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At least 469 records · Page 26
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2012

X-ray detection capability of a BaCl{sub 2} single crystal scintillator

The x-ray detection capability of a scintillation detector equipped with a BaCl{sub 2} single crystal was evaluated. The scintillation decay kinetics can be expressed by a sum of two exponential decay components. The fast and slow components have lifetimes of 1.5 and 85 ns, respectively. The total light output is 5% that of YAP:Ce. A subnanosecond timing resolution was obtained. The detection efficiency of a 67.41 keV x-ray is 87% for a detector equipped with a BaCl{sub 2} crystal 6-mm thick. Thus, excellent timing resolution and high detection efficiency can be simultaneously achieved. Additionally, luminescence decay characteristics under vacuum ultraviolet excitation have been investigated. Radiative decay of self-trapped excitons is thought to be responsible for the fast scintillation component.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2013

Development of a fast radiation detector based on barium fluoride scintillation crystal

Barium fluoride (BaF{sub 2}) is an inorganic scintillation material used for the detection of X/gamma radiation due to its relatively high density, equivalent atomic number, radiation hardness, and high luminescence. BaF{sub 2} has a potential capacity to be used in gamma ray timing experiments due to the prompt decay emission components. It is known that the light output from BaF{sub 2} has three decay components: two prompt of those at approximately 195 nm and 220 nm with a decay constant around 600-800 ps and a more intense, slow component at approximately 310 nm with a decay constant around 630 ns which hinders fast timing experiments. We report here the development of a fast radiation detector based on a BaF{sub 2} scintillation crystal employing a special optical filter device, a multiple reflection multi-path ultraviolet region short-wavelength pass light guides (MRMP-short pass filter) by using selective reflection technique, for which the intensity of the slow component is reduced to less than 1%. The methods used for this study provide a novel way to design radiation detector by utilizing scintillation crystal with several emission bands.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2015

Rayleigh scattering of linear alkylbenzene in large liquid scintillator detectors

Rayleigh scattering poses an intrinsic limit for the transparency of organic liquid scintillators. This work focuses on the Rayleigh scattering length of linear alkylbenzene (LAB), which will be used as the solvent of the liquid scintillator in the central detector of the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory. We investigate the anisotropy of the Rayleigh scattering in LAB, showing that the resulting Rayleigh scattering length will be significantly shorter than reported before. Given the same overall light attenuation, this will result in a more efficient transmission of photons through the scintillator, increasing the amount of light collected by the photosensors and thereby the energy resolution of the detector.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2016

Liquid scintillator tiles for calorimetry

Future experiments in high energy and nuclear physics may require large, inexpensive calorimeters that can continue to operate after receiving doses of 50 Mrad or more. Also, the light output of liquid scintillators suffers little degradation under irradiation. However, many challenges exist before liquids can be used in sampling calorimetry, especially regarding developing a packaging that has sufficient efficiency and uniformity of light collection, as well as suitable mechanical properties. We present the results of a study of a scintillator tile based on the EJ-309 liquid scintillator using cosmic rays and test beam on the light collection efficiency and uniformity, and some preliminary results on radiation hardness.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2021

A spectrometric approach to measuring the Rayleigh scattering length for liquid scintillator detectors

Good optical transparency is a fundamental requirement of liquid scintillator (LS) detectors. Characterizing the transparency of a liquid scintillator to its own emitted light is a key parameter to determine the overall sensitivity of a large-volume detector. The attenuation of light in an optical-pure LS is dominated by Rayleigh scattering, which poses an intrinsic limit to the transparency of LS. This work presents a spectrometric approach of measuring the wavelength-dependent scattering length of liquids by applying the Einstein-Smoluchowski theory to a measurement of scattered light intensity. The scattering lengths of linear alkyl benzene (LAB) and EJ309-base (Di-isopropylnaphthalene, DIN) were measured and are reported in the wavelength range of 410–520 nm. The spectral peak of scintillation light emitted by a nominal LS is around 430 nm at which the scattering lengths for LAB and EJ-309-base were determined to be 27.9 ± 2.3 m and 6.1 ± 0.6 m.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2025

The scintillator surface detector of the Pierre Auger observatory

Data collected so far by the Pierre Auger Observatory have enabled major advances in ultra-high energy cosmic ray physics and demonstrated that improved determination of masses of primary cosmic-ray particles, preferably on an event-by-event basis, is necessary for understanding their origin and nature. Improvement in primary mass measurements was the main motivation for the upgrade of the Pierre Auger Observatory, called AugerPrime. As part of this upgrade, scintillator detectors are added to the existing water-Cherenkov surface detector stations. By making use of the differences in detector response to the electromagnetic particles and muons between scintillator and water-Cherenkov detectors, the electromagnetic and muonic components of cosmic-ray air showers can be disentangled. Since the muonic component is sensitive to the primary mass, such combination of detectors provides a powerful way to improve primary mass composition measurements over the original Auger surface detector design. In this paper, the so-called Scintillator Surface Detectors are discussed, including their design characteristics, production process, testing procedure and deployment in the field.

Detector design and construction technologies and ↗
DOE OSTI2015

Plastic scintillators modifications for a selective radiation detection

Recent developments of plastic scintillators are reviewed, from January 2000 to June 2015. All examples are distributed into the main application, i.e. how the plastic scintillator was modified to enhance the detection towards a given radiation particle. The main characteristics of these newly created scintillators and their detection properties are given. (authors)

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2015

Nonproportionality of Scintillator Detectors. IV. Resolution Contribution from Delta-Rays

This paper is the fourth in a series of articles published on the light yield nonproportionality of scintillators and its impact on the detector's energy resolution. Herein, we focus on modeling the resolution degradation induced by delta-rays. To do this, we begin with Møller's classic equation to describe collisions between incident high-energy electrons and those in the scintillator medium, which lead to the delta-rays. The trajectories of delta-rays having energies above a specified cut-off value are further analyzed to determine the resolution degradation induced by fluctuations in their light yield and ionization density. Our conclusion is that the delta-ray contribution to resolution is typically smaller but comparable to that arising from the primary electron. We have considered the cases for two illustrative scintillators: NaI(Tl) and LSO(Ce)

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2011

Technical Note: Removing the stem effect when performing Ir-192 HDR brachytherapy in vivo dosimetry using plastic scintillation detectors: A relevant and necessary step

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not a stem effect removal technique is necessary when performing Ir-192 HDR brachytherapy in vivo dosimetry using a scintillation detector. Methods: A red-green-blue photodiode connected to a multichannel electrometer was used to detect the light emitted from a plastic scintillation detector (PSD) during irradiation with an Ir-192 HDR brachytherapy source. Accuracy in dose measurement was compared with and without the use of stem effect removal techniques. Monochromatic and polychromatic filtration techniques were studied. An in-house template was built for accurate positioning of catheters in which the source and the PSD were inserted. Dose distribution was measured up to 5 cm from source to detector in the radial and longitudinal directions. Results: The authors found the stem effect to be particularly important when the source was close to the optical fiber guide and far from the scintillation component of the detector. It can account for up to (72{+-}3)% of the signal under clinically relevant conditions. The polychromatic filtration outperformed the monochromatic filtration as well as the absence of filtration in regard to dose measurement accuracy. Conclusions: It is necessary to implement a stem effect removal technique when building a PSD for in vivo dosimetry during Ir-192 HDR brachytherapy. The PSD that the authors have developed for this study would be suitable for such an application.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2012

Real-time scintillation array dosimetry for radiotherapy: The advantages of photomultiplier detectors

Purpose: In this paper, a photomultiplier tube (PMT) array dosimetry system has been developed and tested for the real-time readout of multiple scintillation signals from fiber optic dosimeters. It provides array dosimetry with the advantages in sensitivity provided by a PMT, but without the need for a separate PMT for each detector element. Methods: The PMT array system consisted of a multianode PMT, a multichannel data acquisition system, housing and optic fiber connections suitable for clinical use. The reproducibility, channel uniformity, channel crosstalk, acquisition speed, and sensitivity of the PMT array were quantified using a constant light source. Its performance was compared to other readout systems used in scintillation dosimetry. An in vivo HDR brachytherapy treatment was used as an example of a clinical application of the dosimetry system to the measurement of dose at multiple sites in the rectum. The PMT array system was also tested in the pulsed beam of a linear accelerator to test its response speed and its application with two separate methods of Cerenkov background removal. Results: The PMT array dosimetry system was highly reproducible with a measurement uncertainty of 0.13% for a 10 s acquisition period. Optical crosstalk between neighboring channels was accounted for by omitting every second channel. A mathematical procedure was used to account for the crosstalk in next-neighbor channels. The speed and sensitivity of the PMT array system were found be superior to CCD cameras, allowing for measurement of more rapid changes in dose rate. This was further demonstrated by measuring the dose delivered by individual photon pulses of a linear accelerator beam. Conclusions: The PMT array system has advantages over CCD camera-based systems for the readout of scintillation light. It provided a more sensitive, more accurate, and faster response to meet the demands of future developments in treatment delivery.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2014

TH-C-19A-10: Systematic Evaluation of Photodetectors Performances for Plastic Scintillation Dosimetry

Purpose: To assess and compare the performance of different photodetectors likely to be used in a plastic scintillation detector (PSD). Methods: The PSD consists of a 1 mm diameter, 10 mm long plastic scintillation fiber (BCF-60) which is optically coupled to a clear 10 m long optical fiber of the same diameter. A light-tight plastic sheath covers both fibers and the scintillator end is sealed. The clear fiber end is connected to one of the following six studied photodetectors: two polychromatic cameras (one with an optical lens and one with a fiber optic taper replacing the lens); a monochromatic camera with the same optical lens; a PIN photodiode; an avalanche photodiode (APD); and a photomultiplier tube (PMT). Each PSD is exposed to both low energy beams (120, 180, and 220 kVp) from an orthovoltage unit, and high energy beams (6 MV and 23 MV) from a linear accelerator. Various dose rates are explored to identify the photodetectors operating ranges and accuracy. Results: For all photodetectors, the relative uncertainty remains under 5 % for dose rates over 3 mGy/s. The taper camera collects four times more signal than the optical lens camera, although its standard deviation is higher since it could not be cooled. The PIN, APD and PMT have higher sensitivity, suitable for low dose rate and out-of-field dose monitoring. PMT's relative uncertainty remains under 1 % at the lowest dose rate achievable (50 μGy/s), suggesting optimal use for live dosimetry. Conclusion: A set of 6 photodetectors have been studied over a broad dose rate range at various energies. For dose rate above 3 mGy/s, the PIN diode is the most effective photodetector in term of performance/cost ratio. For lower dose rate, such as those seen in interventional radiology, PMTs are the optimal choice. FQRNT Doctoral Research Scholarship.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2016

SU-F-T-73: Experimental Determination of the Effective Point of Measurement in Electron Beams Using a Commercial Scintillation Detector

Purpose: The aim of this work was to determine experimentally the effective point of measurement (EPOM) in clinical electron beams for three cylindrical ionization chambers using a commercial scintillation detector as a reference detector. Methods: Percent depth dose (PDD) curves were measured using an Exradin W1 scintillation detector and were used as a representative PDD to water. Depth dose curves were measured with the Exradin A18, A1SL, and A28 ionization chambers. The raw ionization chamber curve data were corrected by the chamber fluence perturbation correction factor and restricted mass collisional stopping power ratio at each depth to obtain a percent depth dose curve to the gas volume (PDDGV) of the detector. Ratios of the W1 PDD to the ion chamber PDDGV were calculated for each measurement depth. The W1 PDD curve was shifted by small depth increments, Δz, until the ratio of the W1 PDD to the ion chamber PDDGV was depth-independent (optimal Δz). A MATLAB routine was developed to determine the optimal Δz value. Results: The optimal Δz shift was used as an estimate of the EPOM for each chamber. The average calculated EPOM shifts (expressed as a fraction of the chamber cavity radius) for the A18, A1SL, and A28 ionization chambers were 0.21 ± 0.04, 0.10 ± 0.05, and 0.22 ± 0.03, respectively. Conclusion: The experimentally determined EPOM values for the A18 and A1SL in this work agreed with the simulated values of Muir and Rogers (MedPhys 2014). The results also indicate that the Exradin W1 scintillator is water equivalent for electron energies of 6 MeV, 9 MeV, 12 MeV, and 16 MeV. In addition, we confirmed that the AAPM TG51 recommended EPOM shift of 0.5 times the cavity radius is not accurate for the A18 and A1SL chambers.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2015

Scintillation counters in modern high-energy physics experiments (Review)

Scintillation counters (SCs) based on organic plastic scintillators (OPSs) are widely used in modern high-energy physics (HEP) experiments. A comprehensive review is given to technologies for production of OPS strips and tiles (extrusion, injection molding, etc.), optical and physical characteristics of OPSs, and methods of light collection based on the use of wavelength-shifting (WLS) fibers coupled to multipixel vacuum and silicon PMs. Examples are given of the use of SCs in modern experiments involved in the search for quarks and new particles, including the Higgs boson (D0, CDF, ATLAS, CMS), new states of matter (ALICE), CP violation (LHCb, KLOE), neutrino oscillations (MINOS, OPERA), and cosmic particles in a wide mass and energy interval (AMS-02). Scintillation counters hold great promise for future HEP experiments (at the ILC, NICA, FAIR) due to properties of a high segmentation, WLS fiber light collection, and multipixel silicon PMT readout.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Scintillation detector with SiPM matrix as a photosensor

The results of a characterization study of the scintillation detector with SiPM matrices as multichannel photosensors are presented. The SiPM matrix attached to a plastic scintillator gives a snapshot of the glowing track of a charged particle traversing the scintillator.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2015

Comparative testing of various flow-cell detectors fabricated using CaF{sub 2} solid scintillator

A monitoring system based on a flow-cell detector was developed for measuring the tritium concentration in water. The flow-cell detector was fabricated using a granular CaF{sub 2} solid scintillator. This system does not use a liquid scintillation counting system and does not generate radioactive organic liquid waste. Moreover, continuous real-time measurements are possible, in contrast to a liquid scintillation counting system, which requires batch measurements. For further development of the system, four flow-cell detectors were fabricated. They included a single 3-mm-diameter cell, three 3-mm-diameter cells in series, a single 5-mm-diameter cell, and three 5-mm-diameter cells in series. Continuously flowing water containing tritium at various concentrations was passed through the flow cells, and tritium count were measured for 600 and 10000 s. Investigating the relation between the count rate and concentration, the three 5-mm-diameter cells were most sensitive, with a linear relation maintained down to approximately 2 Bq/ml and 10 Bq/ml for 10000- and 600-s measurements, respectively. (authors)

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2012

Quality of a 28 cm Long LYSO Crystal and Progress on Optical and Scintillation Properties

Because of their high stopping power and fast and bright scintillation, cerium doped LSO and LYSO crystals have attracted a broad interest in the physics community pursuing precision electromagnetic calorimeter for future high energy physics experiments. Their excellent radiation hardness against γ-rays, neutrons and charged hadrons also makes them a preferred material for calorimeters to be operated in a severe radiation environment, such as the HL-LHC. An effort was made at SIPAT to grow 25 X 0 (28 cm) long LYSO crystals for high energy physics applications. In this paper, the optical and scintillation properties and its radiation hardness against γ-ray irradiations up to 1 Mrad are presented for the first 2.5 X 2.5 X 28 cm LYSO sample. An absorption band was found at the seed end of this sample and three other 20 cm long samples, which was traced back to a bad seed crystal used in the corresponding crystal growth process. Significant progresses in optical and scintillation properties were achieved for large size LYSO crystals after eliminating this absorption band.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2016

Design and Prototyping of a High Granularity Scintillator Calorimeter

A novel approach for constructing fine-granularity scintillator calorimeters, based on the concept of an Integrated Readout Layer (IRL) was developed. The IRL consists of a printed circuit board inside the detector which supports the directly-coupled scintillator tiles, connects to the surface-mount SiPMs and carries the necessary front-end electronics and signal/bias traces. Prototype IRLs using this concept were designed, prototyped and successfully exposed to test beams. Concepts and implementations of an IRL carried out with funds associated with this contract promise to result in the next generation of scintillator calorimeters.

Direct coupling↗
NASA NTRS2020

Ionospheric S4 Scintillations From GNSS Radio Occultation (RO) at Slant Path

Ionospheric scintillation can significantly degrade the performance and the usability of space‐based communication and navigation signals. Characterization and prediction of ionospheric scintillation can be made from the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) radio occultation (RO) technique using the measurement from a deep slant path where the RO tangent height (ht) is far below the ionospheric sources. In this study, the L–band S4 from the RO measurements at ht = 30 km is used to infer the amplitude scintillation on the ground. The analysis of global RO data at ht = 30 km shows that sporadic–E (Es), equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs), and equatorial spread–F (ESF) produce most of the significant S4 enhancements, although the polar S4 is generally weak. The enhanced S4 is a strong function of local time and magnetic dip angle. The Es–induced daytime S4 tends to have a negative correlation with the solar cycle at low latitudes but a positive correlation at high latitudes. The nighttime S4 is dominated by a strong semiannual variation at low latitudes.

GPS radio occultation↗