, which are to be assembled into the jPET-D4 scanner. We also introduce the crystal assembly method, which is simple enough, even though each DOI crystal block is composed of 1,024 crystal elements. The jPET-D4 detector consists of four layers of 16 x 16 Gd(2)SiO(5) (GSO) crystals and a 256-channel flat-panel position-sensitive photomultiplier tube (256ch FP-PMT). To identify scintillated crystals in the four-layer DOI detector, we use pulse shape discrimination and position discrimination on the two-dimensional (2D) position histogram. For pulse shape discrimination, two kinds of GSO crystals that show different scintillation decay time constants are used in the upper two and lower two layers, respectively. Proper reflector arrangement in the crystal block then allows the scintillated crystals to be identified in these two-layer groupings with two 2D position histograms. We produced the 120 DOI crystal blocks for the jPET-D4 system, and measured their characteristics such as the accuracy of pulse shape discrimination, energy resolution, and the pulse height of the full energy peak. The results show a satisfactory and uniform performance of the four-layer DOI crystal blocks; for example, misidentification rate in each GSO layer is <5% based on pulse shape discrimination, the averaged energy resolutions for the central four crystals of the first (farthest from the FP-PMT), second, third, and 4th layers are 15.7 +/- 1.0, 15.8 +/- 0.6, 17.7 +/- 1.2, and 17.3 +/- 1.4%, respectively, and variation in pulse height of the full energy peak among the four layers is <5% on average.

Lidar Luminance Quantizer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Quilligan, Gerard; DeMonthier, Jeffrey; Suarez, George

2011-01-01

This innovation addresses challenges in lidar imaging, particularly with the detection scheme and the shapes of the detected signals. Ideally, the echoed pulse widths should be extremely narrow to resolve fine detail at high event rates. However, narrow pulses require wideband detection circuitry with increased power dissipation to minimize thermal noise. Filtering is also required to shape each received signal into a form suitable for processing by a constant fraction discriminator (CFD) followed by a time-to-digital converter (TDC). As the intervals between the echoes decrease, the finite bandwidth of the shaping circuits blends the pulses into an analog signal (luminance) with multiple modes, reducing the ability of the CFD to discriminate individual events

Measurement of (222)Rn by absorption in plastic scintillators and alpha/beta pulse shape discrimination.

PubMed

Mitev, Krasimir K

2016-04-01

This work demonstrates that common plastic scintillators like BC-400, EJ-200 and SCSF-81 absorb radon and their scintillation pulse decay times are different for alpha- and beta-particles. This allows the application of pulse shape analysis for separation of the pulses of alpha- and beta-particles emitted by the absorbed radon and its progeny. It is shown that after pulse shape discrimination of beta-particles' pulses, the energy resolution of BC-400 and EJ-200 alpha spectra is sufficient to separate the peaks of (222)Rn, (218)Po and (214)Po and allows (222)Rn measurements that are unaffected by the presence of thoron ((220)Rn) in the environment. The alpha energy resolution of SCSF-81 in the experiments degrades due to imperfect collection of the light emitted inside the scintillating fibers. The experiments with plastic scintillation microspheres (PSM) confirm previous findings of other researchers that PSM have alpha-/beta-discrimination properties and show suitability for radon measurements. The diffusion length of radon in BC-400 and EJ-200 is determined. The pilot experiments show that the plastic scintillators are suitable for radon-in-soil-gas measurements. Overall, the results of this work suggest that it is possible to develop a new type of radon measurement instruments which employ absorption in plastic scintillators, pulse-shape discrimination and analysis of the alpha spectra. Such instruments can be very compact and can perform continuous, real-time radon measurements and thoron detection. They can find applications in various fields from radiation protection to earth sciences. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The angular dependence of pulse shape discrimination and detection sensitivity in cylindrical and cubic EJ-309 organic liquid scintillators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jones, A. R.; Joyce, M. J.

2017-01-01

Liquid scintillators are used widely for neutron detection and for the assay of nuclear materials. However, due to the constituents of the detector and the nitrogen void within the detector cell, usually incorporated to accommodate any expansion that might occur to avoid leakage, fluctuations in detector response have been observed associated with the orientation of the detector when in use. In this work the angular dependence of the pulse-shape discrimination performance in an EJ309 liquid scintillator has been investigated with 252Cf in terms of the separation of γ -ray and neutron events, described quantitatively by the figure-of-merit. A subtle dependence in terms of pulse-shape discrimination is observed. In contrast, a more significant dependence of detection sensitivity with the angle of orientation is evident.

A pulse shape discriminator and an online system for the balloon-borne hard X-ray/gamma-ray detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takahashi, T.; Kamae, T.; Tanaka, M.; Gunji, S.; Miyazuki, S.; Tamura, T.; Sekimoto, Y.; Yamaoka, N.; Nishimura, J.; Yajima, N.

Attention is given to a new kind of phoswich counters (the well-type phoswich counter) that will be capable of detecting very low flux hard X-rays/gamma-rays (40-1000 keV) from astronomical objects. A specially designed pulse-shape discriminator (PSD) selects hard X-rays/gamma-rays that has deposited energy only in the detection part. Sixty-four such counters are assembled into an array where each phoswich element acts as an active shield to the neighboring elements too. The ADCs, the TDCs, the hit-pattern latches, and the precision clock are read out by a VME-based online system, stored on an 8-mm video tape, and transmitted to the ground station. The design and performance of the pulse shape discriminator and the online system are described.

Doped luminescent materials and particle discrimination using same

DOEpatents

Doty, F. Patrick; Allendorf, Mark D; Feng, Patrick L

2014-10-07

Doped luminescent materials are provided for converting excited triplet states to radiative hybrid states. The doped materials may be used to conduct pulse shape discrimination (PSD) using luminescence generated by harvested excited triplet states. The doped materials may also be used to detect particles using spectral shape discrimination (SSD).

Triple pulse shape discrimination and capture-gated spectroscopy in a composite heterogeneous scintillator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharma, M.; Nattress, J.; Wilhelm, K.; Jovanovic, I.

2017-06-01

We demonstrate an all-solid-state design for a composite heterogeneous scintillation detector sensitive to interactions with high-energy photons (gammas), fast neutrons, and thermal neutrons. The scintillator exhibits triple pulse shape discrimination, effectively separating electron recoils, fast neutron recoils, and neutron captures. This is accomplished by combining the properties of two distinct scintillators, whereby a 51-mm diameter, 51-mm tall cylinder of pulse shape discriminating plastic is wrapped by a 320-μm thick sheet of 6LiF:ZnS(Ag), optically coupling the scintillators to each other and to the photomultiplier tube. In this way, the sensitivity to neutron captures is achieved without the need to load the plastic scintillator with a capture agent. We demonstrate a figure of merit of up to 1.2 for fast neutrons/gammas and 5.7 for thermal neutrons/gammas. Intrinsic capture efficiency is found to be 0.46±0.05% and is in good agreement with simulation, while gamma rejection was 10-6 with respect to the capture region and 10-4 with respect to the recoil region using a 300 keVee threshold. Finally, we show an improvement in capture-gated neutron spectroscopy by rejecting accidental gamma coincidences using pulse shape discrimination in the plastic scintillator.

A recoil-proton spectrometer based on a p-i-n diode implementing pulse-shape discrimination.

PubMed

Agosteo, S; D'Angelo, G; Fazzi, A; Foglio Para, A; Pola, A; Ventura, L; Zotto, P

2004-01-01

A recoil-proton spectrometer was created by coupling a p-i-n diode with a polyethylene converter. The maximum detectable energy, imposed by the thickness of the totally depleted layer, is approximately 6 MeV. The minimum detectable energy is limited by the contribution of secondary electrons generated by photons in the detector assembly. This limit is approximately 1.5 MeV at full-depletion voltage and was decreased using pulse-shape discrimination. The diode was set up in the 'reverse-injection' configuration (i.e. with the N+ layer adjacent to the converter). This configuration provides longer collection times for the electron-hole pairs generated by the recoil-protons. The pulse-shape discrimination was based on the zero-crossing time of bipolar signals from a (CR)2-(RC)2 filter. The detector was characterised using monoenergetic neutrons generated in the Van De Graaff CN accelerator at the INFN-Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro. The energy limit for discrimination proved to be approximately 900 keV.

Radon backgrounds in the DEAP-1 liquid-argon-based Dark Matter detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amaudruz, P.-A.; Batygov, M.; Beltran, B.; Boudjemline, K.; Boulay, M. G.; Cai, B.; Caldwell, T.; Chen, M.; Chouinard, R.; Cleveland, B. T.; Contreras, D.; Dering, K.; Duncan, F.; Ford, R.; Gagnon, R.; Giuliani, F.; Gold, M.; Golovko, V. V.; Gorel, P.; Graham, K.; Grant, D. R.; Hakobyan, R.; Hallin, A. L.; Harvey, P.; Hearns, C.; Jillings, C. J.; Kuźniak, M.; Lawson, I.; Li, O.; Lidgard, J.; Liimatainen, P.; Lippincott, W. H.; Mathew, R.; McDonald, A. B.; McElroy, T.; McFarlane, K.; McKinsey, D.; Muir, A.; Nantais, C.; Nicolics, K.; Nikkel, J.; Noble, T.; O'Dwyer, E.; Olsen, K. S.; Ouellet, C.; Pasuthip, P.; Pollmann, T.; Rau, W.; Retiere, F.; Ronquest, M.; Skensved, P.; Sonley, T.; Tang, J.; Vázquez-Jáuregui, E.; Veloce, L.; Ward, M.

2015-03-01

The DEAP-1 7 kg single phase liquid argon scintillation detector was operated underground at SNOLAB in order to test the techniques and measure the backgrounds inherent to single phase detection, in support of the DEAP-3600 Dark Matter detector. Backgrounds in DEAP are controlled through material selection, construction techniques, pulse shape discrimination, and event reconstruction. This report details the analysis of background events observed in three iterations of the DEAP-1 detector, and the measures taken to reduce them. The 222 Rn decay rate in the liquid argon was measured to be between 16 and 26 μBq kg-1. We found that the background spectrum near the region of interest for Dark Matter detection in the DEAP-1 detector can be described considering events from three sources: radon daughters decaying on the surface of the active volume, the expected rate of electromagnetic events misidentified as nuclear recoils due to inefficiencies in the pulse shape discrimination, and leakage of events from outside the fiducial volume due to imperfect position reconstruction. These backgrounds statistically account for all observed events, and they will be strongly reduced in the DEAP-3600 detector due to its higher light yield and simpler geometry.

Update on the MiniCLEAN dark matter experiment

DOE PAGES

Rielage, K.; Akashi-Ronquest, M.; Bodmer, M.; ...

2015-03-24

The direct search for dark matter is entering a period of increased sensitivity to the hypothetical Weakly Interacting Massive Particle (WIMP). One such technology that is being examined is a scintillation only noble liquid experiment, MiniCLEAN. MiniCLEAN utilizes over 500 kg of liquid cryogen to detect nuclear recoils from WIMP dark matter and serves as a demonstration for a future detector of order 50 to 100 tonnes. The liquid cryogen is interchangeable between argon and neon to study the A² dependence of the potential signal and examine backgrounds. MiniCLEAN utilizes a unique modular design with spherical geometry to maximize themore » light yield using cold photomultiplier tubes in a single-phase detector. Pulse shape discrimination techniques are used to separate nuclear recoil signals from electron recoil backgrounds. MiniCLEAN will be spiked with additional ³⁹Ar to demonstrate the effective reach of the pulse shape discrimination capability. Assembly of the experiment is underway at SNOLAB and an update on the project is given.« less

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

Rielage, K.; Akashi-Ronquest, M.; Bodmer, M.

The direct search for dark matter is entering a period of increased sensitivity to the hypothetical Weakly Interacting Massive Particle (WIMP). One such technology that is being examined is a scintillation only noble liquid experiment, MiniCLEAN. MiniCLEAN utilizes over 500 kg of liquid cryogen to detect nuclear recoils from WIMP dark matter and serves as a demonstration for a future detector of order 50 to 100 tonnes. The liquid cryogen is interchangeable between argon and neon to study the A² dependence of the potential signal and examine backgrounds. MiniCLEAN utilizes a unique modular design with spherical geometry to maximize themore » light yield using cold photomultiplier tubes in a single-phase detector. Pulse shape discrimination techniques are used to separate nuclear recoil signals from electron recoil backgrounds. MiniCLEAN will be spiked with additional ³⁹Ar to demonstrate the effective reach of the pulse shape discrimination capability. Assembly of the experiment is underway at SNOLAB and an update on the project is given.« less

Light collection and pulse-shape discrimination in elongated scintillator cells for the PROSPECT reactor antineutrino experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ashenfelter, J.; Balantekin, B.; Band, H. R.; Barclay, G.; Bass, C. D.; Berish, D.; Bowden, N. S.; Bowes, A.; Brodsky, J. P.; Bryan, C. D.; Cherwinka, J. J.; Chu, R.; Classen, T.; Commeford, K.; Davee, D.; Dean, D.; Deichert, G.; Diwan, M. V.; Dolinski, M. J.; Dolph, J.; Dwyer, D. A.; Gaison, J. K.; Galindo-Uribarri, A.; Gilje, K.; Glenn, A.; Goddard, B. W.; Green, M.; Han, K.; Hans, S.; Heeger, K. M.; Heffron, B.; Jaffe, D. E.; Langford, T. J.; Littlejohn, B. R.; Martinez Caicedo, D. A.; McKeown, R. D.; Mendenhall, M. P.; Mueller, P.; Mumm, H. P.; Napolitano, J.; Neilson, R.; Norcini, D.; Pushin, D.; Qian, X.; Romero, E.; Rosero, R.; Saldana, L.; Seilhan, B. S.; Sharma, R.; Sheets, S.; Stemen, N. T.; Surukuchi, P. T.; Varner, R. L.; Viren, B.; Wang, W.; White, B.; White, C.; Wilhelmi, J.; Williams, C.; Wise, T.; Yao, H.; Yeh, M.; Yen, Y. R.; Zangakis, G.; Zhang, C.; Zhang, X.

2015-11-01

A meter-long, 23-liter EJ-309 liquid scintillator detector has been constructed to study the light collection and pulse-shape discrimination performance of elongated scintillator cells for the PROSPECT reactor antineutrino experiment. The magnitude and uniformity of light collection and neutron-gamma discrimination power in the energy range of antineutrino inverse beta decay products have been studied using gamma and spontaneous fission calibration sources deployed along the cell axis. We also study neutron-gamma discrimination and light collection abilities for differing PMT and reflector configurations. Key design features for optimizing MeV-scale response and background rejection capabilities are identified.

A Compton scattering setup for pulse shape discrimination studies in germanium detectors.

PubMed

von Sturm, K; Belogurov, S; Brugnera, R; Garfagnini, A; Lippi, I; Modenese, L; Rosso, D; Turcato, M

2017-07-01

Pulse shape discrimination is an important handle to improve sensitivity in low background experiments. A dedicated setup was built to investigate the response of high-purity germanium detectors to single Compton scattered events. Using properly collimated γ-ray sources, it is possible to select events with known interaction location. The aim is to correlate the position dependent signal shape with geometrical and electrical properties of the detector. We report on design and performance of the setup with a first look on data. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Determination of 243Am by pulse shape discrimination liquid scintillation spectrometry.

PubMed

Alamelu, D; Bhade, S P D; Reddy, P J; Narayan, K K; Shah, P M; Aggarwal, S K

2006-05-01

Alpha specific activity of 243Am was determined using pulse shape discrimination in liquid scintillation spectrometry. 238Pu, 36Cl and 239Np (purified from 243Am) were used for obtaining the spillover of alpha/beta particles into the beta/alpha channels, respectively. Synthetic mixtures of 241Am/243Am were prepared. Using the alpha-specific activity, weights of the stock solutions used and the half-life of 241Am and 243Am isotopes, the expected 241Am/243Am atom ratios in the mixtures were determined and compared with those obtained by thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS). An agreement of about 1% was obtained between the 241Am/243Am atom ratios determined by the two methods. This shows that liquid scintillation counting with pulse shape discrimination can be used for 243Am determination with an accuracy better than 1%.

Light collection and pulse-shape discrimination in elongated scintillator cells for the PROSPECT reactor antineutrino experiment

DOE PAGES

Ashenfelter, J.; Jaffe, D.; Diwan, M. V.; ...

2015-11-06

A meter-long, 23-liter EJ-309 liquid scintillator detector has been constructed to study the light collection and pulse-shape discrimination performance of elongated scintillator cells for the PROSPECT reactor antineutrino experiment. The magnitude and uniformity of light collection and neutron-gamma discrimination power in the energy range of antineutrino inverse beta decay products have been studied using gamma and spontaneous fission calibration sources deployed along the cell axis. We also study neutron-gamma discrimination and light collection abilities for differing PMT and reflector configurations. As a result, key design features for optimizing MeV-scale response and background rejection capabilities are identified.

Generation of programmable temporal pulse shape and applications in micromachining

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, X.; Jordens, B.; Hooper, A.; Baird, B. W.; Ren, W.; Xu, L.; Sun, L.

2009-02-01

In this paper we presented a pulse shaping technique on regular solid-state lasers and the application in semiconductor micromachining. With a conventional Q-switched laser, all of the parameters can be adjusted over only limited ranges, especially the pulse width and pulse shape. However, some laser link processes using traditional laser pulses with pulse widths of a few nanoseconds to a few tens of nanoseconds tend to over-crater in thicker overlying passivation layers and thereby cause IC reliability problems. Use of a laser pulse with a special shape and a fast leading edge, such as tailored pulse, is one technique for controlling link processing. The pulse shaping technique is based on light-loop controlled optical modulation to shape conventional Q-switched solid-state lasers. One advantage of the pulse shaping technique is to provide a tailored pulse shape that can be programmed to have more than one amplitude value. Moreover, it has the capability of providing programmable tailored pulse shapes with discrete amplitude and time duration components. In addition, it provides fast rising and fall time of each pulse at fairly high repetition rate at 355nm with good beam quality. The regular-to-shaped efficiency is up to 50%. We conclude with a discussion of current results for laser processing of semiconductor memory link structures using programmable temporal pulse shapes. The processing experiments showed promising results with shaped pulse.

Improved (10)B-loaded liquid scintillator with pulse-shape discrimination.

PubMed

Greenwood, L R; Chellew, N R

1979-04-01

An improved (10)B-loaded liquid scintillator solution has been developed containing trimethylborate, 1-methylnaphthalene, and 9,10-diphenylanthracene. Cells up to 5 cm in diameter by 15.2 cm long have been prepared and tested with (10)B-loadings up to 7.2% by weight (80% trimethylborate). The solution has excellent light output and pulse-shape discrimination properties and is stable at temperatures as low as -17 degrees C. Neutron efficiency calculations are also presented.

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

Hull, G; Zaitseva, N; Cherepy, N

Efficient, readily-available, low-cost, high-energy neutron detectors can play a central role in detecting illicit nuclear weapons since neutrons are a strong indication for the presence of fissile material such as Plutonium and Highly-Enriched Uranium. The main challenge in detecting fast neutrons consists in the discrimination of the signal from the gamma radiation background. At present, the only well-investigated organic crystal scintillator for fast neutron detection, in a n/{gamma} mixed field, is stilbene, which while offering good pulse shape discrimination, is not widely used because of its limited availability and high cost. In this work we report the results of ourmore » studies made with a number of new organic crystals, which exhibit pulse shape discrimination for detection of fast neutrons. In particular 1,1,4,4-tetraphenyl-1,3-butadiene features a light yield higher than anthracene and a Figure of Merit (FOM) for the pulse shape discrimination better than stilbene. New crystals are good candidates for the low-cost solution growth method, thus representing promising organic scintillators for widespread deployment for high-energy neutron detection.« less

Study of pulse shape discrimination for a neutron phoswich detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hartman, Jessica; Barzilov, Alexander

2017-09-01

A portable phoswich detector capable of differentiating between fast neutrons and thermal neutrons, and photons was developed. The detector design is based on the use of two solid-state scintillators with dissimilar scintillation time properties coupled with a single optical sensor: a 6Li loaded glass and EJ-299-33A plastic. The on-the-fly digital pulse shape discrimination and the wavelet treatment of measured waveforms were employed in the data analysis. The instrument enabled neutron spectrum evaluation.

Compton suppression in BEGe detectors by digital pulse shape analysis.

PubMed

Mi, Yu-Hao; Ma, Hao; Zeng, Zhi; Cheng, Jian-Ping; Li, Jun-Li; Zhang, Hui

2017-03-01

A new method of pulse shape discrimination (PSD) for BEGe detectors is developed to suppress Compton-continuum by digital pulse shape analysis (PSA), which helps reduce the Compton background level in gamma ray spectrometry. A decision parameter related to the rise time of a pulse shape was presented. The method was verified by experiments using 60 Co and 137 Cs sources. The result indicated that the 60 Co Peak to Compton ratio and the Cs-Peak to Co-Compton ratio could be improved by more than two and three times, respectively. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Scintillation decay time and pulse shape discrimination in oxygenated and deoxygenated solutions of linear alkylbenzene for the SNO+ experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

O'Keeffe, H. M.; O'Sullivan, E.; Chen, M. C.

2011-06-01

The SNO+ liquid scintillator experiment is under construction in the SNOLAB facility in Canada. The success of this experiment relies upon accurate characterization of the liquid scintillator, linear alkylbenzene (LAB). In this paper, scintillation decay times for alpha and electron excitations in LAB with 2 g/L PPO are presented for both oxygenated and deoxygenated solutions. While deoxygenation is expected to improve pulse shape discrimination in liquid scintillators, it is not commonly demonstrated in the literature. This paper shows that for linear alkylbenzene, deoxygenation improves discrimination between electron and alpha excitations in the scintillator.

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

Lintereur, Azaree T.; Ely, James H.; Stave, Jean A.

The goal of this was research effort was to test the ability of two poly vinyltoluene research samples to produce recordable, distinguishable signals in response to gamma rays and neutrons. Pulse shape discrimination was performed to identify if the signal was generated by a gamma ray or a neutron. A standard figure of merit for pulse shape discrimination was used to quantify the gamma-neutron pulse separation. Measurements were made with gamma and neutron sources with and without shielding. The best figure of merit obtained was 1.77; this figure of merit was achieved with the first sample in response to anmore » un-moderated 252Cf source shielded with 5.08 cm of lead.« less

(6)Li-loaded liquid scintillators with pulse shape discrimination.

PubMed

Greenwood, L R; Chellew, N R; Zarwell, G A

1979-04-01

Excellent pulse height and pulse shape discrimination performance has been obtained for liquid scintillators containing as much as 10 wt.% (6)Li-salicylate dissolved in a toluene-methanol solvent system using naphthalene and 9,10 diphenylanthracene as intermediate and secondary solutes. This solution has improved performance at higher (6)Li-loading than solutions in dioxane-water solvent systems, and remains stable at temperatures as low as -10 degrees C. Cells as large as 5 cm in diameter and 15.2 deep have been prepared which have a higher light output for slow neutron detection than (10)B-loaded liquids. Neutron efficiency calculations are also presented.

Background rejection of n+ surface events in GERDA Phase II

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lehnert, Björn

2016-05-01

The GERDA experiment searches for neutrinoless double beta (0vββ) decay in 76Ge using an array of high purity germanium (HPGe) detectors immersed in liquid argon (LAr). Phase II of the experiment uses 30 new broad energy germanium (BEGe) detectors with superior pulse shape discrimination capabilities compared to the previously used semi-coaxial detector design. By far the largest background component for BEGe detectors in GERDA are n+-surface events from 42K β decays which are intrinsic in LAr. The β particles with up to 3.5 MeV can traverse the 0.5 to 0.9 mm thick electrode and deposit energy within the region of interest for the 0vββ decay. However, those events have particular pulse shape features allowing for a strong discrimination. The understanding and simulation of this background, showing a reduction by up to a factor 145 with pulse shape discrimination alone, is presented in this work.

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.

Improved pulse shape discriminator for fast neutron-gamma ray detection system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lockwood, J. A.; St. Onge, R.

1969-01-01

Discriminator in nuclear particle detection system distinguishes nuclear particle type and energy among many different nuclear particles. Discriminator incorporates passive, linear circuit elements so that it will operate over a wide dynamic range.

General purpose pulse shape analysis for fast scintillators implemented in digital readout electronics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asztalos, Stephen J.; Hennig, Wolfgang; Warburton, William K.

2016-01-01

Pulse shape discrimination applied to certain fast scintillators is usually performed offline. In sufficiently high-event rate environments data transfer and storage become problematic, which suggests a different analysis approach. In response, we have implemented a general purpose pulse shape analysis algorithm in the XIA Pixie-500 and Pixie-500 Express digital spectrometers. In this implementation waveforms are processed in real time, reducing the pulse characteristics to a few pulse shape analysis parameters and eliminating time-consuming waveform transfer and storage. We discuss implementation of these features, their advantages, necessary trade-offs and performance. Measurements from bench top and experimental setups using fast scintillators and XIA processors are presented.

Plastic scintillators with efficient neutron/gamma pulse shape discrimination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zaitseva, Natalia; Rupert, Benjamin L.; PaweŁczak, Iwona; Glenn, Andrew; Martinez, H. Paul; Carman, Leslie; Faust, Michelle; Cherepy, Nerine; Payne, Stephen

2012-03-01

A possibility of manufacturing plastic scintillators with efficient neutron/gamma pulse shape discrimination (PSD) is demonstrated using a system of a polyvinyltoluene (PVT) polymer matrix loaded with a scintillating dye, 2,5-diphenyloxazole (PPO). Similarities and differences of conditions leading to the rise of PSD in liquid and solid organic scintillators are discussed based on the classical model of excited state interaction and delayed light formation. First characterization results are presented to show that PSD in plastic scintillators can be of the similar magnitude or even higher than in standard commercial liquid scintillators.

Gamma-ray spectroscopy and pulse shape discrimination with a plastic scintillator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Loef, E.; Markosyan, G.; Shirwadkar, U.; McClish, M.; Shah, K.

2015-07-01

The scintillation properties of a novel plastic scintillator loaded with an organolead compound are presented. Under X-ray and gamma-ray excitation, emission is observed peaking at 435 nm. The scintillation light output is 9000 ph/MeV. An energy resolution (full width at half maximum over the peak position) of about 16% was observed for the 662 keV full absorption peak. Excellent pulse shape discrimination between neutrons and gamma-rays with a Figure of Merit of 2.6 at 1 MeVee was observed.

Fast neutron-gamma discrimination on neutron emission profile measurement on JT-60U.

PubMed

Ishii, K; Shinohara, K; Ishikawa, M; Baba, M; Isobe, M; Okamoto, A; Kitajima, S; Sasao, M

2010-10-01

A digital signal processing (DSP) system is applied to stilbene scintillation detectors of the multichannel neutron emission profile monitor in JT-60U. Automatic analysis of the neutron-γ pulse shape discrimination is a key issue to diminish the processing time in the DSP system, and it has been applied using the two-dimensional (2D) map. Linear discriminant function is used to determine the dividing line between neutron events and γ-ray events on a 2D map. In order to verify the validity of the dividing line determination, the pulse shape discrimination quality is evaluated. As a result, the γ-ray contamination in most of the beam heating phase was negligible compared with the statistical error with 10 ms time resolution.

Fast neutron-gamma discrimination on neutron emission profile measurement on JT-60U

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

Ishii, K.; Okamoto, A.; Kitajima, S.

2010-10-15

A digital signal processing (DSP) system is applied to stilbene scintillation detectors of the multichannel neutron emission profile monitor in JT-60U. Automatic analysis of the neutron-{gamma} pulse shape discrimination is a key issue to diminish the processing time in the DSP system, and it has been applied using the two-dimensional (2D) map. Linear discriminant function is used to determine the dividing line between neutron events and {gamma}-ray events on a 2D map. In order to verify the validity of the dividing line determination, the pulse shape discrimination quality is evaluated. As a result, the {gamma}-ray contamination in most of themore » beam heating phase was negligible compared with the statistical error with 10 ms time resolution.« less

The UHURU X-ray instrument.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jagoda, N.; Austin, G.; Mickiewicz, S.; Goddard, R.

1972-01-01

On Dec. 12, 1970, the UHURU X-ray observatory was launched into equatorial orbit with the prime mission of conducting an all-sky survey of astronomical X-ray sources with intensities of 0.00005 Sco-X1 or greater. The X-ray detection system contains 12 gas-filled proportional counters, 6 behind each collimator. The aspect system is discussed together with the structure, the pulse height analyzer, the command system, the calibration system, and the power distribution system. Pulse shape discrimination circuits used on UHURU use the same technique that was used on the system originally developed for large area proportional counters described by Gorenstein and Mickiewicz (1968).

Development of a homogeneous pulse shape discriminating flow-cell radiation detection system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hastie, K. H.; DeVol, T. A.; Fjeld, R. A.

1999-02-01

A homogeneous flow-cell radiation detection system which utilizes coincidence counting and pulse shape discrimination circuitry was assembled and tested with five commercially available liquid scintillation cocktails. Two of the cocktails, Ultima Flo (Packard) and Mono Flow 5 (National Diagnostics) have low viscosities and are intended for flow applications; and three of the cocktails, Optiphase HiSafe 3 (Wallac), Ultima Gold AB (Packard), and Ready Safe (Beckman), have higher viscosities and are intended for static applications. The low viscosity cocktails were modified with 1-methylnaphthalene to increase their capability for alpha/beta pulse shape discrimination. The sample loading and pulse shape discriminator setting were optimized to give the lowest minimum detectable concentration for alpha radiation in a 30 s count time. Of the higher viscosity cocktails, Optiphase HiSafe 3 had the lowest minimum detectable activities for alpha and beta radiation, 0.2 and 0.4 Bq/ml for 233U and 90Sr/ 90Y, respectively, for a 30 s count time. The sample loading was 70% and the corresponding alpha/beta spillover was 5.5%. Of the low viscosity cocktails, Mono Flow 5 modified with 2.5% (by volume) 1-methylnaphthalene resulted in the lowest minimum detectable activities for alpha and beta radiation; 0.3 and 0.5 Bq/ml for 233U and 90Sr/ 90Y, respectively, for a 30 s count time. The sample loading was 50%, and the corresponding alpha/beta spillover was 16.6%. HiSafe 3 at a 10% sample loading was used to evaluate the system under simulated flow conditions.

Coincidence measurements in α/β/γ spectrometry with phoswich detectors using digital pulse shape discrimination analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Celis, B.; de la Fuente, R.; Williart, A.; de Celis Alonso, B.

2007-09-01

A novel system has been developed for the detection of low radioactivity levels using coincidence techniques. The device combines a phoswich detector for α/β/γ ray recognition with a fast digital card for electronic pulse analysis. The detector is able to discriminate different types of radiation in a mixed α/β/γ field and can be used in a coincidence mode by identifying the composite signal produced by the simultaneous detection of β particles in a plastic scintillator and γ rays in an NaI(Tl) scintillator. Use of a coincidence technique with phoswich detectors was proposed recently to verify the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, which made it necessary to monitor the low levels of xenon radioisotopes produced by underground nuclear explosions. Previous studies have shown that combining CaF 2(Eu) for β ray detection and NaI(Tl) for γ ray detection makes it difficult to identify the coincidence signals because of the similar fluorescence decay times of the two scintillators. With the device proposed here, it is possible to identify the coincidence events owing to the short fluorescence decay time of the plastic scintillator. The sensitivity of the detector may be improved by employing liquid scintillators, which allow low radioactivity levels from actinides to be measured when present in environmental samples. The device developed is simpler to use than conventional coincidence equipment because it uses a single detector and electronic circuit, and it offers fast and precise analysis of the coincidence signals by employing digital pulse shape analysis.

Fast neutron flux analyzer with real-time digital pulse shape discrimination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ivanova, A. A.; Zubarev, P. V.; Ivanenko, S. V.; Khilchenko, A. D.; Kotelnikov, A. I.; Polosatkin, S. V.; Puryga, E. A.; Shvyrev, V. G.; Sulyaev, Yu. S.

2016-08-01

Investigation of subthermonuclear plasma confinement and heating in magnetic fusion devices such as GOL-3 and GDT at the Budker Institute (Novosibirsk, Russia) requires sophisticated equipment for neutron-, gamma- diagnostics and upgrading data acquisition systems with online data processing. Measurement of fast neutron flux with stilbene scintillation detectors raised the problem of discrimination of the neutrons (n) from background cosmic particles (muons) and neutron-induced gamma rays (γ). This paper describes a fast neutron flux analyzer with real-time digital pulse-shape discrimination (DPSD) algorithm FPGA-implemented for the GOL-3 and GDT devices. This analyzer was tested and calibrated with the help of 137Cs and 252Cf radiation sources. The Figures of Merit (FOM) calculated for different energy cuts are presented.

Time-over-threshold for pulse shape discrimination in a time-of-flight phoswich PET detector.

PubMed

Chang, Chen-Ming; Cates, Joshua W; Levin, Craig S

2017-01-07

It is well known that a PET detector capable of measuring both photon time-of-flight (TOF) and depth-of-interaction (DOI) improves the image quality and accuracy. Phoswich designs have been realized in PET detectors to measure DOI for more than a decade. However, PET detectors based on phoswich designs put great demand on the readout circuits, which have to differentiate the pulse shape produced by different crystal layers. A simple pulse shape discrimination approach is required to realize the phoswich designs in a clinical PET scanner, which consists of thousands of scintillation crystal elements. In this work, we studied time-over-threshold (ToT) as a pulse shape parameter for DOI. The energy, timing and DOI performance were evaluated for a phoswich detector design comprising [Formula: see text] mm LYSO:Ce crystal optically coupled to [Formula: see text] mm calcium co-doped LSO:Ce,Ca(0.4%) crystal read out by a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM). A DOI accuracy of 97.2% has been achieved for photopeak events using the proposed time-over-threshold (ToT) processing. The energy resolution without correction for SiPM non-linearity was [Formula: see text]% and [Formula: see text]% FWHM at 511 keV for LYSO and LSO crystal layers, respectively. The coincidence time resolution for photopeak events ranges from 164.6 ps to 183.1 ps FWHM, depending on the layer combinations. The coincidence time resolution for inter-crystal scatter events ranges from 214.6 ps to 418.3 ps FWHM, depending on the energy windows applied. These results show great promises of using ToT for pulse shape discrimination in a TOF phoswich detector since a ToT measurement can be easily implemented in readout electronics.

Pulse-shape discrimination and energy quenching of alpha particles in Cs 2LiLaBr 6:Ce 3+

DOE PAGES

Mesick, Katherine Elizabeth; Coupland, Daniel David S.; Stonehill, Laura Catherine

2016-10-19

Cs 2LiLaBr 6:Ce 3+ (CLLB) is an elpasolite scintillator that offers excellent linearity and gamma-ray energy resolution and sensitivity to thermal neutrons with the ability to perform pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) to distinguish gammas and neutrons. Our investigation of CLLB has indicated the presence of intrinsic radioactive alpha background that we have determined to be from actinium contamination of the lanthanum component. We measured the pulse shapes for gamma, thermal neutron, and alpha events and determined that PSD can be performed to separate the alpha background with a moderate figure of merit of 0.98. Here, we also measured the electron-equivalent-energy ofmore » the alpha particles in CLLB and simulated the intrinsic alpha background from 227Ac to determine the quenching factor of the alphas.« less

Optimization of a Fast Neutron Scintillator for Real-Time Pulse Shape Discrimination in the Transient Reactor Test Facility (TREAT) Hodoscope

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

Johnson, James T.; Thompson, Scott J.; Watson, Scott M.

We present a multi-channel, fast neutron/gamma ray detector array system that utilizes ZnS(Ag) scintillator detectors. The system employs field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) to do real-time all digital neutron/gamma ray discrimination with pulse height and time histograms to allow count rates in excess of 1,000,000 pulses per second per channel. The system detector number is scalable in blocks of 16 channels.

Measurement of the scintillation time spectra and pulse-shape discrimination of low-energy β and nuclear recoils in liquid argon with DEAP-1

DOE PAGES

Amaudruz, P. -A.; Batygov, M.; Beltran, B.; ...

2016-09-17

The DEAP-1 low-background liquid argon detector has been used to measure scintillation pulse shapes of beta decays and nuclear recoil events and to demonstrate the feasibility of pulse-shape discrimination down to an electron-equivalent energy of 20 keV ee. The relative intensities of singlet/triplet states in liquid argon have been measured as a function of energy between 15 and 500 keVee for both beta and nuclear recoils. Using a triple-coincidence tag we find the fraction of beta events that are misidentified as nuclear recoils to be less than 6 x 10 -8 between 43-86 keV ee and that the discrimination parametermore » agrees with a simple analytic model. The discrimination measurement is currently limited by nuclear recoils induced by cosmic-ray generated neutrons, and is expected to improve by operating the detector underground at SNOLAB. The analytic model predicts a beta misidentification fraction of 10 -10 for an electron-equivalent energy threshold of 20 keV ee. This reduction allows for a sensitive search for spin-independent scattering of WIMPs from 1000 kg of liquid argon with a WIMP-nucleon cross-section sensitivity of 10 -46 cm 2.« less

Measurement of the scintillation time spectra and pulse-shape discrimination of low-energy β and nuclear recoils in liquid argon with DEAP-1

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

Amaudruz, P. -A.; Batygov, M.; Beltran, B.

The DEAP-1 low-background liquid argon detector has been used to measure scintillation pulse shapes of beta decays and nuclear recoil events and to demonstrate the feasibility of pulse-shape discrimination down to an electron-equivalent energy of 20 keV ee. The relative intensities of singlet/triplet states in liquid argon have been measured as a function of energy between 15 and 500 keVee for both beta and nuclear recoils. Using a triple-coincidence tag we find the fraction of beta events that are misidentified as nuclear recoils to be less than 6 x 10 -8 between 43-86 keV ee and that the discrimination parametermore » agrees with a simple analytic model. The discrimination measurement is currently limited by nuclear recoils induced by cosmic-ray generated neutrons, and is expected to improve by operating the detector underground at SNOLAB. The analytic model predicts a beta misidentification fraction of 10 -10 for an electron-equivalent energy threshold of 20 keV ee. This reduction allows for a sensitive search for spin-independent scattering of WIMPs from 1000 kg of liquid argon with a WIMP-nucleon cross-section sensitivity of 10 -46 cm 2.« less

Toward a fractal spectrum approach for neutron and gamma pulse shape discrimination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Ming-Zhe; Liu, Bing-Qi; Zuo, Zhuo; Wang, Lei; Zan, Gui-Bin; Tuo, Xian-Guo

2016-06-01

Accurately selecting neutron signals and discriminating γ signals from a mixed radiation field is a key research issue in neutron detection. This paper proposes a fractal spectrum discrimination approach by means of different spectral characteristics of neutrons and γ rays. Figure of merit and average discriminant error ratio are used together to evaluate the discrimination effects. Different neutron and γ signals with various noise and pulse pile-up are simulated according to real data in the literature. The proposed approach is compared with the digital charge integration and pulse gradient methods. It is found that the fractal approach exhibits the best discrimination performance, followed by the digital charge integration method and the pulse gradient method, respectively. The fractal spectrum approach is not sensitive to high frequency noise and pulse pile-up. This means that the proposed approach has superior performance for effective and efficient anti-noise and high discrimination in neutron detection. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41274109), Sichuan Youth Science and Technology Innovation Research Team (2015TD0020), Scientific and Technological Support Program of Sichuan Province (2013FZ0022), and the Creative Team Program of Chengdu University of Technology.

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

Agnes, P.; Albuquerque, I. F. M.; Alexander, T.

Geant4-based Monte Carlo package named G4DS has been developed to simulate the response of DarkSide-50, an experiment operating since 2013 at LNGS, designed to detect WIMP interactions in liquid argon. In the process of WIMP searches, DarkSide-50 has achieved two fundamental milestones: the rejection of electron recoil background with a power of ~10^7, using the pulse shape discrimination technique, and the measurement of the residual 39Ar contamination in underground argon, ~3 orders of magnitude lower with respect to atmospheric argon.

Deuterated scintillators and their application to neutron spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Febbraro, M.; Lawrence, C. C.; Zhu, H.; Pierson, B.; Torres-Isea, R. O.; Becchetti, F. D.; Kolata, J. J.; Riggins, J.

2015-06-01

Deuterated scintillators have been used as a tool for neutron spectroscopy without Neutron Time-of-Flight (n-ToF) for more than 30 years. This article will provide a brief historical overview of the technique and current uses of deuterated scintillators in the UM-DSA and DESCANT arrays. Pulse-shape discrimination and spectrum unfolding with the maximum-likelihood expectation maximization algorithm will be discussed. Experimental unfolding and cross section results from measurements of (d,n), (3He,n) and (α,n) reactions are shown.

Pulse-shape discrimination scintillators for homeland security applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ellis, Mark E.; Duroe, Kirk; Kendall, Paul A.

2016-09-01

An extensive programme of research has been conducted for scintillation liquids and plastics capable of neutron-gamma discrimination for deployment in future passive and active Homeland Security systems to provide protection against radiological and nuclear threats. The more established detection materials such as EJ-301 and EJ-309 are compared with novel materials such as EJ-299-33 and p-terphenyl. This research also explores the benefits that can be gained from improvements in the analogue-to-digital sampling rate and sample bit resolution. Results are presented on the Pulse Shape Discrimination performance of various detector and data acquisition combinations and how optimum configurations from these studies have been developed into field-ready detector arrays. Early results from application-specific experimental configurations of multi-element detector arrays are presented.

Measured neutron and gamma spectra from californium-252 in a tissue-equivalent medium.

PubMed

Elson, H R; Stupar, T A; Shapiro, A; Kereiakes, J G

1979-01-01

A method of experimentally obtaining both neutron and gamma-ray spectra in a scattering medium is described. The method utilizes a liquid-organic scintillator (NE-213) coupled with a pulse-shape discrimination circuit. This allows the separation of the neutron-induced pulse-height data from the gamma-ray pulse-height data. Using mathematical unfolding techniques, the two sets of pulse-height data were transformed to obtain the neutron and gamma-ray energy spectra. A small spherical detector was designed and constructed to reduce the errors incurred by attempting spectral measurements in a scattering medium. Demonstration of the utility of the system to obtain the neutron and gamma-ray spectra in a scattering medium was performed by characterizing the neutron and gamma-ray spectra at various sites about a 3.7-microgram (1.5 cm active length) californium-252 source in a tissue-equivalent medium.

A combined time-of-flight and depth-of-interaction detector for total-body positron emission tomography.

PubMed

Berg, Eric; Roncali, Emilie; Kapusta, Maciej; Du, Junwei; Cherry, Simon R

2016-02-01

In support of a project to build a total-body PET scanner with an axial field-of-view of 2 m, the authors are developing simple, cost-effective block detectors with combined time-of-flight (TOF) and depth-of-interaction (DOI) capabilities. This work focuses on investigating the potential of phosphor-coated crystals with conventional PMT-based block detector readout to provide DOI information while preserving timing resolution. The authors explored a variety of phosphor-coating configurations with single crystals and crystal arrays. Several pulse shape discrimination techniques were investigated, including decay time, delayed charge integration (DCI), and average signal shapes. Pulse shape discrimination based on DCI provided the lowest DOI positioning error: 2 mm DOI positioning error was obtained with single phosphor-coated crystals while 3-3.5 mm DOI error was measured with the block detector module. Minimal timing resolution degradation was observed with single phosphor-coated crystals compared to uncoated crystals, and a timing resolution of 442 ps was obtained with phosphor-coated crystals in the block detector compared to 404 ps without phosphor coating. Flood maps showed a slight degradation in crystal resolvability with phosphor-coated crystals; however, all crystals could be resolved. Energy resolution was degraded by 3%-7% with phosphor-coated crystals compared to uncoated crystals. These results demonstrate the feasibility of obtaining TOF-DOI capabilities with simple block detector readout using phosphor-coated crystals.

Pulse-shape discrimination of the new plastic scintillators in neutron-gamma mixed field using fast digitizer card

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jančář, A.; Kopecký, Z.; Dressler, J.; Veškrna, M.; Matěj, Z.; Granja, C.; Solar, M.

2015-11-01

Recently invented plastic scintillator EJ-299-33 enables pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) and thus measurement of neutron and photon spectra in mixed fields. In this work we compare the PSD properties of EJ-299-33 plastic and the well-known NE-213 liquid scintillator in monoenergetic neutron fields generated by the Van de Graaff accelerator using the 3H(d, n)4He reaction. Pulses from the scintillators are processed by a newly developed digital measuring system employing the fast digitizer card. This card contains two AD converters connected to the measuring computer via 10 Gbps optical ethernet. The converters operate with a resolution of 12 bits and have two differential inputs with a sampling frequency 1 GHz. The resulting digital channels with different gains are merged into one composite channel with a higher digital resolution in a wide dynamic range of energies. Neutron signals are fully discriminated from gamma signals. Results are presented.

High-symmetry organic scintillator systems

DOEpatents

Feng, Patrick L.

2018-02-06

An ionizing radiation detector or scintillator system includes a scintillating material comprising an organic crystalline compound selected to generate photons in response to the passage of ionizing radiation. The organic compound has a crystalline symmetry of higher order than monoclinic, for example an orthorhombic, trigonal, tetragonal, hexagonal, or cubic symmetry. A photodetector is optically coupled to the scintillating material, and configured to generate electronic signals having pulse shapes based on the photons generated in the scintillating material. A discriminator is coupled to the photon detector, and configured to discriminate between neutrons and gamma rays in the ionizing radiation based on the pulse shapes of the output signals.

High-symmetry organic scintillator systems

DOEpatents

Feng, Patrick L.

2017-07-18

An ionizing radiation detector or scintillator system includes a scintillating material comprising an organic crystalline compound selected to generate photons in response to the passage of ionizing radiation. The organic compound has a crystalline symmetry of higher order than monoclinic, for example an orthorhombic, trigonal, tetragonal, hexagonal, or cubic symmetry. A photodetector is optically coupled to the scintillating material, and configured to generate electronic signals having pulse shapes based on the photons generated in the scintillating material. A discriminator is coupled to the photon detector, and configured to discriminate between neutrons and gamma rays in the ionizing radiation based on the pulse shapes of the output signals.

High-symmetry organic scintillator systems

DOEpatents

Feng, Patrick L.

2017-06-14

An ionizing radiation detector or scintillator system includes a scintillating material comprising an organic crystalline compound selected to generate photons in response to the passage of ionizing radiation. The organic compound has a crystalline symmetry of higher order than monoclinic, for example an orthorhombic, trigonal, tetragonal, hexagonal, or cubic symmetry. A photodetector is optically coupled to the scintillating material, and configured to generate electronic signals having pulse shapes based on the photons generated in the scintillating material. A discriminator is coupled to the photon detector, and configured to discriminate between neutrons and gamma rays in the ionizing radiation based on the pulse shapes of the output signals.

High-symmetry organic scintillator systems

DOEpatents

Feng, Patrick L.

2017-09-05

An ionizing radiation detector or scintillator system includes a scintillating material comprising an organic crystalline compound selected to generate photons in response to the passage of ionizing radiation. The organic compound has a crystalline symmetry of higher order than monoclinic, for example an orthorhombic, trigonal, tetragonal, hexagonal, or cubic symmetry. A photodetector is optically coupled to the scintillating material, and configured to generate electronic signals having pulse shapes based on the photons generated in the scintillating material. A discriminator is coupled to the photon detector, and configured to discriminate between neutrons and gamma rays in the ionizing radiation based on the pulse shapes of the output signals.

High-symmetry organic scintillator systems

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

Feng, Patrick L.

An ionizing radiation detector or scintillator system includes a scintillating material comprising an organic crystalline compound selected to generate photons in response to the passage of ionizing radiation. The organic compound has a crystalline symmetry of higher order than monoclinic, for example an orthorhombic, trigonal, tetragonal, hexagonal, or cubic symmetry. A photodetector is optically coupled to the scintillating material, and configured to generate electronic signals having pulse shapes based on the photons generated in the scintillating material. A discriminator is coupled to the photon detector, and configured to discriminate between neutrons and gamma rays in the ionizing radiation based onmore » the pulse shapes of the output signals.« less

Temperature dependence of alpha-induced scintillation in the 1,1,4,4-tetraphenyl-1,3-butadiene wavelength shifter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Veloce, L. M.; Kuźniak, M.; Di Stefano, P. C. F.; Noble, A. J.; Boulay, M. G.; Nadeau, P.; Pollmann, T.; Clark, M.; Piquemal, M.; Schreiner, K.

2016-06-01

Liquid noble based particle detectors often use the organic wavelength shifter 1,1,4,4-tetraphenyl-1,3-butadiene (TPB) which shifts UV scintillation light to the visible regime, facilitating its detection, but which also can scintillate on its own. Dark matter searches based on this type of detector commonly rely on pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) for background mitigation. Alpha-induced scintillation therefore represents a possible background source in dark matter searches. The timing characteristics of this scintillation determine whether this background can be mitigated through PSD. We have therefore characterized the pulse shape and light yield of alpha induced TPB scintillation at temperatures ranging from 300 K down to 4 K, with special attention given to liquid noble gas temperatures. We find that the pulse shapes and light yield depend strongly on temperature. In addition, the significant contribution of long time constants above ~50 K provides an avenue for discrimination between alpha decay events in TPB and nuclear-recoil events in noble liquid detectors.

Unitary scintillation detector and system

DOEpatents

McElhaney, Stephanie A.; Chiles, Marion M.

1994-01-01

The invention is a unitary alpha, beta, and gamma scintillation detector and system for sensing the presence of alpha, beta, and gamma radiations selectively or simultaneously. The scintillators are mounted in a light-tight housing provided with an entrance window for admitting alpha, beta, and gamma radiation and excluding ambient light from the housing. Light pulses from each scintillator have different decay constants that are converted by a photosensitive device into corresponding differently shaped electrical pulses. A pulse discrimination system identifies the electrical pulses by their respective pulse shapes which are determined by decay time. The identified electrical pulses are counted in separate channel analyzers to indicate the respective levels of sensed alpha, beta, and gamma radiations.

Unitary scintillation detector and system

DOEpatents

McElhaney, S.A.; Chiles, M.M.

1994-05-31

The invention is a unitary alpha, beta, and gamma scintillation detector and system for sensing the presence of alpha, beta, and gamma radiations selectively or simultaneously. The scintillators are mounted in a light-tight housing provided with an entrance window for admitting alpha, beta, and gamma radiation and excluding ambient light from the housing. Light pulses from each scintillator have different decay constants that are converted by a photosensitive device into corresponding differently shaped electrical pulses. A pulse discrimination system identifies the electrical pulses by their respective pulse shapes which are determined by decay time. The identified electrical pulses are counted in separate channel analyzers to indicate the respective levels of sensed alpha, beta, and gamma radiations. 10 figs.

Pulse shape discrimination of plastic scintillator EJ 299-33 with radioactive sources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pagano, E. V.; Chatterjee, M. B.; De Filippo, E.; Russotto, P.; Auditore, L.; Cardella, G.; Geraci, E.; Gnoffo, B.; Guazzoni, C.; Lanzalone, G.; De Luca, S.; Maiolino, C.; Martorana, N. S.; Pagano, A.; Papa, M.; Parsani, T.; Pirrone, S.; Politi, G.; Porto, F.; Quattrocchi, L.; Rizzo, F.; Trifirò, A.; Trimarchi, M.

2018-05-01

The present study has been carried out in order to investigate about the possibility of using EJ 299-33 scintillator in a multi-detector array to detect neutrons along with light charged particles. In a reaction induced by stable and exotic heavy-ions beams, where copious production of neutrons and other light charged particles occurs, discrimination with low identification threshold of these particles are of great importance. In view of this, EJ 299-33 scintillator having dimension of 3 cm × 3 cm × 3 cm backed by a photomultiplier tube was tested and used under vacuum to detect neutrons, gamma-rays and alpha particles emitted by radioactive sources. Anode pulses from the photomultiplier tube were digitized through GET electronics, recorded and stored in a data acquisition system for the purpose of an off-line analysis. The measurements, under vacuum and low background conditions, show good pulse shape discrimination properties characterized by low identification threshold for neutrons, gamma-rays and alpha particles. The Figures of Merit for neutron-gamma and alpha particles-gamma discriminations have been evaluated together with the energy resolution for gamma-ray and alpha particles.

Structural Origins of Scintillation: Metal Organic Frameworks as a Nanolaboratory

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-06-01

scintillation response and thus the ability to perform neutron/gamma particle discrimination via pulse-shape discrimination ( PSD ). Unfortunately, the...defined an alternative approach towards particle discrimination that addresses the limitations of conventional PSD organic scintillators. This approach...discrimination ( PSD ), for which the prompt component of the scintillation response is quenched for high specific energy loss (dE/dX) particles such as protons

Time-over-threshold for pulse shape discrimination in a time-of-flight phoswich PET detector

PubMed Central

Chang, Chen-Ming; Cates, Joshua W.; Levin, Craig S.

2016-01-01

It is well known that a PET detector capable of measuring both photon time-of-flight (TOF) and depth-of-interaction (DOI) improves the image quality and accuracy. Phoswich designs have been realized in PET detectors to measure DOI for more than a decade. However, PET detectors based on phoswich designs put great demand on the readout circuits, which have to differentiate the pulse shape produced by different crystal layers. A simple pulse shape discrimination approach is required to realize the phoswich designs in a clinical PET scanner, which consists of thousands of scintillation crystal elements. In this work, we studied time-over-threshold (ToT) as a pulse shape parameter for DOI. The energy, timing and DOI performance were evaluated for a phoswich detector design comprising 3 mm × 3 mm × 10 mm LYSO:Ce crystal optically coupled to 3 mm × 3 mm × 10 mm calcium co-doped LSO:Ce,Ca(0.4%) crystal read out by a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM). A DOI accuracy of 97.2% has been achieved for photopeak events using the proposed time-over-threshold (ToT) processing. The energy resolution without correction for SiPM non-linearity was 9.7 ± 0.2% and 11.3 ± 0.2% FWHM at 511 keV for LYSO and LSO crystal layers, respectively. The coincidence time resolution for photopeak events ranges from 164.6 ps to 183.1 ps FWHM, depending on the layer combinations. The coincidence time resolution for inter-crystal scatter events ranges from 214.6 ps to 418.3 ps FWHM, depending on the energy windows applied. These results show great promises of using ToT for pulse shape discrimination in a TOF phoswich detector since a ToT measurement can be easily implemented in readout electronics. PMID:27991437

Hunting the Dark Matter with DEAP/CLEAN

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

Giuliani, F.

2010-02-10

The potential of the DEAP/CLEAN program for direct Dark Matter detection to test various dark matter models is illustrated. The scintillation pulse of a noble liquid like Argon or Neon has two well distinguished time constants allowing a very reliable correlation between pulse shape and type of event. This pulse shape discrimination already provides the power of rejecting a background10{sup 8}-10{sup 9} times larger than the signal. MiniCLEAN, a 500 kg LAr detector, is currently under construction, and a 3.6 ton detector, DEAP-3600, under development.

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

Fu, Wenkai; Ghosh, Priyarshini; Harrison, Mark

The performance of traditional Hornyak buttons and two proposed variants for fast-neutron hodoscope applications was evaluated using Geant4. The Hornyak button is a ZnS(Ag)-based device previously deployed at the Idaho National Laboratory's TRansient REActor Test Facility (better known as TREAT) for monitoring fast neutrons emitted during pulsing of fissile fuel samples. Past use of these devices relied on pulse-shape discrimination to reduce the significant levels of background Cherenkov radiation. Proposed are two simple designs that reduce the overall light guide mass (here, polymethyl methacrylate or PMMA), employ silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs), and can be operated using pulse-height discrimination alone to eliminatemore » background noise to acceptable levels. Geant4 was first used to model a traditional Hornyak button, and for assumed, hodoscope-like conditions, an intrinsic efficiency of 0.35% for mono-directional fission neutrons was predicted. The predicted efficiency is in reasonably good agreement with experimental data from the literature and, hence, served to validate the physics models and approximations employed. Geant4 models were then developed to optimize the materials and geometries of two alternatives to the Hornyak button, one based on a homogeneous mixture of ZnS(Ag) and PMMA, and one based on alternating layers of ZnS(Ag) and PMMA oriented perpendicular to the incident neutron beam. For the same radiation environment, optimized, 5-cm long (along the beam path) devices of the homogeneous and layered designs were predicted to have efficiencies of approximately 1.3% and 3.3%, respectively. For longer devices, i.e., lengths larger than 25 cm, these efficiencies were shown to peak at approximately 2.2% and 5.9%, respectively. Furthermore, both designs were shown to discriminate Cherenkov noise intrinsically by using an appropriate pulse-height discriminator level, i.e., pulse-shape discrimination is not needed for these devices.« less

A prototype of a portable TDCR system at ENEA.

PubMed

Capogni, Marco; De Felice, Pierino

2014-11-01

A prototype of a portable liquid scintillation counting system based on the Triple-to-Double Coincidence Ratio (TDCR) technique was developed at ENEA-INMRI in the framework of the European Metrofission project. The new device equipped with the CAEN digitizers was tested for the activity measurements of pure β-emitters ((99)Tc and (63)Ni). The list-mode data recorded by the digitizers were analyzed by software implemented in the CERN ROOT environment, which allows the application of pulse shape discrimination using the new device. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A first comparison of the responses of a 4He-based fast-neutron detector and a NE-213 liquid-scintillator reference detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jebali, R.; Scherzinger, J.; Annand, J. R. M.; Chandra, R.; Davatz, G.; Fissum, K. G.; Friederich, H.; Gendotti, U.; Hall-Wilton, R.; Håkansson, E.; Kanaki, K.; Lundin, M.; Murer, D.; Nilsson, B.; Rosborg, A.; Svensson, H.

2015-09-01

A first comparison has been made between the pulse-shape discrimination characteristics of a novel 4He-based pressurized scintillation detector and a NE-213 liquid-scintillator reference detector using an Am/Be mixed-field neutron and gamma-ray source and a high-resolution scintillation-pulse digitizer. In particular, the capabilities of the two fast neutron detectors to discriminate between neutrons and gamma-rays were investigated. The NE-213 liquid-scintillator reference cell produced a wide range of scintillation-light yields in response to the gamma-ray field of the source. In stark contrast, due to the size and pressure of the 4He gas volume, the 4He-based detector registered a maximum scintillation-light yield of 750keVee to the same gamma-ray field. Pulse-shape discrimination for particles with scintillation-light yields of more than 750keVee was excellent in the case of the 4He-based detector. Above 750keVee its signal was unambiguously neutron, enabling particle identification based entirely upon the amount of scintillation light produced.

A combined time-of-flight and depth-of-interaction detector for total-body positron emission tomography

PubMed Central

Berg, Eric; Roncali, Emilie; Kapusta, Maciej; Du, Junwei; Cherry, Simon R.

2016-01-01

Purpose: In support of a project to build a total-body PET scanner with an axial field-of-view of 2 m, the authors are developing simple, cost-effective block detectors with combined time-of-flight (TOF) and depth-of-interaction (DOI) capabilities. Methods: This work focuses on investigating the potential of phosphor-coated crystals with conventional PMT-based block detector readout to provide DOI information while preserving timing resolution. The authors explored a variety of phosphor-coating configurations with single crystals and crystal arrays. Several pulse shape discrimination techniques were investigated, including decay time, delayed charge integration (DCI), and average signal shapes. Results: Pulse shape discrimination based on DCI provided the lowest DOI positioning error: 2 mm DOI positioning error was obtained with single phosphor-coated crystals while 3–3.5 mm DOI error was measured with the block detector module. Minimal timing resolution degradation was observed with single phosphor-coated crystals compared to uncoated crystals, and a timing resolution of 442 ps was obtained with phosphor-coated crystals in the block detector compared to 404 ps without phosphor coating. Flood maps showed a slight degradation in crystal resolvability with phosphor-coated crystals; however, all crystals could be resolved. Energy resolution was degraded by 3%–7% with phosphor-coated crystals compared to uncoated crystals. Conclusions: These results demonstrate the feasibility of obtaining TOF–DOI capabilities with simple block detector readout using phosphor-coated crystals. PMID:26843254

A combined time-of-flight and depth-of-interaction detector for total-body positron emission tomography

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

Berg, Eric, E-mail: eberg@ucdavis.edu; Roncali, Emilie; Du, Junwei

Purpose: In support of a project to build a total-body PET scanner with an axial field-of-view of 2 m, the authors are developing simple, cost-effective block detectors with combined time-of-flight (TOF) and depth-of-interaction (DOI) capabilities. Methods: This work focuses on investigating the potential of phosphor-coated crystals with conventional PMT-based block detector readout to provide DOI information while preserving timing resolution. The authors explored a variety of phosphor-coating configurations with single crystals and crystal arrays. Several pulse shape discrimination techniques were investigated, including decay time, delayed charge integration (DCI), and average signal shapes. Results: Pulse shape discrimination based on DCI providedmore » the lowest DOI positioning error: 2 mm DOI positioning error was obtained with single phosphor-coated crystals while 3–3.5 mm DOI error was measured with the block detector module. Minimal timing resolution degradation was observed with single phosphor-coated crystals compared to uncoated crystals, and a timing resolution of 442 ps was obtained with phosphor-coated crystals in the block detector compared to 404 ps without phosphor coating. Flood maps showed a slight degradation in crystal resolvability with phosphor-coated crystals; however, all crystals could be resolved. Energy resolution was degraded by 3%–7% with phosphor-coated crystals compared to uncoated crystals. Conclusions: These results demonstrate the feasibility of obtaining TOF–DOI capabilities with simple block detector readout using phosphor-coated crystals.« less

Laser one-dimensional range profile and the laser two-dimensional range profile of cylinders

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gong, Yanjun; Wang, Mingjun; Gong, Lei

2015-10-01

Laser one-dimensional range profile, that is scattering power from pulse laser scattering of target, is a radar imaging technology. The laser two-dimensional range profile is two-dimensional scattering imaging of pulse laser of target. Laser one-dimensional range profile and laser two-dimensional range profile are called laser range profile(LRP). The laser range profile can reflect the characteristics of the target shape and surface material. These techniques were motivated by applications of laser radar to target discrimination in ballistic missile defense. The radar equation of pulse laser is given in this paper. This paper demonstrates the analytical model of laser range profile of cylinder based on the radar equation of the pulse laser. Simulations results of laser one-dimensional range profiles of some cylinders are given. Laser range profiles of cylinder, whose surface material with diffuse lambertian reflectance, is given in this paper. Laser range profiles of different pulse width of cylinder are given in this paper. The influences of geometric parameters, pulse width, attitude on the range profiles are analyzed.

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

Lombigit, L., E-mail: lojius@nm.gov.my; Yussup, N., E-mail: nolida@nm.gov.my; Ibrahim, Maslina Mohd

A digital n/γ pulse shape discrimination (PSD) system is currently under development at Instrumentation and Automation Centre, Malaysian Nuclear Agency. This system aims at simultaneous detection of fast neutron and gamma ray in mixed radiations environment. This work reports the system characterization performed on the liquid scintillation detector (BC-501A) and digital pulse shape discrimination (DPSD) system. The characterization involves measurement of electron light output from the BC-501A detector and energy channels calibration of the pulse height spectra acquired with DPSD system using set of photon reference sources. The main goal of this experiment is to calibrate the ADC channel ofmore » our DPSD system, characterized the BC-501 detector and find the position of Compton edge which later could be used as threshold for the n/γ PSD experiment. The detector resolution however is worse as compared to other published data but it is expected as our detector has a smaller active volume.« less

All-optical UWB generation and modulation using SOA-XPM effect and DWDM-based multi-channel frequency discrimination.

PubMed

Wang, Fei; Dong, Jianji; Xu, Enming; Zhang, Xinliang

2010-11-22

An all-optical UWB pulses generation and modulation scheme using cross phase modulation (XPM) effect of semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) and DWDM-based multi-channel frequency discrimination is proposed and demonstrated, which has potential application in multiuser UWB-Over-Fiber communication systems. When a Gaussian pulse light and a wavelength-tunable CW probe light are together injected into the SOA, the probe light out from the SOA will have a temporal chirp due to SOA-XPM effect. When the chirped probe light is tuned to the slopes of single DWDM channel transmittance curve, the optical phase modulation to intensity modulation conversion is achieved at DWDM that serves as a multi-channel frequency discriminator, the inverted polarity Gaussian monocycle and doublet pulse is detected by a photodetector, respectively. If the probe lights are simultaneously aimed to different slopes of several DWDM channels, multi-channel or binary-phase-coded UWB signal generation can be acquired. Using proposed scheme, pulse amplitude modulation (PAM), pulse polarity modulation (PPM) and pulse shape modulation (PSM) to UWB pulses also can be conveniently realized.

Neutron assay in mixed radiation fields with a 6Li-loaded plastic scintillator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balmer, M. J. I.; Gamage, K. A. A.; Taylor, G. C.

2015-08-01

A novel technique for assay of thermal and fast neutrons in a 6Li-loaded plastic scintillator is presented. Existing capture-gated thermal neutron detection techniques were evaluated with the 6Li-loaded plastic scintillator studied in this work. Using simulations and experimental work, shortcomings in its performance were highlighted. As a result, it was proposed that by separating the combined fast and thermal neutron events from gamma events, using established pulse shape discrimination techniques, the thermal neutron events could then be assayed. Experiments were conducted at the National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, performing neutron assays with seven different neutron fields using the proposed technique. For each field, thermal and fast neutron content was estimated and were shown to corroborate with the seven synthesised fields.

Wilcoxon signed-rank-based technique for the pulse-shape analysis of HPGe detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martín, S.; Quintana, B.; Barrientos, D.

2016-07-01

The characterization of the electric response of segmented-contact high-purity germanium detectors requires scanning systems capable of accurately associating each pulse with the position of the interaction that generated it. This process requires an algorithm sensitive to changes above the electronic noise in the pulse shapes produced at different positions, depending on the resolution of the Ge crystal. In this work, a pulse-shape comparison technique based on the Wilcoxon signed-rank test has been developed. It provides a method to distinguish pulses coming from different interaction points in the germanium crystal. Therefore, this technique is a necessary step for building a reliable pulse-shape database that can be used later for the determination of the position of interaction for γ-ray tracking spectrometry devices such as AGATA, GRETA or GERDA. The method was validated by comparison with a χ2 test using simulated and experimental pulses corresponding to a Broad Energy germanium detector (BEGe).

A real-time neutron-gamma discriminator based on the support vector machine method for the time-of-flight neutron spectrometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, ZHANG; Tongyu, WU; Bowen, ZHENG; Shiping, LI; Yipo, ZHANG; Zejie, YIN

2018-04-01

A new neutron-gamma discriminator based on the support vector machine (SVM) method is proposed to improve the performance of the time-of-flight neutron spectrometer. The neutron detector is an EJ-299-33 plastic scintillator with pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) property. The SVM algorithm is implemented in field programmable gate array (FPGA) to carry out the real-time sifting of neutrons in neutron-gamma mixed radiation fields. This study compares the ability of the pulse gradient analysis method and the SVM method. The results show that this SVM discriminator can provide a better discrimination accuracy of 99.1%. The accuracy and performance of the SVM discriminator based on FPGA have been evaluated in the experiments. It can get a figure of merit of 1.30.

Wing Morphometry and Acoustic Signals in Sterile and Wild Males: Implications for Mating Success in Ceratitis capitata

PubMed Central

de Souza, João Maria Gomes Alencar; Molina, Wagner Franco; de Almeida, Lúcia Maria; de Gouveia, Milson Bezerra; de Macêdo, Francisco Pepino; Laumann, Raul Alberto; Paranhos, Beatriz Aguiar Jordão

2015-01-01

The sterile insect technique (SIT) is widely utilized in the biological control of fruit flies of the family Tephritidae, particularly against the Mediterranean fruit fly. This study investigated the interaction between mating success and morphometric variation in the wings and the production of acoustic signals among three male groups of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann): (1) wild males, (2) irradiated with Co-60 (steriles), and (3) irradiated (steriles) and treated with ginger oil. The canonical variate analysis discriminated two groups (males irradiated and males wild), based on the morphological shape of the wings. Among males that emit buzz signals, wild males obtained copulation more frequently than males in Groups 2 and 3. The individuals of Group 3 achieved more matings than those in Group 2. Wild males displayed lower pulse duration, higher intervals between pulses, and higher dominant frequency. Regarding the reproductive success, the morphological differences in the wings' shape between accepted and nonaccepted males are higher in wild males than in the irradiated ones. The present results can be useful in programs using the sterile insect technique for biological control of C. capitata. PMID:26075293

The light-yield response of a NE-213 liquid-scintillator detector measured using 2-6 MeV tagged neutrons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scherzinger, J.; Al Jebali, R.; Annand, J. R. M.; Fissum, K. G.; Hall-Wilton, R.; Kanaki, K.; Lundin, M.; Nilsson, B.; Perrey, H.; Rosborg, A.; Svensson, H.

2016-12-01

The response of a NE-213 liquid-scintillator detector has been measured using tagged neutrons from 2 to 6 MeV originating from an Am/Be neutron source. The neutron energies were determined using the time-of-flight technique. Pulse-shape discrimination was employed to discern between gamma-rays and neutrons. The behavior of both the fast (35 ns) and the combined fast and slow (475 ns) components of the neutron scintillation-light pulses were studied. Three different prescriptions were used to relate the neutron maximum energy-transfer edges to the corresponding recoil-proton scintillation-light yields, and the results were compared to simulations. The overall normalizations of parametrizations which predict the fast or total light yield of the scintillation pulses were also tested. Our results agree with both existing data and existing parametrizations. We observe a clear sensitivity to the portion and length of the neutron scintillation-light pulse considered.

Pulse-shape discrimination and energy quenching of alpha particles in Cs2LiLaBr6:Ce3+

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mesick, K. E.; Coupland, D. D. S.; Stonehill, L. C.

2017-01-01

Cs2LiLaBr6:Ce3+(CLLB) is an elpasolite scintillator that offers excellent linearity and gamma-ray energy resolution and sensitivity to thermal neutrons with the ability to perform pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) to distinguish gammas and neutrons. Our investigation of CLLB has indicated the presence of intrinsic radioactive alpha background that we have determined to be from actinium contamination of the lanthanum component. We measured the pulse shapes for gamma, thermal neutron, and alpha events and determined that PSD can be performed to separate the alpha background with a moderate figure of merit of 0.98. We also measured the electron-equivalent-energy of the alpha particles in CLLB and simulated the intrinsic alpha background from 227Ac to determine the quenching factor of the alphas. A linear quenching relationship Lα =Eα × q +L0 was found at alpha particle energies above 5 MeV, with a quenching factor q = 0.71 MeVee / MeV and an offset L0 = - 1.19 MeVee .

Terahertz pulse generation by the tilted pulse front technique using an M-shaped optical system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morita, Ken; Shiozawa, Kento; Suizu, Koji; Ishitani, Yoshihiro

2018-05-01

To achieve the phase matching condition in terahertz (THz) pulse generation by the tilted pulse front technique, it is necessary to rebuild the entire optical setup if the optical conditions, such as excitation wavelength, temperature of nonlinear crystal, and output THz frequency, are changed. We propose THz pulse generation by the tilted pulse front technique using an M-shaped configuration. This system allows us to change the optical conditions only by tuning a few optics and without rebuilding the entire setup. We change the excitation wavelength at a fixed radiation frequency and assess the performance of the proposed system.

Second-order shaped pulsed for solid-state quantum computation

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

Sengupta, Pinaki

2008-01-01

We present the construction and detailed analysis of highly optimized self-refocusing pulse shapes for several rotation angles. We characterize the constructed pulses by the coefficients appearing in the Magnus expansion up to second order. This allows a semianalytical analysis of the performance of the constructed shapes in sequences and composite pulses by computing the corresponding leading-order error operators. Higher orders can be analyzed with the numerical technique suggested by us previously. We illustrate the technique by analyzing several composite pulses designed to protect against pulse amplitude errors, and on decoupling sequences for potentially long chains of qubits with on-site andmore » nearest-neighbor couplings.« less

Optimizing coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering by genetic algorithm controlled pulse shaping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Wenlong; Sokolov, Alexei

2010-10-01

The hybrid coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) has been successful applied to fast chemical sensitive detections. As the development of femto-second pulse shaping techniques, it is of great interest to find the optimum pulse shapes for CARS. The optimum pulse shapes should minimize the non-resonant four wave mixing (NRFWM) background and maximize the CARS signal. A genetic algorithm (GA) is developed to make a heuristic searching for optimized pulse shapes, which give the best signal the background ratio. The GA is shown to be able to rediscover the hybrid CARS scheme and find optimized pulse shapes for customized applications by itself.

A comparative study of optimum and suboptimum direct-detection laser ranging receivers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abshire, J. B.

1978-01-01

A summary of previously proposed receiver strategies for direct-detection laser ranging receivers is presented. Computer simulations are used to compare performance of candidate implementation strategies in the 1- to 100-photoelectron region. Under the condition of no background radiation, the maximum-likelihood and minimum mean-square error estimators were found to give the same performance for both bell-shaped and rectangular optical-pulse shapes. For signal energies greater than 100 photoelectrons, the root-mean-square range error is shown to decrease as Q to the -1/2 power for bell-shaped pulses and Q to the -1 power for rectangular pulses, where Q represents the average pulse energy. Of several receiver implementations presented, the matched-filter peak detector was found to be preferable. A similar configuration, using a constant-fraction discriminator, exhibited a signal-level dependent time bias.

Pulse Shape Analysis and Discrimination for Silicon-Photomultipliers in Helium-4 Gas Scintillation Neutron Detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barker, Cathleen; Zhu, Ting; Rolison, Lucas; Kiff, Scott; Jordan, Kelly; Enqvist, Andreas

2018-01-01

Using natural helium (helium-4), the Arktis 180-bar pressurized gas scintillator is capable of detecting and distinguishing fast neutrons and gammas. The detector has a unique design of three optically separated segments in which 12 silicon-photomultiplier (SiPM) pairs are positioned equilaterally across the detector to allow for them to be fully immersed in the helium-4 gas volume; consequently, no additional optical interfaces are necessary. The SiPM signals were amplified, shaped, and readout by an analog board; a 250 MHz, 14-bit digitizer was used to examine the output pulses from each SiPMpair channel. The SiPM over-voltage had to be adjusted in order to reduce pulse clipping and negative overshoot, which was observed for events with high scintillation production. Pulse shaped discrimination (PSD) was conducted by evaluating three different parameters: time over threshold (TOT), pulse amplitude, and pulse integral. In order to differentiate high and low energy events, a 30ns gate window was implemented to group pulses from two SiPM channels or more for the calculation of TOT. It was demonstrated that pulses from a single SiPM channel within the 30ns window corresponded to low-energy gamma events while groups of pulses from two-channels or more were most likely neutron events. Due to gamma pulses having lower pulse amplitude, the percentage of measured gamma also depends on the threshold value in TOT calculations. Similarly, the threshold values were varied for the optimal PSD methods of using pulse amplitude and pulse area parameters. Helium-4 detectors equipped with SiPMs are excellent for in-the-field radiation measurement of nuclear spent fuel casks. With optimized PSD methods, the goal of developing a fuel cask content monitoring and inspection system based on these helium-4 detectors will be achieved.

Pulse shape discrimination based on fast signals from silicon photomultipliers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Junhao; Wei, Zhiyong; Fang, Meihua; Zhang, Zixia; Cheng, Can; Wang, Yi; Su, Huiwen; Ran, Youquan; Zhu, Qingwei; Zhang, He; Duan, Kai; Chen, Ming; Liu, Meng

2018-06-01

Recent developments in organic plastic scintillators capable of pulse shape discrimination (PSD) enable a breakthrough in discrimination between neutrons and gammas. Plastic scintillator detectors coupled with silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) offer many advantages, such as lower power consumption, smaller volume, and especially insensitivity to magnetic fields, compared with conventional photomultiplier tubes (PMTs). A SensL SiPM has two outputs: a standard output and a fast output. It is known that the charge injected into the fast output electrode is typically approximately 2% of the total charge generated during the avalanche, whereas the charge injected into the standard output electrode is nearly 98% of the total. Fast signals from SiPMs exhibit better performance in terms of timing and time-correlated measurements compared with standard signals. The pulse duration of a standard signal is on the order of hundreds of nanoseconds, whereas the pulse duration of the main monopole waveform of a fast signal is a few tens of nanoseconds. Fast signals are traditionally thought to be suitable for photon counting at very high speeds but unsuitable for PSD due to the partial charge collection. Meanwhile, the standard outputs of SiPMs coupled with discriminating scintillators have yielded nice PSD performances, but there have been no reports on PSD using fast signals. Our analysis shows that fast signals can also provide discrimination if the rate of charge injection into the fast output electrode is fixed for each event, even though only a portion of the charge is collected. In this work, we achieved successful PSD using fast signals; meanwhile, using a coincidence timing window of less 3 nanoseconds between the readouts from both ends of the detector reduced the influence of the high SiPM dark current. We experimentally achieved good timing performance and PSD capability simultaneously.

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

Lippincott, W. H.; McKinsey, D. N.; Nikkel, J. A.

Using a single-phase liquid argon detector with a signal yield of 4.85 photoelectrons per keV of electronic-equivalent recoil energy (keVee), we measure the scintillation time dependence of both electronic and nuclear recoils in liquid argon down to 5 keVee. We develop two methods of pulse shape discrimination to distinguish between electronic and nuclear recoils. Using one of these methods, we measure a background- and statistics-limited level of electronic recoil contamination to be 7.6x10{sup -7} between 52 and 110 keV of nuclear recoil energy (keVr) for a nuclear recoil acceptance of 50% with no nuclear recoil-like events above 62 keVr. Finally,more » we develop a maximum likelihood method of pulse shape discrimination based on the measured scintillation time dependence.« less

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

Cherepy, Nerine J.; Sanner, Robert D.; Beck, Patrick R.

In this paper, transparent plastic scintillators based on polyvinyltoluene (PVT) have been fabricated with high loading of bismuth carboxylates for gamma spectroscopy, and with lithium carboxylates for neutron detection. When activated with a combination of standard fluors, 2,5-diphenyloxazole (PPO) and tetraphenylbutadiene (TPB), gamma light yields with 15 wt% bismuth tripivalate of 5000 Ph/MeV are measured. A PVT plastic formulation including 30 wt% lithium pivalate and 30 wt% PPO offers both pulse shape discrimination, and a neutron capture peak at ~400 keVee. Finally, in another configuration, a bismuth-loaded PVT plastic is coated with ZnS( 6Li) paint, permitting simultaneous gamma and neutronmore » detection via pulse shape discrimination with a figure-of-merit of 3.8, while offering gamma spectroscopy with energy resolution of R(662 keV)=15%.« less

Bismuth- and lithium-loaded plastic scintillators for gamma and neutron detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cherepy, Nerine J.; Sanner, Robert D.; Beck, Patrick R.; Swanberg, Erik L.; Tillotson, Thomas M.; Payne, Stephen A.; Hurlbut, Charles R.

2015-04-01

Transparent plastic scintillators based on polyvinyltoluene (PVT) have been fabricated with high loading of bismuth carboxylates for gamma spectroscopy, and with lithium carboxylates for neutron detection. When activated with a combination of standard fluors, 2,5-diphenyloxazole (PPO) and tetraphenylbutadiene (TPB), gamma light yields with 15 wt% bismuth tripivalate of 5000 Ph/MeV are measured. A PVT plastic formulation including 30 wt% lithium pivalate and 30 wt% PPO offers both pulse shape discrimination, and a neutron capture peak at 400 keVee. In another configuration, a bismuth-loaded PVT plastic is coated with ZnS(6Li) paint, permitting simultaneous gamma and neutron detection via pulse shape discrimination with a figure-of-merit of 3.8, while offering gamma spectroscopy with energy resolution of R(662 keV)=15%.

Digital Rise-Time Discrimination of Pulses from the Tigress Integrated Plunger Silicon PIN Diode Wall

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Voss, P.; Henderson, R.; Andreoiu, C.; Ashley, R.; Ball, G. C.; Bender, P. C.; Chester, A.; Cross, D. S.; Drake, T. E.; Garnsworthy, A. B.; Hackman, G.; Ketelhut, S.; Krücken, R.; Miller, D.; Rajabali, M. M.; Starosta, K.; Svensson, C. E.; Tardiff, E.; Unsworth, C.; Wang, Z.-M.

Electromagnetic transition rate measurements play an important role in characterizing the evolution of nuclear structure with increasing proton-neutron asymmetry. At TRIUMF, the TIGRESS Integrated Plunger device and its suite of ancillary detector systems have been implemented for charged-particle tagging and light-ion identification in coincidence with gamma-ray spectroscopy for Doppler-shift lifetime studies and low-energy Coulomb excitation measurements. Digital pulse-shape analysis of signals from these ancillary detectors for particle identification improves the signal-to-noise ratio of gamma-ray energy spectra. Here, we illustrate the reaction-channel selectivity achieved by utilizing digital rise-time discrimination of waveforms from alpha particles and carbon ions detected with silicon PIN diodes, thereby enhancing gamma-ray line-shape signatures for precision lifetime studies.

A Study of the quality of CsI detectors and pulse-shape discrimination of scintillators for ?[U+0251]-particles, ?[U+0263]-particles, and neutrons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salyer, Kaitlin; Rogachev, Grigory; Hooker, Joshua

2016-09-01

This project studied the capabilities of two different scintillators, Cesium Iodide (CsI) and p-Terphenyl. First, the resolution of a CsI detector was investigated by exposing only very small areas of its surface at a time to an alpha source. Second, the abilities of p-Terphenyl to detect alpha particles, gamma particles, and neutrons were analyzed through pulse shape discrimination. p-Terphenyl is of particular interest because it will be used in the Mitchell Institute Neutrino Experiment at Reactor (MINER) at Texas A&M University for measuring background data. The information learned from conducting these tests will be useful in understanding and expanding the limits of the experiments in which these detectors will ultimately be used.

Design and performance evaluation of a dispersion compensation unit using several chirping functions in a tanh apodized FBG and comparison with dispersion compensation fiber.

PubMed

Mohammed, Nazmi A; Solaiman, Mohammad; Aly, Moustafa H

2014-10-10

In this work, various dispersion compensation methods are designed and evaluated to search for a cost-effective technique with remarkable dispersion compensation and a good pulse shape. The techniques consist of different chirp functions applied to a tanh fiber Bragg grating (FBG), a dispersion compensation fiber (DCF), and a DCF merged with an optimized linearly chirped tanh FBG (joint technique). The techniques are evaluated using a standard 10 Gb/s optical link over a 100 km long haul. The linear chirp function is the most appropriate choice of chirping function, with a pulse width reduction percentage (PWRP) of 75.15%, lower price, and poor pulse shape. The DCF yields an enhanced PWRP of 93.34% with a better pulse quality; however, it is the most costly of the evaluated techniques. Finally, the joint technique achieved the optimum PWRP (96.36%) among all the evaluated techniques and exhibited a remarkable pulse shape; it is less costly than the DCF, but more expensive than the chirped tanh FBG.

Investigation of FPGA-Based Real-Time Adaptive Digital Pulse Shaping for High-Count-Rate Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saxena, Shefali; Hawari, Ayman I.

2017-07-01

Digital signal processing techniques have been widely used in radiation spectrometry to provide improved stability and performance with compact physical size over the traditional analog signal processing. In this paper, field-programmable gate array (FPGA)-based adaptive digital pulse shaping techniques are investigated for real-time signal processing. National Instruments (NI) NI 5761 14-bit, 250-MS/s adaptor module is used for digitizing high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector's preamplifier pulses. Digital pulse processing algorithms are implemented on the NI PXIe-7975R reconfigurable FPGA (Kintex-7) using the LabVIEW FPGA module. Based on the time separation between successive input pulses, the adaptive shaping algorithm selects the optimum shaping parameters (rise time and flattop time of trapezoid-shaping filter) for each incoming signal. A digital Sallen-Key low-pass filter is implemented to enhance signal-to-noise ratio and reduce baseline drifting in trapezoid shaping. A recursive trapezoid-shaping filter algorithm is employed for pole-zero compensation of exponentially decayed (with two-decay constants) preamplifier pulses of an HPGe detector. It allows extraction of pulse height information at the beginning of each pulse, thereby reducing the pulse pileup and increasing throughput. The algorithms for RC-CR2 timing filter, baseline restoration, pile-up rejection, and pulse height determination are digitally implemented for radiation spectroscopy. Traditionally, at high-count-rate conditions, a shorter shaping time is preferred to achieve high throughput, which deteriorates energy resolution. In this paper, experimental results are presented for varying count-rate and pulse shaping conditions. Using adaptive shaping, increased throughput is accepted while preserving the energy resolution observed using the longer shaping times.

Pulse-shape discrimination with Cs2HfCl6 crystal scintillator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cardenas, C.; Burger, A.; Goodwin, B.; Groza, M.; Laubenstein, M.; Nagorny, S.; Rowe, E.

2017-10-01

The results of investigation into cesium hafnium chloride (Cs2HfCl6) scintillating crystals as a promising detector to search for rare nuclear processes occurring in Hf isotopes is reported. The light output, quenching factor, and pulse-shape characteristics have been investigated at room temperature. The scintillation response of the crystal induced by α-particles and γ-quanta were studied to determine possibility of particle discrimination. Using the optimal filter method we obtained clear separation between signals with a factor of merit (FOM) = 9.3. This indicates that we are able to fully separate signals originating from α-particles and γ-quanta. Similar fruitful discrimination power was obtained by applying the mean time method (FOM = 7) and charge integration method (FOM = 7.5). The quenching factor for collimated 4 MeV α-particles is found to be 0.36, showing that α-particles generate more than a third of the light compared to γ-quanta at the same energy.

A Geant4 evaluation of the Hornyak button and two candidate detectors for the TREAT hodoscope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, Wenkai; Ghosh, Priyarshini; Harrison, Mark J.; McGregor, Douglas S.; Roberts, Jeremy A.

2018-05-01

The performance of traditional Hornyak buttons and two proposed variants for fast-neutron hodoscope applications was evaluated using Geant4. The Hornyak button is a ZnS(Ag)-based device previously deployed at the Idaho National Laboratory's TRansient REActor Test Facility (better known as TREAT) for monitoring fast neutrons emitted during pulsing of fissile fuel samples. Past use of these devices relied on pulse-shape discrimination to reduce the significant levels of background Cherenkov radiation. Proposed are two simple designs that reduce the overall light guide mass (here, polymethyl methacrylate or PMMA), employ silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs), and can be operated using pulse-height discrimination alone to eliminate background noise to acceptable levels. Geant4 was first used to model a traditional Hornyak button, and for assumed, hodoscope-like conditions, an intrinsic efficiency of 0.35% for mono-directional fission neutrons was predicted. The predicted efficiency is in reasonably good agreement with experimental data from the literature and, hence, served to validate the physics models and approximations employed. Geant4 models were then developed to optimize the materials and geometries of two alternatives to the Hornyak button, one based on a homogeneous mixture of ZnS(Ag) and PMMA, and one based on alternating layers of ZnS(Ag) and PMMA oriented perpendicular to the incident neutron beam. For the same radiation environment, optimized, 5-cm long (along the beam path) devices of the homogeneous and layered designs were predicted to have efficiencies of approximately 1.3% and 3.3%, respectively. For longer devices, i.e., lengths larger than 25 cm, these efficiencies were shown to peak at approximately 2.2% and 5.9%, respectively. Moreover, both designs were shown to discriminate Cherenkov noise intrinsically by using an appropriate pulse-height discriminator level, i.e., pulse-shape discrimination is not needed for these devices.

A Geant4 evaluation of the Hornyak button and two candidate detectors for the TREAT hodoscope

DOE PAGES

Fu, Wenkai; Ghosh, Priyarshini; Harrison, Mark; ...

2018-02-05

The performance of traditional Hornyak buttons and two proposed variants for fast-neutron hodoscope applications was evaluated using Geant4. The Hornyak button is a ZnS(Ag)-based device previously deployed at the Idaho National Laboratory's TRansient REActor Test Facility (better known as TREAT) for monitoring fast neutrons emitted during pulsing of fissile fuel samples. Past use of these devices relied on pulse-shape discrimination to reduce the significant levels of background Cherenkov radiation. Proposed are two simple designs that reduce the overall light guide mass (here, polymethyl methacrylate or PMMA), employ silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs), and can be operated using pulse-height discrimination alone to eliminatemore » background noise to acceptable levels. Geant4 was first used to model a traditional Hornyak button, and for assumed, hodoscope-like conditions, an intrinsic efficiency of 0.35% for mono-directional fission neutrons was predicted. The predicted efficiency is in reasonably good agreement with experimental data from the literature and, hence, served to validate the physics models and approximations employed. Geant4 models were then developed to optimize the materials and geometries of two alternatives to the Hornyak button, one based on a homogeneous mixture of ZnS(Ag) and PMMA, and one based on alternating layers of ZnS(Ag) and PMMA oriented perpendicular to the incident neutron beam. For the same radiation environment, optimized, 5-cm long (along the beam path) devices of the homogeneous and layered designs were predicted to have efficiencies of approximately 1.3% and 3.3%, respectively. For longer devices, i.e., lengths larger than 25 cm, these efficiencies were shown to peak at approximately 2.2% and 5.9%, respectively. Furthermore, both designs were shown to discriminate Cherenkov noise intrinsically by using an appropriate pulse-height discriminator level, i.e., pulse-shape discrimination is not needed for these devices.« less

Measurement of the scintillation time spectra and pulse-shape discrimination of low-energy β and nuclear recoils in liquid argon with DEAP-1

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amaudruz, P.-A.; Batygov, M.; Beltran, B.; Bonatt, J.; Boudjemline, K.; Boulay, M. G.; Broerman, B.; Bueno, J. F.; Butcher, A.; Cai, B.; Caldwell, T.; Chen, M.; Chouinard, R.; Cleveland, B. T.; Cranshaw, D.; Dering, K.; Duncan, F.; Fatemighomi, N.; Ford, R.; Gagnon, R.; Giampa, P.; Giuliani, F.; Gold, M.; Golovko, V. V.; Gorel, P.; Grace, E.; Graham, K.; Grant, D. R.; Hakobyan, R.; Hallin, A. L.; Hamstra, M.; Harvey, P.; Hearns, C.; Hofgartner, J.; Jillings, C. J.; Kuźniak, M.; Lawson, I.; La Zia, F.; Li, O.; Lidgard, J. J.; Liimatainen, P.; Lippincott, W. H.; Mathew, R.; McDonald, A. B.; McElroy, T.; McFarlane, K.; McKinsey, D. N.; Mehdiyev, R.; Monroe, J.; Muir, A.; Nantais, C.; Nicolics, K.; Nikkel, J.; Noble, A. J.; O'Dwyer, E.; Olsen, K.; Ouellet, C.; Pasuthip, P.; Peeters, S. J. M.; Pollmann, T.; Rau, W.; Retière, F.; Ronquest, M.; Seeburn, N.; Skensved, P.; Smith, B.; Sonley, T.; Tang, J.; Vázquez-Jáuregui, E.; Veloce, L.; Walding, J.; Ward, M.

2016-12-01

The DEAP-1 low-background liquid argon detector was used to measure scintillation pulse shapes of electron and nuclear recoil events and to demonstrate the feasibility of pulse-shape discrimination down to an electron-equivalent energy of 20 keVee. In the surface dataset using a triple-coincidence tag we found the fraction of β events that are misidentified as nuclear recoils to be < 1.4 ×10-7 (90% C.L.) for energies between 43-86 keVee and for a nuclear recoil acceptance of at least 90%, with 4% systematic uncertainty on the absolute energy scale. The discrimination measurement on surface was limited by nuclear recoils induced by cosmic-ray generated neutrons. This was improved by moving the detector to the SNOLAB underground laboratory, where the reduced background rate allowed the same measurement to be done with only a double-coincidence tag. The combined data set contains 1.23 × 108 events. One of those, in the underground data set, is in the nuclear-recoil region of interest. Taking into account the expected background of 0.48 events coming from random pileup, the resulting upper limit on the level of electronic recoil contamination is < 2.7 ×10-8 (90% C.L.) between 44-89 keVee and for a nuclear recoil acceptance of at least 90%, with 6% systematic uncertainty on the absolute energy scale. We developed a general mathematical framework to describe pulse-shape-discrimination parameter distributions and used it to build an analytical model of the distributions observed in DEAP-1. Using this model, we project a misidentification fraction of approximately 10-10 for an electron-equivalent energy threshold of 15 keVee for a detector with 8 PE/keVee light yield. This reduction enables a search for spin-independent scattering of WIMPs from 1000 kg of liquid argon with a WIMP-nucleon cross-section sensitivity of 10-46 cm2, assuming negligible contribution from nuclear recoil backgrounds.

Neutron spectroscopy with scintillation detectors using wavelets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hartman, Jessica

The purpose of this research was to study neutron spectroscopy using the EJ-299-33A plastic scintillator. This scintillator material provided a novel means of detection for fast neutrons, without the disadvantages of traditional liquid scintillation materials. EJ-299-33A provided a more durable option to these materials, making it less likely to be damaged during handling. Unlike liquid scintillators, this plastic scintillator was manufactured from a non-toxic material, making it safer to use, as well as easier to design detectors. The material was also manufactured with inherent pulse shape discrimination abilities, making it suitable for use in neutron detection. The neutron spectral unfolding technique was developed in two stages. Initial detector response function modeling was carried out through the use of the MCNPX Monte Carlo code. The response functions were developed for a monoenergetic neutron flux. Wavelets were then applied to smooth the response function. The spectral unfolding technique was applied through polynomial fitting and optimization techniques in MATLAB. Verification of the unfolding technique was carried out through the use of experimentally determined response functions. These were measured on the neutron source based on the Van de Graff accelerator at the University of Kentucky. This machine provided a range of monoenergetic neutron beams between 0.1 MeV and 24 MeV, making it possible to measure the set of response functions of the EJ-299-33A plastic scintillator detector to neutrons of specific energies. The response of a plutonium-beryllium (PuBe) source was measured using the source available at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The neutron spectrum reconstruction was carried out using the experimentally measured response functions. Experimental data was collected in the list mode of the waveform digitizer. Post processing of this data focused on the pulse shape discrimination analysis of the recorded response functions to remove the effects of photons and allow for source characterization based solely on the neutron response. The unfolding technique was performed through polynomial fitting and optimization techniques in MATLAB, and provided an energy spectrum for the PuBe source.

Realizing up-conversion fluorescence tuning in lanthanide-doped nanocrystals by femtosecond pulse shaping method

PubMed Central

Zhang, Shian; Yao, Yunhua; Shuwu, Xu; Liu, Pei; Ding, Jingxin; Jia, Tianqing; Qiu, Jianrong; Sun, Zhenrong

2015-01-01

The ability to tune color output of nanomaterials is very important for their applications in laser, optoelectronic device, color display and multiplexed biolabeling. Here we first propose a femtosecond pulse shaping technique to realize the up-conversion fluorescence tuning in lanthanide-doped nanocrystals dispersed in the glass. The multiple subpulse formation by a square phase modulation can create different excitation pathways for various up-conversion fluorescence generations. By properly controlling these excitation pathways, the multicolor up-conversion fluorescence can be finely tuned. This color tuning by the femtosecond pulse shaping technique is realized in single material by single-color laser field, which is highly desirable for further applications of the lanthanide-doped nanocrystals. This femtosecond pulse shaping technique opens an opportunity to tune the color output in the lanthanide-doped nanocrystals, which may bring a new revolution in the control of luminescence properties of nanomaterials. PMID:26290391

Wave Mode Discrimination of Coded Ultrasonic Guided Waves Using Two-Dimensional Compressed Pulse Analysis.

PubMed

Malo, Sergio; Fateri, Sina; Livadas, Makis; Mares, Cristinel; Gan, Tat-Hean

2017-07-01

Ultrasonic guided waves testing is a technique successfully used in many industrial scenarios worldwide. For many complex applications, the dispersive nature and multimode behavior of the technique still poses a challenge for correct defect detection capabilities. In order to improve the performance of the guided waves, a 2-D compressed pulse analysis is presented in this paper. This novel technique combines the use of pulse compression and dispersion compensation in order to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and temporal-spatial resolution of the signals. The ability of the technique to discriminate different wave modes is also highlighted. In addition, an iterative algorithm is developed to identify the wave modes of interest using adaptive peak detection to enable automatic wave mode discrimination. The employed algorithm is developed in order to pave the way for further in situ applications. The performance of Barker-coded and chirp waveforms is studied in a multimodal scenario where longitudinal and flexural wave packets are superposed. The technique is tested in both synthetic and experimental conditions. The enhancements in SNR and temporal resolution are quantified as well as their ability to accurately calculate the propagation distance for different wave modes.

Significantly different pulse shapes for γ- and α-rays in Gd3Al2Ga3O12:Ce3+ scintillating crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kobayashi, Masaaki; Tamagawa, Yoichi; Tomita, Shougo; Yamamoto, Akihiro; Ogawa, Izumi; Usuki, Yoshiyuki

2012-12-01

We have found that scintillation in Gd3Al2Ga3O12 (GAGG):Ce3+ garnet single crystals has significantly different pulse shapes for 0.662 MeV γ- and 5.47 MeV α-rays. The decay and rise times for γ-rays are smaller by 50% and threefold, respectively, than those for α-rays. Because the GAGG:Ce is a dense, efficient and fast-response scintillator and because it can be grown in large-size single crystals, it should be a promising unified target and a detector material in the study of neutrinoless double beta decay of 160Gd through the use of pulse shape discrimination between the β-ray signals and the α-ray-induced backgrounds.

Discrimination of the glucose and the white sugar based on the pulsed laser-induced photoacoustic technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ren, Zhong; Liu, Guodong

2017-08-01

In this study, to discriminate the glucose and the white sugar gradient in the food, a noninvasive optical detection system based on pulsed laser-induced photoacoustic technique was developed. Meanwhile, the Nd: YAG 532nm pumped OPO pulsed laser was used as the excitation light source to generate of the photoacoustic signals of the glucose and white sugar. The focused ultrasonic transducer with central detection frequency of 1MHz was used to capture the photoacoustic signals. In experiments, the real-time photoacoustic signals of the glucose and the white sugar aqueous solutions were gotten and compared with each other. In addition, to discriminate the difference of the characteristic photoacoustic signals between both of them, the difference spectrum and the first order derivative technique between the peak-to-peak photoacoustic signals of the water and that of the glucose and white sugar were employed. The difference characteristic photoacoustic wavelengths between the glucose and the white sugar were found based on the established photoacoustic detection system. This study provides the potential possibility for the discrimination of the glucose and the white sugar by using the photoacoustic detection method.

Application of nonlinear pulse shaping of femtosecond pulse generation in a fiber amplifier at 500 MHz repetition rate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yang; Luo, Daping; Wang, Chao; Zhu, Zhiwei; Li, Wenxue

2018-03-01

We numerically and experimentally demonstrate that a nonlinear pulse shaping technique based on pre-chirping management in a short gain fiber can be exploited to improve the quality of a compressed pulse. With prior tuning of the pulse chirp, the amplified pulse express different nonlinear propagating processes. A spectrum with s flat top and more smooth wings, showing a similariton feature, generates with the optimal initial pulse chirp, and the shortest pulses with minimal pulse pedestals are obtained. Experimental results show the ability of nonlinear pulse shaping to enhance the quality of compressed pulses, as theoretically expected.

Portal radiation monitor

DOEpatents

Kruse, Lyle W.

1985-01-01

A portal radiation monitor combines 0.1% FAR with high sensitivity to special nuclear material. The monitor utilizes pulse shape discrimination, dynamic compression of the photomultiplier output and scintillators sized to maintain efficiency over the entire portal area.

Portal radiation monitor

DOEpatents

Kruse, L.W.

1982-03-23

A portal radiation monitor combines .1% FAR with high sensitivity to special nuclear material. The monitor utilizes pulse shape discrimination, dynamic compression of the photomultiplier output and scintillators sized to maintain efficiency over the entire portal area.

Bismuth- and lithium-loaded plastic scintillators for gamma and neutron detection

DOE PAGES

Cherepy, Nerine J.; Sanner, Robert D.; Beck, Patrick R.; ...

2015-01-09

In this paper, transparent plastic scintillators based on polyvinyltoluene (PVT) have been fabricated with high loading of bismuth carboxylates for gamma spectroscopy, and with lithium carboxylates for neutron detection. When activated with a combination of standard fluors, 2,5-diphenyloxazole (PPO) and tetraphenylbutadiene (TPB), gamma light yields with 15 wt% bismuth tripivalate of 5000 Ph/MeV are measured. A PVT plastic formulation including 30 wt% lithium pivalate and 30 wt% PPO offers both pulse shape discrimination, and a neutron capture peak at ~400 keVee. Finally, in another configuration, a bismuth-loaded PVT plastic is coated with ZnS( 6Li) paint, permitting simultaneous gamma and neutronmore » detection via pulse shape discrimination with a figure-of-merit of 3.8, while offering gamma spectroscopy with energy resolution of R(662 keV)=15%.« less

Recent developments in plastic scintillators with pulse shape discrimination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zaitseva, N. P.; Glenn, A. M.; Mabe, A. N.; Carman, M. L.; Hurlbut, C. R.; Inman, J. W.; Payne, S. A.

2018-05-01

The paper reports results of studies conducted to improve scintillation performance of plastic scintillators capable of neutron/gamma pulse-shape discrimination (PSD). Compositional modifications made with the polymer matrix improved physical stability, allowing for increased loads of the primary dye that, in combination with selected secondary dyes, provided enhanced PSD especially important for the lower energy ranges. Additional measurements were made with a newly-introduced PSD plastic EJ-276, that replaces the first commercially produced EJ-299. Comparative studies conducted with the new materials and EJ-309 liquids at large scale (up to 10 cm) show that current plastics may provide scintillation and PSD performance sufficient for the replacement of liquid scintillators. Comparison to stilbene single crystals compliments the information about the status of the solid-state materials recently developed for fast neutron detection applications.

Spatial release from masking improves sound pattern discrimination along a biologically relevant pulse-rate continuum in gray treefrogs

PubMed Central

Ward, Jessica L.; Buerkle, Nathan P.; Bee, Mark A.

2013-01-01

Frogs form large choruses during the mating season in which males produce loud advertisement calls to attract females and repel rival males. High background noise levels in these social aggregations can impair vocal perception. In humans, spatial release from masking contributes to our ability to understand speech in noisy social groups. Here, we tested the hypothesis that spatial separation between target signals and ‘chorus-shaped noise’ improves the ability of female gray treefrogs (Hyla chrysoscelis) to perform a behavioral discrimination task based on perceiving differences in the pulsatile structure of advertisement calls. We used two-stimulus choice tests to measure phonotaxis (approach toward sound) in response to calls differing in pulse rate along a biologically relevant continuum between conspecific (50 pulses s−1) and heterospecific (20 pulses s−1) calls. Signals were presented in quiet, in colocated noise, and in spatially separated noise. In quiet conditions, females exhibited robust preferences for calls with relatively faster pulse rates more typical of conspecific calls. Behavioral discrimination between calls differing in pulse rate was impaired in the presence of colocated noise but similar between quiet and spatially separated noise conditions. Our results indicate that spatial release from energetic masking facilitates a biologically important temporal discrimination task in frogs. We discuss these results in light of previous work on spatial release from masking in frogs and other animals. PMID:24055623

Liquid xenon scintillation measurements and pulse shape discrimination in the LUX dark matter detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akerib, D. S.; Alsum, S.; Araújo, H. M.; Bai, X.; Bailey, A. J.; Balajthy, J.; Beltrame, P.; Bernard, E. P.; Bernstein, A.; Biesiadzinski, T. P.; Boulton, E. M.; Brás, P.; Byram, D.; Carmona-Benitez, M. C.; Chan, C.; Currie, A.; Cutter, J. E.; Davison, T. J. R.; Dobi, A.; Druszkiewicz, E.; Edwards, B. N.; Fallon, S. R.; Fan, A.; Fiorucci, S.; Gaitskell, R. J.; Genovesi, J.; Ghag, C.; Gilchriese, M. G. D.; Hall, C. R.; Haselschwardt, S. J.; Hertel, S. A.; Hogan, D. P.; Horn, M.; Huang, D. Q.; Ignarra, C. M.; Jacobsen, R. G.; Ji, W.; Kamdin, K.; Kazkaz, K.; Khaitan, D.; Knoche, R.; Lenardo, B. G.; Lesko, K. T.; Liao, J.; Lindote, A.; Lopes, M. I.; Manalaysay, A.; Mannino, R. L.; Marzioni, M. F.; McKinsey, D. N.; Mei, D.-M.; Mock, J.; Moongweluwan, M.; Morad, J. A.; Murphy, A. St. J.; Nehrkorn, C.; Nelson, H. N.; Neves, F.; O'Sullivan, K.; Oliver-Mallory, K. C.; Palladino, K. J.; Pease, E. K.; Rhyne, C.; Shaw, S.; Shutt, T. A.; Silva, C.; Solmaz, M.; Solovov, V. N.; Sorensen, P.; Sumner, T. J.; Szydagis, M.; Taylor, D. J.; Taylor, W. C.; Tennyson, B. P.; Terman, P. A.; Tiedt, D. R.; To, W. H.; Tripathi, M.; Tvrznikova, L.; Utku, U.; Uvarov, S.; Velan, V.; Verbus, J. R.; Webb, R. C.; White, J. T.; Whitis, T. J.; Witherell, M. S.; Wolfs, F. L. H.; Xu, J.; Yazdani, K.; Young, S. K.; Zhang, C.; LUX Collaboration

2018-06-01

Weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) are a leading candidate for dark matter and are expected to produce nuclear recoil (NR) events within liquid xenon time-projection chambers. We present a measurement of the scintillation timing characteristics of liquid xenon in the LUX dark matter detector and develop a pulse shape discriminant to be used for particle identification. To accurately measure the timing characteristics, we develop a template-fitting method to reconstruct the detection times of photons. Analyzing calibration data collected during the 2013-2016 LUX WIMP search, we provide a new measurement of the singlet-to-triplet scintillation ratio for electron recoils (ER) below 46 keV, and we make, to our knowledge, a first-ever measurement of the NR singlet-to-triplet ratio at recoil energies below 74 keV. We exploit the difference of the photon time spectra for NR and ER events by using a prompt fraction discrimination parameter, which is optimized using calibration data to have the least number of ER events that occur in a 50% NR acceptance region. We then demonstrate how this discriminant can be used in conjunction with the charge-to-light discrimination to possibly improve the signal-to-noise ratio for nuclear recoils.

Digital pulse shape discrimination methods for n-γ separation in an EJ-301 liquid scintillation detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wan, Bo; Zhang, Xue-Ying; Chen, Liang; Ge, Hong-Lin; Ma, Fei; Zhang, Hong-Bin; Ju, Yong-Qin; Zhang, Yan-Bin; Li, Yan-Yan; Xu, Xiao-Wei

2015-11-01

A digital pulse shape discrimination system based on a programmable module NI-5772 has been established and tested with an EJ-301 liquid scintillation detector. The module was operated by running programs developed in LabVIEW, with a sampling frequency up to 1.6 GS/s. Standard gamma sources 22Na, 137Cs and 60Co were used to calibrate the EJ-301 liquid scintillation detector, and the gamma response function was obtained. Digital algorithms for the charge comparison method and zero-crossing method have been developed. The experimental results show that both digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms can discriminate neutrons from γ-rays. Moreover, the zero-crossing method shows better n-γ discrimination at 80 keVee and lower, whereas the charge comparison method gives better results at higher thresholds. In addition, the figure-of-merit (FOM) for detectors of two different dimensions were extracted at 9 energy thresholds, and it was found that the smaller detector presented better n-γ separation for fission neutrons. Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (91226107, 11305229) and the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA03030300)

Pulse shaping and energy storage capabilities of angularly multiplexed KrF laser fusion drivers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lehmberg, R. H.; Giuliani, J. L.; Schmitt, A. J.

2009-07-01

This paper describes a rep-rated multibeam KrF laser driver design for the 500kJ Inertial Fusion test Facility (FTF) recently proposed by NRL, then models its optical pulse shaping capabilities using the ORESTES laser kinetics code. It describes a stable and reliable iteration technique for calculating the required precompensated input pulse shape that will achieve the desired output shape, even when the amplifiers are heavily saturated. It also describes how this precompensation technique could be experimentally implemented in real time on a reprated laser system. The simulations show that this multibeam system can achieve a high fidelity pulse shaping capability, even for a high gain shock ignition pulse whose final spike requires output intensities much higher than the ˜4MW/cm2 saturation levels associated with quasi-cw operation; i.e., they show that KrF can act as a storage medium even for pulsewidths of ˜1ns. For the chosen pulse, which gives a predicted fusion energy gain of ˜120, the simulations predict the FTF can deliver a total on-target energy of 428kJ, a peak spike power of 385TW, and amplified spontaneous emission prepulse contrast ratios IASE/I<3×10-7 in intensity and FASE/F<1.5×10-5 in fluence. Finally, the paper proposes a front-end pulse shaping technique that combines an optical Kerr gate with cw 248nm light and a 1μm control beam shaped by advanced fiber optic technology, such as the one used in the National Ignition Facility (NIF) laser.

Gain Shift Corrections at Chi-Nu

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

Brown, Tristan Brooks; Devlin, Matthew James

Ambient conditions have the potential to cause changes in liquid scintillator detector gain that vary with time and temperature. These gain shifts can lead to poor resolution in both energy as well as pulse shape discrimination. In order to correct for these shifts in the Chi-Nu high energy array, a laser system has been developed for calibration of the pulse height signals.

The GSFC Advanced Compton Telescope (ACT)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hartman, R.; Fichtel, C.; Kniffen, D.; Trombka, J.; Stacy, G.

1983-01-01

A new telescope is being developed at GSFC for the study of point sources of gamma rays in the energy range 1-30 MeV. Using the detection principle of a Compton scatter in a 2.5 cm thick NaI(Tl) detector followed by absorption in a 15 cm thick NaI(Tl) detector, the telescope uses a rocking collimator for field-of-view reduction and background subtraction. Background reduction techniques include lead-plastic scintillator shielding, pulse shape discrimination and Anger camera operation to both NaI detectors, as well as a time-of-flight measurement between them. The instrument configuration and status is described.

Pulsed plane wave analytic solutions for generic shapes and the validation of Maxwell's equations solvers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yarrow, Maurice; Vastano, John A.; Lomax, Harvard

1992-01-01

Generic shapes are subjected to pulsed plane waves of arbitrary shape. The resulting scattered electromagnetic fields are determined analytically. These fields are then computed efficiently at field locations for which numerically determined EM fields are required. Of particular interest are the pulsed waveform shapes typically utilized by radar systems. The results can be used to validate the accuracy of finite difference time domain Maxwell's equations solvers. A two-dimensional solver which is second- and fourth-order accurate in space and fourth-order accurate in time is examined. Dielectric media properties are modeled by a ramping technique which simplifies the associated gridding of body shapes. The attributes of the ramping technique are evaluated by comparison with the analytic solutions.

Pulse-shape discrimination between electron and nuclear recoils in a NaI(Tl) crystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, H. S.; Adhikari, G.; Adhikari, P.; Choi, S.; Hahn, I. S.; Jeon, E. J.; Joo, H. W.; Kang, W. G.; Kim, G. B.; Kim, H. J.; Kim, H. O.; Kim, K. W.; Kim, N. Y.; Kim, S. K.; Kim, Y. D.; Kim, Y. H.; Lee, J. H.; Lee, M. H.; Leonard, D. S.; Li, J.; Oh, S. Y.; Olsen, S. L.; Park, H. K.; Park, H. S.; Park, K. S.; Shim, J. H.; So, J. H.

2015-08-01

We report on the response of a high light-output NaI(Tl) crystal to nuclear recoils induced by neutrons from an Am-Be source and compare the results with the response to electron recoils produced by Compton-scattered 662 keV γ-rays from a 137Cs source. The measured pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) power of the NaI(Tl) crystal is found to be significantly improved because of the high light output of the NaI(Tl) detector. We quantify the PSD power with a quality factor and estimate the sensitivity to the interaction rate for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) with nucleons, and the result is compared with the annual modulation amplitude observed by the DAMA/LIBRA experiment. The sensitivity to spin-independent WIMP-nucleon interactions based on 100 kg·year of data from NaI detectors is estimated with simulated experiments, using the standard halo model.

Scintillation efficiency measurement of Na recoils in NaI(Tl) below the DAMA/LIBRA energy threshold

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Jingke; Shields, Emily; Calaprice, Frank; Westerdale, Shawn; Froborg, Francis; Suerfu, Burkhant; Alexander, Thomas; Aprahamian, Ani; Back, Henning O.; Casarella, Clark; Fang, Xiao; Gupta, Yogesh K.; Ianni, Aldo; Lamere, Edward; Lippincott, W. Hugh; Liu, Qian; Lyons, Stephanie; Siegl, Kevin; Smith, Mallory; Tan, Wanpeng; Kolk, Bryant Vande

2015-07-01

The dark matter interpretation of the DAMA modulation signal depends on the NaI(Tl) scintillation efficiency of nuclear recoils. Previous measurements for Na recoils have large discrepancies, especially in the DAMA/LIBRA modulation energy region. We report a quenching effect measurement of Na recoils in NaI(Tl) from 3 to 52 keVnr, covering the whole DAMA/LIBRA energy region for dark matter-Na scattering interpretations. By using a low-energy, pulsed neutron beam, a double time-of-flight technique, and pulse-shape discrimination methods, we obtained the most accurate measurement of this kind for NaI(Tl) to date. The results differ significantly from the DAMA reported values at low energies but fall between the other previous measurements. We present the implications of the new quenching results for the dark matter interpretation of the DAMA modulation signal.

Scintillation efficiency measurement of Na recoils in NaI(Tl) below the DAMA/LIBRA energy threshold

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

Xu, Jingke; Shields, Emily; Calaprice, Frank

2015-07-01

The dark matter interpretation of the DAMA modulation signal depends on the NaI(Tl) scintillation efficiency of nuclear recoils. Previous measurements for Na recoils have large discrepancies, especially in the DAMA/LIBRA modulation energy region. We report a quenching effect measurement of Na recoils in NaI(Tl) from 3 to 52 keVnr, covering the whole DAMA/LIBRA energy region for dark matter-Na scattering interpretations. By using a low-energy, pulsed neutron beam, a double time-of-flight technique, and pulse-shape discrimination methods, we obtained the most accurate measurement of this kind for NaI(Tl) to date. The results differ significantly from the DAMA reported values at low energies butmore » fall between the other previous measurements. We present the implications of the new quenching results for the dark matter interpretation of the DAMA modulation signal.« less

Multi-Absorber Transition-Edge Sensors for X-Ray Astronomy Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, S. J.; Adams, J. S.; Bandler, S. R.; Busch, S. E.; Chervenak, J. A.; Eckart, M. E.; Ewin, A. J.; Finkbeiner, F. M.; Kelley, R. L.; Kelly, D. P.;

Ballistic Deficits for Ionization Chamber Pulses in Pulse Shaping Amplifiers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, G. Anil; Sharma, S. L.; Choudhury, R. K.

2007-04-01

In order to understand the dependence of the ballistic deficit on the shape of rising portion of the voltage pulse at the input of a pulse shaping amplifier, we have estimated the ballistic deficits for the pulses from a two-electrode parallel plate ionization chamber as well as for the pulses from a gridded parallel plate ionization chamber. These estimations have been made using numerical integration method when the pulses are processed through the CR-RCn (n=1-6) shaping network as well as when the pulses are processed through the complex shaping network of the ORTEC Model 472 spectroscopic amplifier. Further, we have made simulations to see the effect of ballistic deficit on the pulse-height spectra under different conditions. We have also carried out measurements of the ballistic deficits for the pulses from a two-electrode parallel plate ionization chamber as well as for the pulses from a gridded parallel plate ionization chamber when these pulses are processed through the ORTEC 572 linear amplifier having a simple CR-RC shaping network. The reasonable matching of the simulated ballistic deficits with the experimental ballistic deficits for the CR-RC shaping network clearly establishes the validity of the simulation technique

Neutron Spectroscopy for pulsed beams with frame overlap using a double time-of-flight technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harrig, K. P.; Goldblum, B. L.; Brown, J. A.; Bleuel, D. L.; Bernstein, L. A.; Bevins, J.; Harasty, M.; Laplace, T. A.; Matthews, E. F.

2018-01-01

A new double time-of-flight (dTOF) neutron spectroscopy technique has been developed for pulsed broad spectrum sources with a duty cycle that results in frame overlap, where fast neutrons from a given pulse overtake slower neutrons from previous pulses. Using a tunable beam at the 88-Inch Cyclotron at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, neutrons were produced via thick-target breakup of 16 MeV deuterons on a beryllium target in the cyclotron vault. The breakup spectral shape was deduced from a dTOF measurement using an array of EJ-309 organic liquid scintillators. Simulation of the neutron detection efficiency of the scintillator array was performed using both GEANT4 and MCNP6. The efficiency-corrected spectral shape was normalized using a foil activation technique to obtain the energy-dependent flux of the neutron beam at zero degrees with respect to the incoming deuteron beam. The dTOF neutron spectrum was compared to spectra obtained using HEPROW and GRAVEL pulse height spectrum unfolding techniques. While the unfolding and dTOF results exhibit some discrepancies in shape, the integrated flux values agree within two standard deviations. This method obviates neutron time-of-flight spectroscopy challenges posed by pulsed beams with frame overlap and opens new opportunities for pulsed white neutron source facilities.

Pulse-Shaping-Based Nonlinear Microscopy: Development and Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Flynn, Daniel Christopher

The combination of optical microscopy and ultrafast spectroscopy make the spatial characterization of chemical kinetics on the femtosecond time scale possible. Commercially available octave-spanning Ti:Sapphire oscillators with sub-8 fs pulse durations can drive a multitude of nonlinear transitions across a significant portion of the visible spectrum with minimal average power. Unfortunately, dispersion from microscope objectives broadens pulse durations, decreases temporal resolution and lowers the peak intensities required for driving nonlinear transitions. In this dissertation, pulse shaping is used to compress laser pulses after the microscope objective. By using a binary genetic algorithm, pulse-shapes are designed to enable selective two-photon excitation. The pulse-shapes are demonstrated in two-photon fluorescence of live COS-7 cells expressing GFP-variants mAmetrine and tdTomato. The pulse-shaping approach is applied to a new multiphoton fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) stoichiometry method that quantifies donor and acceptor molecules in complex, as well as the ratio of total donor to acceptor molecules. Compared to conventional multi-photon imaging techniques that require laser tuning or multiple laser systems to selectively excite individual fluorophores, the pulse-shaping approach offers rapid selective multifluorphore imaging at biologically relevant time scales. By splitting the laser beam into two beams and building a second pulse shaper, a pulse-shaping-based pump-probe microscope is developed. The technique offers multiple imaging modalities, such as excited state absorption (ESA), ground state bleach (GSB), and stimulated emission (SE), enhancing contrast of structures via their unique quantum pathways without the addition of contrast agents. Pulse-shaping based pump-probe microscopy is demonstrated for endogenous chemical-contrast imaging of red blood cells. In the second section of this dissertation, ultrafast spectroscopic techniques are used to characterize structure-function relationships of two-photon absorbing GFP-type probes and optical limiting materials. Fluorescence lifetimes of GFP-type probes are shown to depend on functional group substitution position, therefore, enabling the synthesis of designer probes for the possible study of conformation changes and aggregation in biological systems. Similarly, it is determined that small differences in the structure and dimensionality of organometallic macrocycles result in a diverse set of optical properties, which serves as a basis for the molecular level design of nonlinear optical materials.

The 3H(d,γ)5He Reaction for Ec.m. ≤ 300 keV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parker, C. E.; Brune, C. R.; Massey, T. N.; O'Donnell, J. E.; Richard, A. L.; Sayre, D. B.

2016-03-01

The 3H(d, γ)5He reaction has been measured using a 500-keV pulsed deuteron beam incident on a stopping titanium tritide target at Ohio University's Edwards Accelerator Laboratory. The time-of-flight (TOF) technique has been used to distinguish the γ-rays from neutrons detected in the bismuth germinate (BGO) γ-ray detector. A stilbene scintillator and an NE-213 scintillator have been used to detect the neutrons from the 3H(d, n)4He reaction using both the pulse-shape discrimination and TOF techniques. A newly-designed target holder with a silicon surface barrier detector to simultaneously measure α-particles to normalize the neutron count was incorporated for subsequent measurements. The γ-rays have been measured at laboratory angles of 0°, 45°, 90°, and 135°. Information about the γ-ray energy distribution for the unbound ground state and first excited state of 5He can be obtained experimentally by comparing the BGO data to Monte Carlo simulations. The 3H(d, γ)/3H(d, n) branching ratio has also been determined.

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

Aalseth, Craig E.; Day, Anthony R.; Fuller, Erin S.

Abstract A new ultra-low-background proportional counter (ULBPC) design was recently developed at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). This design, along with an ultra-low-background counting system (ULBCS) which provides passive and active shielding with radon exclusion, has been developed to complement a new shallow underground laboratory (~30 meters water-equivalent) constructed at PNNL. After these steps to mitigate dominant backgrounds (cosmic rays, external gamma-rays, radioactivity in materials), remaining background events do not exclusively arise from ionization of the proportional counter gas. Digital pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) is thus employed to further improve measurement sensitivity. In this work, a template shape is generated formore » each individual sample measurement of interest, a "self-calibrating" template. Differences in event topology can also cause differences in pulse shape. In this work, the temporal region analyzed for each event is refined to maximize background discrimination while avoiding unwanted sensitivity to event topology. This digital PSD method is applied to sample and background data, and initial measurement results from a biofuel methane sample are presented in the context of low-background measurements currently being developed.« less

Focus characterization at an X-ray free-electron laser by coherent scattering and speckle analysis

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

Sikorski, Marcin; Song, Sanghoon; Schropp, Andreas

2015-04-14

X-ray focus optimization and characterization based on coherent scattering and quantitative speckle size measurements was demonstrated at the Linac Coherent Light Source. Its performance as a single-pulse free-electron laser beam diagnostic was tested for two typical focusing configurations. The results derived from the speckle size/shape analysis show the effectiveness of this technique in finding the focus' location, size and shape. In addition, its single-pulse compatibility enables users to capture pulse-to-pulse fluctuations in focus properties compared with other techniques that require scanning and averaging.

Pulse analysis of acoustic emission signals

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Houghton, J. R.; Packman, P. F.

1977-01-01

A method for the signature analysis of pulses in the frequency domain and the time domain is presented. Fourier spectrum, Fourier transfer function, shock spectrum and shock spectrum ratio were examined in the frequency domain analysis and pulse shape deconvolution was developed for use in the time domain analysis. Comparisons of the relative performance of each analysis technique are made for the characterization of acoustic emission pulses recorded by a measuring system. To demonstrate the relative sensitivity of each of the methods to small changes in the pulse shape, signatures of computer modeled systems with analytical pulses are presented. Optimization techniques are developed and used to indicate the best design parameter values for deconvolution of the pulse shape. Several experiments are presented that test the pulse signature analysis methods on different acoustic emission sources. These include acoustic emission associated with (a) crack propagation, (b) ball dropping on a plate, (c) spark discharge, and (d) defective and good ball bearings. Deconvolution of the first few micro-seconds of the pulse train is shown to be the region in which the significant signatures of the acoustic emission event are to be found.

Pulse analysis of acoustic emission signals

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Houghton, J. R.; Packman, P. F.

1977-01-01

A method for the signature analysis of pulses in the frequency domain and the time domain is presented. Fourier spectrum, Fourier transfer function, shock spectrum and shock spectrum ratio were examined in the frequency domain analysis, and pulse shape deconvolution was developed for use in the time domain analysis. Comparisons of the relative performance of each analysis technique are made for the characterization of acoustic emission pulses recorded by a measuring system. To demonstrate the relative sensitivity of each of the methods to small changes in the pulse shape, signatures of computer modeled systems with analytical pulses are presented. Optimization techniques are developed and used to indicate the best design parameters values for deconvolution of the pulse shape. Several experiments are presented that test the pulse signature analysis methods on different acoustic emission sources. These include acoustic emissions associated with: (1) crack propagation, (2) ball dropping on a plate, (3) spark discharge and (4) defective and good ball bearings. Deconvolution of the first few micro-seconds of the pulse train are shown to be the region in which the significant signatures of the acoustic emission event are to be found.

Electrical pulse generator

DOEpatents

Norris, Neil J.

1979-01-01

A technique for generating high-voltage, wide dynamic range, shaped electrical pulses in the nanosecond range. Two transmission lines are coupled together by resistive elements distributed along the length of the lines. The conductance of each coupling resistive element as a function of its position along the line is selected to produce the desired pulse shape in the output line when an easily produced pulse, such as a step function pulse, is applied to the input line.

Characterization of a tin-loaded liquid scintillator for gamma spectroscopy and neutron detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wen, Xianfei; Harvey, Taylor; Weinmann-Smith, Robert; Walker, James; Noh, Young; Farley, Richard; Enqvist, Andreas

2018-07-01

A tin-loaded liquid scintillator has been developed for gamma spectroscopy and neutron detection. The scintillator was characterized in regard to energy resolution, pulse shape discrimination, neutron light output function, and timing resolution. The loading of tin into scintillators with low effective atomic number was demonstrated to provide photopeaks with acceptable energy resolution. The scintillator was shown to have reasonable neutron/gamma discrimination capability based on the charge comparison method. The effect on the discrimination quality of the total charge integration time and the initial delay time for tail charge integration was studied. To obtain the neutron light output function, the time-of-flight technique was utilized with a 252Cf source. The light output function was validated with the MCNPX-PoliMi code by comparing the measured and simulated pule height spectra. The timing resolution of the developed scintillator was also evaluated. The tin-loading was found to have negligible impact on the scintillation decay times. However, a relatively large degradation of timing resolution was observed due to the reduced light yield.

Ames collaborative study of cosmic ray neutrons

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hewitt, J. E.; Hughes, L.; Mccaslin, J. B.; Stephens, L. D.; Rindi, A.; Smith, A. R.; Thomas, R. H.; Griffith, R. V.; Welles, C. G.; Baum, J. W.

1976-01-01

The results of a collaborative study to define both the neutron flux and the spectrum more precisely and to develop a dosimetry package that can be flown quickly to altitude for solar flare events are described. Instrumentation and analysis techniques were used which were developed to measure accelerator-produced radiation. The instruments were flown in the Ames Research Center high altitude aircraft. Neutron instrumentation consisted of Bonner spheres with both active and passive detector elements, threshold detectors of both prompt-counter and activation-element types, a liquid scintillation spectrometer based on pulse-shape discrimination, and a moderated BF3 counter neutron monitor. In addition, charged particles were measured with a Reuter-Stokes ionization chamber system and dose equivalent with another instrument. Preliminary results from the first series of flights at 12.5 km (41,000 ft) are presented, including estimates of total neutron flux intensity and spectral shape and of the variation of intensity with altitude and geomagnetic latitude.

Elastic and Inelastic Scattering of Neutrons using a CLYC array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brown, Tristan; Doucet, E.; Chowdhury, P.; Lister, C. J.; Wilson, G. L.; Devlin, M.; Mosby, S.

2015-10-01

CLYC scintillators, which have dual neutron and gamma response, have recently ushered in the possibility of fast neutron spectroscopy without time-of-flight (TOF). A 16-element array of 1'' x 1'' 6Li-depleted CLYC crystals, where pulse-shape-discrimination is achieved via digital pulse processing, has been commissioned at UMass Lowell. In an experiment at LANSCE, high energy neutrons were used to bombard 56Fe and 238U targets, in order to measure elastic and inelastic neutron scattering cross sections as a function of energy and angle with the array. The array is placed very close to the targets for enhanced geometrical solid angles for scattered neutrons compared to standard neutron-TOF measurements. A pulse-height spectrum of scattered neutrons in the detectors is compared to the energy of the incident neutrons, which is measured via the TOF of the pulsed neutrons from the source to the detectors. Recoil corrections are necessary to combine the energy spectra from all the detectors to obtain angle-integrated elastic and inelastic cross-sections. The detection techniques, analysis procedures and results will be presented. Supported by NNSA-SSAA program through DOE Grant DE-NA00013008.

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

Ramirez, A. P. D.; Vanhoy, J. R.; Hicks, S. F.

Elastic and inelastic differential cross sections for neutron scattering from 56Fe have been measured for several incident energies from 1.30 to 7.96 MeV at the University of Kentucky Accelerator Laboratory. Scattered neutrons were detected using a C 6D 6 liquid scintillation detector using pulse-shape discrimination and time-of-flight techniques. The deduced cross sections have been compared with previously reported data, predictions from evaluation databases ENDF, JENDL, and JEFF, and theoretical calculations performed using different optical model potentials using the TALYS and EMPIRE nuclear reaction codes. The coupled-channel calculations based on the vibrational and soft-rotor models are found to describe the experimentalmore » (n,n 0) and (n,n 1) cross sections well.« less

Picosecond and sub-picosecond flat-top pulse generation using uniform long-period fiber gratings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Y.; Kulishov, M.; Slavík, R.; Azaña, J.

2006-12-01

We propose a novel linear filtering scheme based on ultrafast all-optical differentiation for re-shaping of ultrashort pulses generated from a mode-locked laser into flat-top pulses. The technique is demonstrated using simple all-fiber optical filters, more specifically uniform long period fiber gratings (LPGs) operated in transmission. The large bandwidth typical for these fiber filters allows scaling the technique to the sub-picosecond regime. In the experiments reported here, 600-fs and 1.8-ps Gaussian-like optical pulses (@ 1535 nm) have been re-shaped into 1-ps and 3.2-ps flat-top pulses, respectively, using a single 9-cm long uniform LPG.

Neutron spectroscopy for pulsed beams with frame overlap using a double time-of-flight technique

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

Harrig, K. P.; Goldblum, B. L.; Brown, J. A.

A new double time-of- ight (dTOF) neutron spectroscopy technique has been developed for pulsed broad spectrum sources with a duty cycle that results in frame overlap, where fast neutrons from a given pulse overtake slower neutrons from previous pulses. Using a tunable beam at the 88-Inch Cyclotron at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, neutrons were produced via thick-target breakup of 16 MeV deuterons on a beryllium target in the cyclotron vault. The breakup spectral shape was deduced from a dTOF measurement using an array of EJ-309 organic liquid scintillators. Simulation of the neutron detection efficiency of the scintillator array was performedmore » using both GEANT4 and MCNP6. The efficiency- corrected spectral shape was normalized using a foil activation technique to obtain the energy-dependent flux of the neutron beam at zero degrees with respect to the incoming deuteron beam. The dTOF neutron spectrum was compared to spectra obtained using HEPROW and GRAVEL pulse height spectrum unfolding techniques. While the unfolding and dTOF results exhibit some discrepancies in shape, the integrated flux values agree within two standard deviations. As a result, this method obviates neutron time-of-flight spectroscopy challenges posed by pulsed beams« less

Neutron spectroscopy for pulsed beams with frame overlap using a double time-of-flight technique

DOE PAGES

Harrig, K. P.; Goldblum, B. L.; Brown, J. A.; ...

2017-10-16

A new double time-of- ight (dTOF) neutron spectroscopy technique has been developed for pulsed broad spectrum sources with a duty cycle that results in frame overlap, where fast neutrons from a given pulse overtake slower neutrons from previous pulses. Using a tunable beam at the 88-Inch Cyclotron at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, neutrons were produced via thick-target breakup of 16 MeV deuterons on a beryllium target in the cyclotron vault. The breakup spectral shape was deduced from a dTOF measurement using an array of EJ-309 organic liquid scintillators. Simulation of the neutron detection efficiency of the scintillator array was performedmore » using both GEANT4 and MCNP6. The efficiency- corrected spectral shape was normalized using a foil activation technique to obtain the energy-dependent flux of the neutron beam at zero degrees with respect to the incoming deuteron beam. The dTOF neutron spectrum was compared to spectra obtained using HEPROW and GRAVEL pulse height spectrum unfolding techniques. While the unfolding and dTOF results exhibit some discrepancies in shape, the integrated flux values agree within two standard deviations. As a result, this method obviates neutron time-of-flight spectroscopy challenges posed by pulsed beams« less

Beam modulation: A novel ToF-technique for high resolution diffraction at the Beamline for European Materials Engineering Research (BEER)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rouijaa, M.; Kampmann, R.; Šaroun, J.; Fenske, J.; Beran, P.; Müller, M.; Lukáš, P.; Schreyer, A.

2018-05-01

The Beamline for European Materials Engineering Research (BEER) is under construction at the European Spallation Source (ESS) in Lund, Sweden. A basic requirement on BEER is to make best use of the long ESS pulse (2.86 ms) for engineering investigations. High-resolution diffraction, however, demands timing resolution up to 0.1% corresponding to a pulse length down to about 70 μs for the case of thermal neutrons (λ ∼ 1.8 Å). Such timing resolution can be achieved by pulse shaping techniques cutting a short section out of the long pulse, and thus paying for resolution by strong loss of intensity. In contrast to this, BEER proposes a novel operation mode called pulse modulation technique based on a new chopper design, which extracts several short pulses out of the long ESS pulse, and hence leads to a remarkable gain of intensity compared to nowadays existing conventional pulse shaping techniques. The potential of the new technique can be used with full advantage for investigating strains and textures of highly symmetric materials. Due to its instrument design and the high brilliance of the ESS pulse, BEER is expected to become the European flagship for engineering research for strain mapping and texture analysis.

Multi-pulse frequency shifted (MPFS) multiple access modulation for ultra wideband

DOEpatents

Nekoogar, Faranak [San Ramon, CA; Dowla, Farid U [Castro Valley, CA

2012-01-24

The multi-pulse frequency shifted technique uses mutually orthogonal short duration pulses o transmit and receive information in a UWB multiuser communication system. The multiuser system uses the same pulse shape with different frequencies for the reference and data for each user. Different users have a different pulse shape (mutually orthogonal to each other) and different transmit and reference frequencies. At the receiver, the reference pulse is frequency shifted to match the data pulse and a correlation scheme followed by a hard decision block detects the data.

Pulse-shape discrimination and energy resolution of a liquid-argon scintillator with xenon doping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wahl, C. G.; Bernard, E. P.; Lippincott, W. H.; Nikkel, J. A.; Shin, Y.; McKinsey, D. N.

2014-06-01

Liquid-argon scintillation detectors are used in fundamental physics experiments and are being considered for security applications. Previous studies have suggested that the addition of small amounts of xenon dopant improves performance in light or signal yield, energy resolution, and particle discrimination. In this study, we investigate the detector response for xenon dopant concentrations from 9 ± 5 ppm to 1100 ± 500 ppm xenon (by weight) in 6 steps. The 3.14-liter detector uses tetraphenyl butadiene (TPB) wavelength shifter with dual photomultiplier tubes and is operated in single-phase mode. Gamma-ray-interaction signal yield of 4.0 ± 0.1 photoelectrons/keV improved to 5.0 ± 0.1 photoelectrons/keV with dopant. Energy resolution at 662 keV improved from (4.4 ± 0.2)% (σ) to (3.5 ± 0.2)% (σ) with dopant. Pulse-shape discrimination performance degraded greatly at the first addition of dopant, slightly improved with additional additions, then rapidly improved near the end of our dopant range, with performance becoming slightly better than pure argon at the highest tested dopant concentration. Some evidence of reduced neutron scintillation efficiency with increasing dopant concentration was observed. Finally, the waveform shape outside the TPB region is discussed, suggesting that the contribution to the waveform from xenon-produced light is primarily in the last portion of the slow component.

Simple algorithms for digital pulse-shape discrimination with liquid scintillation detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alharbi, T.

2015-01-01

The development of compact, battery-powered digital liquid scintillation neutron detection systems for field applications requires digital pulse processing (DPP) algorithms with minimum computational overhead. To meet this demand, two DPP algorithms for the discrimination of neutron and γ-rays with liquid scintillation detectors were developed and examined by using a NE213 liquid scintillation detector in a mixed radiation field. The first algorithm is based on the relation between the amplitude of a current pulse at the output of a photomultiplier tube and the amount of charge contained in the pulse. A figure-of-merit (FOM) value of 0.98 with 450 keVee (electron equivalent energy) energy threshold was achieved with this method when pulses were sampled at 250 MSample/s and with 8-bit resolution. Compared to the similar method of charge-comparison this method requires only a single integration window, thereby reducing the amount of computations by approximately 40%. The second approach is a digital version of the trailing-edge constant-fraction discrimination method. A FOM value of 0.84 with an energy threshold of 450 keVee was achieved with this method. In comparison with the similar method of rise-time discrimination this method requires a single time pick-off, thereby reducing the amount of computations by approximately 50%. The algorithms described in this work are useful for developing portable detection systems for applications such as homeland security, radiation dosimetry and environmental monitoring.

Shape of intrinsic alpha pulse height spectra in lanthanide halide scintillators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wolszczak, W.; Dorenbos, P.

2017-06-01

Internal contamination with actinium-227 and its daughters is a serious drawback in low-background applications of lanthanide-based scintillators. In this work we showed the important role of nuclear γ de-excitations on the shape of the internal alpha spectrum measured in scintillators. We calculated with Bateman equations the activities of contamination isotopes and the time evolution of actinium-227 and its progenies. Next, we measured the intrinsic background spectra of LaBr3(Ce), LaBr3(Ce,Sr) and CeBr3 with a digital spectroscopy technique, and we analyzed them with a pulse shape discrimination method (PSD) and a time-amplitude analysis. Finally, we simulated the α background spectrum with Geant4 tool-kit, consequently taking into account complex α-γ-electron events, the α / β ratio dependence on the α energy, and the electron/γ nonproportionality. We found that α-γ mixed events have higher light yield than expected for alpha particles alone, which leads to overestimation of the α / β ratio when it is measured with internal 227Th and 223Ra isotopes. The time-amplitude analysis showed that the α peaks of 219Rn and 215Po in LaBr3(Ce) and LaBr3(Ce,Sr) are not symmetric. We compared the simulation results with the measured data and provided further evidence of the important role of mixed α-γ-electron events for understanding the shape of the internal α spectrum in scintillators.

Optimal design of waveform digitisers for both energy resolution and pulse shape discrimination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cang, Jirong; Xue, Tao; Zeng, Ming; Zeng, Zhi; Ma, Hao; Cheng, Jianping; Liu, Yinong

2018-04-01

Fast digitisers and digital pulse processing have been widely used for spectral application and pulse shape discrimination (PSD) owing to their advantages in terms of compactness, higher trigger rates, offline analysis, etc. Meanwhile, the noise of readout electronics is usually trivial for organic, plastic, or liquid scintillator with PSD ability because of their poor intrinsic energy resolution. However, LaBr3(Ce) has been widely used for its excellent energy resolution and has been proven to have PSD ability for alpha/gamma particles. Therefore, designing a digital acquisition system for such scintillators as LaBr3(Ce) with both optimal energy resolution and promising PSD ability is worthwhile. Several experimental research studies about the choice of digitiser properties for liquid scintillators have already been conducted in terms of the sampling rate and vertical resolution. Quantitative analysis on the influence of waveform digitisers, that is, fast amplifier (optional), sampling rates, and vertical resolution, on both applications is still lacking. The present paper provides quantitative analysis of these factors and, hence, general rules about the optimal design of digitisers for both energy resolution and PSD application according to the noise analysis of time-variant gated charge integration.

Simple and robust generation of ultrafast laser pulse trains using polarization-independent parallel-aligned thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Andong; Jiang, Lan; Li, Xiaowei; Wang, Zhi; Du, Kun; Lu, Yongfeng

2018-05-01

Ultrafast laser pulse temporal shaping has been widely applied in various important applications such as laser materials processing, coherent control of chemical reactions, and ultrafast imaging. However, temporal pulse shaping has been limited to only-in-lab technique due to the high cost, low damage threshold, and polarization dependence. Herein we propose a novel design of ultrafast laser pulse train generation device, which consists of multiple polarization-independent parallel-aligned thin films. Various pulse trains with controllable temporal profile can be generated flexibly by multi-reflections within the splitting films. Compared with other pulse train generation techniques, this method has advantages of compact structure, low cost, high damage threshold and polarization independence. These advantages endow it with high potential for broad utilization in ultrafast applications.

Intensity coding in electric hearing: effects of electrode configurations and stimulation waveforms.

PubMed

Chua, Tiffany Elise H; Bachman, Mark; Zeng, Fan-Gang

2011-01-01

Current cochlear implants typically stimulate the auditory nerve with biphasic pulses and monopolar electrode configurations. Tripolar stimulation can increase spatial selectivity and potentially improve place pitch related perception but requires higher current levels to elicit the same loudness as monopolar stimulation. The present study combined delayed pseudomonophonasic pulses, which produce lower thresholds, with tripolar stimulation in an attempt to solve the power-performance tradeoff problem. The present study systematically measured thresholds, dynamic range, loudness growth, and intensity discrimination using either biphasic or delayed pseudomonophonasic pulses under both monopolar and tripolar stimulation. Participants were five Clarion cochlear implant users. For each subject, data from apical, middle, and basal electrode positions were collected when possible. Compared with biphasic pulses, delayed pseudomonophonasic pulses increased the dynamic range by lowering thresholds while maintaining comparable maximum allowable levels under both electrode configurations. However, delayed pseudomonophonasic pulses did not change the shape of loudness growth function and actually increased intensity discrimination limens, especially at lower current levels. The present results indicate that delayed pseudomonophonasic pulses coupled with tripolar stimulation cannot provide significant power savings nor can it increase the functional dynamic range. Whether this combined stimulation could improve functional spectral resolution remains to be seen.

Pulse shape discrimination performance of inverted coaxial Ge detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Domula, A.; Hult, M.; Kermaïdic, Y.; Marissens, G.; Schwingenheuer, B.; Wester, T.; Zuber, K.

2018-05-01

We report on the characterization of two inverted coaxial Ge detectors in the context of being employed in future 76Ge neutrinoless double beta (0 νββ) decay experiments. It is an advantage that such detectors can be produced with bigger Ge mass as compared to the planar Broad Energy Ge (BEGe) or p-type Point Contact (PPC) detectors that are currently used in the GERDA and MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR 0 νββ decay experiments respectively. This will result in a lower background for the search of 0 νββ decay due to a reduction of detector surface to volume ratio, cables, electronics and holders which are dominating nearby radioactive sources. The measured resolution near the 76Ge Q-value at 2039 keV is 2.3 keV FWHM and their pulse-shape discrimination of background events are similar to BEGe and PPC detectors. It is concluded that this type of Ge-detector is suitable for usage in 76Ge 0 νββ decay experiments.

Fast neutron tomography with real-time pulse-shape discrimination in organic scintillation detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Joyce, Malcolm J.; Agar, Stewart; Aspinall, Michael D.; Beaumont, Jonathan S.; Colley, Edmund; Colling, Miriam; Dykes, Joseph; Kardasopoulos, Phoevos; Mitton, Katie

2016-10-01

A fast neutron tomography system based on the use of real-time pulse-shape discrimination in 7 organic liquid scintillation detectors is described. The system has been tested with a californium-252 source of dose rate 163 μSv/h at 1 m and neutron emission rate of 1.5×107 per second into 4π and a maximum acquisition time of 2 h, to characterize two 100×100×100 mm3 concrete samples. The first of these was a solid sample and the second has a vertical, cylindrical void. The experimental data, supported by simulations with both Monte Carlo methods and MATLAB®, indicate that the presence of the internal cylindrical void, corners and inhomogeneities in the samples can be discerned. The potential for fast neutron assay of this type with the capability to probe hydrogenous features in large low-Z samples is discussed. Neutron tomography of bulk porous samples is achieved that combines effective penetration not possible with thermal neutrons in the absence of beam hardening.

Insulating epoxy/barite and polyester/barite composites for radiation attenuation.

PubMed

El-Sarraf, M A; El-Sayed Abdo, A

2013-09-01

A trial has been made to create insulating Epoxy/Barite (EP/Brt) (ρ=2.85 g cm(-3)) and Crosslinked Unsaturated Polyester/Barite (CUP/Brt) (ρ=3.25 g cm(-3)) composites with radiation attenuation and shielding capabilities. Experimental work regarding mechanical and physical properties was performed to study the composites integrity for practical applications. The properties were found to be reasonable. Radiation attenuation properties have been carried out using emitted collimated beam from a fission (252)Cf (100 µg) neutron source, and the neutron-gamma spectrometer with stilbene scintillator. The pulse shape discriminating (P.S.D) technique based on the zero cross-over method was used to discriminate between neutron and gamma-ray pulses. Thermal neutron fluxes, measured using the BF3 detector and thermal neutron detection system, were used to plot the attenuation relations. The fast neutron macroscopic effective removal cross-section ΣR, gamma ray total attenuation coefficient µ and thermal neutron macroscopic cross-section Σ have been evaluated. Theoretical calculations have been achieved using MCNP-4C2 code to calculate ΣR, µ and Σ. Also, MERCSF-N program was used to calculate macroscopic effective removal cross-section ΣR. Measured and calculated results have been compared and were found to be in reasonable agreement. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cs2LiLa(Br,Cl)6 Crystals for Nuclear Security Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hawrami, R.; Pandian, L. Soundara; Ariesanti, E.; Glodo, J.; Finkelstein, J.; Tower, J.; Shah, K.

2016-04-01

Properties of dual-mode scintillation detectors based on CLLBC crystals are reported. Energy resolution and light yield are measured at 2.9% (FWHM) at 662 keV and 45000 photons/MeV, respectively, for a 1-in-diameter and 1-in-long crystal. With less than 2% variation in light yield as a function of energy, CLLBC has better proportionality than LaBr3 and NaI:Tl. Neutron peak resulting from reactions with neutrons emitted by 252Cf (moderated) is measured at a gamma energy equivalent of 3.1 MeVee (electron energy equivalent), making pulse height discrimination between gamma-rays and neutrons easy. The material is also of effective pulse shape discrimination. The figure-of-merit for discrimination of gamma rays and thermal neutrons in CLLBC can be as high as 3.2, which is comparable to that of CLYC.

Spectroscopic neutron detection using composite scintillators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jovanovic, I.; Foster, A.; Kukharev, V.; Mayer, M.; Meddeb, A.; Nattress, J.; Ounaies, Z.; Trivelpiece, C.

2016-09-01

Shielded special nuclear material (SNM), especially highly enriched uranium, is exceptionally difficult to detect without the use of active interrogation (AI). We are investigating the potential use of low-dose active interrogation to realize simultaneous high-contrast imaging and photofission of SNM using energetic gamma-rays produced by low-energy nuclear reactions, such as 11B(d,nγ)12C and 12C(p,p‧)12C. Neutrons produced via fission are one reliable signature of the presence of SNM and are usually identified by their unique timing characteristics, such as the delayed neutron die-away. Fast neutron spectroscopy may provide additional useful discriminating characteristics for SNM detection. Spectroscopic measurements can be conducted by recoil-based or thermalization and capture-gated detectors; the latter may offer unique advantages since they facilitate low-statistics and event-by-event neutron energy measurements without spectrum unfolding. We describe the results of the development and characterization of a new type of capture-gated spectroscopic neutron detector based on a composite of scintillating polyvinyltoluene and lithium-doped scintillating glass in the form of millimeter-thick rods. The detector achieves >108 neutron-gamma discrimination resulting from its geometric properties and material selection. The design facilitates simultaneous pulse shape and pulse height discrimination, despite the fact that no materials intrinsically capable of pulse shape discrimination have been used to construct the detector. Accurate single-event measurements of neutron energy may be possible even when the energy is relatively low, such as with delayed fission neutrons. Simulation and preliminary measurements using the new composite detector are described, including those conducted using radioisotope sources and the low-dose active interrogation system based on low-energy nuclear reactions.

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

Miller, C A; Clarke, S D; Pozzi, S A

Purpose: To develop an instrument for measuring neutron and photon dose rates from mixed fields with a single device. Methods: Stilbene organic scintillators can be used to detect fast neutrons and photons. Stilbene was used to measure emission from mixed particle sources californium-252 (Cf-252) and plutonium-beryllium (PuBe). Many source detector configurations were used, along with varying amounts of shielding. Collected spectra were analyzed using pulse shape discrimination software, to separate neutron and photon interactions. With a measured light output to energy relationship the pulse height spectrum was converted to energy deposited in the detector. Energy deposited was converted to dosemore » with a variety of standard dose factors, for comparison to current methods. For validation, all measurements and processing was repeated using an EJ-309 liquid scintillator detector. Dose rates were also measured in the same configuration with commercially available dose meters for further validation. Results: Measurements of dose rates will show agreement across all methods. Higher accuracy of pulse shape discrimination at lower energies with stilbene leads to more accurate measurement of neutron and photon deposited dose. In strong fields of mixed particles discrimination can be performed well at a very low energy threshold. This shows accurate dose measurements over a large range of incident particle energy. Conclusion: Stilbene shows promise as a material for dose rate measurements due to its strong ability for separating neutrons and photon pulses and agreement with current methods. A dual particle dose meter would simplify methods which are currently limited to the measurement of only one particle type. Future work will investigate the use of a silicon photomultiplier to reduce the size and required voltage of the assembly, for practical use as a handheld survey meter, room monitor, or phantom installation. Funding From the United States Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration.« less

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

Ashenfelter, J.; Jaffe, D.; Diwan, M. V.

A meter-long, 23-liter EJ-309 liquid scintillator detector has been constructed to study the light collection and pulse-shape discrimination performance of elongated scintillator cells for the PROSPECT reactor antineutrino experiment. The magnitude and uniformity of light collection and neutron-gamma discrimination power in the energy range of antineutrino inverse beta decay products have been studied using gamma and spontaneous fission calibration sources deployed along the cell axis. We also study neutron-gamma discrimination and light collection abilities for differing PMT and reflector configurations. As a result, key design features for optimizing MeV-scale response and background rejection capabilities are identified.

Time-resolved gamma spectroscopy of single events

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wolszczak, W.; Dorenbos, P.

2018-04-01

In this article we present a method of characterizing scintillating materials by digitization of each individual scintillation pulse followed by digital signal processing. With this technique it is possible to measure the pulse shape and the energy of an absorbed gamma photon on an event-by-event basis. In contrast to time-correlated single photon counting technique, the digital approach provides a faster measurement, an active noise suppression, and enables characterization of scintillation pulses simultaneously in two domains: time and energy. We applied this method to study the pulse shape change of a CsI(Tl) scintillator with energy of gamma excitation. We confirmed previously published results and revealed new details of the phenomenon.

Methodology for the neutron time of flight measurement of 120-GeV proton-induced reactions on a thick copper target

DOE PAGES

Sanami, T.; Iwamoto, Y.; Kajimoto, T.; ...

2011-12-06

Our methodology for the time-of-flight measurement of the neutron energy spectrum for a high-energy proton-beam-induced reaction was established at the Fermilab Test Beam Facility of the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. The 120-GeV proton beam with 3 × 10 5 protons/spill was prepared for event-by-event counting of incident protons and emitted neutrons for time-of-flight energy determination. An NE213 organic liquid scintillator (12.7 cm in diameter by 12.7 cm in length) was employed with a veto plastic scintillator and a pulse-shape discrimination technique to identify neutrons. Raw waveforms of NE213, veto and beam detectors were recorded to discriminate the effects of multi-protonmore » beam events by considering different time windows. The neutron energy spectrum ranging from 10 to 800 MeV was obtained for a 60-cm-long copper target at 90° with respect to the beam axis. Finally our obtained spectrum was consistent with that deduced employing the conventional unfolding technique as well as that obtained in a 40-GeV/c thin-target experiment.« less

Measuring the Density of Different Materials by Using the Collimated Fast Neutron Beam

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

Sudac, D.; Nad, K.; Orlic, Z.

It was demonstrated in the previous work that various threat materials could be detected inside the sea going cargo container by measuring the three variables, carbon and oxygen concentration and density of investigated material. Density was determined by measuring transmitted neutrons, which is not always practical in terms of setting up the instrument geometry. In order to enable more geometry flexibility, we have investigated the possibility of using the scattered neutrons in cargo material identification. For that purpose, the densities of different materials were measured depending on the position of neutron detectors and neutron generator with respect to the targetmore » position. One neutron detector was put above the target, one behind and one in front of the target, above the neutron generator. It was shown that all three positions of neutron detectors can be successfully used to measure the target density, but only if the detected neutrons are successfully discriminated from the gamma rays. Although the associated alpha particle technique/associate particle imaging (API) was used to discriminate the neutrons from the gamma rays, it is believed that the same results would be obtained by using the pulse shape discrimination method. In that way API technique can be avoided and the neutron generator which produces much higher beam intensity than 10{sup 8} n/s can be used. (authors)« less

Neutron kinetics in moderators and SNM detection through epithermal-neutron-induced fissions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gozani, Tsahi; King, Michael J.

2016-01-01

Extension of the well-established Differential Die Away Analysis (DDAA) into a faster time domain, where more penetrating epithermal neutrons induce fissions, is proposed and demonstrated via simulations and experiments. In the proposed method the fissions stimulated by thermal, epithermal and even higher-energy neutrons are measured after injection of a narrow pulse of high-energy 14 MeV (d,T) or 2.5 MeV (d,D) source neutrons, appropriately moderated. The ability to measure these fissions stems from the inherent correlation of neutron energy and time ("E-T" correlation) during the process of slowing down of high-energy source neutrons in common moderating materials such as hydrogenous compounds (e.g., polyethylene), heavy water, beryllium and graphite. The kinetic behavior following injection of a delta-function-shaped pulse (in time) of 14 MeV neutrons into such moderators is studied employing MCNPX simulations and, when applicable, some simple "one-group" models. These calculations served as a guide for the design of a source moderator which was used in experiments. Qualitative relationships between slowing-down time after the pulse and the prevailing neutron energy are discussed. A laboratory system consisting of a 14 MeV neutron generator, a polyethylene-reflected Be moderator, a liquid scintillator with pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) and a two-parameter E-T data acquisition system was set up to measure prompt neutron and delayed gamma-ray fission signatures in a 19.5% enriched LEU sample. The measured time behavior of thermal and epithermal neutron fission signals agreed well with the detailed simulations. The laboratory system can readily be redesigned and deployed as a mobile inspection system for SNM in, e.g., cars and vans. A strong pulsed neutron generator with narrow pulse (<75 ns) at a reasonably high pulse frequency could make the high-energy neutron induced fission modality a realizable SNM detection technique.

Spike Train Similarity Space (SSIMS) Method Detects Effects of Obstacle Proximity and Experience on Temporal Patterning of Bat Biosonar

PubMed Central

Accomando, Alyssa W.; Vargas-Irwin, Carlos E.; Simmons, James A.

2018-01-01

Bats emit biosonar pulses in complex temporal patterns that change to accommodate dynamic surroundings. Efforts to quantify these patterns have included analyses of inter-pulse intervals, sonar sound groups, and changes in individual signal parameters such as duration or frequency. Here, the similarity in temporal structure between trains of biosonar pulses is assessed. The spike train similarity space (SSIMS) algorithm, originally designed for neural activity pattern analysis, was applied to determine which features of the environment influence temporal patterning of pulses emitted by flying big brown bats, Eptesicus fuscus. In these laboratory experiments, bats flew down a flight corridor through an obstacle array. The corridor varied in width (100, 70, or 40 cm) and shape (straight or curved). Using a relational point-process framework, SSIMS was able to discriminate between echolocation call sequences recorded from flights in each of the corridor widths. SSIMS was also able to tell the difference between pulse trains recorded during flights where corridor shape through the obstacle array matched the previous trials (fixed, or expected) as opposed to those recorded from flights with randomized corridor shape (variable, or unexpected), but only for the flight path shape in which the bats had previous training. The results show that experience influences the temporal patterns with which bats emit their echolocation calls. It is demonstrated that obstacle proximity to the bat affects call patterns more dramatically than flight path shape. PMID:29472848

Spike Train Similarity Space (SSIMS) Method Detects Effects of Obstacle Proximity and Experience on Temporal Patterning of Bat Biosonar.

PubMed

Accomando, Alyssa W; Vargas-Irwin, Carlos E; Simmons, James A

2018-01-01

Bats emit biosonar pulses in complex temporal patterns that change to accommodate dynamic surroundings. Efforts to quantify these patterns have included analyses of inter-pulse intervals, sonar sound groups, and changes in individual signal parameters such as duration or frequency. Here, the similarity in temporal structure between trains of biosonar pulses is assessed. The spike train similarity space (SSIMS) algorithm, originally designed for neural activity pattern analysis, was applied to determine which features of the environment influence temporal patterning of pulses emitted by flying big brown bats, Eptesicus fuscus . In these laboratory experiments, bats flew down a flight corridor through an obstacle array. The corridor varied in width (100, 70, or 40 cm) and shape (straight or curved). Using a relational point-process framework, SSIMS was able to discriminate between echolocation call sequences recorded from flights in each of the corridor widths. SSIMS was also able to tell the difference between pulse trains recorded during flights where corridor shape through the obstacle array matched the previous trials (fixed, or expected) as opposed to those recorded from flights with randomized corridor shape (variable, or unexpected), but only for the flight path shape in which the bats had previous training. The results show that experience influences the temporal patterns with which bats emit their echolocation calls. It is demonstrated that obstacle proximity to the bat affects call patterns more dramatically than flight path shape.

Implementation of a SVWP-based laser beam shaping technique for generation of 100-mJ-level picosecond pulses.

PubMed

Adamonis, J; Aleknavičius, A; Michailovas, K; Balickas, S; Petrauskienė, V; Gertus, T; Michailovas, A

2016-10-01

We present implementation of the energy-efficient and flexible laser beam shaping technique in a high-power and high-energy laser amplifier system. The beam shaping is based on a spatially variable wave plate (SVWP) fabricated by femtosecond laser nanostructuring of glass. We reshaped the initially Gaussian beam into a super-Gaussian (SG) of the 12th order with efficiency of about 50%. The 12th order of the SG beam provided the best compromise between large fill factor, low diffraction on the edges of the active media, and moderate intensity distribution modification during free-space propagation. We obtained 150 mJ pulses of 532 nm radiation. High-energy, pulse duration of 85 ps and the nearly flat-top spatial profile of the beam make it ideal for pumping optical parametric chirped pulse amplification systems.

Frequency-domain nonlinear optics in two-dimensionally patterned quasi-phase-matching media.

PubMed

Phillips, C R; Mayer, B W; Gallmann, L; Keller, U

2016-07-11

Advances in the amplification and manipulation of ultrashort laser pulses have led to revolutions in several areas. Examples include chirped pulse amplification for generating high peak-power lasers, power-scalable amplification techniques, pulse shaping via modulation of spatially-dispersed laser pulses, and efficient frequency-mixing in quasi-phase-matched nonlinear crystals to access new spectral regions. In this work, we introduce and demonstrate a new platform for nonlinear optics which has the potential to combine these separate functionalities (pulse amplification, frequency transfer, and pulse shaping) into a single monolithic device that is bandwidth- and power-scalable. The approach is based on two-dimensional (2D) patterning of quasi-phase-matching (QPM) gratings combined with optical parametric interactions involving spatially dispersed laser pulses. Our proof of principle experiment demonstrates this technique via mid-infrared optical parametric chirped pulse amplification of few-cycle pulses. Additionally, we present a detailed theoretical and numerical analysis of such 2D-QPM devices and how they can be designed.

Realizing Ultrafast Electron Pulse Self-Compression by Femtosecond Pulse Shaping Technique.

PubMed

Qi, Yingpeng; Pei, Minjie; Qi, Dalong; Yang, Yan; Jia, Tianqing; Zhang, Shian; Sun, Zhenrong

2015-10-01

Uncorrelated position and velocity distribution of the electron bunch at the photocathode from the residual energy greatly limit the transverse coherent length and the recompression ability. Here we first propose a femtosecond pulse-shaping method to realize the electron pulse self-compression in ultrafast electron diffraction system based on a point-to-point space-charge model. The positively chirped femtosecond laser pulse can correspondingly create the positively chirped electron bunch at the photocathode (such as metal-insulator heterojunction), and such a shaped electron pulse can realize the self-compression in the subsequent propagation process. The greatest advantage for our proposed scheme is that no additional components are introduced into the ultrafast electron diffraction system, which therefore does not affect the electron bunch shape. More importantly, this scheme can break the limitation that the electron pulse via postphotocathode static compression schemes is not shorter than the excitation laser pulse due to the uncorrelated position and velocity distribution of the initial electron bunch.

Neutron scattering cross section measurements for Fe 56

DOE PAGES

Ramirez, A. P. D.; Vanhoy, J. R.; Hicks, S. F.; ...

2017-06-09

Elastic and inelastic differential cross sections for neutron scattering from 56Fe have been measured for several incident energies from 1.30 to 7.96 MeV at the University of Kentucky Accelerator Laboratory. Scattered neutrons were detected using a C 6D 6 liquid scintillation detector using pulse-shape discrimination and time-of-flight techniques. The deduced cross sections have been compared with previously reported data, predictions from evaluation databases ENDF, JENDL, and JEFF, and theoretical calculations performed using different optical model potentials using the TALYS and EMPIRE nuclear reaction codes. The coupled-channel calculations based on the vibrational and soft-rotor models are found to describe the experimentalmore » (n,n 0) and (n,n 1) cross sections well.« less

Coherent optimal control of photosynthetic molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caruso, F.; Montangero, S.; Calarco, T.; Huelga, S. F.; Plenio, M. B.

2012-04-01

We demonstrate theoretically that open-loop quantum optimal control techniques can provide efficient tools for the verification of various quantum coherent transport mechanisms in natural and artificial light-harvesting complexes under realistic experimental conditions. To assess the feasibility of possible biocontrol experiments, we introduce the main settings and derive optimally shaped and robust laser pulses that allow for the faithful preparation of specified initial states (such as localized excitation or coherent superposition, i.e., propagating and nonpropagating states) of the photosystem and probe efficiently the subsequent dynamics. With these tools, different transport pathways can be discriminated, which should facilitate the elucidation of genuine quantum dynamical features of photosystems and therefore enhance our understanding of the role that coherent processes may play in actual biological complexes.

Neutron scattering cross section measurements for 56Fe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramirez, A. P. D.; Vanhoy, J. R.; Hicks, S. F.; McEllistrem, M. T.; Peters, E. E.; Mukhopadhyay, S.; Harrison, T. D.; Howard, T. J.; Jackson, D. T.; Lenzen, P. D.; Nguyen, T. D.; Pecha, R. L.; Rice, B. G.; Thompson, B. K.; Yates, S. W.

2017-06-01

Elastic and inelastic differential cross sections for neutron scattering from 56Fe have been measured for several incident energies from 1.30 to 7.96 MeV at the University of Kentucky Accelerator Laboratory. Scattered neutrons were detected using a C6D6 liquid scintillation detector using pulse-shape discrimination and time-of-flight techniques. The deduced cross sections have been compared with previously reported data, predictions from evaluation databases ENDF, JENDL, and JEFF, and theoretical calculations performed using different optical model potentials using the talys and empire nuclear reaction codes. The coupled-channel calculations based on the vibrational and soft-rotor models are found to describe the experimental (n ,n0 ) and (n ,n1 ) cross sections well.

Development of Position-Sensitive Magnetic Calorimeters for X-Ray Astronomy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bandler, SImon; Stevenson, Thomas; Hsieh, Wen-Ting

2011-01-01

Metallic magnetic calorimeters (MMC) are one of the most promising devices to provide very high energy resolution needed for future astronomical x-ray spectroscopy. MMC detectors can be built to large detector arrays having thousands of pixels. Position-sensitive magnetic (PoSM) microcalorimeters consist of multiple absorbers thermally coupled to one magnetic micro calorimeter. Each absorber element has a different thermal coupling to the MMC, resulting in a distribution of different pulse shapes and enabling position discrimination between the absorber elements. PoSMs therefore achieve the large focal plane area with fewer number of readout channels without compromising spatial sampling. Excellent performance of PoSMs was achieved by optimizing the designs of key parameters such as the thermal conductance among the absorbers, magnetic sensor, and heat sink, as well as the absorber heat capacities. Micro fab ri - cation techniques were developed to construct four-absorber PoSMs, in which each absorber consists of a two-layer composite of bismuth and gold. The energy resolution (FWHM full width at half maximum) was measured to be better than 5 eV at 6 keV x-rays for all four absorbers. Position determination was demonstrated with pulse-shape discrimination, as well as with pulse rise time. X-ray microcalorimeters are usually designed to thermalize as quickly as possible to avoid degradation in energy resolution from position dependence to the pulse shapes. Each pixel consists of an absorber and a temperature sensor, both decoupled from the cold bath through a weak thermal link. Each pixel requires a separate readout channel; for instance, with a SQUID (superconducting quantum interference device). For future astronomy missions where thousands to millions of resolution elements are required, having an individual SQUID readout channel for each pixel becomes difficult. One route to attaining these goals is a position-sensitive detector in which a large continuous or pixilated array of x-ray absorbers shares fewer numbers of temperature sensors. A means of discriminating the signals from different absorber positions, however, needs to be built into the device for each sensor. The design concept for the device is such that the shape of the temperature pulse with time depends on the location of the absorber. This inherent position sensitivity of the signal is then analyzed to determine the location of the event precisely, effectively yielding one device with many sub-pixels. With such devices, the total number of electronic channels required to read out a given number of pixels is significantly reduced. PoSMs were developed that consist of four discrete absorbers connected to a single magnetic sensor. The design concept can be extended to more than four absorbers per sensor. The thermal conductance between the sensor and each absorber is different by design and consequently, the pulse shapes are different depending upon which absorber the xrays are received, allowing position discrimination. A magnetic sensor was used in which a paramagnetic Au:Er temperature-sensitive material is located in a weak magnetic field. Deposition of energy from an x-ray photon causes an increase in temperature, which leads to a change of magnetization of the paramagnetic sensor, which is subsequently read out using a low noise dc-SQUID. The PoSM microcalorimeters are fully microfabricated: the Au:Er sensor is located above the meander, with a thin insulation gap in between. For this position-sensitive device, four electroplated absorbers are thermally linked to the sensor via heat links of different thermal conductance. One pixel is identical to that of a single-pixel design, consisting of an overhanging absorber fabricated directly on top of the sensor. It is therefore very strongly thermally coupled to it. The three other absorbers are supported directly on a silicon-nitride membrane. These absorbers are thermally coupled to the sensor via Ti (5 nm)/Au250 nm) metal links. The strength of the links is parameterized by the number of gold squares making up the link. For detector performance, experimentally different pulse-shapes were demonstrated with 6 keV x-rays, which clearly show different rise times for different absorber positions. For energy resolution measurement, the PoSM was operated at 32 mK with an applied field that was generated using a persistent current of 50 mA. Over the four pixels, energy resolution ranges from 4.4 to 4.7 eV were demonstrated.

Time-domain SFG spectroscopy using mid-IR pulse shaping: practical and intrinsic advantages.

PubMed

Laaser, Jennifer E; Xiong, Wei; Zanni, Martin T

2011-03-24

Sum-frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy is a ubiquitous tool in the surface sciences. It provides infrared transition frequencies and line shapes that probe the structure and environment of molecules at interfaces. In this article, we apply techniques learned from the multidimensional spectroscopy community to SFG spectroscopy. We implement balanced heterodyne detection to remove scatter and the local oscillator background. Heterodyning also separates the resonant and nonresonant signals by acquiring both the real and imaginary parts of the spectrum. We utilize mid-IR pulse shaping to control the phase and delay of the mid-IR pump pulse. Pulse shaping allows phase cycling for data collection in the rotating frame and additional background subtraction. We also demonstrate time-domain data collection, which is a Fourier transform technique, and has many advantages in signal throughput, frequency resolution, and line shape accuracy over existing frequency domain methods. To demonstrate time-domain SFG spectroscopy, we study an aryl isocyanide on gold, and find that the system has an inhomogeneous structural distribution, in agreement with computational results, but which was not resolved by previous frequency-domain SFG studies. The ability to rapidly and actively manipulate the mid-IR pulse in an SFG pules sequence makes possible new experiments and more accurate spectra. © 2011 American Chemical Society

[INVITED] Control of femtosecond pulsed laser ablation and deposition by temporal pulse shaping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garrelie, Florence; Bourquard, Florent; Loir, Anne--Sophie; Donnet, Christophe; Colombier, Jean-Philippe

2016-04-01

This study explores the effects of temporal laser pulse shaping on femtosecond pulsed laser deposition (PLD). The potential of laser pulses temporally tailored on ultrafast time scales is used to control the expansion and the excitation degree of ablation products including atomic species and nanoparticles. The ablation plume generated by temporally shaped femtosecond pulsed laser ablation of aluminum and graphite targets is studied by in situ optical diagnostic methods. Taking advantage of automated pulse shaping techniques, an adaptive procedure based on spectroscopic feedback regulates the irradiance for the enhancement of typical plasma features. Thin films elaborated by unshaped femtosecond laser pulses and by optimized sequence indicate that the nanoparticles generation efficiency is strongly influenced by the temporal shaping of the laser irradiation. The ablation processes leading either to the generation of the nanoparticles either to the formation of plasma can be favored by using a temporal shaping of the laser pulse. Insights are given on the possibility to control the quantity of the nanoparticles. The temporal laser pulse shaping is shown also to strongly modify the laser-induced plasma contents and kinetics for graphite ablation. Temporal pulse shaping proves its capability to reduce the number of slow radicals while increasing the proportion of monomers, with the addition of ionized species in front of the plume. This modification of the composition and kinetics of plumes in graphite ablation using temporal laser pulse shaping is discussed in terms of modification of the structural properties of deposited Diamond-Like Carbon films (DLC). This gives rise to a better understanding of the growth processes involved in femtosecond-PLD and picosecond-PLD of DLC suggesting the importance of neutral C atoms, which are responsible for the subplantation process.

Baseband pulse shaping for pi /4 FQPSK in nonlinearly amplified mobile channels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Subasinghe-Dias, Dileeka; Feher, Kamilo

1994-10-01

We apply baseband pulse shaping techniques for pi /4 QPSK in order to reduce the spectral regeneration of the bandlimited carrier after nonlinear amplification. These Feher's patented techniques, namely, pi /4 FQPSK (superposed QPSK) and pi /4 CTPSK (controlled transition PSK), may also be noncoherently demodulated. Application of these techniques is in fast fading, power efficient channels, typical of the mobile radio environment. Patents related to FQPSK are described. Computer simulation and experimental studies demonstrate that with these baseband waveshaping techniques, carrier envelope fluctuations are significantly reduced, and the out-of-band power after nonlinear amplification is suppressed by up to 20 dB compared to pi /4 QPSK. In frequency noninterleaved land or satellite mobile radio systems operating in a nonlinear, fading and ACI (adjacent channel interference) environment, these techniques may achieve 20%-50% higher spectral efficiency compared to pi /4 QPSK. In mobile cellular systems using pi /4 QPSK, such as the new North American and the Japanese digital cellular systems, the application of these baseband pulse shapes may allow more convenient and less costly amplifier linearization.

Continued Data Acquisition Development

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

Schwellenbach, David

This task focused on improving techniques for integrating data acquisition of secondary particles correlated in time with detected cosmic-ray muons. Scintillation detectors with Pulse Shape Discrimination (PSD) capability show the most promise as a detector technology based on work in FY13. Typically PSD parameters are determined prior to an experiment and the results are based on these parameters. By saving data in list mode, including the fully digitized waveform, any experiment can effectively be replayed to adjust PSD and other parameters for the best data capture. List mode requires time synchronization of two independent data acquisitions (DAQ) systems: the muonmore » tracker and the particle detector system. Techniques to synchronize these systems were studied. Two basic techniques were identified: real time mode and sequential mode. Real time mode is the preferred system but has proven to be a significant challenge since two FPGA systems with different clocking parameters must be synchronized. Sequential processing is expected to work with virtually any DAQ but requires more post processing to extract the data.« less

Advertisement-call preferences in diploid-tetraploid treefrogs (Hyla chrysoscelis and Hyla versicolor): implications for mate choice and the evolution of communication systems.

PubMed

Gerhardt, H Carl

2005-02-01

Signals used for mate choice and receiver preferences are often assumed to coevolve in a lock-step fashion. However, sender-receiver coevolution can also be nonparallel: even if species differences in signals are mainly quantitative, females of some closely related species have qualitatively different preferences and underlying mechanisms. Two-alternative playback experiments using synthetic calls that differed in fine-scale temporal properties identified the receiver criteria in females of the treefrog Hyla chrysoscelis for comparison with female criteria in a cryptic tetraploid species (H. versicolor); detailed preference functions were also generated for both species based on natural patterns of variation in temporal properties. The species were similar in three respects: (1) pulses of constant frequency were as attractive as the frequency-modulated pulses typical of conspecific calls; (2) changes in preferences with temperature paralleled temperature-dependent changes in male calls; and (3) preference functions were unimodal, with weakly defined peaks estimated at values slightly higher than the estimated means in conspecific calls. There were also species differences: (1) preference function slopes were steeper in H. chrysoscelis than in H. versicolor; (2) preferences were more intensity independent in H. chrysoscelis than in H. versicolor; (3) a synergistic effect of differences in pulse rate and shape on preference strength occurred in H. versicolor but not in H. chrysoscelis; and (4) a preference for the pulse shape typical of conspecific calls was expressed at the species-typical pulse duration in H. versicolor but not in H. chrysoscelis. However, females of H. chrysoscelis did express a preference based on pulse shape when tested with longer-than-average pulses, suggesting a hypothesis that could account for some examples of nonparallel coevolution. Namely, preferences can be hidden or revealed depending on the direction of quantitative change in a signal property relative to the threshold for resolving differences in that property. The results of the experiments reported here also predict patterns of mate choice within and between contemporary populations. First, intraspecific mate choice in both species is expected to be strongly influenced by variation in temperature among calling males. Second, simultaneous differences in pulse rate and pulse shape are required for effective species discrimination by females of H. versicolor but not by females of H. chrysoscelis. Third, there is greater potential for sexual selection within populations and for discrimination against calls produced by males in other geographically remote populations in H. chrysoscelis than in H. versicolor.

Study and Characterization of Subharmonic Emissions by Using Shaped Ultrasonic Driving Pulse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Masotti, L.; Biagi, E.; Breschi, L.; Vannacci, E.

Subharmonic emissions from Ultrasound Contrast Agents (UCAs) were studied by a Pulse Inversion method in order to assess the feasibility of implementation of this technique to subharmonic imaging. Interesting results concerning the dependence of the subharmonic emission with respect to initial pulse shape are presented. The experimentation was performed also by varying the acoustic pressure and concentration of the contrast agent (SonoVue®)

Multi-pulse multi-delay (MPMD) multiple access modulation for UWB

DOEpatents

Dowla, Farid U.; Nekoogar, Faranak

2007-03-20

A new modulation scheme in UWB communications is introduced. This modulation technique utilizes multiple orthogonal transmitted-reference pulses for UWB channelization. The proposed UWB receiver samples the second order statistical function at both zero and non-zero lags and matches the samples to stored second order statistical functions, thus sampling and matching the shape of second order statistical functions rather than just the shape of the received pulses.

Pulse analysis of acoustic emission signals. Ph.D. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Houghton, J. R.

1976-01-01

A method for the signature analysis of pulses in the frequency domain and the time domain is presented. Fourier spectrum, Fourier transfer function, shock spectrum and shock spectrum ratio are examined in the frequency domain analysis, and pulse shape deconvolution is developed for use in the time domain analysis. To demonstrate the relative sensitivity of each of the methods to small changes in the pulse shape, signatures of computer modeled systems with analytical pulses are presented. Optimization techniques are developed and used to indicate the best design parameters values for deconvolution of the pulse shape. Several experiments are presented that test the pulse signature analysis methods on different acoustic emission sources. These include acoustic emissions associated with: (1) crack propagation, (2) ball dropping on a plate, (3) spark discharge and (4) defective and good ball bearings.

LASER BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE: Arterial pulse shape measurement using self-mixing effect in a diode laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hast, J.; Myllylä, Risto; Sorvoja, H.; Miettinen, J.

2002-11-01

The self-mixing effect in a diode laser and the Doppler technique are used for quantitative measurements of the cardiovascular pulses from radial arteries of human individuals. 738 cardiovascular pulses from 10 healthy volunteers were studied. The Doppler spectrograms reconstructed from the Doppler signal, which is measured from the radial displacement of the radial artery, are compared to the first derivative of the blood pressure signals measured from the middle finger by the Penaz technique. The mean correlation coefficient between the Doppler spectrograms and the first derivative of the blood pressure signals was 0.84, with a standard deviation of 0.05. Pulses with the correlation coefficient less than 0.7 were neglected in the study. Percentage of successfully detected pulses was 95.7%. It is shown that cardiovascular pulse shape from the radial artery can be measured noninvasively by using the self-mixing interferometry.

Intensity coding in electric hearing: Effects of electrode configurations and stimulation waveforms

PubMed Central

Chua, Tiffany Elise H.; Bachman, Mark; Zeng, Fan-Gang

2011-01-01

Objectives Current cochlear implants typically stimulate the auditory nerve with biphasic pulses and monopolar electrode configurations. Tripolar stimulation can increase spatial selectivity and potentially improve place pitch related perception, but requires higher current levels to elicit the same loudness as monopolar stimulation. The present study combined delayed pseudomonophonasic pulses, which produce lower thresholds, with tripolar stimulation in an attempt to solve the power-performance tradeoff problem. Design The present study systematically measured thresholds, dynamic range, loudness growth, and intensity discrimination using either biphasic or delayed pseudomonophonasic pulses under both monopolar and tripolar stimulation. Participants were 5 Clarion cochlear implant users. For each subject, data from apical, middle and basal electrode positions were collected when possible. Results Compared with biphasic pulses, delayed pseudomonophonasic pulses increased the dynamic range by lowering thresholds while maintaining comparable maximum allowable levels under both electrode configurations. However, delayed pseudomonophonasic pulses did not change the shape of loudness growth function and actually increased intensity discrimination limens, especially at lower current levels. Conclusions The present results indicate that delayed pseudomonophonasic pulses coupled with tripolar stimulation cannot provide significant power savings, nor can it increase the functional dynamic range. Whether this combined stimulation could improve functional spectral resolution remains to be seen. PMID:21610498

Generation of dark hollow femtosecond pulsed beam by phase-only liquid crystal spatial light modulator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nie, Yongming; Ma, Haotong; Li, Xiujian; Hu, Wenhua; Yang, Jiankun

2011-07-01

Based on the refractive laser beam shaping system, the dark hollow femtosecond pulse beam shaping technique with a phase-only liquid crystal spatial light modulator (LC-SLM) is demonstrated. The phase distribution of the LC-SLM is derived by the energy conservation and constant optical path principle. The effects of the shaping system on the temporal properties, including spectral phase distribution and bandwidth of the femtosecond pulse, are analyzed in detail. Experimental results show that the hollow intensity distribution of the output pulsed beam can be maintained much at more than 1200mm. The spectral phase of the pulse is changed, and the pulse width is expanded from 199 to 230fs, which is caused by the spatial--temporal coupling effect. The coupling effect mainly depends on the phase-only LC-SLM itself, not on its loaded phase distribution. The experimental results indicate that the proposed shaping setup can generate a dark hollow femtosecond pulsed beam effectively, because the temporal Gaussian waveform is unchanged.

Femtosecond profiling of shaped x-ray pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoffmann, M. C.; Grguraš, I.; Behrens, C.; Bostedt, C.; Bozek, J.; Bromberger, H.; Coffee, R.; Costello, J. T.; DiMauro, L. F.; Ding, Y.; Doumy, G.; Helml, W.; Ilchen, M.; Kienberger, R.; Lee, S.; Maier, A. R.; Mazza, T.; Meyer, M.; Messerschmidt, M.; Schorb, S.; Schweinberger, W.; Zhang, K.; Cavalieri, A. L.

2018-03-01

Arbitrary manipulation of the temporal and spectral properties of x-ray pulses at free-electron lasers would revolutionize many experimental applications. At the Linac Coherent Light Source at Stanford National Accelerator Laboratory, the momentum phase-space of the free-electron laser driving electron bunch can be tuned to emit a pair of x-ray pulses with independently variable photon energy and femtosecond delay. However, while accelerator parameters can easily be adjusted to tune the electron bunch phase-space, the final impact of these actuators on the x-ray pulse cannot be predicted with sufficient precision. Furthermore, shot-to-shot instabilities that distort the pulse shape unpredictably cannot be fully suppressed. Therefore, the ability to directly characterize the x-rays is essential to ensure precise and consistent control. In this work, we have generated x-ray pulse pairs via electron bunch shaping and characterized them on a single-shot basis with femtosecond resolution through time-resolved photoelectron streaking spectroscopy. This achievement completes an important step toward future x-ray pulse shaping techniques.

A wearable sensor based on CLYC scintillators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McDonald, Benjamin S.; Myjak, Mitchell J.; Zalavadia, Mital A.; Smart, John E.; Willett, Jesse A.; Landgren, Peter C.; Greulich, Christopher R.

2016-06-01

We have developed a wearable radiation sensor using Cs2LiYCl6:Ce (CLYC) for simultaneous gamma-ray and neutron detection. The system includes two ∅ 2.5 × 2.5cm3 crystals coupled to small, metal-body photomultiplier tubes. A custom, low-power electronics base digitizes the output signal at three time points and enables both pulse height and pulse shape discrimination of gamma rays and neutrons. The total counts, anomaly detection metrics, and identified isotopes are displayed on a small screen. Users may leave the device in unattended mode to collect long-dwell energy spectra. The system stores up to 18 h of one-second data, including energy spectra, and may transfer the data to a remote computer via a wired or wireless connection. The prototype is 18 × 13 × 7.5cm3, weighs 1.3 kg, not including the protective pouch, and runs on six AA alkaline batteries for 29 h with the wireless link active, or 41 h with the wireless link disabled. In this paper, we summarize the system design and present characterization results from the detector modules. The energy resolution is about 6.5% full width at half maximum at 662 keV due to the small photomultiplier tube selected, and the linearity and pulse shape discrimination performance are very good.

Application of Bayes' theorem for pulse shape discrimination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Monterial, Mateusz; Marleau, Peter; Clarke, Shaun; Pozzi, Sara

2015-09-01

A Bayesian approach is proposed for pulse shape discrimination of photons and neutrons in liquid organic scinitillators. Instead of drawing a decision boundary, each pulse is assigned a photon or neutron confidence probability. This allows for photon and neutron classification on an event-by-event basis. The sum of those confidence probabilities is used to estimate the number of photon and neutron instances in the data. An iterative scheme, similar to an expectation-maximization algorithm for Gaussian mixtures, is used to infer the ratio of photons-to-neutrons in each measurement. Therefore, the probability space adapts to data with varying photon-to-neutron ratios. A time-correlated measurement of Am-Be and separate measurements of 137Cs, 60Co and 232Th photon sources were used to construct libraries of neutrons and photons. These libraries were then used to produce synthetic data sets with varying ratios of photons-to-neutrons. Probability weighted method that we implemented was found to maintain neutron acceptance rate of up to 90% up to photon-to-neutron ratio of 2000, and performed 9% better than the decision boundary approach. Furthermore, the iterative approach appropriately changed the probability space with an increasing number of photons which kept the neutron population estimate from unrealistically increasing.

Application of Bayes' theorem for pulse shape discrimination

DOE PAGES

Marleau, Peter; Monterial, Mateusz; Clarke, Shaun; ...

2015-06-14

A Bayesian approach is proposed for pulse shape discrimination of photons and neutrons in liquid organic scinitillators. Instead of drawing a decision boundary, each pulse is assigned a photon or neutron confidence probability. In addition, this allows for photon and neutron classification on an event-by-event basis. The sum of those confidence probabilities is used to estimate the number of photon and neutron instances in the data. An iterative scheme, similar to an expectation-maximization algorithm for Gaussian mixtures, is used to infer the ratio of photons-to-neutrons in each measurement. Therefore, the probability space adapts to data with varying photon-to-neutron ratios. Amore » time-correlated measurement of Am–Be and separate measurements of 137Cs, 60Co and 232Th photon sources were used to construct libraries of neutrons and photons. These libraries were then used to produce synthetic data sets with varying ratios of photons-to-neutrons. Probability weighted method that we implemented was found to maintain neutron acceptance rate of up to 90% up to photon-to-neutron ratio of 2000, and performed 9% better than the decision boundary approach. Furthermore, the iterative approach appropriately changed the probability space with an increasing number of photons which kept the neutron population estimate from unrealistically increasing.« less

Timing and Pulse Shape Discrimination Comparison Against Legacy TDC & QDC and the JLab F250 FADC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Milkeris-Zellar, Tyler; Sawatzky, Brad

2017-09-01

The F250 Flash Analog to Digital Convertor (FADC) is a relatively new module used in Data Acquisition Systems (DAQ) at Jefferson Lab. The FADC will replace or supplement older DAQ modules like Time to Digital Converters (TDCs) and Charge Analog to Digital Converters (QDCs). The TDC has a certain known timing resolution and the QDC can integrate a pulse's charge, a feature which can also be used for particle identification between photons and neutrons using pulse shape discrimination (PSD). The focus of this project is developing a test stand to study timing and PSD performance of legacy modules TDC and QDC, and the new F250 FADC. A cosmic telescope was used to extract timing resolution from the TDC and FADC. Through PSD with the QDC and FADC, using a liquid scintillator, we plan to identify photons and neutrons from an americium-beryllium (AmBe) source. Through PSD, we found that the FADC allows for flexible data analysis compared to the QDC. The results indicate that the TDC provides a more accurate measurement of timing resolution than the FADC. This improvement allows for a clear distinction of what module to use when wanting precision of measurement in a DAQ for a cosmic ray telescope. NSF.

A wearable sensor based on CLYC scintillators

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

McDonald, Benjamin S.; Myjak, Mitchell J.; Zalavadia, Mital A.

We developed a wearable radiation sensor using Cs 2LiYCl 6:Ce (CLYC) for simultaneous gamma-ray and neutron detection. The system includes two ø2.5×2.5 cm 3 crystals coupled to small, metal-body photomultiplier tubes. A custom, low-power electronics base digitizes the output signal at three time points and enables both pulse height and pulse shape discrimination of neutrons and gamma-rays. Data, including spectra, can be transferred via a wired or wireless connection. The total gamma-ray and neutron counts, anomaly detection metrics, and identified isotopes are displayed on a small screen on the device. Users may leave the system in unattended mode to collectmore » long-dwell energy spectra. The prototype system has overall dimensions of 13×7.5×18 cm 3 and weight of 1.3 kg, not including the protective pouch, and runs on six AA alkaline batteries for 29 hours with a 1% wireless transmission duty cycle and 41 hours with the wireless turned off . In this paper, we summarize the system design and present characterization results from the detector modules. The energy resolution is about 6.5% full width at half maximum at 662 keV due to the small photomultiplier tube selected, and the linearity and pulse shape discrimination performance are very good.« less

A remotely triggered fast neutron detection instrument based on a plastic organic scintillator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jones, A. R.; Aspinall, M. D.; Joyce, M. J.

2018-02-01

A detector system for the characterization of radiation fields of both fast neutrons and γ rays is described comprising of a gated photomultiplier tube (PMT), an EJ299-33 solid organic scintillator detector, and an external trigger circuit. The objective of this development was to conceive a means by which the PMT in such a system can be actuated remotely during the high-intensity bursts of pulsed γ-ray contamination that can arise during active interrogation procedures. The system is used to detect neutrons and γ rays using established pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) techniques. The gating circuit enables the PMT to be switched off remotely. This is compatible with use during intense radiation transients to avoid saturation and the disruption of the operation of the PMT during the burst. Data are presented in the form of pulse-height spectra and PSD scatter plots for the system triggered with a strobed light source. These confirm that the gain of the system and the throughput for both triggered and un-triggered scenarios are as expected, given the duty cycle of the stimulating radiation. This demonstrates that the triggering function does not perturb the system response of the detector.

A remotely triggered fast neutron detection instrument based on a plastic organic scintillator.

PubMed

Jones, A R; Aspinall, M D; Joyce, M J

2018-02-01

A detector system for the characterization of radiation fields of both fast neutrons and γ rays is described comprising of a gated photomultiplier tube (PMT), an EJ299-33 solid organic scintillator detector, and an external trigger circuit. The objective of this development was to conceive a means by which the PMT in such a system can be actuated remotely during the high-intensity bursts of pulsed γ-ray contamination that can arise during active interrogation procedures. The system is used to detect neutrons and γ rays using established pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) techniques. The gating circuit enables the PMT to be switched off remotely. This is compatible with use during intense radiation transients to avoid saturation and the disruption of the operation of the PMT during the burst. Data are presented in the form of pulse-height spectra and PSD scatter plots for the system triggered with a strobed light source. These confirm that the gain of the system and the throughput for both triggered and un-triggered scenarios are as expected, given the duty cycle of the stimulating radiation. This demonstrates that the triggering function does not perturb the system response of the detector.

Particle identification using digital pulse shape discrimination in a nTD silicon detector with a 1 GHz sampling digitizer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahata, K.; Shrivastava, A.; Gore, J. A.; Pandit, S. K.; Parkar, V. V.; Ramachandran, K.; Kumar, A.; Gupta, S.; Patale, P.

2018-06-01

In beam test experiments have been carried out for particle identification using digital pulse shape analysis in a 500 μm thick Neutron Transmutation Doped (nTD) silicon detector with an indigenously developed FPGA based 12 bit resolution, 1 GHz sampling digitizer. The nTD Si detector was used in a low-field injection setup to detect light heavy-ions produced in reactions of ∼ 5 MeV/A 7Li and 12C beams on different targets. Pulse height, rise time and current maximum have been obtained from the digitized charge output of a high bandwidth charge and current sensitive pre-amplifier. Good isotopic separation have been achieved using only the digitized charge output in case of light heavy-ions. The setup can be used for charged particle spectroscopy in nuclear reactions involving light heavy-ions around the Coulomb barrier energies.

Comprehensive approach to breast cancer detection using light: photon localization by ultrasound modulation and tissue characterization by spectral discrimination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marks, Fay A.; Tomlinson, Harold W.; Brooksby, Glen W.

1993-09-01

A new technique called Ultrasound Tagging of Light (UTL) for imaging breast tissue is described. In this approach, photon localization in turbid tissue is achieved by cross- modulating a laser beam with focussed, pulsed ultrasound. Light which passes through the ultrasound focal spot is `tagged' with the frequency of the ultrasound pulse. The experimental system uses an Argon-Ion laser, a single PIN photodetector, and a 1 MHz fixed-focus pulsed ultrasound transducer. The utility of UTL as a photon localization technique in scattering media is examined using tissue phantoms consisting of gelatin and intralipid. In a separate study, in vivo optical reflectance spectrophotometry was performed on human breast tumors implanted intramuscularly and subcutaneously in nineteen nude mice. The validity of applying a quadruple wavelength breast cancer discrimination metric (developed using breast biopsy specimens) to the in vivo condition was tested. A scatter diagram for the in vivo model tumors based on this metric is presented using as the `normal' controls the hands and fingers of volunteers. Tumors at different growth stages were studied; these tumors ranged in size from a few millimeters to two centimeters. It is expected that when coupled with a suitable photon localization technique like UTL, spectral discrimination methods like this one will prove useful in the detection of breast cancer by non-ionizing means.

A gamma and neutron phoswich read out with SiPM for SPRD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Tuchen; Fu, Qibin; Yuan, Cenxi; Lin, Shaopeng

2018-02-01

A gamma and neutron phoswich was developed for spectroscopic personal radiation detectors (SPRDs). It consisted of a Φ25 × 25 mm NaI(Tl) crystal for gamma detection and a Φ25 × 3 mm LiI(Eu) crystal for neutron detection. The phoswich was read out by 8 × 8 ch SiPM array (24 × 24 mm2). Radiations in NaI(Tl) and LiI(Eu) were discriminated by pulse shape, while gammas and neutrons in LiI(Eu) were separated by pulse amplitude. For the LiI(Eu), the gamma equivalent energy for thermal neutrons was measured as 3.6 ± 0.1 MeV, providing satisfactory gamma rejection. For NaI(Tl), the response of SiPM array was well linear in the energy range up to 1408 keV, at which a deviation less than 2% was measured. Digital pulse shape discrimination (PSD) was implemented with an 8-bit digitizer running at 50 MSPS sampling rate and offline analysis. The signal pulses from NaI(Tl) and LiI(Eu) showed significant difference in falling edge allowing effective PSD. The best figure of merit (FOM) was measured as 4.4 ± 0.2 with optimized parameters, providing excellent PSD performance. The energy resolutions for 661.6 keV gamma rays in NaI(Tl) and thermal neutrons in LiI(Eu) were measured as 7.0 ± 0.2% and 11.2 ± 0.2% respectively, with selected PSD threshold.

Particle discrimination of NaI(Tl) scintillator under high-energy neutron field to measure the photon energy spectrum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamada, So; Takada, Masashi; Suzuki, Toshikazu

2014-09-01

Photons are measured separately from neutrons in high-energy neutron fields using a NaI(Tl) scintillator, 7.62 cm in diameter and 7.62 cm in length, combined with a pulse-shape discrimination method. The particle discrimination capability for this scintillator is confirmed using a time-of-flight method. Neutron fields were produced by irradiating Li targets with 40 and 80 MeV proton beams at the cyclotron facility in the National Institute of Radiological Sciences. Figures of merit corresponding to particle discrimination for the scintillator at the two neutron fields are improved with higher neutron energies. Photon energy spectra for energies over 6.5 MeV can be measured using the NaI(Tl) scintillator.

A survey of pulse shape options for a revised plastic ablator ignition design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clark, Daniel; Eder, David; Haan, Steven; Hinkel, Denise; Jones, Ogden; Marinak, Michael; Milovich, Jose; Peterson, Jayson; Robey, Harold; Salmonson, Jay; Smalyuk, Vladimir; Weber, Christopher

2014-10-01

Recent experimental results using the ``high foot'' pulse shape on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) have shown encouraging progress compared to earlier ``low foot'' experiments. These results strongly suggest that controlling ablation front instability growth can dramatically improve implosion performance, even in the presence of persistent, large, low-mode distortions. In parallel, Hydro. Growth Radiography experiments have so far validated the techniques used for modeling ablation front growth in NIF experiments. It is timely then to combine these two results and ask how current ignition pulse shapes could be modified so as to improve implosion performance, namely fuel compressibility, while maintaining the stability properties demonstrated with the high foot. This talk presents a survey of pulse shapes intermediate between the low and high foot extremes in search of a more optimal design. From the database of pulse shapes surveyed, a higher picket version of the original low foot pulse shape shows the most promise for improved compression without loss of stability. This work performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.

Optical integrator for optical dark-soliton detection and pulse shaping.

PubMed

Ngo, Nam Quoc

2006-09-10

The design and analysis of an Nth-order optical integrator using the digital filter technique is presented. The optical integrator is synthesized using planar-waveguide technology. It is shown that a first-order optical integrator can be used as an optical dark-soliton detector by converting an optical dark-soliton pulse into an optical bell-shaped pulse for ease of detection. The optical integrators can generate an optical step function, staircase function, and paraboliclike functions from input optical Gaussian pulses. The optical integrators may be potentially used as basic building blocks of all-optical signal processing systems because the time integrals of signals may sometimes be required for further use or analysis. Furthermore, an optical integrator may be used for the shaping of optical pulses or in an optical feedback control system.

DEAP-3600 Dark Matter Search at SNOLAB

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boulay, Mark; DEAP Collaboration

2014-09-01

The DEAP-3600 experiment will search for dark matter particle interactions on 3.6 tonnes of liquid argon at SNOLAB. The argon is contained in a large ultralow-background acrylic vessel viewed by 255 8-inch photomultiplier tubes. Very good pulse-shape discrimination has been demonstrated for scintillation in argon, and the detector has been designed for a total background budget, including (alpha,n) and external neutron recoils, surface contamination from 210Pb and radon daughters, of 0.2 events per tonne-year, allowing an ultimate sensitivity to spin-independent scattering of 10-46 cm2 per nucleon at 100 GeV mass. Installation of the detector is currently being completed at SNOLAB. The status of the experiment and an overview of low background techniques employed will be presented.

A Kolsky tension bar technique using a hollow incident tube

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guzman, O.; Frew, D. J.; Chen, W.

2011-04-01

Load control of the incident pulse profiles in compression Kolsky bar experiments has been widely used to subject the specimen to optimal testing conditions. Tension Kolsky bars have been used to determine dynamic material behavior since the 1960s with limited capability to shape the loading pulses due to the pulse-generating mechanisms. We developed a modified Kolsky tension bar where a hollow incident tube is used to carry the incident stress waves. The incident tube also acts as a gas gun barrel that houses the striker for impact. The main advantage of this new design is that the striker impacts on an impact cap of the incident tube. Compression pulse shapers can be attached to the impact cap, thus fully utilizing the predictive compression pulse-shaping capability in tension experiments. Using this new testing technique, the dynamic tensile material behavior for Al 6061-T6511 and TRIP 800 (transformation-induced plasticity) steel has been obtained.

The evaluation of uncertainty in low-level LSC measurements of water samples.

PubMed

Rusconi, R; Forte, M; Caresana, M; Bellinzona, S; Cazzaniga, M T; Sgorbati, G

2006-01-01

The uncertainty in measurements of gross alpha and beta activities in water samples by liquid scintillation counting with alpha/beta discrimination has been evaluated considering the problems typical of low-level measurements of environmental samples. The use of a pulse shape analysis device to discriminate alpha and beta events introduces a correlation between some of the input quantities, and it has to be considered. Main contributors to total uncertainty have been assessed by specifically designed experimental tests. Results have been fully examined and discussed.

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

Osovizky, A.; Rotem Industries Ltd, Rotem Industrial Park; University of Maryland, College park, Maryland

A Chromatic Analysis Neutron Diffractometer Or Reflectometer (CANDOR) is under development at the NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR). The CANDOR neutron sensor will rely on scintillator material for detecting the neutrons scattered by the sample under test. It consists of {sup 6}LiF:ZnS(Ag) scintillator material into which wavelength shifting (WLS) fibers have been embedded. Solid state photo-sensors (silicon photomultipliers) coupled to the WLS fibers are used to detect the light produced by the neutron capture event ({sup 6}Li (n,α) {sup 3}H reaction) and ionization of the ZnS(Ag). This detector configuration has the potential to accomplish the CANDOR performance requirements formore » efficiency of 90% for 5 A (3.35 meV) neutrons with high gamma rejection (10{sup 7}) along with compact design, affordable cost and materials availability. However this novel design includes challenges for precise neutron detection. The recognizing of the neutron signature versus the noise event produce by gamma event cannot be easy overcome by pulse height discrimination obstacle as can be achieved with {sup 3}He gas tube. Furthermore the selection of silicon photomultipliers (SiPM) as the light sensor maintains the obstacle of dark noise that does not exist when a photomultiplier tube is coupled to the scintillator. A proper selection of SiPM should focus on increasing the output signal and reducing the dark noise in order to optimize the detection sensitivity and to provide a clean signal pulse shape discrimination. The main parameters for evaluation are: - Quantum Efficiency (QE) - matching the SiPM peak QE with the peak transmission wavelength emission of the WLS. - Recovery time - a short recovery time is preferred to minimize the pulse width beyond the intrinsic decay time of the scintillator crystal (improves the gamma rejection based output pulse shape (time)). - Diode dimensions -The dark noise is proportional to the diode active area while the signal is provided by the WLS fibers; therefore the diode area should ideally be only minimally larger than fiber bundle area. - Low dark noise - it is desirable to minimize the dark noise during the pulse integration period so as to minimize the background for pulse shape discrimination. - Photon Detection Efficiency - it is desirable to increase the SiPM PDE in order to enhance light collection. This will increase the likelihood of detecting neutron events with lower light production and will present a cleaner raw signal for pulse shape discrimination. We will present the SiPM optimization process and studies of dark noise and gamma and neutron sensitivity as a function of bias voltage and operating temperature that have enabled us to optimize the detector sensitivity and gamma rejection. The gamma rejection performance goal requires to overcome the challenge of discriminating between the light signature accepted by neutron event to the one received by the noise. In addition there is a huge variation between the number of light photons that reaching the WLS fibers for different neutron events caused by the heavy ions energy losses prior to ionizing the ZnS(Ag) and the high light attenuation of the scintillation mixture. This variation in the light signal along with the long decay time of the ZnS(Ag) (tens of microseconds) can cause double counting of the same neutron event in the case of high light output signature or preventing the detection of low sequential light output signature neutron event. We will presents the algorithm developed for {sup 6}LiF:ZnS(Ag) sensor readout and the results achieved by an off-line analysis by Matlab software code that successfully achieved both the high gamma rejection with a sensitive and accurate neutron event detection. (authors)« less

Generation of dark hollow femtosecond pulsed beam by phase-only liquid crystal spatial light modulator.

PubMed

Nie, Yongming; Ma, Haotong; Li, Xiujian; Hu, Wenhua; Yang, Jiankun

2011-07-20

Based on the refractive laser beam shaping system, the dark hollow femtosecond pulse beam shaping technique with a phase-only liquid crystal spatial light modulator (LC-SLM) is demonstrated. The phase distribution of the LC-SLM is derived by the energy conservation and constant optical path principle. The effects of the shaping system on the temporal properties, including spectral phase distribution and bandwidth of the femtosecond pulse, are analyzed in detail. Experimental results show that the hollow intensity distribution of the output pulsed beam can be maintained much at more than 1200 mm. The spectral phase of the pulse is changed, and the pulse width is expanded from 199 to 230 fs, which is caused by the spatial-temporal coupling effect. The coupling effect mainly depends on the phase-only LC-SLM itself, not on its loaded phase distribution. The experimental results indicate that the proposed shaping setup can generate a dark hollow femtosecond pulsed beam effectively, because the temporal Gaussian waveform is unchanged. © 2011 Optical Society of America

Femtosecond profiling of shaped x-ray pulses

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

Hoffmann, M. C.; Grguras, I.; Behrens, C.

Arbitrary manipulation of the temporal and spectral properties of x-ray pulses at free-electron lasers would revolutionize many experimental applications. At the Linac Coherent Light Source at Stanford National Accelerator Laboratory, the momentum phase-space of the free-electron laser driving electron bunch can be tuned to emit a pair of x-ray pulses with independently variable photon energy and femtosecond delay. However, while accelerator parameters can easily be adjusted to tune the electron bunch phase-space, the final impact of these actuators on the x-ray pulse cannot be predicted with sufficient precision. Furthermore, shot-to-shot instabilities that distort the pulse shape unpredictably cannot be fullymore » suppressed. Therefore, the ability to directly characterize the x-rays is essential to ensure precise and consistent control. In this work, we have generated x-ray pulse pairs via electron bunch shaping and characterized them on a single-shot basis with femtosecond resolution through time-resolved photoelectron streaking spectroscopy. Furthermore, this achievement completes an important step toward future x-ray pulse shaping techniques.« less

Femtosecond profiling of shaped x-ray pulses

DOE PAGES

Hoffmann, M. C.; Grguras, I.; Behrens, C.; ...

2018-03-26

Arbitrary manipulation of the temporal and spectral properties of x-ray pulses at free-electron lasers would revolutionize many experimental applications. At the Linac Coherent Light Source at Stanford National Accelerator Laboratory, the momentum phase-space of the free-electron laser driving electron bunch can be tuned to emit a pair of x-ray pulses with independently variable photon energy and femtosecond delay. However, while accelerator parameters can easily be adjusted to tune the electron bunch phase-space, the final impact of these actuators on the x-ray pulse cannot be predicted with sufficient precision. Furthermore, shot-to-shot instabilities that distort the pulse shape unpredictably cannot be fullymore » suppressed. Therefore, the ability to directly characterize the x-rays is essential to ensure precise and consistent control. In this work, we have generated x-ray pulse pairs via electron bunch shaping and characterized them on a single-shot basis with femtosecond resolution through time-resolved photoelectron streaking spectroscopy. Furthermore, this achievement completes an important step toward future x-ray pulse shaping techniques.« less

Synthesis of plastic scintillation microspheres: alpha/beta discrimination.

PubMed

Santiago, L M; Bagán, H; Tarancón, A; Garcia, J F

2014-11-01

Plastic scintillation microspheres (PSm) have been developed as an alternative for liquid scintillation cocktails due to their ability to avoid the mixed waste, besides other strengths in which the possibility for alpha/beta discrimination is included. The aim of this work was to evaluate the capability of PSm containing two combinations of fluorescence solutes (PPO/POPOP and pT/Bis-MSB) and variable amounts of a second organic solvent (naphthalene) to enhance the alpha/beta discrimination. Two commercial detectors with different Pulse Shape Discrimination performances (Quantulus and Triathler) were used to evaluate the alpha/beta discrimination. An optimal discrimination of alpha/beta particles was reached, with very low misclassification values (2% for beta particles and 0.5% for alpha particles), when PSm containing PPO/POPOP and between 0.6 and 2.0 g of naphthalene were evaluated using Triathler and the appropriate programme for data processing. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Scintillator and solid-state neutron detectors and their applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carturan, Sara Maria; Marchi, Tommaso; Fanchini, Erica; De Vita, Raffaella; Finocchiaro, Paolo; Pappalardo, Alfio

2014-10-01

The application range of neutron detectors covers many topics, not only involving experimental research, but spanning tens of industrial, health, transport, cultural heritage fields of interest. Several studies focus on new scintillating materials where the light response, under fast and slow neutrons exposure, is triggered by proton recoil or by the presence of neutron capture materials as 10B, 6Li or 157Gd. Neutron monitors, where the robustness of silicon-based detectors can be fully exploited by coupling with suitable neutron absorber/converter materials, have recently proved their outstanding performances. Discrimination between neutron signals from other radiations, such as - or cosmic rays, is achieved through timing techniques or with pulse shape analysis. Furthermore, the choice of the detection/discrimination techniques depends on the type of application the detector will be used for. An example is Radiation Portal Monitors (RPM) for cargo inspection or luggage control that are required to satisfy specific international standards for and neutron detection efficiencies. This paper is an overview of some of the National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN) activities in the field of neutron detection, involving novel technologies. We will describe the most recent advances related to scintillators and silicon-based detectors coupled with thin films of suitable converters for neutron detection and we will discuss applications in the field of nuclear security.

Optimum filter-based discrimination of neutrons and gamma rays

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

Amiri, Moslem; Prenosil, Vaclav; Cvachovec, Frantisek

2015-07-01

An optimum filter-based method for discrimination of neutrons and gamma-rays in a mixed radiation field is presented. The existing filter-based implementations of discriminators require sample pulse responses in advance of the experiment run to build the filter coefficients, which makes them less practical. Our novel technique creates the coefficients during the experiment and improves their quality gradually. Applied to several sets of mixed neutron and photon signals obtained through different digitizers using stilbene scintillator, this approach is analyzed and its discrimination quality is measured. (authors)

Spatially modulated laser pulses for printing electronics.

PubMed

Auyeung, Raymond C Y; Kim, Heungsoo; Mathews, Scott; Piqué, Alberto

2015-11-01

The use of a digital micromirror device (DMD) in laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) is reviewed. Combining this technique with high-viscosity donor ink (silver nanopaste) results in laser-printed features that are highly congruent in shape and size to the incident laser beam spatial profile. The DMD empowers LIFT to become a highly parallel, rapidly reconfigurable direct-write technology. By adapting half-toning techniques to the DMD bitmap image, the laser transfer threshold fluence for 10 μm features can be reduced using an edge-enhanced beam profile. The integration of LIFT with this beam-shaping technique allows the printing of complex large-area patterns with a single laser pulse.

Pulse shape optimization for electron-positron production in rotating fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fillion-Gourdeau, François; Hebenstreit, Florian; Gagnon, Denis; MacLean, Steve

2017-07-01

We optimize the pulse shape and polarization of time-dependent electric fields to maximize the production of electron-positron pairs via strong field quantum electrodynamics processes. The pulse is parametrized in Fourier space by a B -spline polynomial basis, which results in a relatively low-dimensional parameter space while still allowing for a large number of electric field modes. The optimization is performed by using a parallel implementation of the differential evolution, one of the most efficient metaheuristic algorithms. The computational performance of the numerical method and the results on pair production are compared with a local multistart optimization algorithm. These techniques allow us to determine the pulse shape and field polarization that maximize the number of produced pairs in computationally accessible regimes.

Optical ultra-wide-band pulse bipolar and shape modulation based on a symmetric PM-IM conversion architecture.

PubMed

Wang, Shiguang; Chen, Hongwei; Xin, Ming; Chen, Minghua; Xie, Shizhong

2009-10-15

A simple and feasible technique for ultra-wide-band (UWB) pulse bipolar modulation (PBM) and pulse shape modulation (PSM) in the optical domain is proposed and demonstrated. The PBM and PSM are performed using a symmetric phase modulation to intensity modulation conversion architecture, including a couple of phase modulators and an optical bandpass filter (OBPF). Two optical carriers, which are separately phase modulated by two appropriate electrical pulse patterns, are at the long- and short-wavelength linear slopes of the OBPF spectrum, respectively. The high-speed PBM and PSM without limit of chip length, polarity, and shape are implemented in simulation and are also verified by experiment. (c) 2009 Optical Society of America.

Status of LUMINEU program to search for neutrinoless double beta decay of 100Mo with cryogenic ZnMoO4 scintillating bolometers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Danevich, F. A.; Bergé, L.; Boiko, R. S.; Chapellier, M.; Chernyak, D. M.; Coron, N.; Devoyon, L.; Drillien, A.-A.; Dumoulin, L.; Enss, C.; Fleischmann, A.; Gastaldo, L.; Giuliani, A.; Gray, D.; Gros, M.; Hervé, S.; Humbert, V.; Ivanov, I. M.; Juillard, A.; Kobychev, V. V.; Koskas, F.; Loidl, M.; Magnier, P.; Makarov, E. P.; Mancuso, M.; de Marcillac, P.; Marnieros, S.; Marrache-Kikuchi, C.; Navick, X.-F.; Nones, C.; Olivieri, E.; Paul, B.; Penichot, Y.; Pessina, G.; Plantevin, O.; Poda, D. V.; Redon, T.; Rodrigues, M.; Shlegel, V. N.; Strazzer, O.; Tenconi, M.; Torres, L.; Tretyak, V. I.; Vasiliev, Ya. V.; Velazquez, M.; Viraphong, O.

2015-10-01

The LUMTNEU program aims at performing a pilot experiment on 0ν2β decay of 100Mo using radiopure ZnMoO4 crystals enriched in 100Mo operated as cryogenic scintillating bolometers. Large volume ZnMoO4 crystal scintillators (˜ 0.3 kg) were developed and tested showing high performance in terms of radiopurity, energy resolution and α/β particle discrimination capability. Zinc molybdate crystal scintillators enriched in 100Mo were grown for the first time by the low-thermal-gradient Czochralski technique with a high crystal yield and an acceptable level of enriched molybdenum irrecoverable losses. A background level of ˜ 0.5 counts/(yr keV ton) in the region of interest can be reached in a large detector array thanks to the excellent detectors radiopurity and particle discrimination capability, suppression of randomly coinciding events by pulse-shape analysis, and anticoincidence cut. These results pave the way to future sensitive searches based on the LUMTNEU technology, capable of approachingand exploring the inverted hierarchy region of the neutrino mass pattern.

Advances in Neutron Spectroscopy with Deuterated Organic Scintillators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Febbraro, Michael; Pain, Steve; Becchetti, Frederick

2015-10-01

Deuterated organic scintillators have shown promise as neutron detectors for nuclear science as well as applications in nuclear non-proliferation and safeguards. In particular, they can extract neutron spectra without the use of neutron time-of-flight measurement (n-ToF) utilizing spectrum unfolding techniques. This permits the measure of cross sections of bound and unbound states with high efficiency and angular coverage. In the case of measurements with radioactive ion beams where low beam intensities limit long path n-ToF, short path n-ToF can be used to discriminate neutrons of interest from room return and background neutrons. This presentation will provide recent advances with these types of detectors. Digital pulse-shape discrimination using fast waveform digitizers, spectrum unfolding methods for extraction of neutron spectra, and a new safer deuterated-xylene formulation EJ-301D will be discussed. In addition, experimental results from measurements of discrete and continuous neutron spectra which illustrate the advantage of these detectors for certain applications in nuclear physics research and nuclear security will be shown. This work is supported by NSF and DOE.

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

Danevich, F. A., E-mail: danevich@kinr.kiev.ua; Boiko, R. S.; Chernyak, D. M.

The LUMTNEU program aims at performing a pilot experiment on 0ν2β decay of {sup 100}Mo using radiopure ZnMoO{sub 4} crystals enriched in {sup 100}Mo operated as cryogenic scintillating bolometers. Large volume ZnMoO{sub 4} crystal scintillators (∼ 0.3 kg) were developed and tested showing high performance in terms of radiopurity, energy resolution and α/β particle discrimination capability. Zinc molybdate crystal scintillators enriched in {sup 100}Mo were grown for the first time by the low-thermal-gradient Czochralski technique with a high crystal yield and an acceptable level of enriched molybdenum irrecoverable losses. A background level of ∼ 0.5 counts/(yr keV ton) in the regionmore » of interest can be reached in a large detector array thanks to the excellent detectors radiopurity and particle discrimination capability, suppression of randomly coinciding events by pulse-shape analysis, and anticoincidence cut. These results pave the way to future sensitive searches based on the LUMTNEU technology, capable of approachingand exploring the inverted hierarchy region of the neutrino mass pattern.« less

General ultrafast pulse measurement using the cross-correlation single-shot sonogram technique.

PubMed

Reid, Derryck T; Garduno-Mejia, Jesus

2004-03-15

The cross-correlation single-shot sonogram technique offers exact pulse measurement and real-time pulse monitoring via an intuitive time-frequency trace whose shape and orientation directly indicate the spectral chirp of an ultrashort laser pulse. We demonstrate an algorithm that solves a fundamental limitation of the cross-correlation sonogram method, namely, that the time-gating operation is implemented using a replica of the measured pulse rather than the ideal delta-function-like pulse. Using a modified principal-components generalized projections algorithm, we experimentally show accurate pulse retrieval of an asymmetric double pulse, a case that is prone to systematic error when one is using the original sonogram retrieval algorithm.

Linear operating region in the ozone dial photon counting system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Andrawis, Madeleine

1995-01-01

Ozone is a relatively unstable molecule found in Earth's atmosphere. An ozone molecule is made up of three atoms of oxygen. Depending on where ozone resides, it can protect or harm life on Earth. High in the atmosphere, about 15 miles up, ozone acts as a shield to protect Earth's surface from the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation. Without this shield, we would be more susceptible to skin cancer, cataracts, and impaired immune systems. Closer to Earth, in the air we breathe, ozone is a harmful pollutant that causes damage to lung tissue and plants. Since the early 1980's, airborne lidar systems have been used for making measurements of ozone. The differential absorption lidar (DIAL) technique is used in the remote measurement of O3. This system allows the O3 to be measured as function of the range in the atmosphere. Two frequency-doubled Nd:YAG lasers are used to pump tunable dye lasers. The lasers are operating at 289 nm for the DIAL on-line wavelength of O3, and the other one is operated at 300 nm for the off-line wavelength. The DIAL wavelengths are produced in sequential laser pulses with a time separation of 300 micro s. The backscattered laser energy is collected by telescopes and measured using photon counting systems. The photon counting system measures the light signal by making use of the photon nature of light. The output pulse from the Photo-Multiplier Tube (PE), caused by a photon striking the PMT photo-cathode, is amplified and passed to a pulse height discriminator. The peak value of the pulse is compared to a reference voltage (discrimination level). If the pulse amplitude exceeds the discrimination level, the discriminator generates a standard pulse which is counted by the digital counter. Non-linearity in the system is caused by the overlapping of pulses and the finite response time of the electronics. At low count rates one expects the system to register one event for each output pulse from the PMT corresponding to a photon incident upon the photocathode, however, at higher rates the limitations of the discrimination/counting system will cause the observed count rate to be non-linear with respect to the true count rate. Depending on the pulse height distribution and the discriminator level, the overlapping of pulses (pulse pile-up) can cause count loss or even an additional apparent count gain as the signal levels increase. Characterization of the system, including the pulse height distribution, the signal to noise ratio, and the effect of the discriminator threshold level, is critical in maximizing the linear operating region of the system, thus greatly increasing the useful dynamic range of the system.

Time Neutron Technique for UXO Discrimination

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-12-01

mixture of TNT and RDX C-4 CFD Composition 4 military plastic explosive Constant Fraction Discriminator Cps CsI counts per second inorganic...Pdfs Probability Density Functions PET Positron Emission Tomography Pfa Probability of False Alarm PFTNA Pulsed Fast/Thermal Neutron Analysis PMTs...the ordnance type (rocket, mortar , projectile, etc.) and what filler material it contains (inert or empty), practice, HE, illumination, chemical (i.e

Searching for dark matter with single phase liquid argon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caldwell, Thomas S., Jr.

The first hint that we fail to understand the nature of a large fraction of the gravitating matter in the universe came from Fritz Zwicky's measurements of the velocity distribution of the Coma cluster in 1933. Using the Virial theorem, Zwicky found that galaxies in the cluster were orbiting far too fast to remain gravitationally bound when their mass was estimated by the brightness of the visible matter. This led to the postulation that some form of non-luminous dark matter is present in galaxies comprising a large fraction of the galactic mass. The nature of this dark matter remains yet unknown over 80 years after Zwicky's measurements despite the efforts of many experiments. Dark matter is widely believed to be a beyond the Standard Model particle which brings the dark matter problem into the realm of particle physics. Supersymmetry is one widely explored extension of the Standard model, from which particles meeting the constraints on dark matter properties can naturally arise. These particles are generically termed weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), and are a currently favored dark matter candidate. A variety of experimental efforts are underway aimed towards direct detection of dark matter through observation of rare scattering of WIMPs in terrestrial detectors. Single phase liquid argon detectors are an appealing WIMP detection technique due to the scintillation properties of liquid argon and the scalability of the single phase approach. The MiniCLEAN dark matter detector is a single phase liquid argon scintillation scintillation detector with a 500 kg active mass. The modular design offers 4pi coverage with 92 optical cassettes, each containing TPB coated acrylic and a cryogenic photomultiplier tube. The MiniCLEAN detector has recently completed construction at SNOLAB. The detector is currently being commissioned, and will soon begin operation with the liquid argon target. Utilizing advanced pulse-shape discrimination techniques, MiniCLEAN will probe the WIMP-nucleon cross section parameter space to the level of 10--44 cm2 and demonstrate the pulse-shape discrimination required for next generation experiments capable of further probing the WIMP parameter space in search of WIMP dark matter.

Pionic Fusion of 4He +12 C

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zarrella, Andrew; Yennello, Sherry

2017-09-01

Pionic fusion is the process by which two nuclei fuse and then deexcite by the exclusive emission of a pion. These reactions represent the most extreme examples of deep subthreshold pion production and provide evidence for an unknown, collective mechanism for pion production. An experiment was performed at the Texas A&M University Cyclotron Institute to measure the cross section of the 4He +12 C -> 16N +π+ reaction. The Momentum Achromat Recoil Spectrometer (MARS) was used to separate and identify the 16N fusion residues and the newly constructed Partial Truncated Icosahedron (ParTI) phoswich array was used to identify charged pions. The detector responses for each phoswich unit were recorded using fast-sampling ADCs which allow all light charged particles in the ParTI phoswiches to be identified using ``fast vs. slow'' pulse shape discrimination. By writing the waveform responses, pions can also be identified by the presence of a characteristic muon decay pulse. The combination of the residue-pion coincidence and the two independent pion identification techniques represent a highly sensitive experimental design for studying pionic fusion reactions.

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

Mesick, Katherine Elizabeth; Coupland, Daniel David S.; Stonehill, Laura Catherine

Cs 2LiLaBr 6:Ce 3+ (CLLB) is an elpasolite scintillator that offers excellent linearity and gamma-ray energy resolution and sensitivity to thermal neutrons with the ability to perform pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) to distinguish gammas and neutrons. Our investigation of CLLB has indicated the presence of intrinsic radioactive alpha background that we have determined to be from actinium contamination of the lanthanum component. We measured the pulse shapes for gamma, thermal neutron, and alpha events and determined that PSD can be performed to separate the alpha background with a moderate figure of merit of 0.98. Here, we also measured the electron-equivalent-energy ofmore » the alpha particles in CLLB and simulated the intrinsic alpha background from 227Ac to determine the quenching factor of the alphas.« less

Effect of the temporal laser pulse asymmetry on pair production processes during intense laser-electron scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hojbota, C. I.; Kim, Hyung Taek; Kim, Chul Min; Pathak, V. B.; Nam, Chang Hee

2018-06-01

We investigate the effects of laser pulse shape on strong-field quantum electrodynamics (QED) processes during the collision between a relativistic electron beam and an intense laser pulse. The interplay between high-energy photon emission and two pair production processes, i.e. nonlinear Breit–Wheeler (BW) and Trident, was investigated using particle-in-cell simulations. We found that the temporal evolution of these two processes could be controlled by using laser pulses with different degrees of asymmetry. The temporal envelope of the laser pulse can significantly affect the number of pairs coming from the Trident process, while the nonlinear BW process is less sensitive to it. This study shows that the two QED processes can be examined with state-of-the-art petawatt lasers and the discrimination of the two pair creation processes is feasible by adjusting the temporal asymmetry of the colliding laser pulse.

Photonic ultrawideband impulse radio generation and modulation over a fiber link using a phase modulator and a delay interferometer.

PubMed

Shao, Jing; Sun, Junqiang

2012-08-15

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a simple and flexible photonic scheme for generation and modulation of ultrawideband (UWB) using a phase modulator and a fiber delay interferometer (DI)-based multichannel frequency discrimination. By introducing a Gaussian signal to the phase modulator, the UWB polarity-switchable doublet pulses can be achieved by combining the pair of UWB monocycle pulses with inverted polarities at the DI outputs under proper time delay. Furthermore, the pulse shape modulation, pulse position modulation, and on-off keying can be performed by coding the electrical data patterns and adjusting the time delay between the two monocycle pulses. Only a laser source introduced in the architecture guarantees the excellent dispersion tolerance over 75 km optical fiber link for UWB pulse sequence, which has potential application in future high-speed UWB impulse radio over optical fiber access networks.

Control of Chemical Dynamics Using Arbitrary Shaped Optical Pulses and Laser-Enhanced NMR Spectroscopy.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goswami, Debabrata

A key feature of this thesis is the application of novel laser techniques to various fields of spectroscopy. The overall effort has been towards achieving either chemical control or enhanced spectroscopic resolution. The issue of chemical control forms the major bulk. Over the past decade, theoretical and technological developments have made it possible for a modern day chemist to be a more active participant in nature's chemical processes. Consequently, although the idea of manipulating chemical reactions has been a long term dream, it is only now that realization of such dreams has become realistic. One of the major contributions that is leading towards this realization is the development of pulse shaping techniques. Here, we concentrate on the important developments in this area that has come by recently, particularly emphasizing new results from our laboratory. We discuss in detail the current state-of-the-art, and present some experimental and theoretical demonstrations of chemical control by using arbitrarily shaped pulses. The major strength of our approach to pulse shaping has been in considering "robustness in the laboratory" as a primary constraint. Most of the shapes, addressed here, work under adiabatic conditions where the exact shape of the pulse is not critical as long as the basic criteria dictated by the adiabatic theorem are satisfied. A novel approach of "molecular pulse shaping"--using the molecule itself to generate its own pulse shape--is presented as an example of the ultimate form of robustness. Finally, we get into the issue of resolution enhancement by coupling laser radiation into a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometer. Spectroscopic resolution enhancement is an everlasting effort in the field of NMR--even more for biological NMR. We present some of the recent experimental findings in our laboratory that show selective dispersion in the NMR spectrum when it is acquired under a non-resonant laser irradiation of the sample. Albeit promising, the observed effects are weak and the theoretical understanding of these experiments is not profound enough for implementing any immediate applications.

Time-to-space mapping of femtosecond pulses.

PubMed

Nuss, M C; Li, M; Chiu, T H; Weiner, A M; Partovi, A

1994-05-01

We report time-to-space mapping of femtosecond light pulses in a temporal holography setup. By reading out a temporal hologram of a short optical pulse with a continuous-wave diode laser, we accurately convert temporal pulse-shape information into a spatial pattern that can be viewed with a camera. We demonstrate real-time acquisition of electric-field autocorrelation and cross correlation of femtosecond pulses with this technique.

Pulsed field probe of real time magnetization dynamics in magnetic nanoparticle systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Foulkes, T.; Syed, M.; Taplin, T.

2015-05-01

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are extensively used in biotechnology. These applications rely on magnetic properties that are a keen function of MNP size, distribution, and shape. Various magneto-optical techniques, including Faraday Rotation (FR), Cotton-Mouton Effect, etc., have been employed to characterize magnetic properties of MNPs. Generally, these measurements employ AC or DC fields. In this work, we describe the results from a FR setup that uses pulsed magnetic fields and an analysis technique that makes use of the entire pulse shape to investigate size distribution and shape anisotropy. The setup employs a light source, polarizing components, and a detector that are used to measure the rotation of light from a sample that is subjected to a pulsed magnetic field. This magnetic field "snapshot" is recorded alongside the intensity pulse of the sample's response. This side by side comparison yields useful information about the real time magnetization dynamics of the system being probed. The setup is highly flexible with variable control of pulse length and peak magnitude. Examining the raw data for the response of bare Fe3O4 and hybrid Au and Fe3O4 nanorods reveals interesting information about Brownian relaxation and the hydrodynamic size of these nanorods. This analysis exploits the self-referencing nature of this measurement to highlight the impact of an applied field on creating a field induced transparency for a longitudinal measurement. Possible sources for this behavior include shape anisotropy and field assisted aggregate formation.

Disjunctive Normal Shape and Appearance Priors with Applications to Image Segmentation.

PubMed

Mesadi, Fitsum; Cetin, Mujdat; Tasdizen, Tolga

2015-10-01

The use of appearance and shape priors in image segmentation is known to improve accuracy; however, existing techniques have several drawbacks. Active shape and appearance models require landmark points and assume unimodal shape and appearance distributions. Level set based shape priors are limited to global shape similarity. In this paper, we present a novel shape and appearance priors for image segmentation based on an implicit parametric shape representation called disjunctive normal shape model (DNSM). DNSM is formed by disjunction of conjunctions of half-spaces defined by discriminants. We learn shape and appearance statistics at varying spatial scales using nonparametric density estimation. Our method can generate a rich set of shape variations by locally combining training shapes. Additionally, by studying the intensity and texture statistics around each discriminant of our shape model, we construct a local appearance probability map. Experiments carried out on both medical and natural image datasets show the potential of the proposed method.

On the power spectral density of quadrature modulated signals. [satellite communication

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yan, T. Y.

1981-01-01

The conventional (no-offset) quadriphase modulation technique suffers from the fact that hardlimiting will restore the frequency sidelobes removed by proper filtering. Thus, offset keyed quadriphase modulation techniques are often proposed for satellite communication with bandpass hardlimiting. A unified theory is developed which is capable of describing the power spectral density before and after the hardlimiting process. Using the in-phase and the quadrature phase channel with arbitrary pulse shaping, analytical results are established for generalized quadriphase modulation. In particular MSK, OPSK or the recently introduced overlapped raised cosine keying all fall into this general category. It is shown that for a linear communication channel, the power spectral density of the modulated signal remains unchanged regardless of the offset delay. Furthermore, if the in phase and the quadrature phase channel have identical pulse shapes without offset, the spectrum after bandpass hardlimiting will be identical to that of the conventional QPSK modulation. Numerical examples are given for various modulation techniques. A case of different pulse shapes in the in phase and the quadrature phase channel is also considered.

A position-sensitive X-ray detector for the HEAO-A satellite.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Held, D.; Weisskopf, M. C.

1973-01-01

A position-sensitive, low-energy proportional counter system is described which will be used on the High-Energy Astronomical Observatory, Mission A, spacecraft. The associated system incorporates the capability to employ pulse-shape discrimination for background rejection and interpolation circuitry to locate the centroid of an X-ray event with an accuracy of approximately one eighth the cathode-wire spacing.

Performance of a neutron spectrometer based on a PIN diode.

PubMed

Agosteo, S; D'Angelo, G; Fazzi, A; Para, A Foglio; Pola, A; Ventura, L; Zotto, P

2005-01-01

The neutron spectrometer discussed in this work consists of a PIN diode coupled with a polyethylene converter. Neutrons are detected through the energy deposited by recoil-protons in silicon. The maximum detectable energy is -6 MeV and is imposed by the thickness of the fully depleted layer (300 microm for the present device). The minimum detectable energy which can be assessed with pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) is -0.9 MeV. PSD is performed with a crossover method and setting the diode in the 'reverse-injection' configuration (i.e. with the N+ layer adjacent to the converter). This configuration provides longer collection times for the electron-hole pairs generated by the recoil-protons. The limited interval of detectable energies restricts the application of this spectrometer to low-energy neutron fields, such as the ones which can be produced at facilities hosting low-energy ion accelerators. The capacity to reproduce continuous neutron spectra was investigated by optimising the electronic chain for pulse-shape discrimination. In particular, the spectrometer was irradiated with neutrons that were generated by striking a thick beryllium target with protons of several energies and the measured spectra were compared with data taken from the literature.

A Deuterated Neutron Detector Array For Nuclear (Astro)Physics Studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Almaraz-Calderon, Sergio; Asher, B. W.; Barber, P.; Hanselman, K.; Perello, J. F.

2016-09-01

The properties of neutron-rich nuclei are at the forefront of research in nuclear structure, nuclear reactions and nuclear astrophysics. The advent of intense rare isotope beams (RIBs) has opened a new door for studies of systems with very short half-lives and possible fascinating properties. Neutron spectroscopic techniques become increasingly relevant when these neutron rich nuclei are used in a variety of experiments. At Florida State University, we are developing a neutron detector array that will allow us to perform high-resolution neutron spectroscopic studies with stable and radioactive beams. The neutron detection system consists of 16 deuterated organic liquid scintillation detectors with fast response and pulse-shape discrimination capabilities. In addition to these properties, there is the potential to use the structure in the pulse-height spectra to extract the energy of the neutrons and thus produce directly excitation spectra. This type of detector uses deuterated benzene (C6D6) as the liquid scintillation medium. The asymmetric nature of the scattering between a neutron and a deuterium in the center of mass produces a pulse-height spectrum from the deuterated scintillator which contains useful information on the initial energy of the neutron. Work supported in part by the State of Florida and NSF Grant No. 1401574.

An investigation of the digital discrimination of neutrons and γ rays with organic scintillation detectors using an artificial neural network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, G.; Aspinall, M. D.; Ma, X.; Joyce, M. J.

2009-08-01

The discrimination of neutron and γ-ray events in an organic scintillator has been investigated by using a method based on an artificial neural network (ANN). Voltage pulses arising from an EJ-301 organic liquid scintillation detector in a mixed radiation field have been recorded with a fast digital sampling oscilloscope. Piled-up events have been disentangled using a pile-up management unit based on a fitting method. Each individual pulse has subsequently been sent to a discrimination unit which discriminates neutron and γ-ray events with a method based on an artificial neural network. This discrimination technique has been verified by the corresponding mixed-field data assessed by time of flight (TOF). It is shown that the characterization of the neutrons and photons achieved by the discrimination method based on the ANN is consistent with that afforded by TOF. This approach enables events that are often as a result of scattering or pile-up to be identified and returned to the data set and affords digital discrimination of mixed radiation fields in a broad range of environments on the basis of training obtained with a single TOF dataset.

Status of the MiniCLEAN dark matter experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rielage, Keith

2009-10-01

MiniCLEAN utilizes over 400 kg of liquid cryogen to detect nuclear recoils from WIMP dark matter with a projected sensitivity of 2x10-45 cm^2 for a mass of 100 GeV. The liquid cryogen is interchangeable between argon and neon to study the A^2 dependence of the potential signal and examine backgrounds. MiniCLEAN utilizes a unique modular design with spherical geometry to maximize the light yield using cold photomultiplier tubes in a single-phase detector. Pulse shape discrimination techniques are used to separate nuclear recoil signals from electron recoil backgrounds. Particular attention is being paid to mitigating the backgrounds from contamination of surfaces by radon daughters during assembly. The design and assembly status of the experiment will be discussed. The projected timeline and future plans for staging the experiment at SNOLAB in Sudbury, Canada will be presented.

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

Agnes, P.; et al.

A Geant4-based Monte Carlo package named G4DS has been developed to simulate the response of DarkSide-50, an experiment operating since 2013 at LNGS, designed to detect WIMP interactions in liquid argon. In the process of WIMP searches, DarkSide-50 has achieved two fundamental milestones: the rejection of electron recoil background with a power of ~10^7, using the pulse shape discrimination technique, and the measurement of the residual 39Ar contamination in underground argon, ~3 orders of magnitude lower with respect to atmospheric argon. These results rely on the accurate simulation of the detector response to the liquid argon scintillation, its ionization, andmore » electron-ion recombination processes. This work provides a complete overview of the DarkSide Monte Carlo and of its performance, with a particular focus on PARIS, the custom-made liquid argon response model.« less

The MiniCLEAN Dark Matter Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schnee, Richard; Deap/Clean Collaboration

2011-10-01

The MiniCLEAN dark matter experiment exploits a single-phase liquid argon (LAr) detector, instrumented with photomultiplier tubes submerged in the cryogen with nearly 4 π coverage of a 500 kg target (150 kg fiducial) mass. The high light yield and large difference in singlet/triplet scintillation time-profiles in LAr provide effective defense against radioactive backgrounds through pulse-shape discrimination and event position reconstruction. The detector is also designed for a liquid neon target which, in the event of a positive signal in LAr, will enable an independent verification of backgrounds and provide a unique test of the expected A2 dependence of the WIMP interaction rate. The conceptually simple design can be scaled to target masses in excess of 10 tons in a relatively straightforward and economic manner. The experimental technique and current status of MiniCLEAN will be summarized.

Development of a new type of germanium detector for dark matter searches

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, Wenzhao

Monte Carlo simulation is an important tool used to develop a better understanding of important physical processes. This thesis describes three Monte Carlo simulations used to understand germanium detector response to low energy nuclear recoils and radiogenic backgrounds for direct dark matter searches. The first simulation is the verification of Barker-Mei model, a theoretical model for calculating the ionization efficiency for germanium detector for the energy range of 1 - 100 keV. Utilizing the shape analysis, a bin-to-bin comparison between simulation and experimental data was performed for verifying the accuracy of the Barker-Mei model. A percentage difference within 4% was achieved between data and simulation, which showed the validity of the Barker-Mei model. The second simulation is the study of a new type of germanium detector for n/gamma discrimination at 77 K with plasma time difference in pulse shape. Due to the poor time resolution, conventional P-type Point Contact (PPC) and coaxial germanium detectors are not capable of discriminating nuclear recoils from electron recoils. In this thesis, a new idea of using great detector granularity and plasma time difference in pulse shape to discriminate nuclear recoils from electron recoils with planar germanium detectors in strings was discussed. The anticipated sensitivity of this new detector array is shown for detecting dark matter. The last simulation is a study of a new type of germanium-detector array serving as a PMT screening facility for ultra-low background dark matter experiments using noble liquid xenon as detector material such LUX/LZ and XENON100/XENON1T. A well-shaped germanium detector array and a PMT were simulated to study the detector response to the signal and background for a better understanding of the radiogenic gamma rays from PMTs. The detector efficiency and other detector performance were presented in this work.

The HEAO-A Scanning Modulation Collimator instrument

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roy, A.; Ballas, J.; Jagoda, N.; Mckinnon, P.; Ramsey, A.; Wester, E.

1977-01-01

The Scanning Modulation Collimator X-ray instrument for the HEAO-A satellite was designed to measure celestial radiation in the range between 1 and 15 KeV and to resolve, and correlate, the position of X-ray sources with visible light sources on the celestial sphere to within 5 arc seconds. The positional accuracy is made possible by mechanical collimation of the X-ray sources viewed by the instrument. High sensitivity is provided from two systems each containing four gas filled proportional counters followed by preamplification, signal summing, pulse height analysis, pulse shape discrimination, X-ray event accumulators and telemetry processing electronics.

Mixture quantification using PLS in plastic scintillation measurements.

PubMed

Bagán, H; Tarancón, A; Rauret, G; García, J F

2011-06-01

This article reports the capability of plastic scintillation (PS) combined with multivariate calibration (Partial least squares; PLS) to detect and quantify alpha and beta emitters in mixtures. While several attempts have been made with this purpose in mind using liquid scintillation (LS), no attempt was done using PS that has the great advantage of not producing mixed waste after the measurements are performed. Following this objective, ternary mixtures of alpha and beta emitters ((241)Am, (137)Cs and (90)Sr/(90)Y) have been quantified. Procedure optimisation has evaluated the use of the net spectra or the sample spectra, the inclusion of different spectra obtained at different values of the Pulse Shape Analysis parameter and the application of the PLS1 or PLS2 algorithms. The conclusions show that the use of PS+PLS2 applied to the sample spectra, without the use of any pulse shape discrimination, allows quantification of the activities with relative errors less than 10% in most of the cases. This procedure not only allows quantification of mixtures but also reduces measurement time (no blanks are required) and the application of this procedure does not require detectors that include the pulse shape analysis parameter. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of a cochlear-implant processing strategy incorporating phantom stimulation and asymmetric pulses

PubMed Central

Monstrey, Jolijn; Deeks, John M.; Macherey, Olivier

2014-01-01

Objective To evaluate a speech-processing strategy in which the lowest frequency channel is conveyed using an asymmetric pulse shape and “phantom stimulation”, where current is injected into one intra-cochlear electrode and where the return current is shared between an intra-cochlear and an extra-cochlear electrode. This strategy is expected to provide more selective excitation of the cochlear apex, compared to a standard strategy where the lowest-frequency channel is conveyed by symmetric pulses in monopolar mode. In both strategies all other channels were conveyed by monopolar stimulation. Design Within-subjects comparison between the two strategies. Four experiments: (1) discrimination between the strategies, controlling for loudness differences, (2) consonant identification, (3) recognition of lowpass-filtered sentences in quiet, (4) sentence recognition in the presence of a competing speaker. Study sample Eight users of the Advanced Bionics CII/Hi-Res 90k cochlear implant. Results Listeners could easily discriminate between the two strategies but no consistent differences in performance were observed. Conclusions The proposed method does not improve speech perception, at least in the short term. PMID:25358027

Evaluation of a cochlear-implant processing strategy incorporating phantom stimulation and asymmetric pulses.

PubMed

Carlyon, Robert P; Monstrey, Jolijn; Deeks, John M; Macherey, Olivier

2014-12-01

To evaluate a speech-processing strategy in which the lowest frequency channel is conveyed using an asymmetric pulse shape and "phantom stimulation", where current is injected into one intra-cochlear electrode and where the return current is shared between an intra-cochlear and an extra-cochlear electrode. This strategy is expected to provide more selective excitation of the cochlear apex, compared to a standard strategy where the lowest-frequency channel is conveyed by symmetric pulses in monopolar mode. In both strategies all other channels were conveyed by monopolar stimulation. Within-subjects comparison between the two strategies. Four experiments: (1) discrimination between the strategies, controlling for loudness differences, (2) consonant identification, (3) recognition of lowpass-filtered sentences in quiet, (4) sentence recognition in the presence of a competing speaker. Eight users of the Advanced Bionics CII/Hi-Res 90k cochlear implant. Listeners could easily discriminate between the two strategies but no consistent differences in performance were observed. The proposed method does not improve speech perception, at least in the short term.

Phase Function Determination in Support of Orbital Debris Size Estimation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hejduk, M. D.; Cowardin, H. M.; Stansbery, Eugene G.

2012-01-01

To recover the size of a space debris object from photometric measurements, it is necessary to determine its albedo and basic shape: if the albedo is known, the reflective area can be calculated; and if the shape is known, the shape and area taken together can be used to estimate a characteristic dimension. Albedo is typically determined by inferring the object s material type from filter photometry or spectroscopy and is not the subject of the present study. Object shape, on the other hand, can be revealed from a time-history of the object s brightness response. The most data-rich presentation is a continuous light-curve that records the object s brightness for an entire sensor pass, which could last for tens of minutes to several hours: from this one can see both short-term periodic behavior as well as brightness variations with phase angle. Light-curve interpretation, however, is more art than science and does not lend itself easily to automation; and the collection method, which requires single-object telescope dedication for long periods of time, is not well suited to debris survey conditions. So one is led to investigate how easily an object s brightness phase function, which can be constructed from the more survey-friendly point photometry, can be used to recover object shape. Such a recovery is usually attempted by comparing a phase-function curve constructed from an object s empirical brightness measurements to analytically-derived curves for basic shapes or shape combinations. There are two ways to accomplish this: a simple averaged brightness-versus phase curve assembled from the empirical data, or a more elaborate approach in which one is essentially calculating a brightness PDF for each phase angle bin (a technique explored in unpublished AFRL/RV research and in Ojakangas 2011); in each case the empirical curve is compared to analytical results for shapes of interest. The latter technique promises more discrimination power but requires more data; the former can be assembled in its essentials from fewer measurements but will be less definitive in its assignments. The goal of the present study is to evaluate both techniques under debris survey conditions to determine their relative performance and, additionally, to learn precisely how a survey should be conducted in order to maximize their performance. Because the distendedness of objects has more of an effect than their precise shape in calculating a characteristic dimension, one is interested in the techniques discrimination ability to distinguish between an elongated rectangular prism and a short rectangular prism or cube, or an elongated cylinder from a squat cylinder or sphere. Sensitivity studies using simulated data will be conducted to determine discrimination power for both techniques as a function of amount of data collected and range (and specific region) of phase angles sampled. Empirical GEODSS photometry data for distended objects (dead payloads with solar panels, rocket bodies) and compact objects (cubesats, calibration spheres, squat payloads) will also be used to test this discrimination ability. The result will be a recommended technique and data collection paradigm for debris surveys in order to maximize this type of discrimination.

Pulse-shaping based two-photon FRET stoichiometry

PubMed Central

Flynn, Daniel C.; Bhagwat, Amar R.; Brenner, Meredith H.; Núñez, Marcos F.; Mork, Briana E.; Cai, Dawen; Swanson, Joel A.; Ogilvie, Jennifer P.

2015-01-01

Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) based measurements that calculate the stoichiometry of intermolecular interactions in living cells have recently been demonstrated, where the technique utilizes selective one-photon excitation of donor and acceptor fluorophores to isolate the pure FRET signal. Here, we present work towards extending this FRET stoichiometry method to employ two-photon excitation using a pulse-shaping methodology. In pulse-shaping, frequency-dependent phases are applied to a broadband femtosecond laser pulse to tailor the two-photon excitation conditions to preferentially excite donor and acceptor fluorophores. We have also generalized the existing stoichiometry theory to account for additional cross-talk terms that are non-vanishing under two-photon excitation conditions. Using the generalized theory we demonstrate two-photon FRET stoichiometry in live COS-7 cells expressing fluorescent proteins mAmetrine as the donor and tdTomato as the acceptor. PMID:25836193

Selective RF pulses in NMR and their effect on coupled and uncoupled spin systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Slotboom, J.

1993-10-01

This thesis describes various aspects of the usage of shaped RF-pulses for volume selection and spectral editing. Contents: Introduction--The History of Magnetic Resonance in a Nutshell, and The Usage of RF Pulses in Contemporary MRS and MRI; Theoretical and Practical Aspects of Localized NMR Spectroscopy; The Effects of RF Pulse Shape Discretization on the Spatially Selective Performance; Design of Frequency-Selective RF Pulses by Optimizing a Small Number of Pulse Parameters; A Single-Shot Localization Pulse Sequence Suited for Coils with Inhomogeneous RF Fields Using Adiabatic Slice-Selective RF Pulses; The Bloch Equations for an AB System and the Design of Spin State Selective RF Pulses for Coupled Spin Systems; The Effects of Frequency Selective RF Pulses on J Coupled Spin-1/2 Systems; A Quantitative (1)H MRS in vivo Study of the Effects of L-Ornithine-L-Aspartate on the Development of Mild Encephalopathy Using a Single Shot Localization Technique Based on SAR Reduced Adiabatic 2(pi) Pulses.

Implementation of dynamic bias for neutron-photon pulse shape discrimination by using neural network classifiers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Zhong; Miller, L. F.; Buckner, M.

In order to accurately determine dose equivalent in radiation fields that include both neutrons and photons, it is necessary to measure the relative number of neutrons to photons and to characterize the energy dependence of the neutrons. The relationship between dose and dose equivalent begins to increase rapidly at about 100 keV; thus, it is necessary to separate neutrons from photons for neutron energies as low as about 100 keV in order to measure dose equivalent in a mixed radiation field that includes both neutrons and photons. Preceptron and back propagation neural networks that use pulse amplitude and pulse rise time information obtain separation of neutron and photons with about 5% error for neutrons with energies as low as 100 keV, and this is accomplished for neutrons with energies that range from 100 keV to several MeV. If the ratio of neutrons to photons is changed by a factor of 10, the classification error increases to about 15% for the neural networks tested. A technique that uses the output from the preceptron as a priori for a Bayesian classifier is more robust to changes in the relative number of neutrons to photons, and it obtains a 5% classification error when this ratio is changed by a factor of ten. Results from this research demonstrate that it is feasible to use commercially available instrumentation in combination with artificial intelligence techniques to develop a practical detector that will accurately measure dose equivalent in mixed neutron-photon radiation fields.

The use of linear programming techniques to design optimal digital filters for pulse shaping and channel equalization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Houts, R. C.; Burlage, D. W.

1972-01-01

A time domain technique is developed to design finite-duration impulse response digital filters using linear programming. Two related applications of this technique in data transmission systems are considered. The first is the design of pulse shaping digital filters to generate or detect signaling waveforms transmitted over bandlimited channels that are assumed to have ideal low pass or bandpass characteristics. The second is the design of digital filters to be used as preset equalizers in cascade with channels that have known impulse response characteristics. Example designs are presented which illustrate that excellent waveforms can be generated with frequency-sampling filters and the ease with which digital transversal filters can be designed for preset equalization.

PULSE HEIGHT ANALYZER

DOEpatents

Johnstone, C.W.

1958-01-21

An anticoincidence device is described for a pair of adjacent channels of a multi-channel pulse height analyzer for preventing the lower channel from generating a count pulse in response to an input pulse when the input pulse has sufficient magnitude to reach the upper level channel. The anticoincidence circuit comprises a window amplifier, upper and lower level discriminators, and a biased-off amplifier. The output of the window amplifier is coupled to the inputs of the discriminators, the output of the upper level discriminator is connected to the resistance end of a series R-C network, the output of the lower level discriminator is coupled to the capacitance end of the R-C network, and the grid of the biased-off amplifier is coupled to the junction of the R-C network. In operation each discriminator produces a negative pulse output when the input pulse traverses its voltage setting. As a result of the connections to the R-C network, a trigger pulse will be sent to the biased-off amplifier when the incoming pulse level is sufficient to trigger only the lower level discriminator.

Detection of bacterial endospores by means of ultrafast coherent Raman spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pestov, Dmitry Sergeyevich

This work is devoted to formulation and development of a laser spectroscopic technique for rapid detection of biohazards, such as Bacillus anthracis spores. Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) is used as an underlying process for active retrieval of species-specific characteristics of an analyte. Vibrational modes of constituent molecules are Raman-excited by a pair of ultrashort, femtosecond laser pulses, and then probed through inelastic scattering of a third, time-delayed laser field. We first employ the already known time-resolved CARS technique. We apply it to the spectroscopy of easy-to-handle methanol-water mixtures, and then continue building our expertise on solutions of dipicolinic acid (DPA) and its salts, which happen to be marker molecules for bacterial spores. Various acquisition schemes are evaluated, and the preference is given to multi-channel frequency-resolved detection, when the whole CARS spectrum is recorded as a function of the probe pulse delay. We demonstrate a simple detection algorithm that manages to differentiate DPA solution from common interferents. We investigate experimentally the advantages and disadvantages of near-resonant probing of the excited molecular coherence, and finally observe the indicative backscattered CARS signal from DPA and NaDPA powders. The possibility of selective Raman excitation via pulse shaping of the preparation pulses is also demonstrated. The analysis of time-resolved CARS experiments on powders and B. subtilis spores, a harmless surrogate for B. anthracis, facilitates the formulation of a new approach, where we take full advantage of the multi-channel frequency-resolved acquisition and spectrally discriminate the Raman-resonant CARS signal from the background due to other instantaneous four-wave mixing (FWM) processes. Using narrowband probing, we decrease the magnitude of the nonresonant FWM, which is further suppressed by the timing of the laser pulses. The devised technique, referred to as hybrid CARS, leads to a single-shot detection of as few as 104 bacterial spores, bringing CARS spectroscopy to the forefront of potential candidates for real-time biohazard detection. It also gives promise to many other applications of CARS, hindered so far by the presence of the overwhelming nonresonant FWM background, mentioned above.

High aspect ratio nanoholes in glass generated by femtosecond laser pulses with picosecond intervals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahn, Sanghoon; Choi, Jiyeon; Noh, Jiwhan; Cho, Sung-Hak

2018-02-01

Because of its potential uses, high aspect ratio nanostructures have been interested for last few decades. In order to generate nanostructures, various techniques have been attempted. Femtosecond laser ablation is one of techniques for generating nanostructures inside a transparent material. For generating nanostructures by femtosecond laser ablation, previous studies have been attempted beam shaping such as Bessel beam and temporal tailored beam. Both methods suppress electron excitation at near surface and initiate interference of photons at certain depth. Recent researches indicate that shape of nanostructures is related with temporal change of electron density and number of self-trapped excitons. In this study, we try to use the temporal change of electron density induced by femtosecond laser pulse for generating high aspect ratio nanoholes. In order to reveal the effect of temporal change of electron density, secondary pulses are irradiated from 100 to 1000 ps after the irradiation of first pulse. Our result shows that diameter of nanoholes is increasing and depth of nanoholes is decreasing as pulse to pulse interval is getting longer. With manipulating of pulse to pulse interval, we could generate high aspect ratio nanoholes with diameter of 250-350 nm and depth of 4∼6 μm inside a glass.

The 3 H(d , γ) Reaction at Ec . m . <= 300 keV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parker, C. E.; Brune, C. R.; Massey, T. N.; O'Donnell, J. E.; Richard, A. L.; Sayre, D. B.

2015-04-01

The 3 H(d , γ) 5He reaction has been measured using a 500-keV pulsed deuteron beam incident on a stopping titanium tritide target at the Edwards Accelerator Laboratory. The time-of-flight technique has been used to distinguish the γ-rays from neutrons in the bismuth germinate (BGO) γ-ray detector. A stilbene scintillator and an NE-213 scintillator have been used to detect the neutrons from the 3 H(d , n) α reaction using both the pulse-shape discrimination and time-of-flight techniques. A newly designed target holder with a silicon surface barrier detector to simultaneously measure α-particles to normalize the number of neutrons, along with a new titanium tritide target, was incorporated for subsequent measurements. The γ-rays have been measured at laboratory angles of 0 °, 45 °, 90 °, and 135 °. Information about the γ-ray energy distribution for the unbound ground state and first excited state of 5He can be obtained experimentally by comparing the BGO data to Monte Carlo simulations. The 3 H(d , γ) /3 H(d , n) branching ratio has also been measured. Data analysis is currently underway for the subsequent measurements. This work is supported in part by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the U.S. D.O.E. (NNSA) through Grant No. DE-NA0001837.

The 3H(d,gamma) Reaction and the 3 H(d,gamma)/ 3H(d, n) Branching Ratio for Ec.m. 300 keV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parker, Cody E.

The 3H(d, gamma)5He reaction and the 3H(d, gamma)/3H(d, n) branching ratio have been measured using a 500-keV pulsed deuteron beam incident on a titanium tritide target of stopping thickness at the Edwards Accelerator Laboratory. The time-of-flight technique has been used to distinguish the gamma-rays from neutrons in the bismuth germinate (BGO) gamma-ray detector. A stilbene scintillator and an NE-213 scintillator have been used to detect the neutrons from the 3H(d, n)alpha reaction using both the pulse-shape discrimination and time-of-flight techniques. A target holder with an ion-implanted silicon detector at a fixed angle of 135° to the beam axis to simultaneously measure alpha-particles as a normalization for the number of neutrons was incorporated to reduce the uncertainty in the neutron yield over the preliminary measurement. The gamma-rays have been measured at laboratory angles of 0°, 4°, 9°, and 15°. Information about the gamma-ray energy distribution for the unbound ground state and first excited state of 5He have been obtained experimentally by comparing the BGO data to Monte Carlo simulations. The reported branching ratios for each angle contain only contributions from the ground-state gamma-ray branch.

A DSP equipped digitizer for online analysis of nuclear detector signals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pasquali, G.; Ciaranfi, R.; Bardelli, L.; Bini, M.; Boiano, A.; Giannelli, F.; Ordine, A.; Poggi, G.

2007-01-01

In the framework of the NUCL-EX collaboration, a DSP equipped fast digitizer has been implemented and it has now reached the production stage. Each sampling channel is implemented on a separate daughter-board to be plugged on a VME mother-board. Each channel features a 12-bit, 125 MSamples/s ADC and a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) for online analysis of detector signals. A few algorithms have been written and successfully tested on detectors of different types (scintillators, solid-state, gas-filled), implementing pulse shape discrimination, constant fraction timing, semi-Gaussian shaping, gated integration.

Recoverable stress induced two-way shape memory effect on NiTi surface using laser-produced shock wave

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seyitliyev, Dovletgeldi; Li, Peizhen; Kholikov, Khomidkhodza; Grant, Byron; Thomas, Zachary; Alal, Orhan; Karaca, Haluk E.; Er, Ali O.

2017-02-01

The surfaces of Ni50Ti50 shape memory alloys (SMAs) were patterned by laser scribing. This method is more simplistic and efficient than traditional indentation techniques, and has also shown to be an effective method in patterning these materials. Different laser energy densities ranging from 5 mJ/pulse to 56 mJ/pulse were used to observe recovery on SMA surface. The temperature dependent heat profiles of the NiTi surfaces after laser scribing at 56 mJ/pulse show the partially-recovered indents, which indicate a "shape memory effect (SME)" Experimental data is in good agreement with theoretical simulation of laser induced shock wave propagation inside NiTi SMAs. Stress wave closely followed the rise time of the laser pulse to its peak values and initial decay. Further investigations are underway to improve the SME such that the indents are recovered to a greater extent.

Mitigation of ^{42}Ar/^{42}K background for the GERDA Phase II experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lubashevskiy, A.; Agostini, M.; Budjáš, D.; Gangapshev, A.; Gusev, K.; Heisel, M.; Klimenko, A.; Lazzaro, A.; Lehnert, B.; Pelczar, K.; Schönert, S.; Smolnikov, A.; Walter, M.; Zuzel, G.

2018-01-01

Background coming from the ^{42}Ar decay chain is considered to be one of the most relevant for the Gerda experiment, which searches for the neutrinoless double beta decay of ^{76}Ge. The sensitivity strongly relies on the absence of background around the Q-value of the decay. Background coming from ^{42}K, a progeny of ^{42}Ar, can contribute to that background via electrons from the continuous spectrum with an endpoint at 3.5 MeV. Research and development on the suppression methods targeting this source of background were performed at the low-background test facility LArGe . It was demonstrated that by reducing ^{42}K ion collection on the surfaces of the broad energy germanium detectors in combination with pulse shape discrimination techniques and an argon scintillation veto, it is possible to suppress ^{42}K background by three orders of magnitude. This is sufficient for Phase II of the Gerda experiment.

Development of CANDLES low background HPGe detector and half-life measurement of 180Tam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chan, W. M.; Kishimoto, T.; Umehara, S.; Matsuoka, K.; Suzuki, K.; Yoshida, S.; Nakajima, K.; Iida, T.; Fushimi, K.; Nomachi, M.; Ogawa, I.; Tamagawa, Y.; Hazama, R.; Takemoto, Y.; Nakatani, N.; Takihira, Y.; Tozawa, M.; Kakubata, H.; Trang, V. T. T.; Ohata, T.; Tetsuno, K.; Maeda, T.; Khai, B. T.; Li, X. L.; Batpurev, T.

2018-01-01

A low background HPGe detector system was developed at CANDLES Experimental Hall for multipurpose use. Various low background techniques were employed, including hermatic shield design, radon gas suppression, and background reduction analysis. A new pulse shape discrimination (PSD) method was specially created for coaxial Ge detector. Using this PSD method, microphonics noise and background event at low energy region less than 200 keV can be rejected effectively. Monte Carlo simulation by GEANT4 was performed to acquire the detection efficiency and study the interaction of gamma-rays with detector system. For rare decay measurement, the detector was utilized to detect the nature's most stable isomer tantalum-180m (180Tam) decay. Two phases of tantalum physics run were completed with total livetime of 358.2 days, which Phase II has upgraded shield configuration. The world most stringent half-life limit of 180Tam has been successfully achieved.

Simulation of argon response and light detection in the DarkSide-50 dual phase TPC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Agnes, P.; Albuquerque, I. F. M.; Alexander, T.; Alton, A. K.; Asner, D. M.; Back, H. O.; Biery, K.; Bocci, V.; Bonfini, G.; Bonivento, W.; Bossa, M.; Bottino, B.; Budano, F.; Bussino, S.; Cadeddu, M.; Cadoni, M.; Calaprice, F.; Canci, N.; Candela, A.; Caravati, M.; Cariello, M.; Carlini, M.; Catalanotti, S.; Cataudella, V.; Cavalcante, P.; Chepurnov, A.; Cicalò, C.; Cocco, A. G.; Covone, G.; D'Angelo, D.; D'Incecco, M.; Davini, S.; de Candia, A.; De Cecco, S.; De Deo, M.; De Filippis, G.; De Vincenzi, M.; Derbin, A. V.; De Rosa, G.; Devoto, A.; Di Eusanio, F.; Di Pietro, G.; Dionisi, C.; Edkins, E.; Empl, A.; Fan, A.; Fiorillo, G.; Fomenko, K.; Franco, D.; Gabriele, F.; Galbiati, C.; Giagu, S.; Giganti, C.; Giovanetti, G. K.; Goretti, A. M.; Granato, F.; Gromov, M.; Guan, M.; Guardincerri, Y.; Hackett, B. R.; Herner, K.; Hughes, D.; Humble, P.; Hungerford, E. V.; Ianni, An.; James, I.; Johnson, T. N.; Keeter, K.; Kendziora, C. L.; Koh, G.; Korablev, D.; Korga, G.; Kubankin, A.; Li, X.; Lissia, M.; Loer, B.; Longo, G.; Ma, Y.; Machado, A. A.; Machulin, I. N.; Mandarano, A.; Mari, S. M.; Maricic, J.; Martoff, C. J.; Meyers, P. D.; Milincic, R.; Monte, A.; Mount, B. J.; Muratova, V. N.; Musico, P.; Napolitano, J.; Navrer Agasson, A.; Oleinik, A.; Orsini, M.; Ortica, F.; Pagani, L.; Pallavicini, M.; Pantic, E.; Pelczar, K.; Pelliccia, N.; Pocar, A.; Pordes, S.; Pugachev, D. A.; Qian, H.; Randle, K.; Razeti, M.; Razeto, A.; Reinhold, B.; Renshaw, A. L.; Rescigno, M.; Riffard, Q.; Romani, A.; Rossi, B.; Rossi, N.; Sablone, D.; Sands, W.; Sanfilippo, S.; Savarese, C.; Schlitzer, B.; Segreto, E.; Semenov, D. A.; Singh, P. N.; Skorokhvatov, M. D.; Smirnov, O.; Sotnikov, A.; Stanford, C.; Suvorov, Y.; Tartaglia, R.; Testera, G.; Tonazzo, A.; Trinchese, P.; Unzhakov, E. V.; Verducci, M.; Vishneva, A.; Vogelaar, B.; Wada, M.; Walker, S.; Wang, H.; Wang, Y.; Watson, A. W.; Westerdale, S.; Wilhelmi, J.; Wojcik, M. M.; Xiang, X.; Xiao, X.; Yang, C.; Ye, Z.; Zhu, C.; Zuzel, G.

2017-10-01

A Geant4-based Monte Carlo package named G4DS has been developed to simulate the response of DarkSide-50, an experiment operating since 2013 at LNGS, designed to detect WIMP interactions in liquid argon. In the process of WIMP searches, DarkSide-50 has achieved two fundamental milestones: the rejection of electron recoil background with a power of ~107, using the pulse shape discrimination technique, and the measurement of the residual 39Ar contamination in underground argon, ~3 orders of magnitude lower with respect to atmospheric argon. These results rely on the accurate simulation of the detector response to the liquid argon scintillation, its ionization, and electron-ion recombination processes. This work provides a complete overview of the DarkSide Monte Carlo and of its performance, with a particular focus on PARIS, the custom-made liquid argon response model.

DEAP-3600 Dark Matter Search

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuźniak, M.; Amaudruz, P.-A.; Batygov, M.; Beltran, B.; Bonatt, J.; Boulay, M. G.; Broerman, B.; Bueno, J. F.; Butcher, A.; Cai, B.; Chen, M.; Chouinard, R.; Cleveland, B. T.; Dering, K.; DiGioseffo, J.; Duncan, F.; Flower, T.; Ford, R.; Giampa, P.; Gorel, P.; Graham, K.; Grant, D. R.; Guliyev, E.; Hallin, A. L.; Hamstra, M.; Harvey, P.; Jillings, C. J.; Lawson, I.; Li, O.; Liimatainen, P.; Majewski, P.; McDonald, A. B.; McElroy, T.; McFarlane, K.; Monroe, J.; Muir, A.; Nantais, C.; Ng, C.; Noble, A. J.; Ouellet, C.; Palladino, K.; Pasuthip, P.; Peeters, S. J. M.; Pollmann, T.; Rau, W.; Retière, F.; Seeburn, N.; Singhrao, K.; Skensved, P.; Smith, B.; Sonley, T.; Tang, J.; Vázquez-Jáuregui, E.; Veloce, L.; Walding, J.; Ward, M.; DEAP Collaboration

2016-04-01

The DEAP-3600 experiment is located 2 km underground at SNOLAB, in Sudbury, Ontario. It is a single-phase detector that searches for dark matter particle interactions within a 1000-kg fiducial mass target of liquid argon. A first generation prototype detector (DEAP-1) with a 7-kg liquid argon target mass demonstrated a high level of pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) for reducing β / γ backgrounds and helped to develop low radioactivity techniques to mitigate surface-related α backgrounds. Construction of the DEAP-3600 detector is nearly complete and commissioning is starting in 2014. The target sensitivity to spin-independent scattering of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) on nucleons of 10-46cm2 will allow one order of magnitude improvement in sensitivity over current searches at 100 GeV WIMP mass. This paper presents an overview and status of the DEAP-3600 project and discusses plans for a future multi-tonne experiment, DEAP-50T.

Rejection of randomly coinciding events in ZnMoO scintillating bolometers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chernyak, D. M.; Danevich, F. A.; Giuliani, A.; Mancuso, M.; Nones, C.; Olivieri, E.; Tenconi, M.; Tretyak, V. I.

2014-06-01

Random coincidence of events (particularly from two neutrino double beta decay) could be one of the main sources of background in the search for neutrinoless double beta decay with cryogenic bolometers due to their poor time resolution. Pulse-shape discrimination by using front edge analysis, mean-time and methods were applied to discriminate randomly coinciding events in ZnMoO cryogenic scintillating bolometers. These events can be effectively rejected at the level of 99 % by the analysis of the heat signals with rise-time of about 14 ms and signal-to-noise ratio of 900, and at the level of 92 % by the analysis of the light signals with rise-time of about 3 ms and signal-to-noise ratio of 30, under the requirement to detect 95 % of single events. These rejection efficiencies are compatible with extremely low background levels in the region of interest of neutrinoless double beta decay of Mo for enriched ZnMoO detectors, of the order of counts/(y keV kg). Pulse-shape parameters have been chosen on the basis of the performance of a real massive ZnMoO scintillating bolometer. Importance of the signal-to-noise ratio, correct finding of the signal start and choice of an appropriate sampling frequency are discussed.

Optical emission and nanoparticle generation in Al plasmas using ultrashort laser pulses temporally optimized by real-time spectroscopic feedback

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

Guillermin, M.; Colombier, J. P.; Audouard, E.

2010-07-15

With an interest in pulsed laser deposition and remote spectroscopy techniques, we explore here the potential of laser pulses temporally tailored on ultrafast time scales to control the expansion and the excitation degree of various ablation products including atomic species and nanoparticulates. Taking advantage of automated pulse-shaping techniques, an adaptive procedure based on spectroscopic feedback is applied to regulate the irradiance and enhance the optical emission of monocharged aluminum ions with respect to the neutral signal. This leads to optimized pulses usually consisting in a series of femtosecond peaks distributed on a longer picosecond sequence. The ablation features induced bymore » the optimized pulse are compared with those determined by picosecond pulses generated by imposed second-order dispersion or by double pulse sequences with adjustable picosecond separation. This allows to analyze the influence of fast- and slow-varying envelope features on the material heating and the resulting plasma excitation degree. Using various optimal pulse forms including designed asymmetric shapes, we analyze the establishment of surface pre-excitation that enables conditions of enhanced radiation coupling. Thin films elaborated by unshaped femtosecond laser pulses and by optimized, stretched, or double pulse sequences are compared, indicating that the nanoparticles generation efficiency is strongly influenced by the temporal shaping of the laser irradiation. A thermodynamic scenario involving supercritical heating is proposed to explain enhanced ionization rates and lower particulates density for optimal pulses. Numerical one-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations for the excited matter support the interpretation of the experimental results in terms of relative efficiency of various relaxation paths for excited matter above or below the thermodynamic stability limits. The calculation results underline the role of the temperature and density gradients along the ablated plasma plume which lead to the spatial distinct locations of excited species. Moreover, the nanoparticles sizes are computed based on liquid layer ejection followed by a Rayleigh and Taylor instability decomposition, in good agreement with the experimental findings.« less

Generation of 360 ps laser pulse with 3 J energy by stimulated Brillouin scattering with a nonfocusing scheme.

PubMed

Zhu, Xuehua; Wang, Yulei; Lu, Zhiwei; Zhang, Hengkang

2015-09-07

A new technique for generating high energy sub-400 picosecond laser pulses is presented in this paper. The temporally super-Gaussian-shaped laser pulses are used as light source. When the forward pump is reflected by the rear window of SBS cell, the frequency component that fulfills Brillouin frequency shift in its sideband spectrum works as a seed and excites SBS, which results in efficient compression of the incident pump pulse. First the pulse compression characteristics of 20th-order super-Gaussian temporally shaped pulses with 5 ns duration are analyzed theoretically. Then experiment is carried out with a narrow-band high power Nd:glass laser system at the double-frequency and wavelength of 527 nm which delivers 5 ns super-Gaussian temporally shaped pulses with single pulse energy over 10 J. FC-40 is used as the active SBS medium for its brief phonon lifetime and high power capacity. In the experiment, the results agree well with the numerical calculations. With pump energy of 5.36J, the compression of pulse duration from 5 ns to 360 ps is obtained. The output energy is 3.02 J and the peak-power is magnified 8.3 times. Moreover, the compressed pulse shows a high stability because it is initiated by the feedback of rear window rather than the thermal noise distributing inside the medium. This technique of generating high energy hundred picosecond laser pulses has simple structure and is easy to operate, and it also can be scaled to higher energy pulse compression in the future. Meanwhile, it should also be taken into consideration that in such a nonfocusing scheme, the noise-initiated SBS would increase the distortion on the wavefront of Stokes beam to some extent, and the pump energy should be controlled below the threshold of noise-initiated SBS.

Simultaneous determination of radionuclides separable into natural decay series by use of time-interval analysis.

PubMed

Hashimoto, Tetsuo; Sanada, Yukihisa; Uezu, Yasuhiro

2004-05-01

A delayed coincidence method, time-interval analysis (TIA), has been applied to successive alpha- alpha decay events on the millisecond time-scale. Such decay events are part of the (220)Rn-->(216)Po ( T(1/2) 145 ms) (Th-series) and (219)Rn-->(215)Po ( T(1/2) 1.78 ms) (Ac-series). By using TIA in addition to measurement of (226)Ra (U-series) from alpha-spectrometry by liquid scintillation counting (LSC), two natural decay series could be identified and separated. The TIA detection efficiency was improved by using the pulse-shape discrimination technique (PSD) to reject beta-pulses, by solvent extraction of Ra combined with simple chemical separation, and by purging the scintillation solution with dry N(2) gas. The U- and Th-series together with the Ac-series were determined, respectively, from alpha spectra and TIA carried out immediately after Ra-extraction. Using the (221)Fr-->(217)At ( T(1/2) 32.3 ms) decay process as a tracer, overall yields were estimated from application of TIA to the (225)Ra (Np-decay series) at the time of maximum growth. The present method has proven useful for simultaneous determination of three radioactive decay series in environmental samples.

Pile-Up Discrimination Algorithms for the HOLMES Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferri, E.; Alpert, B.; Bennett, D.; Faverzani, M.; Fowler, J.; Giachero, A.; Hays-Wehle, J.; Maino, M.; Nucciotti, A.; Puiu, A.; Ullom, J.

2016-07-01

The HOLMES experiment is a new large-scale experiment for the electron neutrino mass determination by means of the electron capture decay of ^{163}Ho. In such an experiment, random coincidence events are one of the main sources of background which impair the ability to identify the effect of a non-vanishing neutrino mass. In order to resolve these spurious events, detectors characterized by a fast response are needed as well as pile-up recognition algorithms. For that reason, we have developed a code for testing the discrimination efficiency of various algorithms in recognizing pile up events in dependence of the time separation between two pulses. The tests are performed on simulated realistic TES signals and noise. Indeed, the pulse profile is obtained by solving the two coupled differential equations which describe the response of the TES according to the Irwin-Hilton model. To these pulses, a noise waveform which takes into account all the noise sources regularly present in a real TES is added. The amplitude of the generated pulses is distributed as the ^{163}Ho calorimetric spectrum. Furthermore, the rise time of these pulses has been chosen taking into account the constraints given by both the bandwidth of the microwave multiplexing read out with a flux ramp demodulation and the bandwidth of the ADC boards currently available for ROACH2. Among the different rejection techniques evaluated, the Wiener Filter technique, a digital filter to gain time resolution, has shown an excellent pile-up rejection efficiency. The obtained time resolution closely matches the baseline specifications of the HOLMES experiment. We report here a description of our simulation code and a comparison of the different rejection techniques.

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

Dalla Palma, M.; Quaranta, A.; INFN, Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro,Viale dell'Universita, 2, 35020 Legnaro - Padova

In the last decade, attention toward neutron detection has been growing in the scientific community, driven by new requirements in different fields of application ranging from homeland security to medical and material analysis, from research physics, to nuclear energy production. So far neutron detection, with particular attention to fast neutrons, has been mainly based on organic liquid scintillators, owing to their good efficiency and pulse shape discrimination (PSD) capability. Most of these liquids have however some main drawbacks given by toxicity, flammability, volatility and sensitivity to dissolved oxygen that limits the duration and the quality of their performances with worsemore » handiness and increased costs. Phenyl-substituted polysiloxanes could address most of these issues, being characterized by low toxicity, low volatility and low flammability. Their optical properties can be tailored by changing the phenyl distribution and concentration thus allowing to increase the solubility of organic dyes, to modify the fluorescence spectra and to vary the refractive index of the medium. Furthermore, polysiloxanes have been recently exploited for the production of plastic scintillators with very good chemical and thermal stability and very good radiation hardness and the development of polysiloxane liquid scintillators could allow to combine these interesting properties with the supremacy of liquid scintillators as regarding PSD over plastics. For these reasons, the properties of several phenyl-substituted polysiloxane with different phenyl amounts and different viscosities have been investigated, with particular attention to the scintillation response and the pulse shape discrimination capability, and the results of the investigation are reported in this work. More in details, the scintillation light yield towards gamma rays ({sup 60}Co and {sup 137}Cs) of several polysiloxane liquids has been analyzed and compared with the light yield of a commercial non-toxic liquid scintillator (EJ309). The results have been related to the optical characterization of these materials, especially as regarding the fluorescence response, and the best performing material (1,1,5,5-Tetraphenyl 1,3,3,5-Tetramethyl Trisiloxane) showed a scintillation light-yield only slightly lower than EJ309, proving to be a promising candidate for the production of an efficient polysiloxane based liquid scintillator. The results as regarding the neutron-gamma pulse shape discrimination capability of the best performing materials are also reported in this work and the scintillation decay time of these materials are compared to the results of fluorescence lifetime analysis. PSD tests have been performed at CN accelerator in Legnaro National Laboratories with a 2.2 MeV pulsed neutron beam using TOF procedure and the pulses have been analyzed in order to evidence the PSD capability of every sample. The reported results pave the way to the development of a new promising class of non-toxic liquid scintillating materials for neutron detection, with good light output and interesting PSD characteristics. (authors)« less

Measurement of surface stay times for physical adsorption of gases. Ph.D. Thesis - Va. Univ.; [using molecular beam time of flight technique

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilmoth, R. G.

1973-01-01

A molecular beam time-of-flight technique is studied as a means of determining surface stay times for physical adsorption. The experimental approach consists of pulsing a molecular beam, allowing the pulse to strike an adsorbing surface and detecting the molecular pulse after it has subsequently desorbed. The technique is also found to be useful for general studies of adsorption under nonequilibrium conditions including the study of adsorbate-adsorbate interactions. The shape of the detected pulse is analyzed in detail for a first-order desorption process. For mean stay times, tau, less than the mean molecular transit times involved, the peak of the detected pulse is delayed by an amount approximately equal to tau. For tau much greater than these transit times, the detected pulse should decay as exp(-t/tau). However, for stay times of the order of the transit times, both the molecular speed distributions and the incident pulse duration time must be taken into account.

A rapid method for the simultaneous determination of gross alpha and beta activities in water samples using a low background liquid scintillation counter.

PubMed

Sanchez-Cabeza, J A; Pujol, L

1995-05-01

The radiological examination of water requires a rapid screening technique that permits the determination of the gross alpha and beta activities of each sample in order to decide if further radiological analyses are necessary. In this work, the use of a low background liquid scintillation system (Quantulus 1220) is proposed to simultaneously determine the gross activities in water samples. Liquid scintillation is compared to more conventional techniques used in most monitoring laboratories. In order to determine the best counting configuration of the system, pulse shape discrimination was optimized for 6 scintillant/vial combinations. It was concluded that the best counting configuration was obtained with the scintillation cocktail Optiphase Hisafe 3 in Zinsser low diffusion vials. The detection limits achieved were 0.012 Bq L-1 and 0.14 Bq L-1 for gross alpha and beta activity respectively, after a 1:10 concentration process by simple evaporation and for a counting time of only 360 min. The proposed technique is rapid, gives spectral information, and is adequate to determine gross activities according to the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline values.

Calibration of the electron-proton spectrometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cash, B. L.

1972-01-01

The principal function of the sensor used in the electron-proton spectrometer is to provide a signal which can be used to determine the energy and indicate the type of an incident particle. Two techniques are employed to resolve the particle intensity in different energy regions. The first employs a moderator surrounding each detector to provide a nominal lower limit to the energy of a particle which can be detected. The second technique utilizes a pulse height discriminator to identify those particles entering a detector whose energy is (1) sufficiently high that it exceeds the discriminator level if the particle is stopped in the detector, or (2) sufficiently low that the ionization rate causes the discrimination level to be exceeded for paths through the detector shorter than the particle range.

Sputter crater formation in the case of microsecond pulsed glow discharge in a Grimm-type source. Comparison of direct current and radio frequency modes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Efimova, Varvara; Hoffmann, Volker; Eckert, Jürgen

2012-10-01

Depth profiling with pulsed glow discharge is a promising technique. The application of pulsed voltage for sputtering reduces the sputtering rate and thermal stress and hereby improves the analysis of thin layered and thermally fragile samples. However pulsed glow discharge is not well studied and this limits its practical use. The current work deals with the questions which usually arise when the pulsed mode is applied: Which duty cycle, frequency and pulse length must be chosen to get the optimal sputtering rate and crater shape? Are the well-known sputtering effects of the continuous mode valid also for the pulsed regime? Is there any difference between dc and rf pulsing in terms of sputtering? It is found that the pulse length is a crucial parameter for the crater shape and thermal effects. Sputtering with pulsed dc and rf modes is found to be similar. The observed sputtering effects at various pulsing parameters helped to interpret and optimize the depth resolution of GD OES depth profiles.

Optimal control of the strong-field ionization of silver clusters in helium droplets

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

Truong, N. X.; Goede, S.; Przystawik, A.

Optimal control techniques combined with femtosecond laser pulse shaping are applied to steer and enhance the strong-field induced emission of highly charged atomic ions from silver clusters embedded in helium nanodroplets. With light fields shaped in amplitude and phase we observe a substantial increase of the Ag{sup q+} yield for q>10 when compared to bandwidth-limited and optimally stretched pulses. A remarkably simple double-pulse structure, containing a low-intensity prepulse and a stronger main pulse, turns out to produce the highest atomic charge states up to Ag{sup 20+}. A negative chirp during the main pulse hints at dynamic frequency locking to themore » cluster plasmon. A numerical optimal control study on pure silver clusters with a nanoplasma model converges to a similar pulse structure and corroborates that the optimal light field adapts to the resonant excitation of cluster surface plasmons for efficient ionization.« less

Standoff detection of trace amounts of solids by nonlinear Raman spectroscopy using shaped femtosecond pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Katz, O.; Natan, A.; Silberberg, Y.; Rosenwaks, S.

2008-04-01

We demonstrate a single-beam, standoff (>10m) detection and identification of various materials including minute amounts of explosives under ambient light conditions. This is obtained by multiplex coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering spectroscopy (CARS) using a single femtosecond phase-shaped laser pulse. We exploit the strong nonresonant background for amplification of the backscattered resonant CARS signals by employing a homodyne detection scheme. The simple and highly sensitive spectroscopic technique has a potential for hazardous materials standoff detection applications.

Performance scaling via passive pulse shaping in cavity-enhanced optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification.

PubMed

Siddiqui, Aleem M; Moses, Jeffrey; Hong, Kyung-Han; Lai, Chien-Jen; Kärtner, Franz X

2010-06-15

We show that an enhancement cavity seeded at the full repetition rate of the pump laser can automatically reshape small-signal gain across the interacting pulses in an optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier for close-to-optimal operation, significantly increasing both the gain bandwidth and the conversion efficiency, in addition to boosting gain for high-repetition-rate amplification. Applied to a degenerate amplifier, the technique can provide an octave-spanning gain bandwidth.

RLE (Research Laboratory of Electronics) Progress Report Number 126.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-01-01

Loudness 184 26.3 Binaural Hearing 186 S.26.4 Hearing Aid Research 188 26.5 Discrimination of Spectral Shape 191 26.6 Tactile Perception of Speech... beating in the pulse. It is these high intensities which are responsible for large A.C. Stark shifts and ionization RLE P.R. No. 126 12 * . . . Atomic...Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1984. 26.3 Binaural Hearing National Institutes of Health (Grant

The communicative potential of bat echolocation pulses.

PubMed

Jones, Gareth; Siemers, Björn M

2011-05-01

Ecological constraints often shape the echolocation pulses emitted by bat species. Consequently some (but not all) bats emit species-specific echolocation pulses. Because echolocation pulses are often intense and emitted at high rates, they are potential targets for eavesdropping by other bats. Echolocation pulses can also vary within species according to sex, body size, age, social group and geographic location. Whether these features can be recognised by other bats can only be determined reliably by playback experiments, which have shown that echolocation pulses do provide sufficient information for the identification of sex and individual in one species. Playbacks also show that bats can locate conspecifics and heterospecifics at foraging and roost sites by eavesdropping on echolocation pulses. Guilds of echolocating bat species often partition their use of pulse frequencies. Ecology, allometric scaling and phylogeny play roles here, but are not sufficient to explain this partitioning. Evidence is accumulating to support the hypothesis that frequency partitioning evolved to facilitate intraspecific communication. Acoustic character displacement occurs in at least one instance. Future research can relate genetic population structure to regional variation in echolocation pulse features and elucidate those acoustic features that most contribute to discrimination of individuals.

Research on techniques for laser ranging to optical corner reflectors on the moon. Research on laser techniques and single photo-electron detection and timing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Alley, C. O.

1976-01-01

Experimental studies using a pulsed LED, Cerenkov source, and a 100 ps laser were made of various photomultipliers and discriminator combinations. In addition, a new type of neodymium-YAG frequency doubled laser was used as the basis for the development of a stable, short pulse, high repetition rate laser system. This laser was then used in conjunction with atomic clocks to study the effect of gravitational potential on elapsed time. Avenues to promote the development of international cooperation in the area of lunar laser ranging were also explored.

Strong Field Optical and Quantum Control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schumacher, Douglass William

1995-01-01

This work presents the results of an effort to use unique forms of optical radiation to better probe and control matter. Results are presented of a study of intense field photo-ionization of krypton and xenon in a two-color field. The use of a two-color field provides a valuable probe, the relative optical phase, into the dynamics of the ionization process. It is found that phase dependent tunneling character is preserved even though the photoelectron spectra indicate that the experiments performed were well into the multi-photon regime of ionization. Evidence for core scattering of the departing electrons is seen in the changes to the phase dependent spectra as the polarization of the exciting light is varied from linear to slightly elliptical. To further control the optical field, a pulse shaper was constructed using liquid crystal modulators that allowed either spectral phase or spectral amplitude shaping of a short pulse. The results were characterized using cross-correlations. The shaped light was then subsequently amplified in a chirped pulse amplifier. This light was characterized using Frequency Resolved Optical Gating, a newly developed technique for the complete determination of the optical field in a short pulse. The shaped pulses were then used to tailor atomic radial wavepackets in cesium. The evolution of the wavepackets was monitored by measuring atomic auto-interferograms for the case of amplitude shaping, which was used to control the atomic states excited. Cross -interferograms were used for phase shaping, which was used to select the initial phase of the atomic states. The cross-interferograms required the simultaneous amplification of a shaped and an unshaped pulse in our amplifier.

High-speed three-dimensional shape measurement for dynamic scenes using bi-frequency tripolar pulse-width-modulation fringe projection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zuo, Chao; Chen, Qian; Gu, Guohua; Feng, Shijie; Feng, Fangxiaoyu; Li, Rubin; Shen, Guochen

2013-08-01

This paper introduces a high-speed three-dimensional (3-D) shape measurement technique for dynamic scenes by using bi-frequency tripolar pulse-width-modulation (TPWM) fringe projection. Two wrapped phase maps with different wavelengths can be obtained simultaneously by our bi-frequency phase-shifting algorithm. Then the two phase maps are unwrapped using a simple look-up-table based number-theoretical approach. To guarantee the robustness of phase unwrapping as well as the high sinusoidality of projected patterns, TPWM technique is employed to generate ideal fringe patterns with slight defocus. We detailed our technique, including its principle, pattern design, and system setup. Several experiments on dynamic scenes were performed, verifying that our method can achieve a speed of 1250 frames per second for fast, dense, and accurate 3-D measurements.

Dynamics of shaping ultrashort optical dissipative solitary pulses in the actively mode-locked semiconductor laser with an external long-haul single-mode fiber cavity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shcherbakov, Alexandre S.; Moreno Zarate, Pedro

2010-02-01

We describe the conditions of shaping regular trains of optical dissipative solitary pulses, excited by multi-pulse sequences of periodic modulating signals, in the actively mode-locked semiconductor laser heterostructure with an external long-haul single-mode silicon fiber exhibiting square-law dispersion, cubic Kerr nonlinearity, and linear optical losses. The presented model for the analysis includes three principal contributions associated with the modulated gain, optical losses, as well as linear and nonlinear phase shifts. In fact, the trains of optical dissipative solitary pulses appear within simultaneous presenting and a balance of mutually compensating interactions between the second-order dispersion and cubic-law Kerr nonlinearity as well as between active medium gain and linear optical losses in the combined cavity. Within such a model, a contribution of the nonlinear Ginzburg-Landau operator to shaping the parameters of optical dissipative solitary pulses is described via exploiting an approximate variational procedure involving the technique of trial functions. Finally, the results of the illustrating proof-of-principle experiments are briefly presented and discussed in terms of optical dissipative solitary pulses.

Comparison of seven techniques for typing international epidemic strains of Clostridium difficile: restriction endonuclease analysis, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, PCR-ribotyping, multilocus sequence typing, multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis, amplified fragment length polymorphism, and surface layer protein A gene sequence typing.

PubMed

Killgore, George; Thompson, Angela; Johnson, Stuart; Brazier, Jon; Kuijper, Ed; Pepin, Jacques; Frost, Eric H; Savelkoul, Paul; Nicholson, Brad; van den Berg, Renate J; Kato, Haru; Sambol, Susan P; Zukowski, Walter; Woods, Christopher; Limbago, Brandi; Gerding, Dale N; McDonald, L Clifford

2008-02-01

Using 42 isolates contributed by laboratories in Canada, The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States, we compared the results of analyses done with seven Clostridium difficile typing techniques: multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA), amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), surface layer protein A gene sequence typing (slpAST), PCR-ribotyping, restriction endonuclease analysis (REA), multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). We assessed the discriminating ability and typeability of each technique as well as the agreement among techniques in grouping isolates by allele profile A (AP-A) through AP-F, which are defined by toxinotype, the presence of the binary toxin gene, and deletion in the tcdC gene. We found that all isolates were typeable by all techniques and that discrimination index scores for the techniques tested ranged from 0.964 to 0.631 in the following order: MLVA, REA, PFGE, slpAST, PCR-ribotyping, MLST, and AFLP. All the techniques were able to distinguish the current epidemic strain of C. difficile (BI/027/NAP1) from other strains. All of the techniques showed multiple types for AP-A (toxinotype 0, binary toxin negative, and no tcdC gene deletion). REA, slpAST, MLST, and PCR-ribotyping all included AP-B (toxinotype III, binary toxin positive, and an 18-bp deletion in tcdC) in a single group that excluded other APs. PFGE, AFLP, and MLVA grouped two, one, and two different non-AP-B isolates, respectively, with their AP-B isolates. All techniques appear to be capable of detecting outbreak strains, but only REA and MLVA showed sufficient discrimination to distinguish strains from different outbreaks.

Clock distribution for BaF2 readout electronics at CSNS-WNS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Bing; Cao, Ping; Zhang, De-Liang; Wang, Qi; Zhang, Ya-Xi; Qi, Xin-Cheng; An, Qi

2017-01-01

A BaF2 (Barium Fluoride) detector array is designed to precisely measure the (n, γ) cross section at the CSNS-WNS (white neutron source at China Spallation Neutron Source). It is a 4π solid angle-shaped detector array consisting of 92 BaF2 crystal elements. To discriminate signals from the BaF2 detector, a pulse shape discrimination method is used, supported by a waveform digitization technique. There are 92 channels for digitizing. The precision and synchronization of clock distribution restricts the performance of waveform digitizing. In this paper, a clock prototype for the BaF2 readout electronics at CSNS-WNS is introduced. It is based on the PXIe platform and has a twin-stage tree topology. In the first stage, clock is synchronously distributed from the tree root to each PXIe crate through a coaxial cable over a long distance, while in the second stage, the clock is further distributed to each electronic module through a PXIe dedicated differential star bus. With the help of this topology, each tree node can fan out up to 20 clocks with 3U size. Test results show the clock jitter is less than 20 ps, which meets the requirements of the BaF2 readout electronics. Besides, this clock system has the advantages of high density, simplicity, scalability and cost saving, so it can be useful for other clock distribution applications. Supported by National Research and Development plan (2016 YFA0401602) NSAF (U1530111) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (11005107)

Method and apparatus for the detection of neutrons and gamma rays

DOEpatents

Reber, Edward L.; Aryaeinejad, Rahmat; Spencer, David F.

2005-10-11

A pulse discrimination method for discriminating between pulses having a short decay period and a long decay period, may comprise: Detecting the pulse; integrating a rise portion of the pulse; integrating a decay portion of the pulse; and comparing the integrated rise portion of the pulse with the integrated decay portion of the pulse to distinguish between a pulse having a long decay period and a pulse having a short decay period.

The spectrum of neutrons at 60 hg m(-2)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barton, J. C.

1985-01-01

The rate of neutron interactions was measured for the energy range 7.5 to 60 MeV, using a 3.85 kg cell of liquid scintillator. The neutrons are selected by pulse shape discrimination, with anticoincidence counters used to reduce interference from muons transversing the scintillator. The observed flux is interpreted in terms of neutrons produced from environmental uranium and thorium, those resulting from the capture of negative muons in nuclei and those from fast muon interactions.

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

Andrews, Madison Theresa; Bates, Cameron Russell; Mckigney, Edward Allen

Accurate detector modeling is a requirement to design systems in many non-proliferation scenarios; by determining a Detector’s Response Function (DRF) to incident radiation, it is possible characterize measurements of unknown sources. DRiFT is intended to post-process MCNP® output and create realistic detector spectra. Capabilities currently under development include the simulation of semiconductor, gas, and (as is discussed in this work) scintillator detector physics. Energy spectra and pulse shape discrimination (PSD) trends for incident photon and neutron radiation have been reproduced by DRiFT.

Effect of Pulse Rate on Loudness Discrimination in Cochlear Implant Users.

PubMed

Azadpour, Mahan; McKay, Colette M; Svirsky, Mario A

2018-03-12

Stimulation pulse rate affects current amplitude discrimination by cochlear implant (CI) users, indicated by the evidence that the JND (just noticeable difference) in current amplitude delivered by a CI electrode becomes larger at higher pulse rates. However, it is not clearly understood whether pulse rate would affect discrimination of speech intensities presented acoustically to CI processors, or what the size of this effect might be. Intensity discrimination depends on two factors: the growth of loudness with increasing sound intensity and the loudness JND (or the just noticeable loudness increment). This study evaluated the hypothesis that stimulation pulse rate affects loudness JND. This was done by measuring current amplitude JNDs in an experiment design based on signal detection theory according to which loudness discrimination is related to internal noise (which is manifested by variability in loudness percept in response to repetitions of the same physical stimulus). Current amplitude JNDs were measured for equally loud pulse trains of 500 and 3000 pps (pulses per second) by increasing the current amplitude of the target pulse train until it was perceived just louder than a same-rate or different-rate reference pulse train. The JND measures were obtained at two presentation levels. At the louder level, the current amplitude JNDs were affected by the rate of the reference pulse train in a way that was consistent with greater noise or variability in loudness perception for the higher pulse rate. The results suggest that increasing pulse rate from 500 to 3000 pps can increase loudness JND by 60 % at the upper portion of the dynamic range. This is equivalent to a 38 % reduction in the number of discriminable steps for acoustic and speech intensities.

Design and calibration of zero-additional-phase SPIDER

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

Baum, Peter; Riedle, Eberhard

2005-09-01

Zero-additional-phase spectral phase interferometry for direct electric field reconstruction (ZAP-SPIDER) is a novel technique for measuring the temporal shape and phase of ultrashort optical pulses directly at the interaction point of a spectroscopic experiment. The scheme is suitable for an extremely wide wavelength region from the ultraviolet to the near infrared. We present a comprehensive description of the experimental setup and design guidelines to effectively apply the technique to various wavelengths and pulse durations. The calibration of the setup and procedures to check the consistency of the measurement are discussed in detail. We show experimental data for various center wavelengthsmore » and pulse durations down to 7 fs to verify the applicability to a wide range of pulse parameters.« less

The AMoRE: Search for Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay in 100Mo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, HyangKyu; AMoRE Collaboration

2016-04-01

The AMoRE (Advanced Mo-based Rare process Experiment) collaboration is going to use calcium molybdate, 40Ca100MoO4 (CMO), crystal scintillators enriched in 100Mo and depleted in 48Ca to search for neutrinoless double-beta (0 νββ) decay of 100Mo using a technique of cryogenic scintillating bolometers at the underground laboratory in Korea. The collaboration is going to utilize metallic magnetic calorimeters (MMC) as temperature sensors both in heat and light channels of CMO detectors operated at milli-Kelvin temperature. Application of relatively fast MMC sensors provides excellent energy resolution, powerful discrimination of internal alpha particles, effective pulse-shape discrimination of randomly coinciding events of two-neutrino double-beta decay of 100Mo. In its first phase, the AMoRE-10 will use about 10 kg of CMO crystals. As a next step, the AMoRE-200 is going to build about 200 kg detector to reach a half-life sensitivity on the level of 1026 years with an aim to explore inverted hierarchy region of the effective Majorana neutrino mass 0.02 - 0.05 eV. Recent progress on the calcium molybdate detectors developments at room and milli-Kelvin temperatures as well as background study based on Monte Carlo simulations will be presented.

CHELSI: a portable neutron spectrometer for the 20-800 MeV region.

PubMed

McLean, T D; Olsher, R H; Romero, L L; Miles, L H; Devine, R T; Fallu-Labruyere, A; Grudberg, P

2007-01-01

CHELSI is a CsI-based portable spectrometer being developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory for use in high-energy neutron fields. Based on the inherent pulse shape discrimination properties of CsI(Tl), the instrument flags charged particle events produced via neutron-induced spallation events. Scintillation events are processed in real time using digital signal processing and a conservative estimate of neutron dose rate is made based on the charged particle energy distribution. A more accurate dose estimate can be made by unfolding the 2D charged particle versus pulse height distribution to reveal the incident neutron spectrum from which dose is readily obtained. A prototype probe has been assembled and data collected in quasi-monoenergetic fields at The Svedberg Laboratory (TSL) in Uppsala as well as at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE). Preliminary efforts at deconvoluting the shape/energy data using empirical response functions derived from time-of-flight measurements are described.

Automated pulse discrimination of two freely-swimming weakly electric fish and analysis of their electrical behavior during dominance contest.

PubMed

Guariento, Rafael T; Mosqueiro, Thiago S; Matias, Paulo; Cesarino, Vinicius B; Almeida, Lirio O B; Slaets, Jan F W; Maia, Leonardo P; Pinto, Reynaldo D

2016-10-01

Electric fishes modulate their electric organ discharges with a remarkable variability. Some patterns can be easily identified, such as pulse rate changes, offs and chirps, which are often associated with important behavioral contexts, including aggression, hiding and mating. However, these behaviors are only observed when at least two fish are freely interacting. Although their electrical pulses can be easily recorded by non-invasive techniques, discriminating the emitter of each pulse is challenging when physically similar fish are allowed to freely move and interact. Here we optimized a custom-made software recently designed to identify the emitter of pulses by using automated chirp detection, adaptive threshold for pulse detection and slightly changing how the recorded signals are integrated. With these optimizations, we performed a quantitative analysis of the statistical changes throughout the dominance contest with respect to Inter Pulse Intervals, Chirps and Offs dyads of freely moving Gymnotus carapo. In all dyads, chirps were signatures of subsequent submission, even when they occurred early in the contest. Although offs were observed in both dominant and submissive fish, they were substantially more frequent in submissive individuals, in agreement with the idea from previous studies that offs are electric cues of submission. In general, after the dominance is established the submissive fish significantly changes its average pulse rate, while the pulse rate of the dominant remained unchanged. Additionally, no chirps or offs were observed when two fish were manually kept in direct physical contact, suggesting that these electric behaviors are not automatic responses to physical contact. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Photonic integrated circuit as a picosecond pulse timing discriminator.

PubMed

Lowery, Arthur James; Zhuang, Leimeng

2016-04-18

We report the first experimental demonstration of a compact on-chip optical pulse timing discriminator that is able to provide an output voltage proportional to the relative timing of two 60-ps input pulses on separate paths. The output voltage is intrinsically low-pass-filtered, so the discriminator forms an interface between high-speed optics and low-speed electronics. Potential applications include timing synchronization of multiple pulse trains as a precursor for optical time-division multiplexing, and compact rangefinders with millimeter dimensions.

Optimal control of photoelectron emission by realistic waveforms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Solanpää, J.; Ciappina, M. F.; Räsänen, E.

2017-09-01

Recent experimental techniques in multicolor waveform synthesis allow the temporal shaping of strong femtosecond laser pulses with applications in the control of quantum mechanical processes in atoms, molecules, and nanostructures. Prediction of the shapes of the optimal waveforms can be done computationally using quantum optimal control theory. In this work we demonstrate the control of above-threshold photoemission of one-dimensional hydrogen model with pulses feasible for experimental waveform synthesis. By mixing different spectral channels and thus lowering the intensity requirements for individual channels, the resulting optimal pulses can extend the cutoff energies by at least up to 50% and bring up the electron yield by several orders of magnitude. Insights into the electron dynamics for optimized photoelectron emission are obtained with a semiclassical two-step model.

Dark matter experiment using Argon pulse-shape discrimination: DEAP-3600. Design and assembly

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jillings, C. J.; DEAP Collaboration

2016-12-01

DEAP-3600 is a single-phase liquid-argon dark matter detector that at time of writing is cooling down in preparation for filling at the SNOLAB facility near Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. DEAP-3600 is designed and constructed to achieve a sensitivity of 10-46cm2 for a WIMP-nucleon cross section for a 100 GeV WIMP. The steps taken in design and construction to achieve the ultra-low backgrounds required for such a sensitive WIMP search are reviewed.

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

Agnes, P.; et al.

The DarkSide-50 experiment, located at the “Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (INFN)”, is based on low-radioactivity argon double phase time projection chamber, surrounded by an active liquid scintillator veto, designed for the zero background achievement. The liquid argon features sufficient self shielding and easy scalability to multi-tons scale. The impressive reduction of the 39Ar isotope (compared to the atmospheric argon), along with the excellent pulse shape discrimination, make this technology a possible candidate for the forthcoming generation of multi-ton Dark Matter experiments.

Application of a deconvolution method for identifying burst amplitudes and arrival times in Alcator C-Mod far SOL plasma fluctuations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Theodorsen, Audun; Garcia, Odd Erik; Kube, Ralph; Labombard, Brian; Terry, Jim

2017-10-01

In the far scrape-off layer (SOL), radial motion of filamentary structures leads to excess transport of particles and heat. Amplitudes and arrival times of these filaments have previously been studied by conditional averaging in single-point measurements from Langmuir Probes and Gas Puff Imaging (GPI). Conditional averaging can be problematic: the cutoff for large amplitudes is mostly chosen by convention; the conditional windows used may influence the arrival time distribution; and the amplitudes cannot be separated from a background. Previous work has shown that SOL fluctuations are well described by a stochastic model consisting of a super-position of pulses with fixed shape and randomly distributed amplitudes and arrival times. The model can be formulated as a pulse shape convolved with a train of delta pulses. By choosing a pulse shape consistent with the power spectrum of the fluctuation time series, Richardson-Lucy deconvolution can be used to recover the underlying amplitudes and arrival times of the delta pulses. We apply this technique to both L and H-mode GPI data from the Alcator C-Mod tokamak. The pulse arrival times are shown to be uncorrelated and uniformly distributed, consistent with a Poisson process, and the amplitude distribution has an exponential tail.

Laser range profile of cones

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Wenzhen; Gong, Yanjun; Wang, Mingjun; Gong, Lei

2016-10-01

technology. Laser one-dimensional range profile can reflect the characteristics of the target shape and surface material. These techniques were motivated by applications of laser radar to target discrimination in ballistic missile defense. The radar equation of pulse laser about cone is given in this paper. This paper demonstrates the analytical model of laser one-dimensional range profile of cone based on the radar equation of the pulse laser. Simulations results of laser one-dimensional range profiles of some cones are given. Laser one-dimensional range profiles of cone, whose surface material with diffuse lambertian reflectance, is given in this paper. Laser one-dimensional range profiles of cone, whose surface mater with diffuse materials whose retroreflectance can be modeled closely with an exponential term that decays with increasing incidence angles, is given in this paper. Laser one-dimensional range profiles of different pulse width of cone is given in this paper. The influences of surface material, pulse width, attitude on the one-dimensional range are analyzed. The laser two-dimensional range profile is two-dimensional scattering imaging of pulse laser of target. The two-dimensional range profile of roughness target can provide range resolved information. An analytical model of two-dimensional laser range profile of cone is proposed. The simulations of two-dimensional laser range profiles of some cones are given. Laser two-dimensional range profiles of cone, whose surface mater with diffuse lambertian reflectance, is given in this paper. Laser two-dimensional range profiles of cone, whose surface mater with diffuse materials whose retroreflectance can be modeled closely with an exponential term that decays with increasing incidence angles, is given in this paper. The influence of pulse width, surface material on laser two-dimensional range profile is analyzed. Laser one-dimensional range profile and laser two-dimensional range profile are called as laser range profile (LRP).

Generation of broadband laser by high-frequency bulk phase modulator with multipass configuration.

PubMed

Zhang, Peng; Jiang, Youen; Zhou, Shenlei; Fan, Wei; Li, Xuechun

2014-12-10

A new technique is presented for obtaining a large broadband nanosecond-laser pulse. This technique is based on multipass phase modulation of a single-frequency nanosecond-laser pulse from the integrated front-end source, and it is able to shape the temporal profile of the pulse arbitrarily, making this approach attractive for high-energy-density physical experiments in current laser fusion facilities. Two kinds of cavity configuration for multipass modulation are proposed, and the performances of both of them are discussed theoretically in detail for the first time to our knowledge. Simulation results show that the bandwidth of the generated laser pulse by this approach can achieve more than 100 nm in principle if adjustment accuracy of the time interval between contiguous passes is controlled within 0.1% of a microwave period. In our preliminary experiment, a 2 ns laser pulse with 1.35-nm bandwidth in 1053 nm is produced via this technique, which agrees well with the theoretical result. Owing to an all-solid-state structure, the energy of the pulse achieves 25 μJ. In the future, with energy compensation and spectrum filtering, this technique is expected to generate a nanosecond-laser pulse of 3 nm or above bandwidth with energy of about 100 μJ.

Results on Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay from Gerda Phase I

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Macolino, Carla

2014-12-01

The GERmanium Detector Array, GERDA, is designed to search for neutrinoless double-beta (0νββ) decay of 76Ge and it is installed in the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS) of INFN, Italy. In this review, the detection principle and detector setup of GERDA are described. Also, the main physics results by GERDA Phase I, are discussed. They include the measurement of the half-life of 2νββ decay, the background decomposition of the energy spectrum and the techniques for the discrimination of the background, based on the pulse shape of the signal. In the last part of this review, the estimation of a limit on the half-life of 0νββ (T0ν 1/2>2.1ḑot 1025 yr at 90% C.L.) and the comparison with previous results are discussed. GERDA data from Phase I strongly disfavor the recent claim of 0νββ discovery, based on data from the Heidelberg-Moscow experiment.

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

Elastic and inelastic scattering of neutrons from 56Fe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramirez, Anthony Paul; McEllistrem, M. T.; Liu, S. H.; Mukhopadhyay, S.; Peters, E. E.; Yates, S. W.; Vanhoy, J. R.; Harrison, T. D.; Rice, B. G.; Thompson, B. K.; Hicks, S. F.; Howard, T. J.; Jackson, D. T.; Lenzen, P. D.; Nguyen, T. D.; Pecha, R. L.

2015-10-01

The differential cross sections for elastic and inelastic scattered neutrons from 56Fe have been measured at the University of Kentucky Accelerator Laboratory (www.pa.uky.edu/accelerator) for incident neutron energies between 2.0 and 8.0 MeV and for the angular range 30° to 150°. Time-of-flight techniques and pulse-shape discrimination were employed for enhancing the neutron energy spectra and for reducing background. An overview of the experimental procedures and data analysis for the conversion of neutron yields to differential cross sections will be presented. These include the determination of the energy-dependent detection efficiencies, the normalization of the measured differential cross sections, and the attenuation and multiple scattering corrections. Our results will also be compared to evaluated cross section databases and reaction model calculations using the TALYS code. This work is supported by grants from the U.S. Department of Energy-Nuclear Energy Universities Program: NU-12-KY-UK-0201-05, and the Donald A. Cowan Physics Institute at the University of Dallas.

Facial patterns in a tropical social wasp correlate with colony membership

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baracchi, David; Turillazzi, Stefano; Chittka, Lars

2016-10-01

Social insects excel in discriminating nestmates from intruders, typically relying on colony odours. Remarkably, some wasp species achieve such discrimination using visual information. However, while it is universally accepted that odours mediate a group level recognition, the ability to recognise colony members visually has been considered possible only via individual recognition by which wasps discriminate `friends' and `foes'. Using geometric morphometric analysis, which is a technique based on a rigorous statistical theory of shape allowing quantitative multivariate analyses on structure shapes, we first quantified facial marking variation of Liostenogaster flavolineata wasps. We then compared this facial variation with that of chemical profiles (generated by cuticular hydrocarbons) within and between colonies. Principal component analysis and discriminant analysis applied to sets of variables containing pure shape information showed that despite appreciable intra-colony variation, the faces of females belonging to the same colony resemble one another more than those of outsiders. This colony-specific variation in facial patterns was on a par with that observed for odours. While the occurrence of face discrimination at the colony level remains to be tested by behavioural experiments, overall our results suggest that, in this species, wasp faces display adequate information that might be potentially perceived and used by wasps for colony level recognition.

Digital pile-up rejection for plutonium experiments with solution-grown stilbene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bourne, M. M.; Clarke, S. D.; Paff, M.; DiFulvio, A.; Norsworthy, M.; Pozzi, S. A.

2017-01-01

A solution-grown stilbene detector was used in several experiments with plutonium samples including plutonium oxide, mixed oxide, and plutonium metal samples. Neutrons from different reactions and plutonium isotopes are accompanied by numerous gamma rays especially by the 59-keV gamma ray of 241Am. Identifying neutrons correctly is important for nuclear nonproliferation applications and makes neutron/gamma discrimination and pile-up rejection necessary. Each experimental dataset is presented with and without pile-up filtering using a previously developed algorithm. The experiments were simulated using MCNPX-PoliMi, a Monte Carlo code designed to accurately model scintillation detector response. Collision output from MCNPX-PoliMi was processed using the specialized MPPost post-processing code to convert neutron energy depositions event-by-event into light pulses. The model was compared to experimental data after pulse-shape discrimination identified waveforms as gamma ray or neutron interactions. We show that the use of the digital pile-up rejection algorithm allows for accurate neutron counting with stilbene to within 2% even when not using lead shielding.

MARLI: MARs LIdar for global climate measurements from orbit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Allan, G. R.; Riris, H.; Sun, X.; Yu, A. W.; Abshire, J. B.

2017-12-01

NASA-GSFC is developing a pulsed multifunction lidar instrument to remotely measure winds in the Martian atmosphere from orbit. The key capabilities of this multifunctional atmospheric pulsed lidar will include continuous measurement of the aerosol backscatter profiles, the cross polarized (ice) backscatter profiles, the Doppler (wind profiles), and the range to the scattering surface from orbit. Our approach for MARLI is to use a direct detection lidar with efficient lasers, a large area low-mass telescope, a simple and rugged Doppler discriminator and with photon-sensitive detectors. The induced Doppler shifts on laser backscattered from aerosols in the Martian atmosphere will be detected using a time-resolved change in transmission through a solid etalon from two, slightly off-axis backscattered beams and the edge technique. In this presentation we report on the current progress of the core measurement of wind. We have demonstrated in the lab Doppler measurements down to 5m/s using a spinning target a pulsed lidar and edge technique. The laser is a seeded, pulsed-YAG in a MOPA configuration, operating at 1064nm producing pulses of 20ns and at a few mJ at 4KHz. Center frequency drift is less than 10MHz per minute. The Doppler discriminator is a solid etalon of 60 mm diameter and 40 mm thick with a peak transmission of over 65% and a bandpass of 100MHz FWHM. The detector is a cooled MCT array. We will also report on the deployment of the breadboard instrument to the GGAO to directly measure surface winds using the 48" telescope. The results from our field trials, the laser, detector and instrument will be more fully described in the presentation.

Optimal pulse design for communication-oriented slow-light pulse detection.

PubMed

Stenner, Michael D; Neifeld, Mark A

2008-01-21

We present techniques for designing pulses for linear slow-light delay systems which are optimal in the sense that they maximize the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and signal-to-noise-plus-interference ratio (SNIR) of the detected pulse energy. Given a communication model in which input pulses are created in a finite temporal window and output pulse energy in measured in a temporally-offset output window, the SNIR-optimal pulses achieve typical improvements of 10 dB compared to traditional pulse shapes for a given output window offset. Alternatively, for fixed SNR or SNIR, window offset (detection delay) can be increased by 0.3 times the window width. This approach also invites a communication-based model for delay and signal fidelity.

Interactions between butterfly-shaped pulses in the inhomogeneous media

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

Liu, Wen-Jun; Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190; Huang, Long-Gang

2014-10-15

Pulse interactions affect pulse qualities during the propagation. Interactions between butterfly-shaped pulses are investigated to improve pulse qualities in the inhomogeneous media. In order to describe the interactions between butterfly-shaped pulses, analytic two-soliton solutions are derived. Based on those solutions, influences of corresponding parameters on pulse interactions are discussed. Methods to control the pulse interactions are suggested. - Highlights: • Interactions between butterfly-shaped pulses are investigated. • Methods to control the pulse interactions are suggested. • Analytic two-soliton solutions for butterfly-shaped pulses are derived.

Importance of integrated results of different non-destructive techniques in order to evaluate defects in panel paintings: the contribution of infrared, optical and ultrasonic techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sfarra, S.; Theodorakeas, P.; Ibarra-Castanedo, C.; Avdelidis, N. P.; Paoletti, A.; Paoletti, D.; Hrissagis, K.; Bendada, A.; Koui, M.; Maldague, X.

2011-06-01

The increasing deterioration of panel paintings can be due to physical processes that take place during exhibition or transit, or as a result of temperature and humidity fluctuations within a building, church or museum. In response to environmental alterations, a panel painting can expand or contract and a new equilibrium state is eventually reached. These adjustments though, are usually accompanied by a change in shape in order to accommodate to the new conditions. In this work, a holographic method for detecting detached regions and micro-cracks is described. Some of these defects are confirmed by Thermographic Signal Reconstruction (TSR) technique. In addition, Pulsed Phase Thermography (PPT) and Principal Component Thermography (PCT) allow to identify with greater contrast two artificial defects in Mylar which are crucial to understand the topic of interest: the discrimination between defect materials. Finally, traditional contact ultrasounds applications, are widely applied for the evaluation of the wood quality in several characterization procedures. Inspecting the specimen from the front side, the natural and artificial defects of the specimen are confirmed. Experimental results derived by the application of the integrated methods on an Italian panel painting reproduction, called The Angel specimen, are presented. The main advantages that these techniques can offer to the conservation and restoration of artworks are emphasized.

A pulse-shaping technique to investigate the behaviour of brittle materials subjected to plate-impact tests.

PubMed

Forquin, Pascal; Zinszner, Jean-Luc

2017-01-28

Owing to their significant hardness and compressive strengths, ceramic materials are widely employed for use with protective systems subjected to high-velocity impact loadings. Therefore, their mechanical behaviour along with damage mechanisms need to be significantly investigated as a function of loading rates. However, the classical plate-impact testing procedures produce shock loadings in the brittle sample material which cause unrealistic levels of loading rates. Additionally, high-pulsed power techniques and/or functionally graded materials used as flyer plates to smooth the loading pulse remain costly, and are generally difficult to implement. In this study, a shockless plate-impact technique based on the use of either a wavy-machined flyer plate or buffer plate that can be produced by chip-forming is proposed. A series of numerical simulations using an explicit transient dynamic finite-element code have been performed to design and validate the experimental testing configuration. The calculations, conducted in two-dimensional (2D) plane-strain or in 2D axisymmetric modes, prove that the 'wavy' contact surface will produce a pulse-shaping effect, whereas the buffer plate will produce a homogenizing effect of the stress field along the transverse direction of the sample. In addition, 'wavy-shape' geometries of different sizes provide an easy way to change the level of loading rate and rise time in an experimentally tested ceramic specimen. Finally, when a shockless compression loading method is applied to the sample, a Lagrangian analysis of data is made possible by considering an assemblage of ceramic plates of different thicknesses in the target, so the axial stress-strain response of the brittle sample material can be provided.This article is part of the themed issue 'Experimental testing and modelling of brittle materials at high strain rates'. © 2016 The Author(s).

A pulse-shaping technique to investigate the behaviour of brittle materials subjected to plate-impact tests

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Forquin, Pascal; Zinszner, Jean-Luc

2017-01-01

Owing to their significant hardness and compressive strengths, ceramic materials are widely employed for use with protective systems subjected to high-velocity impact loadings. Therefore, their mechanical behaviour along with damage mechanisms need to be significantly investigated as a function of loading rates. However, the classical plate-impact testing procedures produce shock loadings in the brittle sample material which cause unrealistic levels of loading rates. Additionally, high-pulsed power techniques and/or functionally graded materials used as flyer plates to smooth the loading pulse remain costly, and are generally difficult to implement. In this study, a shockless plate-impact technique based on the use of either a wavy-machined flyer plate or buffer plate that can be produced by chip-forming is proposed. A series of numerical simulations using an explicit transient dynamic finite-element code have been performed to design and validate the experimental testing configuration. The calculations, conducted in two-dimensional (2D) plane-strain or in 2D axisymmetric modes, prove that the `wavy' contact surface will produce a pulse-shaping effect, whereas the buffer plate will produce a homogenizing effect of the stress field along the transverse direction of the sample. In addition, `wavy-shape' geometries of different sizes provide an easy way to change the level of loading rate and rise time in an experimentally tested ceramic specimen. Finally, when a shockless compression loading method is applied to the sample, a Lagrangian analysis of data is made possible by considering an assemblage of ceramic plates of different thicknesses in the target, so the axial stress-strain response of the brittle sample material can be provided. This article is part of the themed issue 'Experimental testing and modelling of brittle materials at high strain rates'.

A Heuristic Fast Method to Solve the Nonlinear Schroedinger Equation in Fiber Bragg Gratings with Arbitrary Shape Input Pulse

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

Emami, F.; Hatami, M.; Keshavarz, A. R.

2009-08-13

Using a combination of Runge-Kutta and Jacobi iterative method, we could solve the nonlinear Schroedinger equation describing the pulse propagation in FBGs. By decomposing the electric field to forward and backward components in fiber Bragg grating and utilizing the Fourier series analysis technique, the boundary value problem of a set of coupled equations governing the pulse propagation in FBG changes to an initial condition coupled equations which can be solved by simple Runge-Kutta method.

Wide-field FTIR microscopy using mid-IR pulse shaping

PubMed Central

Serrano, Arnaldo L.; Ghosh, Ayanjeet; Ostrander, Joshua S.; Zanni, Martin T.

2015-01-01

We have developed a new table-top technique for collecting wide-field Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microscopic images by combining a femtosecond pulse shaper with a mid-IR focal plane array. The pulse shaper scans the delay between a pulse pair extremely rapidly for high signal-to-noise, while also enabling phase control of the individual pulses to under-sample the interferograms and subtract background. Infrared absorption images were collected for a mixture of W(CO)6 or Mn2(CO)10 absorbed polystyrene beads, demonstrating that this technique can spatially resolve chemically distinct species. The images are sub-diffraction limited, as measured with a USAF test target patterned on CaF2 and verified with scalar wave simulations. We also find that refractive, rather than reflective, objectives are preferable for imaging with coherent radiation. We discuss this method with respect to conventional FTIR microscopes. PMID:26191843

Adiabat-shaping in indirect drive inertial confinement fusion

DOE PAGES

Baker, K. L.; Robey, H. F.; Milovich, J. L.; ...

2015-05-05

Adiabat-shaping techniques were investigated in this paper in indirect drive inertial confinement fusion experiments on the National Ignition Facility as a means to improve implosion stability, while still maintaining a low adiabat in the fuel. Adiabat-shaping was accomplished in these indirect drive experiments by altering the ratio of the picket and trough energies in the laser pulse shape, thus driving a decaying first shock in the ablator. This decaying first shock is designed to place the ablation front on a high adiabat while keeping the fuel on a low adiabat. These experiments were conducted using the keyhole experimental platform formore » both three and four shock laser pulses. This platform enabled direct measurement of the shock velocities driven in the glow-discharge polymer capsule and in the liquid deuterium, the surrogate fuel for a DT ignition target. The measured shock velocities and radiation drive histories are compared to previous three and four shock laser pulses. This comparison indicates that in the case of adiabat shaping the ablation front initially drives a high shock velocity, and therefore, a high shock pressure and adiabat. The shock then decays as it travels through the ablator to pressures similar to the original low-adiabat pulses when it reaches the fuel. Finally, this approach takes advantage of initial high ablation velocity, which favors stability, and high-compression, which favors high stagnation pressures.« less

Some interesting aspects of physisorption stay-time measurements obtained using molecular-beam techniques. [on Ni surface

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilmoth, R. G.; Fisher, S. S.

1974-01-01

Stay-time distributions have been obtained for Xe physisorbing on polycrystalline nickel as a function of the target temperature using a pulsed molecular-beam technique. Some interesting effects due to ion bombardment of the surface using He, Ar, and Xe ions are presented. Measured detector signal shapes are found to deviate from those predicted for first-order desorption with velocities corresponding to Maxwellian effusion at the surface temperature. Evidence is found for interaction between beam pulse adsorption and steady-state adsorption of beam species background atoms.

RISE TIME DELAY DISCRIMINATOR

DOEpatents

Johnstone, C.W.

1959-09-29

A pulse-height discriminator for generating an output pulse when the accepted input pulse is approximately at its maximum value is described. A gating tube and a negative bias generator responsive to the derivative of the input pulse and means for impressing the output of the bias generator to at least one control electrode of the gating tube are included.

International Congress on High Speed Photography and Photonics, 17th, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa, Sept. 1-5, 1986, Proceedings. Volumes 1 & 2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McDowell, M. W.; Hollingworth, D.

1986-01-01

The present conference discusses topics in mining applications of high speed photography, ballistic, shock wave and detonation studies employing high speed photography, laser and X-ray diagnostics, biomechanical photography, millisec-microsec-nanosec-picosec-femtosec photographic methods, holographic, schlieren, and interferometric techniques, and videography. Attention is given to such issues as the pulse-shaping of ultrashort optical pulses, the performance of soft X-ray streak cameras, multiple-frame image tube operation, moire-enlargement motion-raster photography, two-dimensional imaging with tomographic techniques, photochron TV streak cameras, and streak techniques in detonics.

Pulse pile-up identification and reconstruction for liquid scintillator based neutron detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, X. L.; Modamio, V.; Nyberg, J.; Valiente-Dobón, J. J.; Nishada, Q.; de Angelis, G.; Agramunt, J.; Egea, F. J.; Erduran, M. N.; Ertürk, S.; de France, G.; Gadea, A.; González, V.; Goasduff, A.; Hüyük, T.; Jaworski, G.; Moszyński, M.; Di Nitto, A.; Palacz, M.; Söderström, P.-A.; Sanchis, E.; Triossi, A.; Wadsworth, R.

2018-07-01

The issue of pulse pile-up is frequently encountered in nuclear experiments involving high counting rates, which will distort the pulse shapes and the energy spectra. A digital method of off-line processing of pile-up pulses is presented. The pile-up pulses were firstly identified by detecting the downward-going zero-crossings in the first-order derivative of the original signal, and then the constituent pulses were reconstructed based on comparing the pile-up pulse with four models that are generated by combining pairs of neutron and γ standard pulses together with a controllable time interval. The accuracy of this method in resolving the pile-up events was investigated as a function of the time interval between two pulses constituting a pile-up event. The obtained results show that the method is capable of disentangling two pulses with a time interval among them down to 20 ns, as well as classifying them as neutrons or γ rays. Furthermore, the error of reconstructing pile-up pulses could be kept below 6% when successive peaks were separated by more than 50 ns. By applying the method in a high counting rate of pile-up events measurement of the NEutron Detector Array (NEDA), it was empirically found that this method can reconstruct the pile-up pulses and perform neutron- γ discrimination quite accurately. It can also significantly correct the distorted pulse height spectrum due to pile-up events.

Pulse Shaped 8-PSK Bandwidth Efficiency and Spectral Spike Elimination

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tao, Jian-Ping

1998-01-01

The most bandwidth-efficient communication methods are imperative to cope with the congested frequency bands. Pulse shaping methods have excellent effects on narrowing bandwidth and increasing band utilization. The position of the baseband filters for the pulse shaping is crucial. Post-modulation pulse shaping (a low pass filter is located after the modulator) can change signals from constant envelope to non-constant envelope, and non-constant envelope signals through non-linear device (a SSPA or TWT) can further spread the power spectra. Pre-modulation pulse shaping (a filter is located before the modulator) will have constant envelope. These two pulse shaping methods have different effects on narrowing the bandwidth and producing bit errors. This report studied the effect of various pre-modulation pulse shaping filters with respect to bandwidth, spectral spikes and bit error rate. A pre-modulation pulse shaped 8-ary Phase Shift Keying (8PSK) modulation was used throughout the simulations. In addition to traditional pulse shaping filters, such as Bessel, Butterworth and Square Root Raised Cosine (SRRC), other kinds of filters or pulse waveforms were also studied in the pre-modulation pulse shaping method. Simulations were conducted by using the Signal Processing Worksystem (SPW) software package on HP workstations which simulated the power spectral density of pulse shaped 8-PSK signals, end to end system performance and bit error rates (BERS) as a function of Eb/No using pulse shaping in an AWGN channel. These results are compared with the post-modulation pulse shaped 8-PSK results. The simulations indicate traditional pulse shaping filters used in pre-modulation pulse shaping may produce narrower bandwidth, but with worse BER than those in post-modulation pulse shaping. Theory and simulations show pre- modulation pulse shaping could also produce discrete line power spectra (spikes) at regular frequency intervals. These spikes may cause interference with adjacent channel and reduce power efficiency. Some particular pulses (filters), such as trapezoid and pulses with different transits (such as weighted raised cosine transit) were found to reduce bandwidth and not generate spectral spikes. Although a solid state power amplifier (SSPA) was simulated in the non-linear (saturation) region, output power spectra did not spread due to the constant envelope 8-PSK signals.

Simultaneous deterministic control of distant qubits in two semiconductor quantum dots.

PubMed

Gamouras, A; Mathew, R; Freisem, S; Deppe, D G; Hall, K C

2013-10-09

In optimal quantum control (OQC), a target quantum state of matter is achieved by tailoring the phase and amplitude of the control Hamiltonian through femtosecond pulse-shaping techniques and powerful adaptive feedback algorithms. Motivated by recent applications of OQC in quantum information science as an approach to optimizing quantum gates in atomic and molecular systems, here we report the experimental implementation of OQC in a solid-state system consisting of distinguishable semiconductor quantum dots. We demonstrate simultaneous high-fidelity π and 2π single qubit gates in two different quantum dots using a single engineered infrared femtosecond pulse. These experiments enhance the scalability of semiconductor-based quantum hardware and lay the foundation for applications of pulse shaping to optimize quantum gates in other solid-state systems.

Low-threshold ablation of enamel and dentin using Nd:YAG laser assisted with chromophore with different pulse shapes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonora, Stefano; Benazzato, Paolo; Stefani, Alessandro; Villoresi, Paolo

2004-05-01

Neodimium laser treatment has several drawbacks when used in the hard tissue cutting, because of the low absorption of the dental tissues at its wavelength. This investigation proved that the Nd:YAG radiation is a powerful ablation tool if it is used with the dye assisted method. Several in vitro tests on enamel and dentin were accomplished changing some laser parameters to have different pulse shapes and durations from 125μs up to 1.4ms. The importance of short time high power peaks, typical of crystal lasers, in the ablation process was investigated. The pulse shapes were analyzed by their intensity in space and time profiles. A first set of results found the optimum dye concentration be used in all the following tests. Furthermore the ablation threshold for this technique was found for each different pulse shapes and durations. A low energy ablation method was found to avoid temperature increase and surface cracks formation. In vitro temperature analysis was reported comparing the differences between no dye application laser treatment and with a dye spray applied. A strong reduction of the temperature increase was found in the dye assisted method. A discussion on the general findings and their possible clinical applications is presented.

Application of thoron interference as a tool for simultaneous measurement of radon and thoron with a pulse ionisation chamber.

PubMed

Tripathi, R M; Sumesh, C G; Vinod Kumar, A; Puranik, V D

2013-07-01

Pulse ionisation chamber (PIC)-based monitors measuring radioactive gas radon ((222)Rn) without energy discrimination will have interference due to thoron ((220)Rn) present in the atmosphere. A technique has been developed to use this property of interference for simultaneous measurement of radon and thoron gas. These monitors work on the principle of counting of gross alphas emitted from radon and its progeny. A theoretical model has been developed for the variation of thoron sensitivity with respect to the flow rate of gas through the monitor. The thoron sensitivity of the monitor is found to vary with the flow rate of gas through the monitor. Using this sensitivity, the sampling procedure has been developed and verified for simultaneous measurement of radon and thoron. The PIC-measured radon and thoron concentration using this procedure agrees well with those measured by using standard radon and thoron discriminating monitor.

Frequency stabilization and transverse mode discrimination in injection-seeded unstable resonator TEA CO2 lasers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ancellet, G. M.; Menzies, R. T.; Brothers, A. M.

1987-01-01

Longitudinal mode selection by injection has been demonstrated as a viable technique for TEA-CO2 lasers with pulse energies of a Joule or greater. Once reliable generation of single-longitudinal-mode (SLM) pulses is obtained, the characteristics and the causes of intrapulse frequency variation can be studied. These include the effect of the decaying plasma, the thermal gradient due to the energy dissipation associated with the laser mechanism itself, and the pressure shift of the center frequency of the laser transition. The use of the positive-branch unstable resonator as an efficient means of coupling a discharge with large spatial dimensions to an optical cavity mode introduces another concern: namely, what can be done to emphasize transverse mode discrimination in an unstable resonator cavity while maintaining high coupling efficiency. These issues are discussed in this paper, and relevant experimental results are included.

Optical timing receiver for the NASA laser ranging system. Part 2: High precision time interval digitizer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leskovar, B.; Turko, B.

1977-01-01

The development of a high precision time interval digitizer is described. The time digitizer is a 10 psec resolution stop watch covering a range of up to 340 msec. The measured time interval is determined as a separation between leading edges of a pair of pulses applied externally to the start input and the stop input of the digitizer. Employing an interpolation techniques and a 50 MHz high precision master oscillator, the equivalent of a 100 GHz clock frequency standard is achieved. Absolute accuracy and stability of the digitizer are determined by the external 50 MHz master oscillator, which serves as a standard time marker. The start and stop pulses are fast 1 nsec rise time signals, according to the Nuclear Instrument means of tunnel diode discriminators. Firing level of the discriminator define start and stop points between which the time interval is digitized.

An automatic tooth preparation technique: A preliminary study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Fusong; Wang, Yong; Zhang, Yaopeng; Sun, Yuchun; Wang, Dangxiao; Lyu, Peijun

2016-04-01

The aim of this study is to validate the feasibility and accuracy of a new automatic tooth preparation technique in dental healthcare. An automatic tooth preparation robotic device with three-dimensional motion planning software was developed, which controlled an ultra-short pulse laser (USPL) beam (wavelength 1,064 nm, pulse width 15 ps, output power 30 W, and repeat frequency rate 100 kHz) to complete the tooth preparation process. A total of 15 freshly extracted human intact first molars were collected and fixed into a phantom head, and the target preparation shapes of these molars were designed using customised computer-aided design (CAD) software. The accuracy of tooth preparation was evaluated using the Geomagic Studio and Imageware software, and the preparing time of each tooth was recorded. Compared with the target preparation shape, the average shape error of the 15 prepared molars was 0.05-0.17 mm, the preparation depth error of the occlusal surface was approximately 0.097 mm, and the error of the convergence angle was approximately 1.0°. The average preparation time was 17 minutes. These results validated the accuracy and feasibility of the automatic tooth preparation technique.

An automatic tooth preparation technique: A preliminary study.

PubMed

Yuan, Fusong; Wang, Yong; Zhang, Yaopeng; Sun, Yuchun; Wang, Dangxiao; Lyu, Peijun

2016-04-29

The aim of this study is to validate the feasibility and accuracy of a new automatic tooth preparation technique in dental healthcare. An automatic tooth preparation robotic device with three-dimensional motion planning software was developed, which controlled an ultra-short pulse laser (USPL) beam (wavelength 1,064 nm, pulse width 15 ps, output power 30 W, and repeat frequency rate 100 kHz) to complete the tooth preparation process. A total of 15 freshly extracted human intact first molars were collected and fixed into a phantom head, and the target preparation shapes of these molars were designed using customised computer-aided design (CAD) software. The accuracy of tooth preparation was evaluated using the Geomagic Studio and Imageware software, and the preparing time of each tooth was recorded. Compared with the target preparation shape, the average shape error of the 15 prepared molars was 0.05-0.17 mm, the preparation depth error of the occlusal surface was approximately 0.097 mm, and the error of the convergence angle was approximately 1.0°. The average preparation time was 17 minutes. These results validated the accuracy and feasibility of the automatic tooth preparation technique.

Femtochemistry in the electronic ground state: Dynamic Stark control of vibrational dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shu, Chuan-Cun; Thomas, Esben F.; Henriksen, Niels E.

2017-09-01

We study the interplay of vibrational and rotational excitation in a diatomic molecule due to the non-resonant dynamic Stark effect. With a fixed peak intensity, optimal Gaussian pulse durations for maximizing vibrational or rotational transitions are obtained analytically and confirmed numerically for the H2 and Cl2 molecules. In general, pulse trains or more advanced pulse shaping techniques are required in order to obtain significant vibrational excitation. To that end, we demonstrate that a high degree of selectivity between vibrational and rotational excitation is possible with a suitably phase-modulated Gaussian pulse.

A novel intra-operative positron imager for rapid localization of tumor margins

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sabet, Hamid; Stack, Brendan C.; Nagarkar, Vivek V.

2014-03-01

We have developed an intra-operative and compact imaging tool for surgeons to detect PET- positive lesions. Currently, most such probes on the market are non-imaging, and provide no ancillary information of surveyed areas, such as clear delineations of malignant tissues. Our probe consists of a novel hybrid scintillator coupled to a compact silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) array with associated front-end electronics encapsulated in an ergonomic housing. Pulse shape discrimination electronics has been implemented and integrated into the downstream data acquisition system. The hybrid scintillator consists of a 0.4 mm thick layer of CsI:Tl scintillator coupled to a 1 mm thick LYSO crystal. To achieve high spatial resolution, CsI:Tl is pixelated to 0.5×0.5 mm2 pixels using laser ablation technique. While CsI:Tl act as beta-sensitive scintillator, LYSO senses the gamma radiation and can be used to navigate the probe to the locations of interest. The gamma response is also subtracted from the beta image for improved SNR and contrast. To achieve accurate centroid position estimation and uniform beta sensitivity over the entire imaging area, the LYSO thickness is optimized such that it acts as scintillation light diffuser by spreading CsI:Tl light over multiple SiPM pixels. The results show that the response of the two scintillators exposed to radiation could be easily distinguished based on their pulse shapes. The probe's spatial resolution is <1.5 mm FWHM in its 10×10 mm2 effective imaging area. The probe can rapidly detect and localize nCi levels of F-18 beta radiation even in presence of strong gamma background.

Laser-launched flyer plate and confined laser ablation for shock wave loading: validation and applications.

PubMed

Paisley, Dennis L; Luo, Sheng-Nian; Greenfield, Scott R; Koskelo, Aaron C

2008-02-01

We present validation and some applications of two laser-driven shock wave loading techniques: laser-launched flyer plate and confined laser ablation. We characterize the flyer plate during flight and the dynamically loaded target with temporally and spatially resolved diagnostics. With transient imaging displacement interferometry, we demonstrate that the planarity (bow and tilt) of the loading induced by a spatially shaped laser pulse is within 2-7 mrad (with an average of 4+/-1 mrad), similar to that in conventional techniques including gas gun loading. Plasma heating of target is negligible, in particular, when a plasma shield is adopted. For flyer plate loading, supported shock waves can be achieved. Temporal shaping of the drive pulse in confined laser ablation allows for flexible loading, e.g., quasi-isentropic, Taylor-wave, and off-Hugoniot loading. These techniques can be utilized to investigate such dynamic responses of materials as Hugoniot elastic limit, plasticity, spall, shock roughness, equation of state, phase transition, and metallurgical characteristics of shock-recovered samples.

PSA discriminator influence on (222)Rn efficiency detection in waters by liquid scintillation counting.

PubMed

Stojković, Ivana; Todorović, Nataša; Nikolov, Jovana; Tenjović, Branislava

2016-06-01

A procedure for the (222)Rn determination in aqueous samples using liquid scintillation counting (LSC) was evaluated and optimized. Measurements were performed by ultra-low background spectrometer Quantulus 1220™ equipped with PSA (Pulse Shape Analysis) circuit which discriminates alpha/beta spectra. Since calibration procedure is carried out with (226)Ra standard, which has both alpha and beta progenies, it is clear that PSA discriminator has vital importance in order to provide precise spectra separation. Improvement of calibration procedure was done through investigation of PSA discriminator level and, consequentially, the activity of (226)Ra calibration standard influence on (222)Rn efficiency detection. Quench effects on generated spectra i.e. determination of radon efficiency detection were also investigated with quench calibration curve obtained. Radon determination in waters based on modified procedure according to the activity of (226)Ra standard used, dependent on PSA setup, was evaluated with prepared (226)Ra solution samples and drinking water samples with assessment of measurement uncertainty variation included. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of a digital data acquisition system and optimization of n-γ discrimination for a compact neutron spectrometer.

PubMed

Giacomelli, L; Zimbal, A; Reginatto, M; Tittelmeier, K

2011-01-01

A compact NE213 liquid scintillation neutron spectrometer with a new digital data acquisition (DAQ) system is now in operation at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB). With the DAQ system, developed by ENEA Frascati, neutron spectrometry with high count rates in the order of 5×10(5) s(-1) is possible, roughly an order of magnitude higher than with an analog acquisition system. To validate the DAQ system, a new data analysis code was developed and tests were done using measurements with 14-MeV neutrons made at the PTB accelerator. Additional analysis was carried out to optimize the two-gate method used for neutron and gamma (n-γ) discrimination. The best results were obtained with gates of 35 ns and 80 ns. This indicates that the fast and medium decay time components of the NE213 light emission are the ones that are relevant for n-γ discrimination with the digital acquisition system. This differs from what is normally implemented in the analog pulse shape discrimination modules, namely, the fast and long decay emissions of the scintillating light.

Study of sampling rate influence on neutron-gamma discrimination with stilbene coupled to a silicon photomultiplier.

PubMed

Zhang, Jinglong; Moore, Michael E; Wang, Zhonghai; Rong, Zhou; Yang, Chaowen; Hayward, Jason P

2017-10-01

Choosing a digitizer with an appropriate sampling rate is often a trade-off between performance and economy. The influence of sampling rates on the neutron-gamma Pulse Shape Discrimination (PSD) with a solid stilbene scintillator coupled to a Silicon Photomultiplier was investigated in this work. Sampling rates from 125MSPS to 2GSPS from a 10-bit digitizer were used to collect detector pulses produced by the interactions of a Cf-252 source. Due to the decreased signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), the PSD performance degraded with reduced sampling rates. The reason of PSD performance degradation was discussed. Then, an efficient combination of filtering and digital signal processing (DSP) was then applied to suppress the timing noise and electronic background noise. The results demonstrate an improved PSD performance especially at low sampling rates, down to 125MSPS. Using filtering and DSP, the ascribed Figure of Merit (FOM) at 125keV ee (± 10keV ee ) increased from 0.95 to 1.02 at 125MSPS. At 300keV ee and above, all the FOMs are better than 2.00. Our study suggests that 250MSPS is a good enough sampling rate for neutron-gamma discrimination in this system in order to be sensitive to neutrons at and above ~ 125keV ee . Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

DESCANT--The DEuterated SCintillator Array for Neutron Tagging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bildstein, Vinzenz; Garrett, P. E.; Bandyopadhay, D.; Bangay, J.; Bianco, L.; Demand, G.; Hadinia, B.; Leach, K. G.; Sumithrarachchi, C.; Wong, J.; Ashley, S. F.; Crider, B. P.; McEllistrem, M. T.; Peters, E. E.; Prados-Estévez, F. M.; Yates, S. W.; Vanhoy, J. R.; Ball, G. C.; Garnsworthy, A. B.; Hackman, G.; Pearson, C. J.; Sarazin, F.

2014-09-01

The DESCANT array at TRIUMF is designed to track neutrons from RIB experiments. DESCANT is composed of 70 close-packed deuterated organic liquid scintillators coupled to digital fast read-out ADC modules. This configuration will permit online pulse-shape discrimination between neutron and γ-ray events. The anisotropy of the n - d scattering will allow distinction of higher neutron multiplicities from scattering within the array and determination of the neutron energy spectrum directly from the pulse-height spectrum without using TOF. A prototype detector has been tested with monoenergetic neutrons at the accelerator laboratory of the University of Kentucky and a 24Mg(3He, n)26Si experiment has been performed with eight DESCANT detectors and two HPGe detectors. The results of the tests and the status of DESCANT will be presented.

Pulse shaping with transmission lines

DOEpatents

Wilcox, Russell B.

1987-01-01

A method and apparatus for forming shaped voltage pulses uses passive reflection from a transmission line with nonuniform impedance. The impedance of the reflecting line varies with length in accordance with the desired pulse shape. A high voltage input pulse is transmitted to the reflecting line. A reflected pulse is produced having the desired shape and is transmitted by pulse removal means to a load. Light activated photoconductive switches made of silicon can be utilized. The pulse shaper can be used to drive a Pockels cell to produce shaped optical pulses.

Pulse shaping with transmission lines

DOEpatents

Wilcox, R.B.

1985-08-15

A method and apparatus for forming shaped voltage pulses uses passive reflection from a transmission line with nonuniform impedance. The impedance of the reflecting line varies with length in accordance with the desired pulse shape. A high voltage input pulse is transmitted to the reflecting line. A reflected pulse is produced having the desired shape and is transmitted by pulse removal means to a load. Light activated photoconductive switches made of silicon can be utilized. The pulse shaper can be used to drive a Pockels cell to produce shaped optical pulses.

Quantum phase amplification for temporal pulse shaping and super-resolution in remote sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yin, Yanchun

The use of nonlinear optical interactions to perform nonclassical transformations of electromagnetic field is an area of considerable interest. Quantum phase amplification (QPA) has been previously proposed as a method to perform nonclassical manipulation of coherent light, which can be experimentally realized by use of nonlinear optical mixing processes, of which phase-sensitive three-wave mixing (PSTWM) is one convenient choice. QPA occurs when PSTWM is operated in the photon number deamplification mode, i.e., when the energy is coherently transferred among the low-frequency signal and idler waves and the high-frequency pump wave. The final state is nonclassical, with the field amplitude squeezed and the phase anti-squeezed. In the temporal domain, the use of QPA has been studied to facilitate nonlinear pulse shaping. This novel method directly shapes the temporal electric field amplitude and phase using the PSTWM in a degenerate and collinear configuration, which has been analyzed using a numerical model. Several representative pulse shaping capabilities of this technique have been identified, which can augment the performance of common passive pulse shaping methods operating in the Fourier domain. The analysis indicates that a simple quadratic variation of temporal phase facilitates pulse compression and self-steepening, with features significantly shorter than the original transform-limited pulse. Thus, PSTWM can act as a direct pulse compressor based on the combined effects of phase amplification and group velocity mismatch, even without the subsequent linear phase compensation. Furthermore, it is shown numerically that pulse doublets and pulse trains can be produced at the pump frequency by utilizing the residual linear phase of the signal. Such pulse shaping capabilities are found to be within reach of this technique in common nonlinear optical crystals pumped by pulses available from compact femtosecond chirped-pulse amplification laser systems. The use of QPA in the spatial domain has also been studied as a method to enhance the spatial resolution of imaging systems. A detailed model has been developed for achieving both super-resolution and detection of phase-amplified light. The imaging resolution problem considered here is treated as a binary hypotheses testing problem. Resolution enhancement is achieved by magnification of the angular separation of two targets in the sub-Rayleigh regime. The detection model includes optimization of detector segmentation, detector noise, and detection in both the spatial and the spatial frequency domain, which provide strategies for the optimization of the signal-to-noise ratio that take advantage of both the change of the field distribution and the change of energy of the signal in the QPA process. Proof-of-principle experiments have been conducted in the spatial domain. For the first time, beam angular amplification has been demonstrated, and the experimental result is in good agreement with simulations. The experimental demonstration has been achieved by observing the correlation of amplitude and angular phase in the phase-sensitive three-wave mixing process using ultrashort laser pulses and utilizing a type I three-wave mixing process. Several diagnostics have been developed and employed in the experimental measurements, including the near-field diagnostic, the far-field diagnostic, and the interferometry diagnostic. They have all been used to confirm the existence and study the properties of the QPA process on a shot-to-shot basis. Specifically, amplitude was measured in the near-field diagnostic, while the angular phase was indirectly measured in the far-field diagnostic by determining the position of the beam centroid. Interferometric measurements have been found to be of insufficient accuracy for this measurement in the way they were implemented. The demonstration of beam angular amplification by use of QPA lays the foundation for future integrated demonstration of imaging resolution enhancement, while the results of the modeling in the time domain open opportunities for development of flexible pulse shaping benefitting a variety of ultrafast applications.

Pulsed eddy current differential probe to detect the defects in a stainless steel pipe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Angani, C. S.; Park, D. G.; Kim, C. G.; Leela, P.; Kishore, M.; Cheong, Y. M.

2011-04-01

Pulsed eddy current (PEC) is an electromagnetic nondestructive technique widely used to detect and quantify the flaws in conducting materials. In the present study a differential Hall-sensor probe which is used in the PEC system has been fabricated for the detection of defects in stainless steel pipelines. The differential probe has an exciting coil with two Hall-sensors. A stainless steel test sample with electrical discharge machining (EDM) notches under different depths of 1-5 mm was made and the sample was laminated by plastic insulation having uniform thickness to simulate the pipelines in nuclear power plants (NPPs). The driving coil in the probe is excited by a rectangular current pulse and the resultant response, which is the difference of the two Hall-sensors, has been detected as the PEC probe signal. The discriminating time domain features of the detected pulse such as peak value and time to zero are used to interpret the experimental results with the defects in the test sample. A feature extraction technique such as spectral power density has been devised to infer the PEC response.

Laser fusion pulse shape controller

DOEpatents

Siebert, Larry D.

1977-01-01

An apparatus for controlling the pulse shape, i.e., the pulse duration and intensity pattern, of a pulsed laser system, and which is particularly well adapted for controlling the pellet ignition pulse in a laser-driven fusion reaction system. The apparatus comprises a laser generator for providing an optical control pulse of the shape desired, a pulsed laser triggered by the control pulse, and a plurality of optical Kerr-effect gates serially disposed at the output of the pulsed laser and selectively triggered by the control pulse to pass only a portion of the pulsed laser output generally corresponding in shape to the control pulse.

Tagging radon daughters in low-energy scintillation detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McCarty, Kevin B.

2011-12-01

One problematic source of background in scintillator-based low-energy solar neutrino experiments such as Borexino is the presence of radon gas and its daughters. The mean lifetime of the α-emitter 214Po in the radon chain is sufficiently short, 0.24 ms, that its decay, together with that immediately preceding of 214Bi, is easily recognized as a “coincidence event.” This fact, combined with the capability of α/β pulse-shape discrimination, makes it possible to tag decays of 222Rn and its first four daughters via a likelihood-based method.

Design and performance of an ionisation chamber for the measurement of low alpha-activities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hartmann, A.; Hutsch, J.; Krüger, F.; Sobiella, M.; Wilsenach, H.; Zuber, K.

2016-04-01

A new ionisation chamber for alpha-spectroscopy has been built from radio-pure materials for the purpose of investigating long lived alpha-decays. The measurement makes use of pulse shape analysis to discriminate between signal and background events. The design and performance of the chamber is described in this paper. A background rate of (10.9 ± 0.6) counts per day in the energy region of 1-9 MeV was achieved with a run period of 30.8 days. The background is dominantly produced by radon daughters.

Photonic reagents for concentration measurement of flu-orescent proteins with overlapping spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goun, Alexei; Bondar, Denys I.; Er, Ali O.; Quine, Zachary; Rabitz, Herschel A.

2016-05-01

By exploiting photonic reagents (i.e., coherent control by shaped laser pulses), we employ Optimal Dynamic Discrimination (ODD) as a novel means for quantitatively characterizing mixtures of fluorescent proteins with a large spectral overlap. To illustrate ODD, we simultaneously measured concentrations of in vitro mixtures of Enhanced Blue Fluorescent Protein (EBFP) and Enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Protein (ECFP). Building on this foundational study, the ultimate goal is to exploit the capabilities of ODD for parallel monitoring of genetic and protein circuits by suppressing the spectral cross-talk among multiple fluorescent reporters.

Electronics for the STEREO experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

HÉLAINE, Victor; STEREO Collaboration

2017-09-01

The STEREO experiment, aiming to probe short baseline neutrino oscillations by precisely measuring reactor anti-neutrino spectrum, is currently under installation. It is located at short distance from the compact research reactor core of the Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble, France. Dedicated electronics, hosted in a single µTCA crate, were designed for this experiment. In this article, the electronics requirements, architecture and the performances achieved are described. It is shown how intrinsic Pulse Shape Discrimination properties of the liquid scintillator are preserved and how custom adaptable logic is used to improve the muon veto efficiency.

Standardization of 237Np by the CIEMAT/NIST LSC tracer method

PubMed

Gunther

2000-03-01

The standardization of 237Np presents some difficulties: several groups of alpha, beta and gamma radiation, chemical problems with the daughter nuclide 233Pa, an incomplete radioactive equilibrium after sample preparation, high conversion of some gamma transitions. To solve the chemical problems, a sample composition involving the Ultima Gold AB scintillator and a high concentration of HCl is used. Standardization by the CIEMAT/NIST method and by pulse shape discrimination is described. The results agree within 0.1% with those obtained by two other methods.

Neutron emission in 19F-induced reactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Acharya, Jaimin; Mukherjee, S.; Chatterjee, A.; Singh, N. L.; Ramachandran, K.; Rout, P. C.; Mahata, K.; Desai, Vishal; Mirgule, E. T.; Suryanarayana, S. V.; Nayak, B. K.; Saxena, A.; Steyn, G. F.

2018-03-01

We measured neutron emission spectra for 19F-induced reactions on 181Ta, 89Y, and 51V at beam energies of 130, 140, 145, and 150 MeV. Measurements were made using liquid scintillator detectors at eight angles in the range of 25∘-143∘ using time-of-flight and pulse-shape discrimination. A comparison has been made with alice2014 and pace4 calculations to understand the role of incomplete fusion and pre-equilibrium effects. Global predictions with alice2014 without parameter adjustment gives a fair agreement with the measured data.

Optically powered oil tank multichannel detection system with optical fiber link

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Zhijing

1998-08-01

A novel oil tanks integrative parameters measuring system with optically powered are presented. To realize optical powered and micro-power consumption multiple channels and parameters detection, the system has taken the PWM/PPM modulation, ratio measurement, time division multiplexing and pulse width division multiplexing techniques. Moreover, the system also used special pulse width discriminator and single-chip microcomputer to accomplish signal pulse separation, PPM/PWM signal demodulation, the error correction of overlapping pulse and data processing. This new transducer has provided with high characteristics: experimental transmitting distance is 500m; total consumption of the probes is less than 150 (mu) W; measurement error: +/- 0.5 degrees C and +/- 0.2 percent FS. The measurement accuracy of the liquid level and reserves is mainly determined by the pressure accuracy. Finally, some points of the experiment are given.

Apparatus and method for the spectrochemical analysis of liquids using the laser spark

DOEpatents

Cremers, David A.; Radziemski, Leon J.; Loree, Thomas R.

1990-01-01

A method and apparatus for the qualitative and quantitative spectroscopic investigation of elements present in a liquid sample using the laser spark. A series of temporally closely spaced spark pairs is induced in the liquid sample utilizing pulsed electromagnetic radiation from a pair of lasers. The light pulses are not significantly absorbed by the sample so that the sparks occur inside of the liquid. The emitted light from the breakdown events is spectrally and temporally resolved, and the time period between the two laser pulses in each spark pair is adjusted to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio of the emitted signals. In comparison with the single pulse technique, a substantial reduction in the limits of detectability for many elements has been demonstrated. Narrowing of spectral features results in improved discrimination against interfering species.

Apparatus and method for the spectrochemical analysis of liquids using the laser spark

DOEpatents

Cremers, D.A.; Radziemski, L.J.; Loree, T.R.

1984-05-01

A method and apparatus are disclosed for the qualitative and quantitative spectroscopic investigation of elements present in a liquid sample using the laser spark. A series of temporally closely spaced spark pairs is induced in the liquid sample utilizing pulsed electromagnetic radiation from a pair of lasers. The light pulses are not significantly absorbed by the sample so that the sparks occur inside of the liquid. The emitted light from the breakdown events is spectrally and temporally resolved, and the time period between the two laser pulses in each spark pair is adjusted to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio of the emitted signals. In comparison with the single pulse technique, a substantial reduction in the limits of detectability for many elements has been demonstrated. Narrowing of spectral features results in improved discrimination against interfering species.

Errorless discrimination and picture fading as techniques for teaching sight words to TMR students.

PubMed

Walsh, B F; Lamberts, F

1979-03-01

The effectiveness of two approaches for teaching beginning sight words to 30 TMR students was compared. In Dorry and Zeaman's picture-fading technique, words are taught through association with pictures that are faded out over a series of trials, while in the Edmark program errorless-discrimination technique, words are taught through shaped sequences of visual and auditory--visual matching-to-sample, with the target word first appearing alone and eventually appearing with orthographically similar words. Students were instructed on two lists of 10 words each, one list in the picture-fading and one in the discrimination method, in a double counter-balanced, repeated-measures design. Covariance analysis on three measures (word identification, word recognition, and picture--word matching) showed highly significant differences between the two methods. Students' performance was better after instruction with the errorless-discrimination method than after instruction with the picture-fading method. The findings on picture fading were interpreted as indicating a possible failure of the shifting of control from picture to printed word that earlier researchers have hypothesized as occurring.

High-power femtosecond pulses without a modelocked laser

PubMed Central

Fu, Walter; Wright, Logan G.; Wise, Frank W.

2017-01-01

We demonstrate a fiber system which amplifies and compresses pulses from a gain-switched diode. A Mamyshev regenerator shortens the pulses and improves their coherence, enabling subsequent amplification by parabolic pre-shaping. As a result, we are able to control nonlinear effects and generate nearly transform-limited, 140-fs pulses with 13-MW peak power—an order-of-magnitude improvement over previous gain-switched diode sources. Seeding with a gain-switched diode results in random fluctuations of 2% in the pulse energy, which future work using known techniques may ameliorate. Further development may allow such systems to compete directly with sources based on modelocked oscillators in some applications while enjoying unparalleled robustness and repetition rate control. PMID:29214187

Waveform synthesizer

DOEpatents

Franks, L.A.; Nelson, M.A.

1979-12-07

The invention is a method by which an optical pulse of an arbitrary but defined shape may be transformed into a virtual multitude of optical or electrical output pulse shapes. Since the method is not limited to any particular input pulse shape, the output pulse shapes that can be generated thereby are virtually unlimited. Moreover, output pulse widths as narrow as about 0.1 nsec can be readily obtained since optical pulses of less than a few picoseconds are available for use as driving pulses. The range of output pulse widths obtainable is very large, the limiting factors being the driving source energy and the particular shape of the desired output pulse.

Real-Time Wavelength Discrimination for Improved Neutron Discrimination in CLYC

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

Hornback, Donald Eric; Hu, Michael Z.; Bell, Zane W.

We investigated the effects of optical filters on the pulse shape discrimination properties of Cs 2LiYCl 6:Ce (CLYC) scintillator crystals. By viewing the scintillation light through various optical filters, we attempted to better distinguish between neutron and gamma ray events in the crystal. We applied commercial interference and colored glass filters in addition to fabricating quantum dot (QD) filters by suspending QDs in plastic films and glass. QD filters ultimately failed because of instability of the QDs with respect to oxidation when exposed to ambient air, and the tendency of the QDs to aggregate in the plastic. Of the commercialmore » filters, the best results were obtained with a bandpass interference filter covering the spectral region containing core-valence luminescence (CVL) light. However, the PSD response of filtered CLYC light was always poorer than the response exhibited by unfiltered light because filters always reduced the amount of light available for signal processing.« less

Application of gamma imaging techniques for the characterisation of position sensitive gamma detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Habermann, T.; Didierjean, F.; Duchêne, G.; Filliger, M.; Gerl, J.; Kojouharov, I.; Li, G.; Pietralla, N.; Schaffner, H.; Sigward, M.-H.

2017-11-01

A device to characterize position-sensitive germanium detectors has been implemented at GSI. The main component of this so called scanning table is a gamma camera that is capable of producing online 2D images of the scanned detector by means of a PET technique. To calibrate the gamma camera Compton imaging is employed. The 2D data can be processed further offline to obtain depth information. Of main interest is the response of the scanned detector in terms of the digitized pulse shapes from the preamplifier. This is an important input for pulse-shape analysis algorithms as they are in use for gamma tracking arrays in gamma spectroscopy. To validate the scanning table, a comparison of its results with a second scanning table implemented at the IPHC Strasbourg is envisaged. For this purpose a pixelated germanium detector has been scanned.

Textural Maturity Analysis and Sedimentary Environment Discrimination Based on Grain Shape Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tunwal, M.; Mulchrone, K. F.; Meere, P. A.

2017-12-01

Morphological analysis of clastic sedimentary grains is an important source of information regarding the processes involved in their formation, transportation and deposition. However, a standardised approach for quantitative grain shape analysis is generally lacking. In this contribution we report on a study where fully automated image analysis techniques were applied to loose sediment samples collected from glacial, aeolian, beach and fluvial environments. A range of shape parameters are evaluated for their usefulness in textural characterisation of populations of grains. The utility of grain shape data in ranking textural maturity of samples within a given sedimentary environment is evaluated. Furthermore, discrimination of sedimentary environment on the basis of grain shape information is explored. The data gathered demonstrates a clear progression in textural maturity in terms of roundness, angularity, irregularity, fractal dimension, convexity, solidity and rectangularity. Textural maturity can be readily categorised using automated grain shape parameter analysis. However, absolute discrimination between different depositional environments on the basis of shape parameters alone is less certain. For example, the aeolian environment is quite distinct whereas fluvial, glacial and beach samples are inherently variable and tend to overlap each other in terms of textural maturity. This is most likely due to a collection of similar processes and sources operating within these environments. This study strongly demonstrates the merit of quantitative population-based shape parameter analysis of texture and indicates that it can play a key role in characterising both loose and consolidated sediments. This project is funded by the Irish Petroleum Infrastructure Programme (www.pip.ie)

A versatile setup using femtosecond adaptive spectroscopic techniques for coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering

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

Shen, Yujie, E-mail: styojm@physics.tamu.edu; Voronine, Dmitri V.; Sokolov, Alexei V.

2015-08-15

We report a versatile setup based on the femtosecond adaptive spectroscopic techniques for coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering. The setup uses a femtosecond Ti:Sapphire oscillator source and a folded 4f pulse shaper, in which the pulse shaping is carried out through conventional optical elements and does not require a spatial light modulator. Our setup is simple in alignment, and can be easily switched between the collinear single-beam and the noncollinear two-beam configurations. We demonstrate the capability for investigating both transparent and highly scattering samples by detecting transmitted and reflected signals, respectively.

Development of Fast Measurement System of Neutron Emission Profile Using a Digital Signal Processing Technique in JT-60U

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

Ishikawa, M.; Shinohara, K.; Itoga, T.

2008-03-12

Neutron emission profiles are routinely measured in JT-60U Tokamak. Stinbene neuron detectors (SNDs), which combine a Stilbene organic crystal scintillation detector (Stilbene detector) with an analog neutron-gamma pulse shape discrimination (PSD) circuit, have been used to measure neutron flux efficiently. Although the SND has many advantages as a neutron detector, the maximum count rate is limited up to {approx}1x 10{sup 5} counts/s due to the dead time of the analog PSD circuit. To overcome this issue, a digital signal processing (DSP) system using a Flash-ADC has been developed. In this system, anode signals from the photomultiplier of the Stilbene detectormore » are fed to the Flash ADC and digitized. Then, the PSD between neutrons and gamma-rays are performed using software. The photomultiplier tube is also modified to suppress and correct gain fluctuation of the photomultiplier. The DSP system has been installed in the center channel of the vertical neutron collimator system in JT-60U and applied to measurements of neutron flux in JT-60U experiments. Neutron flux are successfully measured with count rate up to {approx}1x 10{sup 6} counts/s without the effect of pile up of detected pulses. The performance of the DSP system as a neutron detector is demonstrated.« less

Glucose concentration measured by the hybrid coherent anti-Stokes Raman-scattering technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xi; Zhang, Aihua; Zhi, Miaochan; Sokolov, Alexei V.; Welch, George R.

2010-01-01

We investigate the possibility of using a hybrid coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering technique for noninvasive monitoring of blood glucose levels. Our technique combines instantaneous coherent excitation of several characteristic molecular vibrations with subsequent probing of these vibrations by an optimally shaped, time-delayed, narrowband laser pulse. This pulse configuration mitigates the nonresonant four-wave mixing background while maximizing the Raman-resonant signal and allows rapid and highly specific detection even in the presence of multiple scattering. Under certain conditions we find that the measured signal is linearly proportional to the glucose concentration due to optical interference with the residual background light, which allows reliable detection of spectral signatures down to medically relevant glucose levels.

Filamentation and light bullet formation dynamics in solid-state dielectric media with weak, moderate and strong anomalous group velocity dispersion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gražulevičiūtė, I.; Garejev, N.; Majus, D.; Jukna, V.; Tamošauskas, G.; Dubietis, A.

2016-02-01

We present a series of measurements, which characterize filamentation dynamics of intense ultrashort laser pulses in the space-time domain, as captured by means of three-dimensional imaging technique in sapphire and fused silica, in the wavelength range of 1.45-2.25 μm, accessing the regimes of weak, moderate and strong anomalous group velocity dispersion (GVD). In the regime of weak anomalous GVD (at 1.45 μm), pulse splitting into two sub-pulses producing a pair of light bullets with spectrally shifted carrier frequencies in both nonlinear media is observed. In contrast, in the regimes of moderate (at 1.8 μm) and strong (at 2.25 μm) anomalous GVD we observe notably different transient dynamics, which however lead to the formation of a single self-compressed quasistationary light bullet with an universal spatiotemporal shape comprised of an extended ring-shaped periphery and a localized intense core that carries the self-compressed pulse.

Inductive sensor performance in partial discharges and noise separation by means of spectral power ratios.

PubMed

Ardila-Rey, Jorge Alfredo; Rojas-Moreno, Mónica Victoria; Martínez-Tarifa, Juan Manuel; Robles, Guillermo

2014-02-19

Partial discharge (PD) detection is a standardized technique to qualify electrical insulation in machines and power cables. Several techniques that analyze the waveform of the pulses have been proposed to discriminate noise from PD activity. Among them, spectral power ratio representation shows great flexibility in the separation of the sources of PD. Mapping spectral power ratios in two-dimensional plots leads to clusters of points which group pulses with similar characteristics. The position in the map depends on the nature of the partial discharge, the setup and the frequency response of the sensors. If these clusters are clearly separated, the subsequent task of identifying the source of the discharge is straightforward so the distance between clusters can be a figure of merit to suggest the best option for PD recognition. In this paper, two inductive sensors with different frequency responses to pulsed signals, a high frequency current transformer and an inductive loop sensor, are analyzed to test their performance in detecting and separating the sources of partial discharges.

Association between ICP pulse waveform morphology and ICP B waves.

PubMed

Kasprowicz, Magdalena; Bergsneider, Marvin; Czosnyka, Marek; Hu, Xiao

2012-01-01

The study aimed to investigate changes in the shape of ICP pulses associated with different patterns of the ICP slow waves (0.5-2.0 cycles/min) during ICP overnight monitoring in hydrocephalus. Four patterns of ICP slow waves were characterized in 44 overnight ICP recordings (no waves - NW, slow symmetrical waves - SW, slow asymmetrical waves - AS, slow waves with plateau phase - PW). The morphological clustering and analysis of ICP pulse (MOCAIP) algorithm was utilized to calculate a set of metrics describing ICP pulse morphology based on the location of three sub-peaks in an ICP pulse: systolic peak (P(1)), tidal peak (P(2)) and dicrotic peak (P(3)). Step-wise discriminant analysis was applied to select the most characteristic morphological features to distinguish between different ICP slow waves. Based on relative changes in variability of amplitudes of P(2) and P(3) we were able to distinguish between the combined groups NW + SW and AS + PW (p < 0.000001). The AS pattern can be differentiated from PW based on respective changes in the mean curvature of P(2) and P(3) (p < 0.000001); however, none of the MOCAIP feature separates between NW and SW. The investigation of ICP pulse morphology associated with different ICP B waves may provide additional information for analysing recordings of overnight ICP.

Interactive lesion segmentation with shape priors from offline and online learning.

PubMed

Shepherd, Tony; Prince, Simon J D; Alexander, Daniel C

2012-09-01

In medical image segmentation, tumors and other lesions demand the highest levels of accuracy but still call for the highest levels of manual delineation. One factor holding back automatic segmentation is the exemption of pathological regions from shape modelling techniques that rely on high-level shape information not offered by lesions. This paper introduces two new statistical shape models (SSMs) that combine radial shape parameterization with machine learning techniques from the field of nonlinear time series analysis. We then develop two dynamic contour models (DCMs) using the new SSMs as shape priors for tumor and lesion segmentation. From training data, the SSMs learn the lower level shape information of boundary fluctuations, which we prove to be nevertheless highly discriminant. One of the new DCMs also uses online learning to refine the shape prior for the lesion of interest based on user interactions. Classification experiments reveal superior sensitivity and specificity of the new shape priors over those previously used to constrain DCMs. User trials with the new interactive algorithms show that the shape priors are directly responsible for improvements in accuracy and reductions in user demand.

Organic scintillators with pulse shape discrimination for detection of radiation (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mabe, Andrew; Carman, M. Leslie; Glenn, Andrew M.; Zaitseva, Natalia P.; Payne, Stephen A.

2016-09-01

The detection of neutrons in the presence of gamma-ray fields has important applications in the fields of nuclear physics, homeland security, and medical imaging. Organic scintillators provide several attractive qualities as neutron detection materials including low cost, fast response times, ease of scaling, and the ability to implement pulse shape discrimination (PSD) to discriminate between neutrons and gamma-rays. This talk will focus on amorphous organic scintillators both in plastic form and small-molecule organic glass form. The first section of this talk will describe recent advances and improvements in the performance of PSD-capable plastic scintillators. The primary advances described in regard to modification of the polymer matrix, evaluation of new scintillating dyes, improved fabrication conditions, and implementation of additives which impart superior performance and mechanical properties to PSD-capable plastics as compared to commercially-available plastics and performance comparable to PSD-capable liquids. The second section of this talk will focus on a class of small-molecule organic scintillators based on modified indoles and oligophenylenes which form amorphous glasses as PSD-capable neutron scintillation materials. Though indoles and oligophenylenes have been known for many decades, their PSD properties have not been investigated and their scintillation properties only scantily investigated. Well-developed synthetic methodologies have permitted the synthesis of a library of structural analogs of these compounds as well as the investigation of their scintillation properties. The emission wavelengths of many indoles are in the sensitive region of common photomultiplier tubes, making them appropriate to be used as scintillators in either pure or doped form. This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344. This work has been supported by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nonproliferation Research and Development (NA-22) and by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).

Influence of ns-laser wavelength in laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for discrimination of painting techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bai, Xueshi; Syvilay, Delphine; Wilkie-Chancellier, Nicolas; Texier, Annick; Martinez, Loic; Serfaty, Stéphane; Martos-Levif, Dominique; Detalle, Vincent

2017-08-01

The influence of ns-laser wavelength to discriminate ancient painting techniques such as are fresco, casein, animal glue, egg yolk and oil was investigated in this work. This study was carried out with a single shot laser on samples covered by a layer made of a mixture of the cinnabar pigment and different binders. Three wavelengths based on Nd: YAG laser were investigated (1064, 532 and 266 nm). The plasma is controlled at the same electron temperature after an adjustment of pulse energy for these three wavelengths on a fresco sample without organic binder. This approach allows to eliminate the effects of laser pulse energy and the material laser absorption. Afterwards, the emission spectra were compared to separate different techniques. The organic binding media has been separated based on the relative emission intensity of the present CN or C2 rovibrational emissions. In order to test the capability of separating or identifying, the chemometric approach (PCA) was applied to the different matrix. The different solutions in term of wavelength range to optimise the identification was investigated. We focused on the evaluation for the laser wavelength to insure a better separation. The different capacity was interpreted by differentiating the binders by the altered interaction mechanisms between the laser photon and the binders. Also, the electron temperature in the plasma was estimated, which provided the evidences to our findings.

ZnO:Zn/6LiF scintillator-A low afterglow alternative to ZnS:Ag/6LiF for thermal neutron detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sykora, G. Jeff; Schooneveld, Erik M.; Rhodes, Nigel J.

2018-03-01

Current ZnS:Ag/6LiF based scintillation detectors are often count rate limited by the long lifetime afterglow in the scintillator. Despite this drawback, new instruments at neutron scattering facilities, like ISIS in the UK, would still like to use ZnS:Ag/6LiF detectors due to their low gamma sensitivity, high light output, simplicity of detector design and relatively inexpensive production. One particular advantage of ZnS:Ag/6LiF detectors is their ability to provide strong pulse shape discrimination between neutrons and gammas. Despite the advantages of these detectors, it is becoming clear that new and upgraded instruments will be limited by the count rate capability of ZnS:Ag/6LiF, so an alternative scintillator technology with equivalent simplicity is being sought. ZnO:Zn/6LiF is investigated here as a low afterglow alternative to ZnS:Ag/6LiF. Basic scintillation properties of ZnO:Zn are studied and are discussed. Pulse shape discrimination between neutrons and gammas is explored and taken advantage of through simple single photon counting methods. A further step toward a realistic detector for neutron scattering is also taken by fiber coupling the ZnO:Zn/6LiF to a PMT. In an initial study of this fiber coupled configuration, 60Co gamma sensitivity of ∼ 7 × 10-6 is shown and improvements in count rate capability of at least a factor of 6 over ZnS:Ag/6LiF based neutron detectors are demonstrated.

Active spectral shaping with polarization-encoded Ti:sapphire amplifiers for sub-20 fs multi-terawatt systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, H.; Kalashnikov, M.; Osvay, K.; Khodakovskiy, N.; Nagymihaly, R. S.; Chvykov, V.

2018-04-01

A combination of a polarization-encoded (PE) and a conventional multi-pass amplifier was studied to overcome gain narrowing in the Ti:sapphire active medium. The seed spectrum was pre-shaped and blue-shifted during PE amplification and was then further broadened in a conventional, saturated multi-pass amplifier, resulting in an overall increase of the amplified bandwidth. Using this technique, seed pulses of 44 nm were amplified and simultaneously spectrally broadened to 57 nm without the use of passive spectral corrections. The amplified pulse after the PE amplifier was recompressed to 19 fs. The supported simulations confirm all aspects of experimental operation.

Cargo and Container X-Ray Inspection with Intra-Pulse Multi-Energy Method for Material Discrimination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saverskiy, Aleksandr Y.; Dinca, Dan-Cristian; Rommel, J. Martin

The Intra-Pulse Multi-Energy (IPME) method of material discrimination mitigates main disadvantages of the traditional "interlaced" approach: ambiguity caused by sampling different regions of cargo and reduction of effective scanning speed. A novel concept of creating multi-energy probing pulses using a standing-wave structure allows maintaining a constant energy spectrum while changing the time duration of each sub-pulse and thus enables adaptive cargo inspection. Depending on the cargo density, the dose delivered to the inspected object is optimized for best material discrimination, maximum material penetration, or lowest dose to cargo. A model based on Monte-Carlo simulation and experimental reference points were developed for the optimization of inspection conditions.

Digital fast neutron radiography of steel reinforcing bar in concrete

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mitton, K.; Jones, A.; Joyce, M. J.

2014-12-01

Neutron imaging has previously been used in order to test for cracks, degradation and water content in concrete. However, these techniques often fall short of alternative non-destructive testing methods, such as γ-ray and X-ray imaging, particularly in terms of resolution. Further, thermal neutron techniques can be compromised by the significant expense associated with thermal neutron sources of sufficient intensity to yield satisfactory results that can often precipitate the need for a reactor. Such embodiments are clearly not portable in the context of the needs of field applications. This paper summarises the results of a study to investigate the potential for transmission radiography based on fast neutrons. The objective of this study was to determine whether the presence of heterogeneities in concrete, such as reinforcement structures, could be identified on the basis of variation in transmitted fast-neutron flux. Monte-Carlo simulations have been performed and the results from these are compared to those arising from practical tests using a 252Cf source. The experimental data have been acquired using a digital pulse-shape discrimination system that enables fast neutron transmission to be studied across an array of liquid scintillators placed in close proximity to samples under test, and read out in real time. Whilst this study does not yield sufficient spatial resolution, a comparison of overall flux ratios does provide a basis for the discrimination between samples with contrasting rebar content. This approach offers the potential for non-destructive testing that gives less dose, better transportability and better accessibility than competing approaches. It is also suitable for thick samples where γ-ray and X-ray methods can be limited.

Broad-spectrum neodymium-doped laser glasses for high-energy chirped-pulse amplification.

PubMed

Hays, Greg R; Gaul, Erhard W; Martinez, Mikael D; Ditmire, Todd

2007-07-20

We have investigated two novel laser glasses in an effort to generate high-energy, broad-spectrum pulses from a chirped-pulse amplification Nd:glass laser. Both glasses have significantly broader spectra (>38 nm FWHM) than currently available Nd:phosphate and Nd:silicate glasses. We present calculations for small signal pulse amplification to simulate spectral gain narrowing. The technique of spectral shaping using mixed-glass architecture with an optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification front end is evaluated. Our modeling shows that amplified pulses with energies exceeding 10 kJ with sufficient bandwidth to achieve 120 fs pulsewidths are achievable with the use of the new laser glasses. With further development of current technologies, a laser system could be scaled to generate one exawatt in peak power.

DESCANT and β-delayed neutron measurements at TRIUMF

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bildstein, V.; Garrett, P. E.; Ashley, S. F.; Ball, G. C.; Bianco, L.; Bandyopadhyay, D.; Bangay, J.; Crider, B. P.; Demand, G.; Deng, G.; Dillmann, I.; Finlay, A.; Garnsworthy, A. B.; Hackman, G.; Hadinia, B.; Krücken, R.; Leach, K. G.; Martin, J.-P.; McEllistrem, M. T.; Pearson, C. J.; Peters, E. E.; Prados-Estévez, F. M.; Radich, A.; Sarazin, F.; Sumithrarachchi, C.; Svensson, C. E.; Vanhoy, J. R.; Wong, J.; Yates, S. W.

2015-05-01

The DESCANT array (Deuterated Scintillator Array for Neutron Tagging) consists of up to 70 detectors, each filled with approximately 2 liters of deuterated benzene. This scintillator material o_ers pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) capabilities to distinguish between neutrons and γ-rays interacting with the scintillator material. In addition, the anisotropic nature of n - d scattering allows for the determination of the neutron energy spectrum directly from the pulse height spectrum, complementing the traditional time-of-flight (ToF) information. DESCANT can be coupled either to the TIGRESS (TRIUMF-ISAC Gamma-Ray Escape Suppressed Spectrometer) γ-ray spectrometer [1] located in the ISAC-II [2] hall of TRIUMF for in-beam experiments, or to the GRIFFIN (Gamma-Ray Infrastructure For Fundamental Investigations of Nuclei) γ-ray spectrometer [3] located in the ISAC-I hall of TRIUMF for decay spectroscopy experiments.

Performance of coincidence-based PSD on LiF/ZnS Detectors for Multiplicity Counting

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

Robinson, Sean M.; Stave, Sean C.; Lintereur, Azaree

Abstract: Mass accountancy measurement is a nuclear nonproliferation application which utilizes coincidence and multiplicity counters to verify special nuclear material declarations. With a well-designed and efficient detector system, several relevant parameters of the material can be verified simultaneously. 6LiF/ZnS scintillating sheets may be used for this purpose due to a combination of high efficiency and short die-away times in systems designed with this material, but involve choices of detector geometry and exact material composition (e.g., the addition of Ni-quenching in the material) that must be optimized for the application. Multiplicity counting for verification of declared nuclear fuel mass involves neutronmore » detection in conditions where several neutrons arrive in a short time window, with confounding gamma rays. This paper considers coincidence-based Pulse-Shape Discrimination (PSD) techniques developed to work under conditions of high pileup, and the performance of these algorithms with different detection materials. Simulated and real data from modern LiF/ZnS scintillator systems are evaluated with these techniques and the relationship between the performance under pileup and material characteristics (e.g., neutron peak width and total light collection efficiency) are determined, to allow for an optimal choice of detector and material.« less

Femtosecond noncollinear SFG dynamics in autocorrelator setup at low level of photons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tenishev, Vladimir P.; Persson, A.; Larsson, J.

2004-06-01

We report here the characteristics of noncollinear sum frequency generation in nonlinear KDP crystals by ultrashort (80 fsec) IR pulses irradiated by the intense Ti:Sapphire laser and their behavior in single shot auto-crosscorrelator (ACC) configuration. In particular we study the case where one of the beams is very weak. Our aim is to develop a procedure to provide delay time signal between light pulses for time resolved pump probe experiments based on the extraction of the phase-matched SHG spatial distribution by means of pulse shape analysis technique. We intend to apply these results to synchronize a weak short-pulse source and an intense Ti:Sapphire laser and to measure the pulse time jitter between them.

Influence of lasing parameters on the cleaning efficacy of laser-activated irrigation with pulsed erbium lasers.

PubMed

Meire, Maarten A; Havelaerts, Sophie; De Moor, Roeland J

2016-05-01

Laser-activated irrigation (LAI) using erbium lasers is an irrigant agitation technique with great potential for improved cleaning of the root canal system, as shown in many in vitro studies. However, lasing parameters for LAI vary considerably and their influence remains unclear. Therefore, this study sought to investigate the influence of pulse energy, pulse frequency, pulse length, irradiation time and fibre tip shape, position and diameter on the cleaning efficacy of LAI. Transparent resin blocks containing standardized root canals (apical diameter of 0.4 mm, 6% taper, 15 mm long, with a coronal reservoir) were used as the test model. A standardized groove in the apical part of each canal wall was packed with stained dentin debris. The canals were filled with irrigant, which was activated by an erbium: yttrium aluminium garnet (Er:YAG) laser (2940 nm, AT Fidelis, Fotona, Ljubljana, Slovenia). In each experiment, one laser parameter was varied, while the others remained constant. In this way, the influence of pulse energy (10-40 mJ), pulse length (50-1000 μs), frequency (5-30 Hz), irradiation time (5-40 s) and fibre tip shape (flat or conical), position (pulp chamber, canal entrance, next to groove) and diameter (300-600 μm) was determined by treating 20 canals per parameter. The amount of debris remaining in the groove after each LAI procedure was scored and compared among the different treatments. The parameters significantly (P < 0.05, Kruskal-Wallis) affecting debris removal from the groove were fibre tip position, pulse length, pulse energy, irradiation time and frequency. Fibre tip shape and diameter had no significant influence on the cleaning efficacy.

Local pulse wave velocity estimated from small vibrations measured ultrasonically at multiple points on the arterial wall

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ito, Mika; Arakawa, Mototaka; Kanai, Hiroshi

2018-07-01

Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is used as a diagnostic criterion for arteriosclerosis, a major cause of heart disease and cerebrovascular disease. However, there are several problems with conventional PWV measurement techniques. One is that a pulse wave is assumed to only have an incident component propagating at a constant speed from the heart to the femoral artery, and another is that PWV is only determined from a characteristic time such as the rise time of the blood pressure waveform. In this study, we noninvasively measured the velocity waveform of small vibrations at multiple points on the carotid arterial wall using ultrasound. Local PWV was determined by analyzing the phase component of the velocity waveform by the least squares method. This method allowed measurement of the time change of the PWV at approximately the arrival time of the pulse wave, which discriminates the period when the reflected component is not contaminated.

MiniCLEAN-360: A liquid argon/neon dark matter detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rielage, Keith; DEAP/CLEAN Collaboration

2008-11-01

MiniCLEAN-360 utilizes 360 kg of liquid argon to detect the nuclear recoil from WIMP dark matter with a projected cross-section sensitivity of 10-45 cm2. To reach this planned sensitivity, a unique modular design is being developed with a spherical geometry to maximize light collection using PMTs. Pulse shape discrimination techniques separate nuclear recoil signal from the electron recoil backgrounds resulting from the beta decay of 39Ar and Compton scattering of gamma rays. The design allows for the replacement of the target material with liquid neon to examine any signal and backgrounds with a different sensitivity. It also provides research and development for a larger scale low energy solar neutrino experiment using neon (CLEAN: Cryogenic Low Energy Astrophysics with Noble gases) that plans to measure the pp-solar neutrino flux to 1%. Particular attention is being paid to mitigating the background from contamination of surfaces by radon daughters during assembly. The engineering design, radon mitigation plan, and various testing setups are presented. MiniCLEAN-360 anticipates the start of data collection in mid-2009 at SNOLAB in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.

Charge Transport Phenomena in Detectors of the Cryogenic Dark Matter Search

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sundqvist, Kyle

2008-03-01

The Cryogenic Dark Matter Search (CDMS) seeks to detect putative weakly-interacting massive particles (WIMPS), which could explain the dark matter problem in cosmology and particle physics. By simultaneously measuring the number of charge carriers and the energy in athermal phonons created by particle interactions in intrinsic Ge and Si crystals at a temperature of 40 mK, a signature response for each event is produced. This response, combined with phonon pulse-shape information, allows CDMS to actively discriminate candidate WIMP interactions with nuclei apart from electromagnetic radioactive background which interacts with electrons. The challenges associated with these techniques are unique. Carrier drift-fields are maintained at only a few V/cm, else drift-emitted Luke-Neganov phonons would dominate the phonons of the original interaction. Under such conditions, carrier scattering is dominated by zero-point fluctuations of the lattice ions. It has been an open question how well the 8 Kelvin data prominent in the literature depicts this case. We compare the simulated transport properties of electrons and holes in <100> Ge at 40 mK and at 8 K, and apply this understanding to our detectors.

The 13C(n,α0)10Be cross section at 14.3 MeV and 17 MeV neutron energy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kavrigin, P.; Belloni, F.; Frais-Koelbl, H.; Griesmayer, E.; Plompen, A. J. M.; Schillebeeckx, P.; Weiss, C.

2017-09-01

At nuclear fusion reactors, CVD diamond detectors are considered an advantageous solution for neutron flux monitoring. For such applications the knowledge of the cross section of neutron-induced nuclear reactions on natural carbon are of high importance. Especially the (n,α0) reactions, yielding the highest energy reaction products, are of relevance as they can be clearly distinguished in the spectrum. The 13C(n,α0)10Be cross section was measured relative to 12C(n,α0)9Be at the Van de Graaff facility of EC-JRC Geel, Belgium, at 14.3 MeV and 17.0 MeV neutron energies. The measurement was performed with an sCVD (single-crystal Chemical Vapor Deposition) diamond detector, where the detector material acted simultaneously as sample and as sensor. A novel data analysis technique, based on pulse-shape discrimination, allowed an efficient reduction of background events. The results of the measurement are presented and compared to previously published values for this cross-section.

The Effect of Photon Statistics and Pulse Shaping on the Performance of the Wiener Filter Crystal Identification Algorithm Applied to LabPET Phoswich Detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yousefzadeh, Hoorvash Camilia; Lecomte, Roger; Fontaine, Réjean

2012-06-01

A fast Wiener filter-based crystal identification (WFCI) algorithm was recently developed to discriminate crystals with close scintillation decay times in phoswich detectors. Despite the promising performance of WFCI, the influence of various physical factors and electrical noise sources of the data acquisition chain (DAQ) on the crystal identification process was not fully investigated. This paper examines the effect of different noise sources, such as photon statistics, avalanche photodiode (APD) excess multiplication noise, and front-end electronic noise, as well as the influence of different shaping filters on the performance of the WFCI algorithm. To this end, a PET-like signal simulator based on a model of the LabPET DAQ, a small animal APD-based digital PET scanner, was developed. Simulated signals were generated under various noise conditions with CR-RC shapers of order 1, 3, and 5 having different time constants (τ). Applying the WFCI algorithm to these simulated signals showed that the non-stationary Poisson photon statistics is the main contributor to the identification error of WFCI algorithm. A shaping filter of order 1 with τ = 50 ns yielded the best WFCI performance (error 1%), while a longer shaping time of τ = 100 ns slightly degraded the WFCI performance (error 3%). Filters of higher orders with fast shaping time constants (10-33 ns) also produced good WFCI results (error 1.4% to 1.6%). This study shows the advantage of the pulse simulator in evaluating various DAQ conditions and confirms the influence of the detection chain on the WFCI performance.

Beam shaping as an enabler for new applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guertler, Yvonne; Kahmann, Max; Havrilla, David

2017-02-01

For many years, laser beam shaping has enabled users to achieve optimized process results as well as manage challenging applications. The latest advancements in industrial lasers and processing optics have taken this a step further as users are able to adapt the beam shape to meet specific application requirements in a very flexible way. TRUMPF has developed a wide range of experience in creating beam profiles at the work piece for optimized material processing. This technology is based on the physical model of wave optics and can be used with ultra short pulse lasers as well as multi-kW cw lasers. Basically, the beam shape can be adapted in all three dimensions in space, which allows maximum flexibility. Besides adaption of intensity profile, even multi-spot geometries can be produced. This approach is very cost efficient, because a standard laser source and (in the case of cw lasers) a standard fiber can be used without any special modifications. Based on this innovative beam shaping technology, TRUMPF has developed new and optimized processes. Two of the most recent application developments using these techniques are cutting glass and synthetic sapphire with ultra-short pulse lasers and enhanced brazing of hot dip zinc coated steel for automotive applications. Both developments lead to more efficient and flexible production processes, enabled by laser technology and open the door to new opportunities. They also indicate the potential of beam shaping techniques since they can be applied to both single-mode laser sources (TOP Cleave) and multi-mode laser sources (brazing).

Speckle noise reduction technique for Lidar echo signal based on self-adaptive pulse-matching independent component analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Fan; Wang, Jiaxing; Zhu, Daiyin; Tu, Qi

2018-04-01

Speckle noise has always been a particularly tricky problem in improving the ranging capability and accuracy of Lidar system especially in harsh environment. Currently, effective speckle de-noising techniques are extremely scarce and should be further developed. In this study, a speckle noise reduction technique has been proposed based on independent component analysis (ICA). Since normally few changes happen in the shape of laser pulse itself, the authors employed the laser source as a reference pulse and executed the ICA decomposition to find the optimal matching position. In order to achieve the self-adaptability of algorithm, local Mean Square Error (MSE) has been defined as an appropriate criterion for investigating the iteration results. The obtained experimental results demonstrated that the self-adaptive pulse-matching ICA (PM-ICA) method could effectively decrease the speckle noise and recover the useful Lidar echo signal component with high quality. Especially, the proposed method achieves 4 dB more improvement of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) than a traditional homomorphic wavelet method.

Automatic NMR field-frequency lock-pulsed phase locked loop approach.

PubMed

Kan, S; Gonord, P; Fan, M; Sauzade, M; Courtieu, J

1978-06-01

A self-contained deuterium frequency-field lock scheme for a high-resolution NMR spectrometer is described. It is based on phase locked loop techniques in which the free induction decay signal behaves as a voltage-controlled oscillator. By pulsing the spins at an offset frequency of a few hundred hertz and using a digital phase-frequency discriminator this method not only eliminates the usual phase, rf power, offset adjustments needed in conventional lock systems but also possesses the automatic pull-in characteristics that dispense with the use of field sweeps to locate the NMR line prior to closure of the lock loop.

The solid state detector technology for picosecond laser ranging

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Prochazka, Ivan

1993-01-01

We developed an all solid state laser ranging detector technology, which makes the goal of millimeter accuracy achievable. Our design and construction philosophy is to combine the techniques of single photon ranging, ultrashort laser pulses, and fast fixed threshold discrimination while avoiding any analog signal processing within the laser ranging chain. The all solid state laser ranging detector package consists of the START detector and the STOP solid state photon counting module. Both the detectors are working in an optically triggered avalanche switching regime. The optical signal is triggering an avalanche current buildup which results in the generation of a uniform, fast risetime output pulse.

Energy resolution improvement of CdTe detectors by using the principal component analysis technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alharbi, T.

2018-02-01

In this paper, we report on the application of the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) technique for the improvement of the γ-ray energy resolution of CdTe detectors. The PCA technique is used to estimate the amount of charge-trapping effect which is reflected in the shape of each detector pulse, thereby correcting for the charge-trapping effect. The details of the method are described and the results obtained with a CdTe detector are shown. We have achieved an energy resolution of 1.8 % (FWHM) at 662 keV with full detection efficiency from a 1 mm thick CdTe detector which gives an energy resolution of 4.5 % (FWHM) by using the standard pulse processing method.

Arbitrary temporal shape pulsed fiber laser based on SPGD algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Min; Su, Rongtao; Zhang, Pengfei; Zhou, Pu

2018-06-01

A novel adaptive pulse shaping method for a pulsed master oscillator power amplifier fiber laser to deliver an arbitrary pulse shape is demonstrated. Numerical simulation has been performed to validate the feasibility of the scheme and provide meaningful guidance for the design of the algorithm control parameters. In the proof-of-concept experiment, information on the temporal property of the laser is exchanged and evaluated through a local area network, and the laser adjusted the parameters of the seed laser according to the monitored output of the system automatically. Various pulse shapes, including a rectangular shape, ‘M’ shape, and elliptical shape are achieved through experimental iterations.

Techniques for avoiding discrimination errors in the dynamic sampling of condensable vapors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lincoln, K. A.

1983-01-01

In the mass spectrometric sampling of dynamic systems, measurements of the relative concentrations of condensable and noncondensable vapors can be significantly distorted if some subtle, but important, instrumental factors are overlooked. Even with in situ measurements, the condensables are readily lost to the container walls, and the noncondensables can persist within the vacuum chamber and yield a disproportionately high output signal. Where single pulses of vapor are sampled this source of error is avoided by gating either the mass spectrometer ""on'' or the data acquisition instrumentation ""on'' only during the very brief time-window when the initial vapor cloud emanating directly from the vapor source passes through the ionizer. Instrumentation for these techniques is detailed and its effectiveness is demonstrated by comparing gated and nongated spectra obtained from the pulsed-laser vaporization of several materials.

Mass-dependent channel electron multiplier operation. [for ion detection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fields, S. A.; Burch, J. L.; Oran, W. A.

1977-01-01

The absolute counting efficiency and pulse height distributions of a continuous-channel electron multiplier used in the detection of hydrogen, argon and xenon ions are assessed. The assessment technique, which involves the post-acceleration of 8-eV ion beams to energies from 100 to 4000 eV, provides information on counting efficiency versus post-acceleration voltage characteristics over a wide range of ion mass. The charge pulse height distributions for H2 (+), A (+) and Xe (+) were measured by operating the experimental apparatus in a marginally gain-saturated mode. It was found that gain saturation occurs at lower channel multiplier operating voltages for light ions such as H2 (+) than for the heavier ions A (+) and Xe (+), suggesting that the technique may be used to discriminate between these two classes of ions in electrostatic analyzers.

Magnus expansion method for two-level atom interacting with few-cycle pulse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Begzjav, T.; Ben-Benjamin, J. S.; Eleuch, H.; Nessler, R.; Rostovtsev, Y.; Shchedrin, G.

2018-06-01

Using the Magnus expansion to the fourth order, we obtain analytic expressions for the atomic state of a two-level system driven by a laser pulse of arbitrary shape with small pulse area. We also determine the limitation of our obtained formulas due to limited range of convergence of the Magnus series. We compare our method to the recently developed method of Rostovtsev et al. (PRA 2009, 79, 063833) for several detunings. Our analysis shows that our technique based on the Magnus expansion can be used as a complementary method to the one in PRA 2009.

THE DISTURBANCE OF A MILLISECOND PULSAR MAGNETOSPHERE

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

Shannon, R. M.; Kerr, M.; Dai, S.

2016-09-01

Pulsar timing has enabled some of the strongest tests of fundamental physics. Central to the technique is the assumption that the detected radio pulses can be used to accurately measure the rotation of the pulsar. Here, we report on a broadband variation in the pulse profile of the millisecond pulsar J1643−1224. A new component of emission suddenly appears in the pulse profile, decays over four months, and results in a permanently modified pulse shape. Profile variations such as these may be the origin of timing noise observed in other millisecond pulsars. The sensitivity of pulsar-timing observations to gravitational radiation canmore » be increased by accounting for this variability.« less

A simple and versatile data acquisition system for software coincidence and pulse-height discrimination in 4πβ-γ coincidence experiments.

PubMed

Kawada, Y; Yamada, T; Unno, Y; Yunoki, A; Sato, Y; Hino, Y

2012-09-01

A simple but versatile data acquisition system for software coincidence experiments is described, in which any time stamping and live time controller are not provided. Signals from β- and γ-channels are fed to separately two fast ADCs (16 bits, 25 MHz clock maximum) via variable delay circuits and pulse-height stretchers, and also to pulse-height discriminators. The discriminating level was set to just above the electronic noise. Two ADCs were controlled with a common clock signal, and triggered simultaneously by the logic OR pulses from both discriminators. Paired digital signals for each sampling were sent to buffer memories connected to main PC with a FIFO (First-In, First-Out) pipe via USB. After data acquisition in list mode, various processing including pulse-height analyses was performed using MS-Excel (version 2007 and later). The usefulness of this system was demonstrated for 4πβ(PS)-4πγ coincidence measurements of (60)Co, (134)Cs and (152)Eu. Possibilities of other extended applications will be touched upon. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Atmospheric correlation-time measurements and effects on coherent Doppler lidar

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ancellet, Gerard M.; Menzies, Robert T.

1987-01-01

The time for which the backscatter from an ensemble of atmospheric aerosol particles remains coherent was studied by using a pulsed TEA CO2 lidar with coherent detection. Experimental results are compared with predictions by using model pulse shapes appropriate for TEA CO2 laser transmitters. The correlation time of the backscatter return signal is important in studies of atmospheric turbulence and its effects on optical propagation and backscatter. Techniques for its measurement are discussed and evaluated.

Photonic reagents for concentration measurement of flu-orescent proteins with overlapping spectra

PubMed Central

Goun, Alexei; Bondar, Denys I.; Er, Ali O.; Quine, Zachary; Rabitz, Herschel A.

2016-01-01

By exploiting photonic reagents (i.e., coherent control by shaped laser pulses), we employ Optimal Dynamic Discrimination (ODD) as a novel means for quantitatively characterizing mixtures of fluorescent proteins with a large spectral overlap. To illustrate ODD, we simultaneously measured concentrations of in vitro mixtures of Enhanced Blue Fluorescent Protein (EBFP) and Enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Protein (ECFP). Building on this foundational study, the ultimate goal is to exploit the capabilities of ODD for parallel monitoring of genetic and protein circuits by suppressing the spectral cross-talk among multiple fluorescent reporters. PMID:27181496

Light detection and the wavelength shifter deposition in DEAP-3600

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Broerman, B.; Retière, F.

2016-02-01

The Dark matter Experiment using Argon Pulse-shape discrimination (DEAP) uses liquid argon as a target medium to perform a direct-detection dark matter search. The 3600 kg liquid argon target volume is housed in a spherical acrylic vessel and viewed by a surrounding array of photomultiplier tubes. Ionizing particles in the argon volume produce scintillation light which must be wavelength shifted to be detected by the photomultiplier tubes. Argon scintillation and wavelength shifting, along with details on the application of the wavelength shifter to the inner surface of the acrylic vessel are presented.

Plastic scintillator with effective pulse shape discrimination for neutron and gamma detection

DOEpatents

Zaitseva, Natalia P.; Carman, M Leslie; Cherepy, Nerine; Glenn, Andrew M.; Hamel, Sebastien; Payne, Stephen A.; Rupert, Benjamin L.

2016-04-12

In one embodiment, a scintillator material includes a polymer matrix; and a primary dye in the polymer matrix, the primary dye being a fluorescent dye, the primary dye being present in an amount of 5 wt % or more; wherein the scintillator material exhibits an optical response signature for neutrons that is different than an optical response signature for gamma rays. In another embodiment, a scintillator material includes a polymer matrix; and a primary dye in the polymer matrix, the primary dye being a fluorescent dye, the primary dye being present in an amount greater than 10 wt %.

Investigations of gain redshift in high peak power Ti:sapphire laser systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Fenxiang; Yu, Linpeng; Zhang, Zongxin; Li, Wenkai; Yang, Xiaojun; Wu, Yuanfeng; Li, Shuai; Wang, Cheng; Liu, Yanqi; Lu, Xiaoming; Xu, Yi; Leng, Yuxin

2018-07-01

Gain redshift in high peak power Ti:sapphire laser systems can result in narrowband spectral output and hence lengthen the compressed pulse duration. In order to realize broadband spectral output in 10 PW-class Ti:sapphire lasers, the influence on gain redshift induced by spectral pre-shaping, gain distribution of cascaded amplifiers and Extraction During Pumping (EDP) technique have been investigated. The theoretical and experimental results show that the redshift of output spectrum is sensitive to the spectral pre-shaping and the gain distribution of cascaded amplifiers, while insensitive to the pumping scheme with or without EDP. Moreover, the output spectrum from our future 10 PW Ti:sapphire laser is theoretically analyzed based on the investigations above, which indicates that a Fourier-transform limited (FTL) pulse duration of 21 fs can be achieved just by optimizing the spectral pre-shaping and gain distribution in 10 PW-class Ti:sapphire lasers.

Discrimination of soft tissues using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy in combination with k nearest neighbors (kNN) and support vector machine (SVM) classifiers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xiaohui; Yang, Sibo; Fan, Rongwei; Yu, Xin; Chen, Deying

2018-06-01

In this paper, discrimination of soft tissues using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) in combination with multivariate statistical methods is presented. Fresh pork fat, skin, ham, loin and tenderloin muscle tissues are manually cut into slices and ablated using a 1064 nm pulsed Nd:YAG laser. Discrimination analyses between fat, skin and muscle tissues, and further between highly similar ham, loin and tenderloin muscle tissues, are performed based on the LIBS spectra in combination with multivariate statistical methods, including principal component analysis (PCA), k nearest neighbors (kNN) classification, and support vector machine (SVM) classification. Performances of the discrimination models, including accuracy, sensitivity and specificity, are evaluated using 10-fold cross validation. The classification models are optimized to achieve best discrimination performances. The fat, skin and muscle tissues can be definitely discriminated using both kNN and SVM classifiers, with accuracy of over 99.83%, sensitivity of over 0.995 and specificity of over 0.998. The highly similar ham, loin and tenderloin muscle tissues can also be discriminated with acceptable performances. The best performances are achieved with SVM classifier using Gaussian kernel function, with accuracy of 76.84%, sensitivity of over 0.742 and specificity of over 0.869. The results show that the LIBS technique assisted with multivariate statistical methods could be a powerful tool for online discrimination of soft tissues, even for tissues of high similarity, such as muscles from different parts of the animal body. This technique could be used for discrimination of tissues suffering minor clinical changes, thus may advance the diagnosis of early lesions and abnormalities.

80GHz waveform generator by optical Fourier synthesis of four spectral sidebands (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fatome, Julien; Hammani, Kamal; Kibler, Bertrand; Finot, Christophe

2016-04-01

Versatile and easy to implement methods to generate arbitrary optical waveforms at high repetition rates are of considerable interest with applications in optical communications, all-optical signal processing, instrumentation systems and microwave signal manipulation. While shaping sinusoidal, Gaussian or hyperbolic secant intensity profiles is commonly achieved by means of modulators or mode-locked lasers, other pulse profiles such as parabolic, triangular or flat-top shapes still remain challenging to synthesize. In this context, several strategies were already explored. First, the linear pulse shaping is a common method to carve an initial ultrashort pulse train into the desired shape. The line-by-line shaping of a coherent frequency comb made of tens of spectral components was also investigated to generate more complex structures whereas Fourier synthesis of a few discrete frequencies spectrum was exploited to efficiently generate high-fidelity ultrafast periodic intensity profiles. Besides linear shaping techniques, several nonlinear methods were implemented to benefit from the adiabatic evolution of the intensity pulse profile upon propagation in optical fibers. Other examples of efficient methods are based on the photonic generation involving specific Mach-Zehnder modulators, microwave photonic filters as well as frequency-to-time conversion. In this contribution, we theoretically and experimentally demonstrate a new approach enabling the synthesis of periodic high-repetition rate pulses with various intensity profiles ranging from parabola to triangular and flat-top pulses. More precisely by linear phase and amplitude shaping of only four spectral lines is it possible to reach the targeted temporal profile. Indeed, tailoring the input symmetric spectrum only requires the determination of two physical parameters: the phase difference between the inner and outer spectral sidebands and the ratio between the amplitude of these sidebands. Therefore, a systematic bidimensional analysis provides the optimum parameters and also highlights that switching between the different waveforms is achieved by simply changing the spectral phase between the inner and outer sidebands. We successfully validate this concept with the generation of high-fidelity ultrafast periodic waveforms at 40 GHz by shaping with a liquid cristal on insulator a four sideband comb resulting from a phase-modulated continuous wave. In order to reach higher repetition rates, we also describe a new scenario to obtain the required initial spectrum by taking advantage of the four-wave mixing process occurring in a highly nonlinear fiber. This approach is experimentally implemented at a repetition rate of 80-GHz by use of intensity and phase measurements that stress that full-duty cycle, high-quality, triangular, parabolic or flat-top profiles are obtained in full agreement with numerical simulations. The reconfigurable property of this photonic waveform generator is confirmed. Finally, the generation of bunch of shaped pulses is investigated, as well as the impact of Brillouin backscattering.

Efficient Z gates for quantum computing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McKay, David C.; Wood, Christopher J.; Sheldon, Sarah; Chow, Jerry M.; Gambetta, Jay M.

2017-08-01

For superconducting qubits, microwave pulses drive rotations around the Bloch sphere. The phase of these drives can be used to generate zero-duration arbitrary virtual Z gates, which, combined with two Xπ /2 gates, can generate any SU(2) gate. Here we show how to best utilize these virtual Z gates to both improve algorithms and correct pulse errors. We perform randomized benchmarking using a Clifford set of Hadamard and Z gates and show that the error per Clifford is reduced versus a set consisting of standard finite-duration X and Y gates. Z gates can correct unitary rotation errors for weakly anharmonic qubits as an alternative to pulse-shaping techniques such as derivative removal by adiabatic gate (DRAG). We investigate leakage and show that a combination of DRAG pulse shaping to minimize leakage and Z gates to correct rotation errors realizes a 13.3 ns Xπ /2 gate characterized by low error [1.95 (3 ) ×10-4] and low leakage [3.1 (6 ) ×10-6] . Ultimately leakage is limited by the finite temperature of the qubit, but this limit is two orders of magnitude smaller than pulse errors due to decoherence.

Pulse shape discrimination for Gerda Phase I data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Agostini, M.; Allardt, M.; Andreotti, E.; Bakalyarov, A. M.; Balata, M.; Barabanov, I.; Barnabé Heider, M.; Barros, N.; Baudis, L.; Bauer, C.; Becerici-Schmidt, N.; Bellotti, E.; Belogurov, S.; Belyaev, S. T.; Benato, G.; Bettini, A.; Bezrukov, L.; Bode, T.; Brudanin, V.; Brugnera, R.; Budjáš, D.; Caldwell, A.; Cattadori, C.; Chernogorov, A.; Cossavella, F.; Demidova, E. V.; Domula, A.; Egorov, V.; Falkenstein, R.; Ferella, A.; Freund, K.; Frodyma, N.; Gangapshev, A.; Garfagnini, A.; Gotti, C.; Grabmayr, P.; Gurentsov, V.; Gusev, K.; Guthikonda, K. K.; Hampel, W.; Hegai, A.; Heisel, M.; Hemmer, S.; Heusser, G.; Hofmann, W.; Hult, M.; Inzhechik, L. V.; Ioannucci, L.; Janicskó Csáthy, J.; Jochum, J.; Junker, M.; Kihm, T.; Kirpichnikov, I. V.; Kirsch, A.; Klimenko, A.; Knöpfle, K. T.; Kochetov, O.; Kornoukhov, V. N.; Kuzminov, V. V.; Laubenstein, M.; Lazzaro, A.; Lebedev, V. I.; Lehnert, B.; Liao, H. Y.; Lindner, M.; Lippi, I.; Liu, X.; Lubashevskiy, A.; Lubsandorzhiev, B.; Lutter, G.; Macolino, C.; Machado, A. A.; Majorovits, B.; Maneschg, W.; Misiaszek, M.; Nemchenok, I.; Nisi, S.; O'Shaughnessy, C.; Pandola, L.; Pelczar, K.; Pessina, G.; Pullia, A.; Riboldi, S.; Rumyantseva, N.; Sada, C.; Salathe, M.; Schmitt, C.; Schreiner, J.; Schulz, O.; Schwingenheuer, B.; Schönert, S.; Shevchik, E.; Shirchenko, M.; Simgen, H.; Smolnikov, A.; Stanco, L.; Strecker, H.; Tarka, M.; Ur, C. A.; Vasenko, A. A.; Volynets, O.; von Sturm, K.; Wagner, V.; Walter, M.; Wegmann, A.; Wester, T.; Wojcik, M.; Yanovich, E.; Zavarise, P.; Zhitnikov, I.; Zhukov, S. V.; Zinatulina, D.; Zuber, K.; Zuzel, G.

2013-10-01

The Gerda experiment located at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso of INFN searches for neutrinoless double beta (0 νββ) decay of 76Ge using germanium diodes as source and detector. In Phase I of the experiment eight semi-coaxial and five BEGe type detectors have been deployed. The latter type is used in this field of research for the first time. All detectors are made from material with enriched 76Ge fraction. The experimental sensitivity can be improved by analyzing the pulse shape of the detector signals with the aim to reject background events. This paper documents the algorithms developed before the data of Phase I were unblinded. The double escape peak (DEP) and Compton edge events of 2.615 MeV γ rays from 208Tl decays as well as two-neutrino double beta (2 νββ) decays of 76Ge are used as proxies for 0 νββ decay. For BEGe detectors the chosen selection is based on a single pulse shape parameter. It accepts 0.92±0.02 of signal-like events while about 80 % of the background events at Q ββ =2039 keV are rejected. For semi-coaxial detectors three analyses are developed. The one based on an artificial neural network is used for the search of 0 νββ decay. It retains 90 % of DEP events and rejects about half of the events around Q ββ . The 2 νββ events have an efficiency of 0.85±0.02 and the one for 0 νββ decays is estimated to be . A second analysis uses a likelihood approach trained on Compton edge events. The third approach uses two pulse shape parameters. The latter two methods confirm the classification of the neural network since about 90 % of the data events rejected by the neural network are also removed by both of them. In general, the selection efficiency extracted from DEP events agrees well with those determined from Compton edge events or from 2 νββ decays.

Pulse shape discrimination for Gerda Phase I data

DOE PAGES

Agostini, M.; Allardt, M.; Andreotti, E.; ...

2013-10-09

The GERDA experiment located at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso of INFN searches for neutrinoless double beta (0νββ) decay of 76Ge using germanium diodes as source and detector. In Phase I of the experiment eight semi-coaxial and five BEGe type detectors have been deployed. The latter type is used in this field of research for the first time. All detectors are made from material with enriched 76Ge fraction. The experimental sensitivity can be improved by analyzing the pulse shape of the detector signals with the aim to reject background events. This paper documents the algorithms developed before the datamore » of Phase I were unblinded. The double escape peak (DEP) and Compton edge events of 2.615 MeV γ rays from 208Tl decays as well as two-neutrino double beta (2νββ) decays of 76Ge are used as proxies for 0νββ decay. For BEGe detectors the chosen selection is based on a single pulse shape parameter. It accepts 0.92 ± 0.02 of signal-like events while about 80 % of the background events at Qββ = 2039 keV are rejected. For semi-coaxial detectors three analyses are developed. The one based on an artificial neural network is used for the search of 0νββ decay. It retains 90 % of DEP events and rejects about half of the events around Qββ . The 2νββ events have an efficiency of 0.85±0.02 and the one for 0νββ decays is estimated to be 0.90 +0.05 -0.09 . A second analysis uses a likelihood approach trained on Compton edge events. The third approach uses two pulse shape parameters. The latter two methods confirm the classification of the neural network since about 90 % of the data events rejected by the neural network are also removed by both of them. In general, the selection efficiency extracted from DEP events agrees well with those determined from Compton edge events or from 2νββ decays.« less

Femtosecond laser induced concentric semi-circular periodic surface structures on silicon based on the quasi-plasmonic annular nanostructure.

PubMed

Han, Weina; Liu, Furong; Yuan, Yanping; Li, Xiaowei; Wang, Qingsong; Wang, Shaojun; Jiang, Lan

2018-05-04

In this study, we report polarization-dependent concentric circular periodic surface structures on Si induced by a single shot femtosecond (fs) laser pulse based on pre-processed quasi-plasmonic annular-shaped nanostructure. An abnormal annular-shaped energy deposition of the fundamental fs laser pulse can be found by using dual-wavelength superposition of the fundamental frequency (ω) and the second-harmonic frequency (2ω) of an fs Ti:sapphire laser, which is confirmed by real beam shape detection. Based on the annular-shaped energy distribution of dual-wavelength fs laser, a concentric quasi-plasmonic corral nanostructure can be imprinted on the Au thin film. Surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) excitations on the planar metallic nanostructures enable the manipulation of light on subwavelength scales. Thus, the pre-processed concentric quasi-plasmonic corral nanostructure can act as a precursor for the subsequent SPPs excitation and propagation by the fs laser irradiation. Using this technique, polarization-dependent semi-circular periodic surface structures on silicon can be found by the irradiation of fs laser pulse with only one shot. This research provides an additional freedom for the laser induced periodic surface structure (LIPSS) modulation based on the modulation of SPPs excitation and propagation, which plays an important role in the formation of LIPSS.

Femtosecond laser induced concentric semi-circular periodic surface structures on silicon based on the quasi-plasmonic annular nanostructure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Weina; Liu, Furong; Yuan, Yanping; Li, Xiaowei; Wang, Qingsong; Wang, Shaojun; Jiang, Lan

2018-07-01

In this study, we report polarization-dependent concentric circular periodic surface structures on Si induced by a single shot femtosecond (fs) laser pulse based on pre-processed quasi-plasmonic annular-shaped nanostructure. An abnormal annular-shaped energy deposition of the fundamental fs laser pulse can be found by using dual-wavelength superposition of the fundamental frequency (ω) and the second-harmonic frequency (2ω) of an fs Ti:sapphire laser, which is confirmed by real beam shape detection. Based on the annular-shaped energy distribution of dual-wavelength fs laser, a concentric quasi-plasmonic corral nanostructure can be imprinted on the Au thin film. Surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) excitations on the planar metallic nanostructures enable the manipulation of light on subwavelength scales. Thus, the pre-processed concentric quasi-plasmonic corral nanostructure can act as a precursor for the subsequent SPPs excitation and propagation by the fs laser irradiation. Using this technique, polarization-dependent semi-circular periodic surface structures on silicon can be found by the irradiation of fs laser pulse with only one shot. This research provides an additional freedom for the laser induced periodic surface structure (LIPSS) modulation based on the modulation of SPPs excitation and propagation, which plays an important role in the formation of LIPSS.

Shape Mode Analysis Exposes Movement Patterns in Biology: Flagella and Flatworms as Case Studies

PubMed Central

Werner, Steffen; Rink, Jochen C.; Riedel-Kruse, Ingmar H.; Friedrich, Benjamin M.

2014-01-01

We illustrate shape mode analysis as a simple, yet powerful technique to concisely describe complex biological shapes and their dynamics. We characterize undulatory bending waves of beating flagella and reconstruct a limit cycle of flagellar oscillations, paying particular attention to the periodicity of angular data. As a second example, we analyze non-convex boundary outlines of gliding flatworms, which allows us to expose stereotypic body postures that can be related to two different locomotion mechanisms. Further, shape mode analysis based on principal component analysis allows to discriminate different flatworm species, despite large motion-associated shape variability. Thus, complex shape dynamics is characterized by a small number of shape scores that change in time. We present this method using descriptive examples, explaining abstract mathematics in a graphic way. PMID:25426857

Handheld readout electronics to fully exploit the particle discrimination capabilities of elpasolite scintillators

DOE PAGES

Budden, B. S.; Stonehill, L. C.; Warniment, A.; ...

2015-06-10

In this study, a new class of elpasolite scintillators has garnered recent attention due to the ability to perform as simultaneous gamma spectrometers and thermal neutron detectors. Such a dual-mode capability is made possible by pulse-shape discrimination (PSD), whereby the emission waveform profiles of gamma and neutron events are fundamentally unique. To take full advantage of these materials, we have developed the Compact Advanced Readout Electronics for Elpasolites (CAREE). This handheld instrument employs a multi-channel PSD-capable ASIC, custom micro-processor board, front-end electronics, power supplies, and a 2 in. photomultiplier tube for readout of the scintillator. The unit is highly configurablemore » to allow for performance optimization amongst a wide sample of elpasolites which provide PSD in fundamentally different ways. We herein provide an introduction to elpasolites, then describe the motivation for the work, mechanical and electronic design, and preliminary performance results.« less

Pulse-Shape Analysis of Ionization Signals in Cryogenic Ge Detectors for Dark Matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Foerster, N.; Broniatowski, A.; Eitel, K.; Marnieros, S.; Paul, B.; Piro, M.-C.; Siebenborn, B.

2016-08-01

The detectors of the direct dark matter search experiment EDELWEISS consist of high-purity germanium crystals operated at cryogenic temperatures (mathrm {{<}20 mK}) and low electric fields (mathrm {{<}1 V/cm}). The surface discrimination is based on the simultaneous measurement of the charge amplitudes on different sets of electrodes. As the rise time of a charge signal strongly depends on the location of an interaction in the crystal, a time-resolved measurement can also be used to identify surface interactions. This contribution presents the results of a study of the discrimination power of the rise time parameter from a hot carrier transport simulation in combination with time-resolved measurements using an EDELWEISS-type detector in a test cryostat at ground level. We show the setup for the time-resolved ionization signal read-out in the EDELWEISS-III experiment and first results from data taking in the underground laboratory of Modane.

Handheld readout electronics to fully exploit the particle discrimination capabilities of elpasolite scintillators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Budden, B. S.; Stonehill, L. C.; Warniment, A.; Michel, J.; Storms, S.; Dallmann, N.; Coupland, D. D. S.; Stein, P.; Weller, S.; Borges, L.; Proicou, M.; Duran, G.; Kamto, J.

2015-09-01

A new class of elpasolite scintillators has garnered recent attention due to the ability to perform as simultaneous gamma spectrometers and thermal neutron detectors. Such a dual-mode capability is made possible by pulse-shape discrimination (PSD), whereby the emission waveform profiles of gamma and neutron events are fundamentally unique. To take full advantage of these materials, we have developed the Compact Advanced Readout Electronics for Elpasolites (CAREE). This handheld instrument employs a multi-channel PSD-capable ASIC, custom micro-processor board, front-end electronics, power supplies, and a 2 in. photomultiplier tube for readout of the scintillator. The unit is highly configurable to allow for performance optimization amongst a wide sample of elpasolites which provide PSD in fundamentally different ways. We herein provide an introduction to elpasolites, then describe the motivation for the work, mechanical and electronic design, and preliminary performance results.

PANDORA, a large volume low-energy neutron detector with real-time neutron-gamma discrimination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stuhl, L.; Sasano, M.; Yako, K.; Yasuda, J.; Baba, H.; Ota, S.; Uesaka, T.

2017-09-01

The PANDORA (Particle Analyzer Neutron Detector Of Real-time Acquisition) system, which was developed for use in inverse kinematics experiments with unstable isotope beams, is a neutron detector based on a plastic scintillator coupled to a digital readout. PANDORA can be used for any reaction study involving the emission of low energy neutrons (100 keV-10 MeV) where background suppression and an increased signal-to-noise ratio are crucial. The digital readout system provides an opportunity for pulse shape discrimination (PSD) of the detected particles as well as intelligent triggering based on PSD. The figure of merit results of PANDORA are compared to the data in literature. Using PANDORA, 91 ± 1% of all detected neutrons can be separated, while 91 ± 1% of the detected gamma rays can be excluded, reducing the gamma ray background by one order of magnitude.

Effects of interaural time differences in fine structure and envelope on lateral discrimination in electric hearing.

PubMed

Majdak, Piotr; Laback, Bernhard; Baumgartner, Wolf-Dieter

2006-10-01

Bilateral cochlear implant (CI) listeners currently use stimulation strategies which encode interaural time differences (ITD) in the temporal envelope but which do not transmit ITD in the fine structure, due to the constant phase in the electric pulse train. To determine the utility of encoding ITD in the fine structure, ITD-based lateralization was investigated with four CI listeners and four normal hearing (NH) subjects listening to a simulation of electric stimulation. Lateralization discrimination was tested at different pulse rates for various combinations of independently controlled fine structure ITD and envelope ITD. Results for electric hearing show that the fine structure ITD had the strongest impact on lateralization at lower pulse rates, with significant effects for pulse rates up to 800 pulses per second. At higher pulse rates, lateralization discrimination depended solely on the envelope ITD. The data suggest that bilateral CI listeners benefit from transmitting fine structure ITD at lower pulse rates. However, there were strong interindividual differences: the better performing CI listeners performed comparably to the NH listeners.

Shape discrimination and concept formation in the jungle crow (Corvus macrorhynchos).

PubMed

Bogale, Bezawork Afework; Sugita, Shoei

2014-01-01

We investigated whether jungle crows can learn concepts by using printouts of shapes in a simultaneous two-alternative task. Jungle crows were first trained with a red triangle and red square until they reached the discrimination criterion (80% of correct choices in two blocks of 10 trials each). Then, we tested crows with successive transfer tests to investigate both the discrimination cues being used and concept formation ability, by using novel triangular and non-triangular stimuli. All of the jungle crows learnt to discriminate between the triangle and square during training. The discrimination performance was generally not affected either by changes in the colour of the stimuli or when both shape and colour cues conflicted, with the previously non-rewarded shape but matching colour (red square) versus rewarded shape but non-matching colour (green triangle). The use of only outlines of the familiar stimuli also did not affect discrimination behaviour of crows. In addition, crows significantly discriminated novel triangular shapes during the limited trials given, suggesting their ability to form the concept of triangularity. However, failure to discriminate when the novel stimuli size deviated from the original suggests that there is a limit to shape concept formation in a familiar-novel context in the jungle crow.

System for generating shaped optical pulses and measuring optical pulses using spectral beam deflection (SBD)

DOEpatents

Skupsky, Stanley; Kessler, Terrance J.; Letzring, Samuel A.

1993-01-01

A temporally shaped or modified optical output pulse is generated from a bandwidth-encoded optical input pulse in a system in which the input pulse is in the form of a beam which is spectrally spread into components contained within the bandwidth, followed by deflection of the spectrally spread beam (SBD) thereby spatially mapping the components in correspondence with the temporal input pulse profile in the focal plane of a lens, and by spatially selective attenuation of selected components in that focal plane. The shaped or modified optical output pulse is then reconstructed from the attenuated spectral components. The pulse-shaping system is particularly useful for generating optical pulses of selected temporal shape over a wide range of pulse duration, such pulses finding application in the fields of optical communication, optical recording and data storage, atomic and molecular spectroscopy and laser fusion. An optical streak camera is also provided which uses SBD to display the beam intensity in the focal plane as a function of time during the input pulse.

System for generating shaped optical pulses and measuring optical pulses using spectral beam deflection (SBD)

DOEpatents

Skupsky, S.; Kessler, T.J.; Letzring, S.A.

1993-11-16

A temporally shaped or modified optical output pulse is generated from a bandwidth-encoded optical input pulse in a system in which the input pulse is in the form of a beam which is spectrally spread into components contained within the bandwidth, followed by deflection of the spectrally spread beam (SBD) thereby spatially mapping the components in correspondence with the temporal input pulse profile in the focal plane of a lens, and by spatially selective attenuation of selected components in that focal plane. The shaped or modified optical output pulse is then reconstructed from the attenuated spectral components. The pulse-shaping system is particularly useful for generating optical pulses of selected temporal shape over a wide range of pulse duration, such pulses finding application in the fields of optical communication, optical recording and data storage, atomic and molecular spectroscopy and laser fusion. An optical streak camera is also provided which uses SBD to display the beam intensity in the focal plane as a function of time during the input pulse. 10 figures.

Towards Single-Shot Detection of Bacterial Endospores via Coherent Raman Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pestov, Dmitry; Wang, Xi; Ariunbold, Gombojav; Murawski, Robert; Sautenkov, Vladimir; Sokolov, Alexei; Scully, Marlan

2007-10-01

Recent advances in coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) spectroscopy hold exciting promise to make the most out of now readily available ultrafast laser sources. Techniques have been devised to mitigate the nonresonant four-wave-mixing in favor of informative Raman-resonant signal. In particular, a hybrid technique for CARS (see Science 316, 265 (2007)) brings together the advantages of coherent broadband pump-Stokes excitation of molecular vibrations and their time-delayed but frequency-resolved probing via a spectrally narrowed and shaped laser pulse. We apply this technique to the problem of real-time detection of warfare bioagents and report single-shot acquisition of a distinct CARS spectrum from a small volume of B. subtilis endospores (˜10^4 spores), a harmless surrogate for B. anthracis. We study the dependence of the CARS signal on the energy of the ultrashort preparation pulses and find the limit on the pulse energy fluence (˜0.2 J/cm^2), imposed by the laser-induced damage of the spores.

Fast counting electronics for neutron coincidence counting

DOEpatents

Swansen, James E.

1987-01-01

An amplifier-discriminator is tailored to output a very short pulse upon an above-threshold input from a detector which may be a .sup.3 He detector. The short pulse output is stretched and energizes a light emitting diode (LED) to provide a visual output of operation and pulse detection. The short pulse is further fed to a digital section for processing and possible ORing with other like generated pulses. Finally, the output (or ORed output ) is fed to a derandomizing buffer which converts the rapidly and randomly occurring pulses into synchronized and periodically spaced-apart pulses for the accurate counting thereof. Provision is also made for the internal and external disabling of each individual channel of amplifier-discriminators in an ORed plurality of same.

Fast counting electronics for neutron coincidence counting

DOEpatents

Swansen, J.E.

1985-03-05

An amplifier-discriminator is tailored to output a very short pulse upon an above-threshold input from a detector which may be a /sup 3/He detector. The short pulse output is stretched and energizes a light emitting diode (LED) to provide a visual output of operation and pulse detection. The short pulse is further fed to a digital section for processing and possible ORing with other like generated pulses. Finally, the output (or ORed output) is fed to a derandomizing buffer which converts the rapidly and randomly occurring pulses into synchronized and periodically spaced-apart pulses for the accurate counting thereof. Provision is also made for the internal and external disabling of each individual channel of amplifier-discriminators in an ORed plurality of same.

Effects of High-Rate Pulse Trains on Electrode Discrimination in Cochlear Implant Users

PubMed Central

Runge-Samuelson, Christina L.

2009-01-01

Overcoming issues related to abnormally high neural synchrony in response to electrical stimulation is one aspect in improving hearing with a cochlear implant. Desynchronization of electrical stimuli have shown benefits in neural encoding of electrical signals and improvements in psychophysical tasks. In the present study, 10 participants with either CII or HiRes 90k Advanced Bionics devices were tested for the effects of desynchronizing constant-amplitude high-rate (5,000 Hz) pulse trains on electrode discrimination of sinusoidal stimuli (1,000 Hz). When averaged across the sinusoidal dynamic range, overall improvements in electrode discrimination with high-rate pulses were found for 8 of 10 participants. This effect was significant for the group (p = .003). Nonmonotonic patterns of electrode discrimination as a function of sinusoidal stimulation level were observed. By providing additional spectral channels, it is possible that clinical implementation of constant-amplitude high-rate pulse trains in a signal processing strategy may improve performance with the device. PMID:19447763

Imaging and detection of mines from acoustic measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Witten, Alan J.; DiMarzio, Charles A.; Li, Wen; McKnight, Stephen W.

1999-08-01

A laboratory-scale acoustic experiment is described where a buried target, a hockey puck cut in half, is shallowly buried in a sand box. To avoid the need for source and receiver coupling to the host sand, an acoustic wave is generated in the subsurface by a pulsed laser suspended above the air-sand interface. Similarly, an airborne microphone is suspended above this interface and moved in unison with the laser. After some pre-processing of the data, reflections for the target, although weak, could clearly be identified. While the existence and location of the target can be determined by inspection of the data, its unique shape can not. Since target discrimination is important in mine detection, a 3D imaging algorithm was applied to the acquired acoustic data. This algorithm yielded a reconstructed image where the shape of the target was resolved.

Energy spectrum and flux of 3- to 20-Mev neutrons and 1- to 10-Mev gamma rays in the atmosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Klumpar, D. M.; Lockwood, J. A.; Saint Onge, R. N.; Friling, L. A.

1973-01-01

An experiment is described which was designed to measure the neutron and gamma ray energy spectrums and fluxes in the energy intervals 3 to 20 MeV and 1 to 10 MeV, respectively. In addition, from the 3 to 20-MeV proton recoil spectrums it is possible to infer the shape of the neutron energy spectrum from 20 to 50 MeV. The detecting system utilized a separate charged particle rejection scheme and a two-parameter display system for the output from the pulse shape discrimination which separated gamma rays from neutrons (n). Two long-duration flights were made with this detector in 1970 at Palestine, Tex. (P sub c = 4.6 Gv) and at Ft. Churchill, Canada (P sub c = 0.3 Gv).

Observation of hard X-rays from the Crab pulsar and A0535+26

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wu, M.; Dai, C.; Lu, Z.; Ma, Y.; Li, G.; Fan, Z.; Zhang, C.; Xu, C.; Zhang, X.; Gu, Y.

1985-01-01

The Crab pulsar PSR0531+21 was observed in a balloon flight from the Xianghe Balloon Station (China). Data were obtained in the range 20 to 200 keV with a poswish hard X-ray telescope which comprised a 150 sq cm primary crystal of 5 mm thick CsI(T1) which actively shielded the lower 2 pi steradians by a 5 cm thick NaI(T1) crystal. The scintillation pulses originating in CsI and NaI crystals are distinguished by pulse shape discrimination. The telescope has a field of view of approximately 4 deg H psi H pi determined by graded shield and collimator. The effective geometric area of the detector is 116 sq cm. It is noted that when folding a data flow on a long period interference from the data acquisition, transmission and recording system considerably affect the result.

Digital pulse processing in Mössbauer spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Veiga, A.; Grunfeld, C. M.

2014-04-01

In this work we present some advances towards full digitization of the detection subsystem of a Mössbauer transmission spectrometer. We show how, using adequate instrumentation, preamplifier output of a proportional counter can be digitized with no deterioration in spectrum quality, avoiding the need of a shaping amplifier. A pipelined architecture is proposed for a digital processor, which constitutes a versatile platform for the development of pulse processing techniques. Requirements for minimization of the analog processing are considered and experimental results are presented.

Inductive Sensor Performance in Partial Discharges and Noise Separation by Means of Spectral Power Ratios

PubMed Central

Ardila-Rey, Jorge Alfredo; Rojas-Moreno, Mónica Victoria; Martínez-Tarifa, Juan Manuel; Robles, Guillermo

2014-01-01

Partial discharge (PD) detection is a standardized technique to qualify electrical insulation in machines and power cables. Several techniques that analyze the waveform of the pulses have been proposed to discriminate noise from PD activity. Among them, spectral power ratio representation shows great flexibility in the separation of the sources of PD. Mapping spectral power ratios in two-dimensional plots leads to clusters of points which group pulses with similar characteristics. The position in the map depends on the nature of the partial discharge, the setup and the frequency response of the sensors. If these clusters are clearly separated, the subsequent task of identifying the source of the discharge is straightforward so the distance between clusters can be a figure of merit to suggest the best option for PD recognition. In this paper, two inductive sensors with different frequency responses to pulsed signals, a high frequency current transformer and an inductive loop sensor, are analyzed to test their performance in detecting and separating the sources of partial discharges. PMID:24556674

Applying the new gamma ray imager diagnostic to measurements of runaway electron Bremsstrahlung radiation in the DIII-D Tokamak (invited)

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

Cooper, C. M., E-mail: coopercm@fusion.gat.com; Pace, D. C.; Paz-Soldan, C.

2016-11-15

A new gamma ray imager (GRI) is developed to probe the electron distribution function with 2D spatial resolution during runaway electron (RE) experiments at the DIII-D tokamak. The diagnostic is sensitive to 0.5–100 MeV gamma rays, allowing characterization of the RE distribution function evolution during RE growth and dissipation. The GRI consists of a lead “pinhole camera” mounted on the DIII-D midplane with 123 honeycombed tangential chords 20 cm wide that span the vessel interior. Up to 30 bismuth germanate (BGO) scintillation detectors capture RE bremsstrahlung radiation for Pulse Height Analysis (PHA) capable of discriminating up to 20 000 pulses permore » second. Digital signal processing routines combining shaping filters are performed during PHA to reject noise and record gamma ray energy. The GRI setup and PHA algorithms will be described and initial data from experiments will be presented. A synthetic diagnostic is developed to generate the gamma ray spectrum of a GRI channel given the plasma information and a prescribed distribution function. Magnetic reconstructions of the plasma are used to calculate the angle between every GRI sightline and orient and discriminate gamma rays emitted by a field-aligned RE distribution function.« less

Applying the new gamma ray imager diagnostic to measurements of runaway electron Bremsstrahlung radiation in the DIII-D Tokamak (invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cooper, C. M.; Pace, D. C.; Paz-Soldan, C.; Commaux, N.; Eidietis, N. W.; Hollmann, E. M.; Shiraki, D.

2016-11-01

A new gamma ray imager (GRI) is developed to probe the electron distribution function with 2D spatial resolution during runaway electron (RE) experiments at the DIII-D tokamak. The diagnostic is sensitive to 0.5-100 MeV gamma rays, allowing characterization of the RE distribution function evolution during RE growth and dissipation. The GRI consists of a lead "pinhole camera" mounted on the DIII-D midplane with 123 honeycombed tangential chords 20 cm wide that span the vessel interior. Up to 30 bismuth germanate (BGO) scintillation detectors capture RE bremsstrahlung radiation for Pulse Height Analysis (PHA) capable of discriminating up to 20 000 pulses per second. Digital signal processing routines combining shaping filters are performed during PHA to reject noise and record gamma ray energy. The GRI setup and PHA algorithms will be described and initial data from experiments will be presented. A synthetic diagnostic is developed to generate the gamma ray spectrum of a GRI channel given the plasma information and a prescribed distribution function. Magnetic reconstructions of the plasma are used to calculate the angle between every GRI sightline and orient and discriminate gamma rays emitted by a field-aligned RE distribution function.

Applying the new gamma ray imager diagnostic to measurements of runaway electron Bremsstrahlung radiation in the DIII-D Tokamak (invited).

PubMed

Cooper, C M; Pace, D C; Paz-Soldan, C; Commaux, N; Eidietis, N W; Hollmann, E M; Shiraki, D

2016-11-01

A new gamma ray imager (GRI) is developed to probe the electron distribution function with 2D spatial resolution during runaway electron (RE) experiments at the DIII-D tokamak. The diagnostic is sensitive to 0.5-100 MeV gamma rays, allowing characterization of the RE distribution function evolution during RE growth and dissipation. The GRI consists of a lead "pinhole camera" mounted on the DIII-D midplane with 123 honeycombed tangential chords 20 cm wide that span the vessel interior. Up to 30 bismuth germanate (BGO) scintillation detectors capture RE bremsstrahlung radiation for Pulse Height Analysis (PHA) capable of discriminating up to 20 000 pulses per second. Digital signal processing routines combining shaping filters are performed during PHA to reject noise and record gamma ray energy. The GRI setup and PHA algorithms will be described and initial data from experiments will be presented. A synthetic diagnostic is developed to generate the gamma ray spectrum of a GRI channel given the plasma information and a prescribed distribution function. Magnetic reconstructions of the plasma are used to calculate the angle between every GRI sightline and orient and discriminate gamma rays emitted by a field-aligned RE distribution function.

Applying the new gamma ray imager diagnostic to measurements of runaway electron Bremsstrahlung radiation in the DIII-D Tokamak (invited)

DOE PAGES

Cooper, C. M.; Pace, D. C.; Paz-Soldan, C.; ...

2016-08-30

A new gamma ray imager (GRI) is developed to probe the electron distribution function with 2D spatial resolution during runaway electron (RE) experiments at the DIII-D tokamak. The diagnostic is sensitive to 0.5-100 MeV gamma rays, allowing characterization of the RE distribution function evolution during RE growth and dissipation. The GRI consists of a lead "pinhole camera" mounted on the DIII-D midplane with 123 honeycombed tangential chords 20 cm wide that span the vessel interior. Up to 30 bismuth germanate (BGO) scintillation detectors capture RE bremsstrahlung radiation for Pulse Height Analysis (PHA) capable of discriminating up to 20,000 pulses permore » second. Digital signal processing routines combining shaping filters are performed during PHA to reject noise and record gamma ray energy. The GRI setup and PHA algorithms will be described and initial data from experiments will be presented. A synthetic diagnostic is developed to generate the gamma ray spectrum of a GRI channel given the plasma information and a prescribed distribution function. Furthermore, magnetic reconstructions of the plasma are used to calculate the angle between every GRI sightline and orient and discriminate gamma rays emitted by a field-aligned RE distribution function.« less

Reduced γ-γ time walk to below 50 ps using the multiplexed-start and multiplexed-stop fast-timing technique with LaBr3(Ce) detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Régis, J.-M.; Saed-Samii, N.; Rudigier, M.; Ansari, S.; Dannhoff, M.; Esmaylzadeh, A.; Fransen, C.; Gerst, R.-B.; Jolie, J.; Karayonchev, V.; Müller-Gatermann, C.; Stegemann, S.

2016-07-01

The electronic γ-γ fast-timing technique using arrays consisting of many LaBr3(Ce) detectors is a powerful method to determine lifetimes of nuclear excited states with a lower limit of about 5 ps. This method requires the determination of the energy-dependent time walk of the zero time which is represented by the centroid of a prompt γ-γ time distribution. The full-energy peak versus full-energy peak prompt response difference which represents the linearly combined mean γ-γ time walk of a fast-timing array consisting of 8 LaBr3(Ce) detectors was measured using a standard 152Eu γ-ray source for the energy region of 40-1408 keV. The data were acquired using a "multiplexed-start and multiplexed-stop" analogue electronics circuitry and analysed by employing the generalized centroid difference method. Concerning the cylindrical 1.5 in.×1.5 in. LaBr3(Ce) crystals which are coupled to the Hamamatsu R9779 photomultiplier tubes, the best fast-timing array time resolution of 202(3) ps is obtained for the two prompt γ lines of 60Co by using the leading-edge timing principle. When using the zero-crossover timing principle the time resolution is degraded by up to 30%, dependent on the energy and the shaping delay time of the constant fraction discriminator model Ortec 935. The smallest γ-γ time walk to below 50 ps is obtained by using a shaping delay time of about 17 ns and an optimum "time-walk adjustment" needed for detector output pulses with amplitudes smaller than 400 mV.

Do rats use shape to solve “shape discriminations”?

PubMed Central

Minini, Loredana; Jeffery, Kathryn J.

2006-01-01

Visual discrimination tasks are increasingly used to explore the neurobiology of vision in rodents, but it remains unclear how the animals solve these tasks: Do they process shapes holistically, or by using low-level features such as luminance and angle acuity? In the present study we found that when discriminating triangles from squares, rats did not use shape but instead relied on local luminance differences in the lower hemifield. A second experiment prevented this strategy by using stimuli—squares and rectangles—that varied in size and location, and for which the only constant predictor of reward was aspect ratio (ratio of height to width: a simple descriptor of “shape”). Rats eventually learned to use aspect ratio but only when no other discriminand was available, and performance remained very poor even at asymptote. These results suggest that although rats can process both dimensions simultaneously, they do not naturally solve shape discrimination tasks this way. This may reflect either a failure to visually process global shape information or a failure to discover shape as the discriminative stimulus in a simultaneous discrimination. Either way, our results suggest that simultaneous shape discrimination is not a good task for studies of visual perception in rodents. PMID:16705141

Simultaneous determination of apparent tortuosity and microstructure length scale and shape: Application to rigid open cell foams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gómez Álvarez-Arenas, T. E.; de la Fuente, S.; González Gómez, I.

2006-05-01

A novel experimental technique based on phase spectroscopy and through transmission of high-frequency airborne ultrasonic pulses is used to study rigid open cell foams. Phase velocity shows an anomalous relaxation like behavior which is attributed to a frequency variation of the apparent tortuosity. An explanation is proposed in terms of the relationship between the different length scales involved: microstructure and macroscopic behavior. The experimental technique together with the proposed apparent tortuosity scheme provides a novel and unique procedure to determine simultaneously tortuosity and characteristic length dimension and shape of the solid constituent of foams and porous materials in general.

Optimizing the Laser-Pulse Configuration for Coherent Raman Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pestov, Dmitry; Murawski, Robert K.; Ariunbold, Gombojav O.; Wang, Xi; Zhi, Miaochan; Sokolov, Alexei V.; Sautenkov, Vladimir A.; Rostovtsev, Yuri V.; Dogariu, Arthur; Huang, Yu; Scully, Marlan O.

2007-04-01

We introduce a hybrid technique that combines the robustness of frequency-resolved coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) with the advantages of time-resolved CARS spectroscopy. Instantaneous coherent broadband excitation of several characteristic molecular vibrations and the subsequent probing of these vibrations by an optimally shaped time-delayed narrowband laser pulse help to suppress the nonresonant background and to retrieve the species-specific signal. We used this technique for coherent Raman spectroscopy of sodium dipicolinate powder, which is similar to calcium dipicolinate (a marker molecule for bacterial endospores, such as Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus anthracis), and we demonstrated a rapid and highly specific detection scheme that works even in the presence of multiple scattering.

Optimizing the laser-pulse configuration for coherent Raman spectroscopy.

PubMed

Pestov, Dmitry; Murawski, Robert K; Ariunbold, Gombojav O; Wang, Xi; Zhi, Miaochan; Sokolov, Alexei V; Sautenkov, Vladimir A; Rostovtsev, Yuri V; Dogariu, Arthur; Huang, Yu; Scully, Marlan O

2007-04-13

We introduce a hybrid technique that combines the robustness of frequency-resolved coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) with the advantages of time-resolved CARS spectroscopy. Instantaneous coherent broadband excitation of several characteristic molecular vibrations and the subsequent probing of these vibrations by an optimally shaped time-delayed narrowband laser pulse help to suppress the nonresonant background and to retrieve the species-specific signal. We used this technique for coherent Raman spectroscopy of sodium dipicolinate powder, which is similar to calcium dipicolinate (a marker molecule for bacterial endospores, such as Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus anthracis), and we demonstrated a rapid and highly specific detection scheme that works even in the presence of multiple scattering.

Generation of arbitrarily shaped picosecond optical pulses using an integrated electrooptic waveguide modulator.

PubMed

Haner, M; Warren, W S

1987-09-01

We have produced complex software adjustable laser pulse shapes with ~10-ps resolution, and pulse energies up to 100 microJ for spectroscopic applications. The key devices are a high damage threshold electrooptic directional coupler and a GaAs circuit for synthesizing arbitrarily shaped microwave pulses.

SPE analysis of high efficiency PMTs for the DEAP-3600 dark matter detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olsen, Kevin; Hallin, Aksel; DEAP/CLEAN Collaboration

2011-09-01

The Dark matter Experiment using Argon Pulse-shape discrimination is a collaborative effort to develop a next-generation, tonne-scale dark matter detector at SNOLAB. The detector will feature a single-phase liquid argon (LAr) target surrounded by an array of 266 photomultiplier tubes (PMTs). A new high-efficiency Hamamatsu R877-100 PMT has been delivered to the University of Alberta for evaluation by the DEAP collaboration. The increase in efficiency could lead to a much greater light yield, but other experiments have reported a slower rise time [1],[2]. We have placed the PMT in a small dark box and had a base and preamplifier designed to be used with either an oscilloscope or a multi-channel analyzer. With this setup we have demonstrated the PMT's ability to distinguish single photo-electrons (SPE) and characterized the PMT by measuring the SPE pulse height spectrum, the peak-to-valley ratio, the dark pulse rate, the baseline, time resolution and SPE efficiency for varying the high voltage supplied to the PMT.

The Geminga Pulsar: Soft X-Ray Variability and an EUVE Observation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Halpern, Jules P.; Martin, Christopher; Marshall, Herman L.; Oliversen, Ronald (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

We observed the Geminga pulsar with the EUVE satellite, detecting pulsed emission in the Deep Survey imager. Joint spectral fits of the EUVE flux with ROSAT PSPC data are consistent with thermal plus power-law models in which the thermal component makes the dominant contribution to the soft X-ray flux seen by EUVE and ROSAT. The data are consistent with blackbody emission of T = (4 - 6) x 10(exp 5) K over most of the surface of the star at the measured parallax distance of 160 pc. Although model atmospheres are more realistic, and can fit the data with effective temperatures a factor of 2 lower, current data would not discriminate between these and blackbody models. We also find evidence for variability of Geminga's soft X-ray pulse shape. Narrow dips in the light curve that were present in 1991 had largely disappeared in 1993/1994, causing the pulsed fraction to decline from 32% to 18%. If the dips are attributed to cyclotron resonance scattering by an e1 plasma on closed magnetic field lines, then the process that resupplies that plasma must be variable.

The Geminga Pulsar: Soft X-Ray Variability and an EUVE Observation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Halpern, Jules P.; Martin, Christopher; Marshall, Herman L.

1996-01-01

We observed the Geminga pulsar with the EUVE satellite, detecting pulsed emission in the Deep Survey imager. Joint spectral fits of the EUVE flux with ROSAT PSPC data are consistent with thermal plus power-law models in which the thermal component makes the dominant contribution to the soft X-ray flux seen by EUVE and ROSAT. The data are consistent with blackbody emission of T = (4-6) x 10(exp 5) K over most of the surface of the star at the measured parallax distance of 160 pc. Although model atmospheres are more realistic, and can fit the data with effective temperatures a factor of 2 lower, current data would not discriminate between these and blackbody models. We also find evidence for variability of Geminga's soft X-ray pulse shape. Narrow dips in the light curve that were present in 1991 had largely disappeared in 1993/1994, causing the pulsed fraction to decline from 32% to 18%. If the dips are attributed to cyclotron resonance scattering by an e(+/-) plasma on closed magnetic field lines, then the process that resupplies that plasma must be variable.

The effects of geography on spectrum-orbit utilization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sawitz, P. H.

1979-01-01

With over forty satellites in geostationary orbit, and many more planned, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find suitable orbit positions for new systems operating at 4 and 6 GHz. Efficient spectrum-orbit utilization can be achieved with frequency-reuse techniques - orthogonal polarization, earth-station antenna discrimination, and satellite antenna discrimination - provided that service-area geography is considered. Service arc - that portion of the orbit which affords useful service to all points in a given area - is a function of the area's climate, terrain, and location as well as its size and shape. Of the three techniques, satellite antenna discrimination is the most sensitive to these factors. According to the BSS (broadcasting-satellite service) antenna reference pattern, the maximum discrimination possible is the on-axis gain, which can be as high as 49 dB for a beamwidth of 0.6 degrees, or as low as 32 dB for a 3.5-degree beamwidth. Unlike the Fixed-Satellite Service (FSS), the BSS will normally have beams that cover no more than one or two time zones.

Engineering Geology and Geomorphology of Streambank Erosion. Report 3. The Application of Waterborne Geophysical Techniques in Fluvial Environments.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-02-01

filters are frequency-discriminating instruments whose signal transmission char- acteristics are functions of frequency. Their basic purpose is to pass...sediment loads. The sediment particles block effective transmission of acoustic pulses so that meaningful reflections from the bottom are not received...structures such as dikes, bridge piers, piling, etc. Eddies, boils, and other forms of turbulence associated with streamflow produce significant amounts of

Electromagnetic Counter-Counter Measure (ECCM) Techniques of the Digital Microwave Radio.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-05-01

Frequency hopping requires special synthesizers and filter banks. Large bandwidth expansion in a microwave radio relay application can best be achieved with...34 processing gain " performance as a function of jammer modulation type " pulse jammer performance • emission bandwidth and spectral shaping 0... spectral efficiency, implementation complexity, and suitability for ECCK techniques will be considered. A sumary of the requirements and characteristics of

Solution of electromagnetic scattering problems using time domain techniques

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Britt, Charles L.

1989-01-01

New methods are developed to calculate the electromagnetic diffraction or scattering characteristics of objects of arbitrary material and shape. The methods extend the efforts of previous researchers in the use of finite-difference and pulse response techniques. Examples are given of the scattering from infinite conducting and nonconducting cylinders, open channel, sphere, cone, cone sphere, coated disk, open boxes, and open and closed finite cylinders with axially incident waves.

Time- and frequency-dependent model of time-resolved coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) with a picosecond-duration probe pulse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stauffer, Hans U.; Miller, Joseph D.; Slipchenko, Mikhail N.; Meyer, Terrence R.; Prince, Benjamin D.; Roy, Sukesh; Gord, James R.

2014-01-01

The hybrid femtosecond/picosecond coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (fs/ps CARS) technique presents a promising alternative to either fs time-resolved or ps frequency-resolved CARS in both gas-phase thermometry and condensed-phase excited-state dynamics applications. A theoretical description of time-dependent CARS is used to examine this recently developed probe technique, and quantitative comparisons of the full time-frequency evolution show excellent accuracy in predicting the experimental vibrational CARS spectra obtained for two model systems. The interrelated time- and frequency-domain spectral signatures of gas-phase species produced by hybrid fs/ps CARS are explored with a focus on gas-phase N2 vibrational CARS, which is commonly used as a thermometric diagnostic of combusting flows. In particular, we discuss the merits of the simple top-hat spectral filter typically used to generate the ps-duration hybrid fs/ps CARS probe pulse, including strong discrimination against non-resonant background that often contaminates CARS signal. It is further demonstrated, via comparison with vibrational CARS results on a time-evolving solvated organic chromophore, that this top-hat probe-pulse configuration can provide improved spectral resolution, although the degree of improvement depends on the dephasing timescales of the observed molecular modes and the duration and timing of the narrowband final pulse. Additionally, we discuss the virtues of a frequency-domain Lorentzian probe-pulse lineshape and its potential for improving the hybrid fs/ps CARS technique as a diagnostic in high-pressure gas-phase thermometry applications.

Time- and frequency-dependent model of time-resolved coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) with a picosecond-duration probe pulse.

PubMed

Stauffer, Hans U; Miller, Joseph D; Slipchenko, Mikhail N; Meyer, Terrence R; Prince, Benjamin D; Roy, Sukesh; Gord, James R

2014-01-14

The hybrid femtosecond∕picosecond coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (fs∕ps CARS) technique presents a promising alternative to either fs time-resolved or ps frequency-resolved CARS in both gas-phase thermometry and condensed-phase excited-state dynamics applications. A theoretical description of time-dependent CARS is used to examine this recently developed probe technique, and quantitative comparisons of the full time-frequency evolution show excellent accuracy in predicting the experimental vibrational CARS spectra obtained for two model systems. The interrelated time- and frequency-domain spectral signatures of gas-phase species produced by hybrid fs∕ps CARS are explored with a focus on gas-phase N2 vibrational CARS, which is commonly used as a thermometric diagnostic of combusting flows. In particular, we discuss the merits of the simple top-hat spectral filter typically used to generate the ps-duration hybrid fs∕ps CARS probe pulse, including strong discrimination against non-resonant background that often contaminates CARS signal. It is further demonstrated, via comparison with vibrational CARS results on a time-evolving solvated organic chromophore, that this top-hat probe-pulse configuration can provide improved spectral resolution, although the degree of improvement depends on the dephasing timescales of the observed molecular modes and the duration and timing of the narrowband final pulse. Additionally, we discuss the virtues of a frequency-domain Lorentzian probe-pulse lineshape and its potential for improving the hybrid fs∕ps CARS technique as a diagnostic in high-pressure gas-phase thermometry applications.

Cloud cover typing from environmental satellite imagery. Discriminating cloud structure with Fast Fourier Transforms (FFT)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Logan, T. L.; Huning, J. R.; Glackin, D. L.

1983-01-01

The use of two dimensional Fast Fourier Transforms (FFTs) subjected to pattern recognition technology for the identification and classification of low altitude stratus cloud structure from Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) imagery was examined. The development of a scene independent pattern recognition methodology, unconstrained by conventional cloud morphological classifications was emphasized. A technique for extracting cloud shape, direction, and size attributes from GOES visual imagery was developed. These attributes were combined with two statistical attributes (cloud mean brightness, cloud standard deviation), and interrogated using unsupervised clustering amd maximum likelihood classification techniques. Results indicate that: (1) the key cloud discrimination attributes are mean brightness, direction, shape, and minimum size; (2) cloud structure can be differentiated at given pixel scales; (3) cloud type may be identifiable at coarser scales; (4) there are positive indications of scene independence which would permit development of a cloud signature bank; (5) edge enhancement of GOES imagery does not appreciably improve cloud classification over the use of raw data; and (6) the GOES imagery must be apodized before generation of FFTs.

Femtosecond laser polishing of optical materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taylor, Lauren L.; Qiao, Jun; Qiao, Jie

2015-10-01

Technologies including magnetorheological finishing and CNC polishing are commonly used to finish optical elements, but these methods are often expensive, generate waste through the use of fluids or abrasives, and may not be suited for specific freeform substrates due to the size and shape of finishing tools. Pulsed laser polishing has been demonstrated as a technique capable of achieving nanoscale roughness while offering waste-free fabrication, material-specific processing through direct tuning of laser radiation, and access to freeform shapes using refined beam delivery and focusing techniques. Nanosecond and microsecond pulse duration radiation has been used to perform successful melting-based polishing of a variety of different materials, but this approach leads to extensive heat accumulation resulting in subsurface damage. We have experimentally investigated the ability of femtosecond laser radiation to ablate silicon carbide and silicon. By substituting ultrafast laser radiation, polishing can be performed by direct evaporation of unwanted surface asperities with minimal heating and melting, potentially offering damage-free finishing of materials. Under unoptimized laser processing conditions, thermal effects can occur leading to material oxidation. To investigate these thermal effects, simulation of the heat accumulation mechanism in ultrafast laser ablation was performed. Simulations have been extended to investigate the optimum scanning speed and pulse energy required for processing various substrates. Modeling methodologies and simulation results will be presented.

Effect of the combination of different welding parameters on melting characteristics of grade 1 titanium with a pulsed Nd-Yag laser.

PubMed

Bertrand, C; Laplanche, O; Rocca, J P; Le Petitcorps, Y; Nammour, S

2007-11-01

The laser is a very attractive tool for joining dental metallic alloys. However, the choice of the setting parameters can hardly influence the welding performances. The aim of this research was to evaluate the impact of several parameters (pulse shaping, pulse frequency, focal spot size...) on the quality of the microstructure. Grade 1 titanium plates have been welded with a pulsed Nd-Yag laser. Suitable power, pulse duration, focal spot size, and flow of argon gas were fixed by the operator. Five different pulse shapes and three pulse frequencies were investigated. Two pulse shapes available on this laser unit were eliminated because they considerably hardened the metal. As the pulse frequency rose, the metal was more and more ejected, and a plasma on the surface of the metal increased the oxygen contamination in the welded area. Frequencies of 1 or 2 Hz are optimum for a dental use. Three pulse shapes can be used for titanium but the rectangular shape gives better results.

High-speed pulse-shape generator, pulse multiplexer

DOEpatents

Burkhart, Scott C.

2002-01-01

The invention combines arbitrary amplitude high-speed pulses for precision pulse shaping for the National Ignition Facility (NIF). The circuitry combines arbitrary height pulses which are generated by replicating scaled versions of a trigger pulse and summing them delayed in time on a pulse line. The combined electrical pulses are connected to an electro-optic modulator which modulates a laser beam. The circuit can also be adapted to combine multiple channels of high speed data into a single train of electrical pulses which generates the optical pulses for very high speed optical communication. The invention has application in laser pulse shaping for inertial confinement fusion, in optical data links for computers, telecommunications, and in laser pulse shaping for atomic excitation studies. The invention can be used to effect at least a 10.times. increase in all fiber communication lines. It allows a greatly increased data transfer rate between high-performance computers. The invention is inexpensive enough to bring high-speed video and data services to homes through a super modem.

Waveform synthesizer

DOEpatents

Franks, Larry A.; Nelson, Melvin A.

1981-01-01

A method of producing optical and electrical pulses of desired shape. An optical pulse of arbitrary but defined shape illuminates one end of an array of optical fiber waveguides of differing lengths to time differentiate the input pulse. The optical outputs at the other end of the array are combined to form a synthesized pulse of desired shape.

Haptic shape discrimination and interhemispheric communication.

PubMed

Dowell, Catherine J; Norman, J Farley; Moment, Jackie R; Shain, Lindsey M; Norman, Hideko F; Phillips, Flip; Kappers, Astrid M L

2018-01-10

In three experiments participants haptically discriminated object shape using unimanual (single hand explored two objects) and bimanual exploration (both hands were used, but each hand, left or right, explored a separate object). Such haptic exploration (one versus two hands) requires somatosensory processing in either only one or both cerebral hemispheres; previous studies related to the perception of shape/curvature found superior performance for unimanual exploration, indicating that shape comparison is more effective when only one hemisphere is utilized. The current results, obtained for naturally shaped solid objects (bell peppers, Capsicum annuum) and simple cylindrical surfaces demonstrate otherwise: bimanual haptic exploration can be as effective as unimanual exploration, showing that there is no necessary reduction in ability when haptic shape comparison requires interhemispheric communication. We found that while successive bimanual exploration produced high shape discriminability, the participants' bimanual performance deteriorated for simultaneous shape comparisons. This outcome suggests that either interhemispheric interference or the need to attend to multiple objects simultaneously reduces shape discrimination ability. The current results also reveal a significant effect of age: older adults' shape discrimination abilities are moderately reduced relative to younger adults, regardless of how objects are manipulated (left hand only, right hand only, or bimanual exploration).

Applications of Adaptive Quantum Control to Research Questions in Solar Energy Conversion

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

Damrauer, Niels

2017-02-07

This award supported a broad research effort at the University of Colorado at Boulder comprising synthesis, applications of computational chemistry, development of theory, exploration of material properties, and advancement of spectroscopic tools including femtosecond pulse shaping techniques. It funded six graduate students and two postdoctoral researchers.

Application of otolith shape analysis for stock discrimination and species identification of five goby species (Perciformes: Gobiidae) in the northern Chinese coastal waters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Xin; Cao, Liang; Liu, Jinhu; Zhao, Bo; Shan, Xiujuan; Dou, Shuozeng

2014-09-01

We tested the use of otolith shape analysis to discriminate between species and stocks of five goby species ( Ctenotrypauchen chinensis, Odontamblyopus lacepedii, Amblychaeturichthys hexanema, Chaeturichthys stigmatias, and Acanthogobius hasta) found in northern Chinese coastal waters. The five species were well differentiated with high overall classification success using shape indices (83.7%), elliptic Fourier coefficients (98.6%), or the combination of both methods (94.9%). However, shape analysis alone was only moderately successful at discriminating among the four stocks (Liaodong Bay, LD; Bohai Bay, BH; Huanghe (Yellow) River estuary HRE, and Jiaozhou Bay, JZ stocks) of A. hasta (50%-54%) and C. stigmatias (65.7%-75.8%). For these two species, shape analysis was moderately successful at discriminating the HRE or JZ stocks from other stocks, but failed to effectively identify the LD and BH stocks. A large number of otoliths were misclassified between the HRE and JZ stocks, which are geographically well separated. The classification success for stock discrimination was higher using elliptic Fourier coefficients alone (70.2%) or in combination with shape indices (75.8%) than using only shape indices (65.7%) in C. stigmatias whereas there was little difference among the three methods for A. hasta. Our results supported the common belief that otolith shape analysis is generally more effective for interspecific identification than intraspecific discrimination. Moreover, compared with shape indices analysis, Fourier analysis improves classification success during inter- and intra-species discrimination by otolith shape analysis, although this did not necessarily always occur in all fish species.

Basic performance of Mg co-doped new scintillator used for TOF-DOI-PET systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kobayashi, Takahiro; Yamamoto, Seiichi; Okumura, Satoshi; Yeom, Jung Yeol; Kamada, Kei; Yoshikawa, Akira

2017-01-01

Phoswich depth-of-interaction (DOI) detectors utilizing multiple scintillators with different decay time are a useful device for developing a high spatial resolution, high sensitivity PET scanner. However, in order to apply pulse shape discrimination (PSD), there are not many combinations of scintillators for which phoswich technique can be implemented. Ce doped Gd3Ga3Al2O12 (GFAG) is a recently developed scintillator with a fast decay time. This scintillator is similar to Ce doped Gd3Al2Ga3O12 (GAGG), which is a promising scintillator for PET detector with high light yield. By stacking these scintillators, it may be possible to realize a high spatial resolution and high timing resolution phoswich DOI detector. Such phoswich DOI detector may be applied to time-of-flight (TOF) systems with high timing performance. Therefore, in this study, we tested the basic performance of the new scintillator -GFAG for use in a TOF phoswich detector. The measured decay time of a GFAG element of 2.9 mmx2.9 mmx10 mm in dimension, which was optically coupled to a photomultiplier tube (PMT), was faster (66 ns) than that of same sized GAGG (103 ns). The energy resolution of the GFAG element was 5.7% FWHM which was slightly worse than that of GAGG with 4.9% FWHM for 662 keV gamma photons without saturation correction. Then we assembled the GFAG and the GAGG crystals in the depth direction to form a 20 mm long phoswich element (GFAG/GAGG). By pulse shape analysis, the two types of scintillators were clearly resolved. Measured timing resolution of a pair of opposing GFAG/GAGG phoswich scintillator coupled to Silicon Photomultipliers (Si-PM) was good with coincidence resolving time of 466 ps FWHM. These results indicate that the GFAG combined with GAGG can be a candidate for TOF-DOI-PET systems.

Range discrimination in ultrasonic vibrometry: theory and experiment.

PubMed

Martin, J S; Rogers, P H; Gray, M D

2011-09-01

A technique has been developed to demodulate periodic broadband ultrasonic interrogation signals that are returned from multiple scattering sites to simultaneously determine the low-frequency displacement time histories of each individual site. The technique employs a broadband periodic transmit signal. The motions of scattering sites are separately determined from the echoed receive signal by an algorithm involving comb filtering and pulse synthesis. This algorithm permits spatial resolution comparable to pulse-echo techniques and displacement sensitivities comparable to pure-tone techniques. A system based on this technique was used to image transient audio-frequency displacements on the order of 1-10 μm peak (≥ 50 nm/√Hz) that were produced by propagating shear waves in a tissue phantom. The system used concentric transmitting and receiving transducers and a carrier signal centered at 2.5 MHz with an 800 kHz bandwidth. The system was self-noise-limited and capable of detecting motions of strongly reflecting regions on the order of 1 nm/√Hz. System performance is limited by several factors including signal selection, component hardware, and ultrasonic propagation within the media of interest. © 2011 Acoustical Society of America

Continuous depth-of-interaction encoding using phosphor-coated scintillators.

PubMed

Du, Huini; Yang, Yongfeng; Glodo, Jarek; Wu, Yibao; Shah, Kanai; Cherry, Simon R

2009-03-21

We investigate a novel detector using a lutetium oxyorthosilicate (LSO) scintillator and YGG (yttrium-aluminum-gallium oxide:cerium, Y(3)(Al,Ga)(5)O(12):Ce) phosphor to construct a detector with continuous depth-of-interaction (DOI) information. The far end of the LSO scintillator is coated with a thin layer of YGG phosphor powder which absorbs some fraction of the LSO scintillation light and emits wavelength-shifted photons with a characteristic decay time of approximately 50 ns. The near end of the LSO scintillator is directly coupled to a photodetector. The photodetector detects a mixture of the LSO light and the light emitted by YGG. With appropriate placement of the coating, the ratio of the light converted from the YGG coating with respect to the unconverted LSO light can be made to depend on the interaction depth. DOI information can then be estimated by inspecting the overall light pulse decay time. Experiments were conducted to optimize the coating method. 19 ns decay time differences across the length of the detector were achieved experimentally when reading out a 1.5 x 1.5 x 20 mm(3) LSO crystal with unpolished surfaces and half-coated with YGG phosphor. The same coating scheme was applied to a 4 x 4 LSO array. Pulse shape discrimination (PSD) methods were studied to extract DOI information from the pulse shape changes. The DOI full-width-half-maximum (FWHM) resolution was found to be approximately 8 mm for this 2 cm thick array.

Continuous Depth-of-Interaction Encoding Using Phosphor-Coated Scintillators

PubMed Central

Du, Huini; Yang, Yongfeng; Glodo, Jarek; Wu, Yibao; Shah, Kanai; Cherry, Simon R.

2009-01-01

We investigate a novel detector using lutetium oxyorthosilicate (LSO) scintillator and YGG (yttrium aluminum gallium oxide:cerium, Y3(Al,Ga)5O12:Ce) phosphor to construct a detector with continuous depth-of-interaction (DOI) information. The far end of the LSO scintillator is coated with a thin layer of YGG phosphor powder which absorbs some fraction of the LSO scintillation light and emits wavelength-shifted photons with a characteristic decay time of ∼ 50 ns. The near end of the LSO scintillator is directly coupled to a photodetector. The photodetector detects a mixture of the LSO light and the light emitted by YGG. With appropriate placement of the coating, the ratio of the light converted from the YGG coating with respect to the unconverted LSO light can be made to depend on the interaction depth. DOI information can then be estimated by inspecting the overall light pulse decay time. Experiments were conducted to optimize the coating method. 19 ns decay time differences across the length of the detector were achieved experimentally when reading out a 1.5×1.5×20 mm3 LSO crystal with unpolished surfaces and half-coated with YGG phosphor. The same coating scheme was applied to a 4 by 4 LSO array. Pulse shape discrimination (PSD) methods were studied to extract DOI information from the pulse shape changes. The DOI full-width-half-maximum (FWHM) resolution was found to be ∼8 mm for this 2 cm thick array. PMID:19258685

Neutron induced background in the COMPTEL detector on the Gamma Ray Observatory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morris, D. J.; Aarts, H.; Bennett, K.; Busetta, M.; Byrd, R.; Collmar, W.; Connors, A.; Diehl, R.; Eymann, G.; Foster, C.

1992-01-01

Interactions of neutrons in a prototype of the Compton imaging telescope (COMPTEL) gamma ray detector for the Gamma Ray Observatory were studied to determine COMPTEL's sensitivity as a neutron telescope and to estimate the gamma ray background resulting from neutron interactions. The IUCF provided a pulsed neutron beam at five different energies between 18 and 120 MeV. These measurements showed that the gamma ray background from neutron interactions is greater than previously expected. It was thought that most such events would be due to interactions in the upper detector modules of COMPTEL and could be distinguished by pulse shape discrimination. Rather, the bulk of the gamma ray background appears to be due to interactions in passive material, primarily aluminum, surrounding the D1 modules. In a considerable fraction of these interactions, two or more gamma rays are produced simultaneously, with one interacting in the D1 module and the other interacting in the module of the lower (D2) detector. If the neutron interacts near the D1 module, the D1 D2 time of flight cannot distinguish such an event from a true gamma ray event. In order to assess the significance of this background, the flux of neutrons in orbit has been estimated based on observed events with neutron pulse shape signature in D1. The strength of this neutron induced background is estimated. This is compared with the rate expected from the isotropic cosmic gamma ray flux.

Diagnosis of warm dense conditions in foil targets heated by intense femtosecond laser pulses using Kα imaging spectroscopy

DOE PAGES

Bae, L. J.; Zastrau, U.; Chung, H. -K.; ...

2018-03-01

Warm dense conditions in titanium foils irradiated with intense femtosecond laser pulses are diagnosed using an x-ray imaging spectroscopy technique. The line shapes of radially resolved titanium Kα spectra are measured with a toroidally bent GaAs crystal and an x-ray charge-coupled device. Measured spectra are compared with the K-shell emissions modeled using an atomic kinetics – spectroscopy simulation code. Kα line shapes are strongly affected by warm (5-40 eV) bulk electron temperatures and imply multiple temperature distributions in the targets. Finally, the spatial distribution of temperature is dependent on the target thickness, and a thin target shows an advantage tomore » generate uniform warm dense conditions in a large area.« less

Diagnosis of warm dense conditions in foil targets heated by intense femtosecond laser pulses using Kα imaging spectroscopy

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

Bae, L. J.; Zastrau, U.; Chung, H. -K.

Warm dense conditions in titanium foils irradiated with intense femtosecond laser pulses are diagnosed using an x-ray imaging spectroscopy technique. The line shapes of radially resolved titanium Kα spectra are measured with a toroidally bent GaAs crystal and an x-ray charge-coupled device. Measured spectra are compared with the K-shell emissions modeled using an atomic kinetics – spectroscopy simulation code. Kα line shapes are strongly affected by warm (5-40 eV) bulk electron temperatures and imply multiple temperature distributions in the targets. Finally, the spatial distribution of temperature is dependent on the target thickness, and a thin target shows an advantage tomore » generate uniform warm dense conditions in a large area.« less

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

Wurtz, R.; Kaplan, A.

Pulse shape discrimination (PSD) is a variety of statistical classifier. Fully-­realized statistical classifiers rely on a comprehensive set of tools for designing, building, and implementing. PSD advances rely on improvements to the implemented algorithm. PSD advances can be improved by using conventional statistical classifier or machine learning methods. This paper provides the reader with a glossary of classifier-­building elements and their functions in a fully-­designed and operational classifier framework that can be used to discover opportunities for improving PSD classifier projects. This paper recommends reporting the PSD classifier’s receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and its behavior at a gamma rejectionmore » rate (GRR) relevant for realistic applications.« less

DESCANT - Testing and Commissioning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bildstein, Vinzenz; Garrett, P. E.; Bandyopadhay, D.; Bangay, J.; Bianco, L.; Demand, G.; Hadinia, B.; Leach, K. G.; Sumithrarachchi, C.; Turko, J.; Wong, J.; Ashley, S. F.; Crider, B. P.; McEllistrem, M. T.; Peters, E. E.; Prados-Estévez, F. M.; Yates, S. W.; Vanhoy, J. R.; Ball, G. C.; Bishop, D. P.; Garnsworthy, A. B.; Hackman, G.; Pearson, C. J.; Shaw, B.; Sarazin, F.

2017-09-01

The DESCANT array at TRIUMF is designed to detect neutrons from RIB experiments. DESCANT is composed of 70 close-packed deuterated organic liquid scintillators coupled to digital fast read-out ADC modules. This configuration permits online pulse-shape discrimination between neutron and γ-ray events. A prototype detector was tested with monoenergetic neutrons at the University of Kentucky Accelerator Laboratory. The data from these tests was compared to Geant4 simulations. A first commissioning experiment of the full array, using the decay of Cs 145 - 146 , was performed in August 2016. The results of the tests and a preliminary analysis of the commissioning experiment will be presented.

Lidar Measurements of the Stratosphere and Mesosphere at the Biejing Observatory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Du, Lifang; Yang, Guotao; Cheng, Xuewu; Wang, Jihong

With the high precision and high spatial and temporal resolution, the lidar has become a powerful weapon of near space environment monitoring. This paper describes the development of the solid-state 532nm and 589nm laser radar, which were used to detect the wind field of Beijing stratosphere and mesopause field. The injection seeding technique and atomic absorption saturation bubble frequency stabilization method was used to obtain narrow linewidth of 532nm lidar, Wherein the laser pulse energy of 800mJ, repetition rate of 30Hz. The 589nm yellow laser achieved by extra-cavity sum-frequency mixing 1064nm and 1319nm pulse laser with KTP crystal. The base frequency of 1064nm and 1319nm laser adopted injection seeding technique and YAG laser amplification for high energy pulse laser. Ultimately, the laser pulse of 150mJ and the linewidth of 130MHz of 589nm laser was obtain. And after AOM crystal frequency shift, Doppler frequency discriminator free methods achieved of the measuring of high-altitude wind. Both of 532nm and 589nm lidar system for engineering design of solid-state lidar provides a basis, and also provide a solid foundation for the development of all-solid-state wind lidar.

Single transmission-line readout method for silicon photomultiplier based time-of-flight and depth-of-interaction PET

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ko, Guen Bae; Lee, Jae Sung

2017-03-01

We propose a novel single transmission-line readout method for whole-body time-of-flight positron emission tomography applications, without compromising on performance. The basic idea of the proposed multiplexing method is the addition of a specially prepared tag signal ahead of the scintillation pulse. The tag signal is a square pulse that encodes photon arrival time and channel information. The 2D position of a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) array is encoded by the specific width and height of the tag signal. A summing amplifier merges the tag and scintillation signals of each channel, and the final output signal can be acquired with a one-channel digitizer. The feasibility and performance of the proposed method were evaluated using a 1:1 coupled detector consisting of 4  ×  4 array of LGSO crystals and 16 channel SiPM. The sixteen 3 mm LGSO crystals were clearly separated in the crystal-positioning map with high reliability. The average energy resolution and coincidence resolving time were 11.31  ±  0.55% and 264.7  ±  10.7 ps, respectively. We also proved that the proposed method does not degrade timing performance with increasing multiplexing ratio. The two types of LGSO crystals (L0.95GSO and L0.20GSO) in phoswich detector were also clearly identified with the high-reliability using pulse shape discrimination, thanks to the well-preserved pulse shape information. In conclusion, the proposed multiplexing method allows decoding of the 3D interaction position of gamma rays in the scintillation detector with single-line readout.

Single transmission-line readout method for silicon photomultiplier based time-of-flight and depth-of-interaction PET.

PubMed

Ko, Guen Bae; Lee, Jae Sung

2017-03-21

We propose a novel single transmission-line readout method for whole-body time-of-flight positron emission tomography applications, without compromising on performance. The basic idea of the proposed multiplexing method is the addition of a specially prepared tag signal ahead of the scintillation pulse. The tag signal is a square pulse that encodes photon arrival time and channel information. The 2D position of a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) array is encoded by the specific width and height of the tag signal. A summing amplifier merges the tag and scintillation signals of each channel, and the final output signal can be acquired with a one-channel digitizer. The feasibility and performance of the proposed method were evaluated using a 1:1 coupled detector consisting of 4  ×  4 array of LGSO crystals and 16 channel SiPM. The sixteen 3 mm LGSO crystals were clearly separated in the crystal-positioning map with high reliability. The average energy resolution and coincidence resolving time were 11.31  ±  0.55% and 264.7  ±  10.7 ps, respectively. We also proved that the proposed method does not degrade timing performance with increasing multiplexing ratio. The two types of LGSO crystals (L 0.95 GSO and L 0.20 GSO) in phoswich detector were also clearly identified with the high-reliability using pulse shape discrimination, thanks to the well-preserved pulse shape information. In conclusion, the proposed multiplexing method allows decoding of the 3D interaction position of gamma rays in the scintillation detector with single-line readout.

Do Rats Use Shape to Solve "Shape Discriminations"?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Minini, Loredana; Jeffery, Kathryn J.

2006-01-01

Visual discrimination tasks are increasingly used to explore the neurobiology of vision in rodents, but it remains unclear how the animals solve these tasks: Do they process shapes holistically, or by using low-level features such as luminance and angle acuity? In the present study we found that when discriminating triangles from squares, rats did…

Hybrid CARS for Non-Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xi; Pestov, Dmitry; Zhang, Aihua; Murawski, Robert; Sokolov, Alexei; Welch, George; Laane, Jaan; Scully, Marlan

2007-10-01

We develop a spectroscopy technique that combines the advantages of both the frequency-resolved coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) and the time-resolved CARS. We use broadband preparation pulses to get an instantaneous coherent excitation of multiplex molecular vibration levels and subsequent optically shaped time-delayed narrowband probing pulse to detect these vibrations. This technique can suppress the nonresonant background and retrieve the molecular fingerprint signal efficiently and rapidly. We employ this technique to glucose detection, the final goal of which is accurate, non-invasive (i.e. painless) and continuous monitoring of blood glucose concentration in the Diabetes diagnosis to replace the current glucose measurement process, which requires painful fingerpricks and therefore cannot be performed more than a few times a day. We have gotten the CARS spectra of glucose aqueous solution down to 2 mM.

Development of New High Resolution Neutron Detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mostella, L. D., III; Rajabali, M.; Loureiro, D. P.; Grzywacz, R.

2017-09-01

Beta-delayed neutron emission is a prevalent form of decay for neutron-rich nuclei. This occurs when an unstable nucleus undergoes beta decay, but produces a daughter nucleus in an excited state above the neutron separation energy. The daughter nucleus then de-excites by ejecting one or more neutrons. We wish to map the states from which these nuclei decay via neutron spectroscopy using NEXT, a new high resolution neutron detector. NEXT utilizes silicon photomultipliers and 6 mm thick pulse-shape discriminating plastic scintillators, allowing for smaller and more compact modular geometries in the NEXT array. Timing measurements for the detector were performed and a resolution of 893 ps (FWHM) has been achieved so far. Aspects of the detector that were investigated and will be presented here include scintillator geometry, wrapping materials, fitting functions for the digitized signals, and electronic components coupled to the silicon photomultipliers for signal shaping.

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

Divani, Nazila, E-mail: n-divani@birjand.ac.ir; Firoozabadi, Mohammad M.; Bayat, Esmail

Scintillators are almost used in any nuclear laboratory. These detectors combine of scintillation materials, PMT and a voltage divider. Voltage dividers are different in resistive ladder design. But the effect of decoupling capacitors and damping resistors haven’t discussed yet. In this paper at first a good equilibrium circuit designed for PMT, and it was used for investigating about capacitors and resistors in much manner. Results show that decoupling capacitors have great effect on PMT output pulses. In this research, it was tried to investigate the effect of Capacitor’s value and places on PMT voltage divider in Neutron-Gamma discrimination capability. Therefore,more » the voltage divider circuit for R329-02 Hamamatsu PMT was made and Zero Cross method used for neutron-gamma discrimination. The neutron source was a 20Ci Am-Be. Anode and Dynode pulses and discrimination spectrum were saved. The results showed that the pulse height and discrimination quality change with the value and setting of capacitors.« less

56Fe capture cross section experiments at the RPI LINAC Center

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McDermott, Brian; Blain, Ezekiel; Thompson, Nicholas; Weltz, Adam; Youmans, Amanda; Danon, Yaron; Barry, Devin; Block, Robert; Daskalakis, Adam; Epping, Brian; Leinweber, Gregory; Rapp, Michael

2017-09-01

A new array of C6D6 detectors installed at the RPI LINAC Center has enabled the capability to measure neutron capture cross sections above the 847 keV inelastic scattering threshold of 56Fe through the use of digital post-processing filters and pulse-integral discriminators, without sacrificing the statistical quality of data at lower incident neutron energies where such filtering is unnecessary. The C6D6 detectors were used to perform time-of-flight capture cross section measurements on a sample 99.87% enriched iron-56. The total-energy method, combined with the pulse height weighting technique, were then applied to the raw data to determine the energy-dependent capture yield. Above the inelastic threshold, the data were analyzed with a pulse-integral filter to reveal the capture signal, extending the the full data set to 2 MeV.

Resolving the shape of a sonoluminescence pulse in sulfuric acid by the use of streak camera.

PubMed

Huang, Wei; Chen, Weizhong; Cui, Weicheng

2009-06-01

A streak camera is used to measure the shape of sonoluminescence pulses from a cavitation bubble levitated stably in a sulfuric acid solution. The shape and response to an acoustic pressure field of the sonoluminescence pulse in 85% by weight sulfuric acid are qualitatively similar to those in water. However, the pulse width in sulfuric acid is wider than that in water by over one order of magnitude. The width of the sonoluminescence pulse is strongly dependent on the concentration of the sulfuric acid solution, while the skewed distribution of the shape remains unchanged.

Charged-particle spectroscopy in organic semiconducting single crystals

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

Ciavatti, A.; Basiricò, L.; Fraboni, B.

2016-04-11

The use of organic materials as radiation detectors has grown, due to the easy processability in liquid phase at room temperature and the possibility to cover large areas by means of low cost deposition techniques. Direct charged-particle detectors based on solution-grown Organic Semiconducting Single Crystals (OSSCs) are shown to be capable to detect charged particles in pulse mode, with very good peak discrimination. The direct charged-particle detection in OSSCs has been assessed both in the planar and in the vertical axes, and a digital pulse processing algorithm has been used to perform pulse height spectroscopy and to study the chargemore » collection efficiency as a function of the applied bias voltage. Taking advantage of the charge spectroscopy and the good peak discrimination of pulse height spectra, an Hecht-like behavior of OSSCs radiation detectors is demonstrated. It has been possible to estimate the mobility-lifetime value in organic materials, a fundamental parameter for the characterization of radiation detectors, whose results are equal to μτ{sub coplanar} = (5 .5 ± 0.6 ) × 10{sup −6} cm{sup 2}/V and μτ{sub sandwich} = (1 .9 ± 0.2 ) × 10{sup −6} cm{sup 2}/V, values comparable to those of polycrystalline inorganic detectors. Moreover, alpha particles Time-of-Flight experiments have been carried out to estimate the drift mobility value. The results reported here indicate how charged-particle detectors based on OSSCs possess a great potential as low-cost, large area, solid-state direct detectors operating at room temperature. More interestingly, the good detection efficiency and peak discrimination observed for charged-particle detection in organic materials (hydrogen-rich molecules) are encouraging for their further exploitation in the detection of thermal and high-energy neutrons.« less

A horse's eye view: size and shape discrimination compared with other mammals.

PubMed

Tomonaga, Masaki; Kumazaki, Kiyonori; Camus, Florine; Nicod, Sophie; Pereira, Carlos; Matsuzawa, Tetsuro

2015-11-01

Mammals have adapted to a variety of natural environments from underwater to aerial and these different adaptations have affected their specific perceptive and cognitive abilities. This study used a computer-controlled touchscreen system to examine the visual discrimination abilities of horses, particularly regarding size and shape, and compared the results with those from chimpanzee, human and dolphin studies. Horses were able to discriminate a difference of 14% in circle size but showed worse discrimination thresholds than chimpanzees and humans; these differences cannot be explained by visual acuity. Furthermore, the present findings indicate that all species use length cues rather than area cues to discriminate size. In terms of shape discrimination, horses exhibited perceptual similarities among shapes with curvatures, vertical/horizontal lines and diagonal lines, and the relative contributions of each feature to perceptual similarity in horses differed from those for chimpanzees, humans and dolphins. Horses pay more attention to local components than to global shapes. © 2015 The Author(s).

Transformations of the distribution of nuclei formed in a nucleation pulse: Interface-limited growth.

PubMed

Shneidman, Vitaly A

2009-10-28

A typical nucleation-growth process is considered: a system is quenched into a supersaturated state with a small critical radius r( *) (-) and is allowed to nucleate during a finite time interval t(n), after which the supersaturation is abruptly reduced to a fixed value with a larger critical radius r( *) (+). The size-distribution of nucleated particles f(r,t) further evolves due to their deterministic growth and decay for r larger or smaller than r( *) (+), respectively. A general analytic expressions for f(r,t) is obtained, and it is shown that after a large growth time t this distribution approaches an asymptotic shape determined by two dimensionless parameters, lambda related to t(n), and Lambda=r( *) (+)/r( *) (-). This shape is strongly asymmetric with an exponential and double-exponential cutoffs at small and large sizes, respectively, and with a broad near-flat top in case of a long pulse. Conversely, for a short pulse the distribution acquires a distinct maximum at r=r(max)(t) and approaches a universal shape exp[zeta-e(zeta)], with zeta proportional to r-r(max), independent of the pulse duration. General asymptotic predictions are examined in terms of Zeldovich-Frenkel nucleation model where the entire transient behavior can be described in terms of the Lambert W function. Modifications for the Turnbull-Fisher model are also considered, and analytics is compared with exact numerics. Results are expected to have direct implementations in analysis of two-step annealing crystallization experiments, although other applications might be anticipated due to universality of the nucleation pulse technique.

Trans-abdominal monitoring of fetal arterial blood oxygenation using pulse oximetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zourabian, Anna; Siegel, Andrew M.; Chance, Britton; Ramanujam, Nirmala; Rode, Martha; Boas, David A.

2000-10-01

Pulse oximetry (oxygen saturation monitoring) has markedly improved medical care in many fields, including anesthesiology, intensive care, and newborn intensive care. In obstetrics, fetal heart rate monitoring remains the standard for intrapartum assessment of fetal well being. Fetal oxygen saturation monitoring is a new technique currently under development. It is potentially superior to electronic fetal heart rate monitoring (cardiotocography) because it allows direct assessment of both the fetal oxygen status and fetal tissue perfusion. Here we present the analysis for determining the most optimal wavelength selection for pulse oximetry. The wavelengths we chose as the most optimal are the first in the range of 670 - 720 nm and the second in the range of 825 - 925 nm. Further, we discuss the possible systematic errors during our measurements and their contribution to the obtained saturation results. We present feasibility studies for fetal pulse oximetry, monitored noninvasively through the maternal abdomen. Our preliminary experiments show that the fetal pulse can be discriminated from the maternal pulse and thus, in principle, the fetal arterial oxygen saturation can be obtained. We present the methodology for obtaining these data, and discuss the dependence of our measurements on the fetal position with respect to the optode assembly.

Correlation based efficient face recognition and color change detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elbouz, M.; Alfalou, A.; Brosseau, C.; Alam, M. S.; Qasmi, S.

2013-01-01

Identifying the human face via correlation is a topic attracting widespread interest. At the heart of this technique lies the comparison of an unknown target image to a known reference database of images. However, the color information in the target image remains notoriously difficult to interpret. In this paper, we report a new technique which: (i) is robust against illumination change, (ii) offers discrimination ability to detect color change between faces having similar shape, and (iii) is specifically designed to detect red colored stains (i.e. facial bleeding). We adopt the Vanderlugt correlator (VLC) architecture with a segmented phase filter and we decompose the color target image using normalized red, green, and blue (RGB), and hue, saturation, and value (HSV) scales. We propose a new strategy to effectively utilize color information in signatures for further increasing the discrimination ability. The proposed algorithm has been found to be very efficient for discriminating face subjects with different skin colors, and those having color stains in different areas of the facial image.

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.

Using flowmeter pulse tests to define hydraulic connections in the subsurface: A fractured shale example

USGS Publications Warehouse

Williams, J.H.; Paillet, Frederick L.

2002-01-01

Cross-borehole flowmeter pulse tests define subsurface connections between discrete fractures using short stress periods to monitor the propagation of the pulse through the flow system. This technique is an improvement over other cross-borehole techniques because measurements can be made in open boreholes without packers or previous identification of water-producing intervals. The method is based on the concept of monitoring the propagation of pulses rather than steady flow through the fracture network. In this method, a hydraulic stress is applied to a borehole connected to a single, permeable fracture, and the distribution of flow induced by that stress monitored in adjacent boreholes. The transient flow responses are compared to type curves computed for several different types of fracture connections. The shape of the transient flow response indicates the type of fracture connection, and the fit of the data to the type curve yields an estimate of its transmissivity and storage coefficient. The flowmeter pulse test technique was applied in fractured shale at a volatile-organic contaminant plume in Watervliet, New York. Flowmeter and other geophysical logs were used to identify permeable fractures in eight boreholes in and near the contaminant plume using single-borehole flow measurements. Flowmeter cross-hole pulse tests were used to identify connections between fractures detected in the boreholes. The results indicated a permeable fracture network connecting many of the individual boreholes, and demonstrated the presence of an ambient upward hydraulic-head gradient throughout the site.