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At least 199 records · Page 11
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Gallium oxide (Ga2O3) as a radiation detector distinguishing neutrons and gammas

Gallium oxide (Ga2O3) is a promising ultrawide bandgap semiconductor for radiation detection with the potential of integrating electronic and scintillation functions within a single crystal device. This study establishes the scintillation response of β-Ga2O3 gamma irradiation from yttrium-88 (88Y). Then, californium-252 (252Cf) is used as a spontaneous fission source of mixed neutron and gamma radiation field to measure scintillation signals. Pulse shape discrimination and constant fraction discrimination techniques were used to separate neutron and gamma interaction events. Further investigation indicates that the prompt temporal responses of β-Ga2O3 for gammas and neutrons may enable discrimination of the two by prompt pulse fitting methods, focused around the initial peak. For gamma irradiation, we observed a rise time (τr) of 2.1 ns, decay time (τd) of 9.5 ns, and a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 6.2 ns. For neutrons, it showed a τr of 2.3 ns, a τd of 12.1 ns, 9.4 ns FWHM, and reduced peak intensity. A diamond detector exhibited a more symmetrical τr and τd for both gamma and neutron signals and therefore is less effective at discriminating between the two by this method. This draws attention to β-Ga2O3’s ability to distinguish neutron and gamma particles. These findings showcase Ga2O3’s potential as a next-generation semiconductor for applications in nuclear safety and medical imaging, where precise discrimination between neutron and gamma interactions is essential.

Valdes, D. J. (ORCID:0000000304373720)↗
DOE OSTI2011

Development of an alpha/beta/gamma detector for radiation monitoring

For radiation monitoring at the site of nuclear power plant accidents such as Fukushima Daiichi, radiation detectors not only for gamma photons but also for alpha and beta particles are needed because some nuclear fission products emit beta particles and gamma photons and some nuclear fuels contain plutonium that emits alpha particles. We developed a radiation detector that can simultaneously monitor alpha and beta particles and gamma photons for radiation monitoring. The detector consists of three-layered scintillators optically coupled to each other and coupled to a photomultiplier tube. The first layer, which is made of a thin plastic scintillator (decay time: 2.4 ns), detects alpha particles. The second layer, which is made of a thin Gd{sub 2}SiO{sub 5} (GSO) scintillator with 1.5 mol.% Ce (decay time: 35 ns), detects beta particles. The third layer made of a thin GSO scintillator with 0.4 mol.% Ce (decay time: 70 ns) detects gamma photons. By using pulse shape discrimination, the count rates of these layers can be separated. With individual irradiation of alpha and beta particles and gamma photons, the count rate of the first layer represented the alpha particles, the second layer represented the beta particles, and the third layer represented the gamma photons. Even with simultaneous irradiation of the alpha and beta particles and the gamma photons, these three types of radiation can be individually monitored using correction for the gamma detection efficiency of the second and third layers. Our developed alpha, beta, and gamma detector is simple and will be useful for radiation monitoring, especially at nuclear power plant accident sites or other applications where the simultaneous measurements of alpha and beta particles and gamma photons are required.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Wide Band Gap Radiation Detectors for Deep Space Science

Understanding how the Sun, Earth, and other objects in the solar system interact with the space radiation environment is crucial for improving activities of humans on Earth and in space. Low-power, low-noise, multidirectional robust detectors for detecting ions with a wide range of mass and energies will provide a more complete understanding of space environment physics. To meet these challenges, new ion detectors based on wide band gap (WBG) semiconductors are being developed for integration on a variety of deep space platforms. NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) is applying its expertise and facilities in harsh environment instrumentation to develop supporting technologies to enable improved instruments for space science missions. New detector technologies being developed at GRC include SiC solid-state devices as practical robust, thermally stable large area detectors for LET measurements in compact, stacked charged particle telescope. The low-noise, thermally stable nature of the WBG detectors allows a small multidirectional array of charged particle telescopes to be packed in a 6U CubeSat without active cooling for operation in lunar orbit or deep space. Using a full variety of different WBG detectors, an extremely compact instrument to provide multi-directional, comprehensive (composition, velocity, and direction) in-situ measurements of heavy ions in space plasma environments can be realized.

ion detectors↗
DOE OSTI2019

Controlling the Vapor Transport Crystal Growth of Hg 3 Se 2 I 2 Hard Radiation Detector Using Organic Polymer

The chalcohalide compound Hg 3 Se 2 I 2 with a defect anti-perovskite structure has been demonstrated to be a promising semiconductor for room temperature X- and gamma-ray detection. In this work, we use transport agents during the vapor growth of Hg 3 Se 2 I 2 crystals under gradient temperature profiles to dramatically improve the size and yield of Hg 3 Se 2 I 2 single crystals. Various growth conditions with combinations of organic polymer (polyethylene) with elemental Hg, Se, or 12 are compared. The largest single crystals (with size up to 7 x 5 x 3.5 mm 3 ) were obtained using both polyethylene and excess I-2 as the transport agents. The as-prepared detector devices based on these crystals have excellent photo response to a series of radiation sources, including low flux X-ray source, alpha particles, and gamma-rays. The X-ray induced photocurrent of Hg 3 Se 2 I 2 detectors is 3 orders of magnitude higher than the dark current, indicating excellent X-ray photosensitivity. Under Am-241 alpha particle source (5.5 MeV), the best energy resolution obtained is similar to 8.1%. The Hg 3 Se 2 I 2 device also shows improved detector performance under Co-57 and Cs-137 gamma-ray sources. The improved crystal growth and detector performance using this polymer additive during the vapor transport process further confirms the great potential for the development of Hg 3 Se 2 I 2 for radiation detection.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Next Generation Semiconductor-Based Radiation Detectors Using Cadmium Magnesium Telluride

The primary objective of Phase I was to perform extensive studies on the purification, crystal growth and annealing procedures of CdMgTe to gain a clear understanding of the basic material properties to enable production of detector material with performance comparable to that of CdZnTe. Brimrose utilized prior experience in the growth and processing of II-VI crystals and produced high purity material and good quality single crystals of CdMgTe. Processing techniques for these crystals including annealing, mechanical and chemical polishing, surface passivation and electrode fabrication were developed. Techniques to characterize pertinent electronic characteristics were developed and gamma ray detectors were fabricated. Feasibility of the development of comprehensive defect modeling in this new class of material was demonstrated by our partner research institute SRI International, to compliment the experimental work. We successfully produced a CdMgTe detector that showed 662 keV gamma response with energy resolution of 3.4% (FWHM) at room temperature, without any additional signal correction. These results are comparable to existing CdZnTe (CZT) technology using the same detector size and testing conditions. We have successfully demonstrated detection of gamma-radiation from various isotopes/sources, using CdMgTe thus clearly proving the feasibility that CdMgTe is an excellent, low-cost alternative to CdZnTe.

, CdTe↗
DOE OSTI2017

LL13-MatModelRadDetect-PD2Jf Final Report: Materials Modeling for High-Performance Radiation Detectors

The aims of this project are to enable rational materials design for select high-payoff challenges in radiation detection materials by using state-of-the-art predictive atomistic modeling techniques. Three specific high-impact challenges are addressed: (i) design and optimization of electrical contact stacks for TlBr detectors to stabilize temporal response at room-temperature; (ii) identification of chemical design principles of host glass materials for large-volume, low-cost, highperformance glass scintillators; and (iii) determination of the electrical impacts of dislocation networks in Cd 1-x Zn x Te (CZT) that limit its performance and usable single-crystal volume. The specific goals are to establish design and process strategies to achieve improved materials for high performance detectors. Each of the major tasks is discussed below in three sections, which include the goals for the task and a summary of the major results, followed by a listing of publications that contain the full details, including details of the methodologies used. The appendix lists 12 conference presentations given for this project, including 1 invited talk and 1 invited poster.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1973

Recent progress in the transition radiation detector techniques

A list of some of the major experimental achievements involving charged particles in the relativistic region are presented. With the emphasis mainly directed to the X-ray region, certain modes of application of the transition radiation for the identification and separation of relativistic charged particles are discussed. Some recent developments in detection techniques and improvements in detector performances are presented. Experiments were also carried out to detect the dynamic radiation, but no evidence of such an effect was observed.

Yuan, L. C. L.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Research on radiation detectors, boiling transients, and organic lubricants

The accomplishments of a space projects research facility are presented. The subjects discussed are: (1) a study of radiation resistant semiconductor devices, (2) synthesis of high temperature organic lubricants, (3) departure from phase equilibrium during boiling transients, (4) effects of neutron irradiation on defect state in tungsten, and (5) determination of photon response function of NE-213 liquid scintillation detectors.

Source record↗
DOE OSTI2016

Refined Synthesis and Crystal Growth of Pb{sub 2}P{sub 2}Se{sub 6} for Hard Radiation Detectors.

The refined synthesis and optimized crystal growth of high quality Pb2P2Se6 single crystals are reported. Improved experimental procedures were implemented to reduce the oxygen contamination and improve the stoichiometry of the single crystal samples. The impact of oxygen contamination and the nature of the stoichiometry deviation in the Pb2P2Se6 system were studied by first-principles density functional theory (DFT) electronic structure calculations as well as experimental methods. The DFT calculations indicated that the presence of interstitial oxygen atoms (O-int) leads to the formation of a deep level located near the middle of the gap, as well as a shallow acceptor level near the valence band maximum. In addition, total energy calculations of the heat of formation of Pb2P2Se6 suggest that the region of thermodynamic stability is sufficiently wide. By refining the preparative procedures, high quality Pb2P2Se6 single crystal samples were reproducibly obtained. These Pb2P2Se6 single crystals exhibited excellent optical transparency, electrical resistivity in the range of 10(11) Omega.cm, and a significant increase in photoconductivity. Infrared photoluminescence of the Pb2P2Se6 single crystals was observed over the temperature range of 15-75 K. Detectors fabricated from boules yielded a clear spectroscopic response to both Ag K alpha X-ray and Co-57 gamma-ray radiation. The electron and hole mobility lifetime product (mu tau) of the current Pb2P2Se6 detectors were estimated to be 3.1 x 10(-4) and 4.8 X 10(-5) cm(2)/V, respectively.

Wang, Peng L.↗
DOE OSTI2013

Materials Modeling for High-Performance Radiation Detectors

This project is in collaboration with SL13-FY13-237-PD05. This project aims to enable rational materials design for select high-payoff challenges in radiation detection materials by using stateof- the-art modeling techniques bridging multiple resolutions, in cooperation with experimental collaborations. Three specific high-impact challenges are addressed: design of contacts for TlBr detectors to stabilize response at room-temperature; design of host glass for large-volume, lowcost, high-performance scintillators; and determination of the electrical impacts of dislocation networks in CZT that limit the performance and usable single-crystal volume. The realization of these goals will impact a number of proliferation detection application areas, including improved-performance and reduced-cost handheld detectors for search- and contain-missions (TlBr and CZT), and large-volume, specially-shaped detectors for portal monitors, tracking detectors, and similar applications (glass scintillators). The direct products of this project will be design and process strategies to achieve improved materials, whose implementation will yield detector devices that meet mission objectives. An added value of this project will be further advancement of the state-of-the-art in materials design capabilities, which is broadly useful for future materials needs.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1960

The Dielectric Bolometer, A New Type of Thermal Radiation Detector

Thermal detectors for the infrared, such as thermocouples and bolometers, are limited in their ultimate sensitivity predominantly by Johnson noise rather than temperature noise. Low noise figures are hard to achieve since Johnson noise preponderates temperature noise, which is the only essential noise for thermal detectors. The dielectric constants of some materials are sufficiently temperature dependent to make a new type of bolometer feasible. The basic theory of a dielectric bolometer, as shown here, promises noise figures below 3 decibels even at chopper frequencies well above the 1/tau value of the detector. Ferroelectrics such as barium-strontium titanate and others seem to be well suited for radiation-cooled dielectric bolometers.

Hanel, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Microwave Radiation Detector

Direct photon detector responds to microwave frequencies. Method based on trapped-ion frequency-generation standards proposed to detect radio-frequency (RF) radiation at 40.5 GHz. Technique used for directdetection (RF) communication, radar, and radio astronomy.

Lesh, J. R.↗