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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 721 records · Page 40
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Response of AC-coupled Low Gain Avalanche Detectors to Ionizing and Non-ionizing Radiation Damage

Low gain avalanche diodes with DC- and AC-coupled readout were exposed to ionizing and non-ionizing radiation at levels relevant to future experiments in particle, nuclear, and medical physics and to astrophysics. Damage-related change in their acceptor removal constants and in the resistivity of the region between the guard ring and the active area are reported, as is change in the leakage current and depletion voltages of the active volumes.

FOS: Physical sciences↗
NASA NTRS1996

BATSE Observations of Gamma-Ray Burst Spectra: Low-Energy Behavior of Time-Averaged Spectra - Part 3

We analyze time-averaged spectra from 86 bright gamma-ray bursts from the first 5 years of the Burst And Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) on board the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory to determine whether the lowest energy data are consistent with a standard spectra form fit to the data at all energies. The BATSE Spectroscopy Detectors have the capability to observe photons as low as 5 keV. Using the gamma-ray burst locations obtained with the BATSE Large Area Detectors, the Spectroscopy Detectors' low-energy response can be modeled accurately. This, together with a postlaunch calibration of the lowest energy Spectroscopy Detector discriminator channel, which can lie in the range 5-20 keV, allows spectral deconvolution over a broad energy range, approx. 5 keV to 2 MeV. The additional coverage allows us to search for evidence of excess emission, or for a deficit, below 20 keV. While no burst has a significant (greater than or equal to 3 sigma) deficit relative to a standard spectra model, we find that 12 bursts have excess low-energy emission, ranging between 1.2 and 5.8 times the model flux, that exceeds 5 sigma in significance. This is evidence for an additional low-energy spectral component in at least some bursts, or for deviations from the power-law spectral form typically used to model gamma-ray bursts at energies below 100 keV.

Preece, R. D.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Systems and methods for data storage and retrieval

A method includes directing a probe beam to a target that includes an array of data portions in a data storage medium arranged so that a beam area of the probe beam extends across a plurality of adjacent data portions, the array including a data portion subset with each data portion of the subset responsive to the probe beam to produce a response illumination, receiving the response illumination at a detector, and determining data values corresponding to the plurality of adjacent data portions based on the received response illumination. Apparatus and systems are also disclosed.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2024

A comparison of the neutron detection efficiency and response characteristics of two pixelated PSD-capable organic scintillator detectors with different photo-detection readout methods

Here, we characterize the performance of two pixelated neutron detectors: a PMT-based array that utilizes Anger logic for pixel identification and a SiPM-based array that employs individual pixel readout. The SiPM-based array offers improved performance over the previously developed PMT-based detector both in terms of uniformity and neutron detection efficiency. Each detector array uses PSD-capable plastic scintillator as a detection medium. We describe the calibration and neutron efficiency measurement of both detectors using a 137 Cs source for energy calibration and a 252 Cf source for calibration of the neutron response. We find that the intrinsic neutron detection efficiency of the SiPM-based array is (30.2 ± 0.9)%, which is almost twice that of the PMT-based array, which we measure to be (16.9 ± 0.1)%.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2025

A machine learning framework for accurate and robust analysis of radiation detector pulses

The microscopic properties of atomic nuclei are used to study various scientific questions. They are essential for understanding the fundamental forces of nature and the chemical evolution of the universe. Detecting decay radiation from radioactive nuclei makes it possible to probe these fundamental nuclear properties. Detector waveform traces may contain additional information about the radiation. Generally, advanced signal processing techniques are needed to extract this additional information, often involving fitting the waveform with model response functions using non-linear least-squares optimization with second-order gradient methods. While this is a powerful technique, it is also computationally expensive, leading to slow processing time, which scales with the volume of data. To address this problem, we have developed a machine learning (ML) approach that infers the characteristics of traces from a model detector response function. In particular, we are interested in classifying whether a single recorded trace consists of one or two pulse constituents and estimating the pulse parameters. Furthermore, our proposed ML method can precisely extract the pulses’ parameters, such as energy and timing information, and accurately classify the pulse multiplicity of a trace. Unlike non-learning-based approaches, our ML approach uses neural networks that are significantly faster at inference, as they do not require any optimization during this stage.

Curve fitting↗
NASA NTRS1998

Wall effects observed in tissue-equivalent proportional counters from 1.05 GeV/nucleon iron-56 particles

Tissue-equivalent proportional counters (TEPCs) have been used to measure energy deposition in simulated volumes of tissue ranging in diameter from 0.1 to 10 microm. There has been some concern that the wall used to define the volume of interest could influence energy deposition within the sensitive volume because it has a density significantly greater than that of the cavity gas. These effects become important for high-velocity heavy ions. Measurements of energy deposition were made for 1 GeV/nucleon iron particles in a TEPC simulating a 1-microm-diameter sphere of tissue. The TEPC was nested within a particle spectrometer that provided identification and flight path of individual particles. Energy deposition was studied as a function of pathlength through the TEPC. Approximately 30% of the energy transfer along trajectories through the center of the detector escapes the sensitive volume. The response of the TEPC, for trajectories through the detector, is always larger than calculations for energy loss in a homogeneous medium. This enhancement is greatest for trajectories near the cavity/wall interface. An integration of the response indicates that charged-particle equilibrium is essentially achieved for a wall thickness of 2.54 mm. However, estimates of the linear energy transfer for the incident particles are influenced by these wall effects.

Non-NASA Center↗
NASA NTRS2006

Recent Development of Sb-based Phototransistors in the 0.9- to 2.2-microns Wavelength Range for Applications to Laser Remote Sensing

We have investigated commercially available photodiodes and also recent developed Sb-based phototransistors in order to compare their performances for applications to laser remote sensing. A custom-designed phototransistor in the 0.9- to 2.2-microns wavelength range has been developed at AstroPower and characterized at NASA Langley's Detector Characterization Laboratory. The phototransistor's performance greatly exceeds the previously reported results at this wavelength range in the literature. The detector testing included spectral response, dark current and noise measurements. Spectral response measurements were carried out to determine the responsivity at 2-microns wavelength at different bias voltages with fixed temperature; and different temperatures with fixed bias voltage. Current versus voltage characteristics were also recorded at different temperatures. Results show high responsivity of 2650 A/W corresponding to an internal gain of three orders of magnitude, and high detectivity (D*) of 3.9x10(exp 11) cm.Hz(exp 1/2)/W that is equivalent to a noise-equivalent-power of 4.6x10(exp -14) W/Hz(exp 1/2) (-4.0 V @ -20 C) with a light collecting area diameter of 200-microns. It appears that this recently developed 2-micron phototransistor's performances such as responsivity, detectivity, and gain are improved significantly as compared to the previously published APD and SAM APD using similar materials. These detectors are considered as phototransistors based-on their structures and performance characteristics and may have great potential for high sensitivity differential absorption lidar (DIAL) measurements of carbon dioxide and water vapor at 2.05-microns and 1.9-microns, respectively.

Abedin, M. Nurul↗
NASA NTRS1977

Ultraviolet response of InGaAsP photocathodes

Three type VPM 164 photomultiplier tubes with III-IV compound InGaAsP reflective photocathodes were developed for use in ground-based and space-borne astronomical detectors. Although the achieved response of about 0.02% quantum efficiency at 1.083 microns fell short of the goal of 1% quantum efficiency, the broadband characteristics are still considerably better than those of the S-1 photocathode.

Feibelman, W. A.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Low-energy nuclear recoil calibration of the LUX-ZEPLIN experiment with a photoneutron source

The LZ experiment is a liquid xenon time-projection chamber (TPC) searching for evidence of particle dark matter interactions. In the simplest assumption of elastic scattering, many dark matter models predict an energy spectrum which rises quasi-exponentially with decreasing energy transfer to a target atom. LZ expects to detect coherent neutrino-nucleus scattering of $^{8}$B solar neutrinos, the signal from which is very similar to a dark matter particle with mass of about 5.5 GeV/$c^{2}$, which result in typical nuclear recoil energies of $<$5 keV$_{\text{nr}}$. Therefore, it is of crucial importance to calibrate the response of recoiling xenon nuclei to keV-energy recoils. This analysis details the first in situ photoneutron calibration of the LZ detector and probes its response in this energy regime.

Aalbers, J. [SLAC; Stanford U., Phys. Dept.; KIPAC↗
NASA NTRS2019

JPSS-2 VIIRS version 2 at-launch relative spectral response characterization

The JPSS-2 VIIRS sensor has completed its pre-launch test program and is now awaiting launch in the 2022 timeframe. The VIIRS spectral characterization, in the form of band averaged and supporting detector level relative spectral response (RSR) for each VIIRS band, was completed in 2019 and is based upon independent SpMA dual monochromator (all bands) and GSFC GLAMR laser system (reflectance bands only) spectral measurements, including first time measurements of the VIIRS SWIR bands by a laser system. The measurements and subsequent analysis effort by subject matter experts of the VIIRS DAWG has led to the July 2019 VIIRS Version 2 RSR release, the official at-launch RSR characterization for the JPSS-2 VIIRS mission. Version 2 replaces and improves upon the August 2018 Version 1 release by incorporating the GLAMR measurements into the analysis to produce an updated “fused” RSR for reflective solar bands (M1- M10, I1-I3, DNBLGS, DNBMGS) and by applying a CO2 absorption correction to the SpMA measurements for thermal band M13. For all other bands (M11, M12, M14-M16, I4, I5), the Version 1 characterization, based entirely upon the SpMA measurements, is carried forward into the Version 2 release. An assessment on compliance with spectral performance metrics finds that VIIRS is compliant on nearly all metrics, with a few minor exceptions. The version 2 RSR release includes band average (over all detectors and subsamples) RSR plus supporting RSR for each detector and subsample, and is available under EAR99 restrictions to the science community at a restricted access NASA eRoom site.

JPSS-2↗
NASA NTRS1986

Ge:Be infrared photoconductors

Ge:Be photoconductors were optimized for the 30 to 50 micron wavelength range. Crystal growth of detector quality material requires good control of both the Be and residual impurity doping. Detective quantum efficiencies of n sub d = 46% at 5 A/W were achieved at a photon background of 10 to the 8th power p/s. The responsivity of Ge:Be detectors can be strongly temperature-dependent when the residual shallow levels in the material are closely compensated. Transient responses on the order of approximately 1 second were observed in some materials. The role of residual shallow impurities on the performance of photoconductors doped with semi-deep and deep impurities is discussed.

Haegel, N. M.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Silicon solid/state linear arrays for multispectral high resolution imaging systems

Solid-state, electronically scanned, linear detector arrays are now available which can be used in a pushbroom scan mode imaging system for high-resolution multispectral earth resource survey applications. These arrays provide high performance in the visible to near-IR region. Two performance criteria must be assessed in the choice of a detector array: signal-to-noise ratio and spectral response. Consideration of diffraction limitations shows that optics size cannot be significantly reduced by using very low-noise detectors. The required spectral response for a viable detector array should not have spectral ripples that cause a low-level, but significant, error in the detected effective reflectance of the target.

Thompson, L. L.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Radiation Damage and Mitigation by Minority Carrier Injection in InAsSb/AlAsSb Heterojunction Barrier Mid-Wave Infrared Detector

Here, the effects of gamma and proton irradiation, and of forward bias minority carrier injection, on photo-response were investigated for InAsSb/AlAsSb pBn mid-wave infrared (MWIR) detectors with an engineered majority-carrier barrier. Room-temperature gamma irradiation had an insignificant effect on 77 K photo-response. Gamma irradiation at 77 K detector temperature, however, decreased in situ photo-response by 19% after a cumulative dose of ~ 500 krad(Si). Subsequent forward bias minority carrier injection had no effect on photo-response. The 77 K detectors irradiated with 30 MeV protons up to 2 Mrad(Si) had photo-response degraded by up to 70%, but here forward bias minority carrier (hole) injection caused up to 12% recovery that persisted more than 30 min. These results suggest a mitigation strategy for maintaining the photo-response of similar detectors in radiation environments that cause displacement damage defects.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

The design, implementation, and performance of the LZ calibration systems

LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) is a tonne-scale experiment searching for direct dark matter interactions and other rare events. It is located at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead, South Dakota, USA. The core of the LZ detector is a dual-phase xenon time projection chamber (TPC), designed with the primary goal of detecting Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) via their induced low energy nuclear recoils. Surrounding the TPC, two veto detectors immersed in an ultra-pure water tank enable reducing background events to enhance the discovery potential. Intricate calibration systems are purposely designed to precisely understand the responses of these three detector volumes to various types of particle interactions and to demonstrate LZ's ability to discriminate between signals and backgrounds. In this paper, we present a comprehensive discussion of the key features, requirements, and performance of the LZ calibration systems, which play a crucial role in enabling LZ's WIMP-search and its broad science program. The thorough description of these calibration systems, with an emphasis on their novel aspects, is valuable for future calibration efforts in direct dark matter and other rare-event search experiments.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
NASA NTRS1993

X-ray detector physics and applications; Proceedings of the Meeting, San Diego, CA, July 23, 24, 1992

Recent developments in X-ray and hard X-ray imaging detector, high-intensity sources, hard X-ray imaging optics, calibration, and detection technologies are discussed. Particular attention is given to a high-MTF X-ray image intensifier, application of monolithic CdZnTe linear solid state ionization detectors for X-ray imaging, magnetic response of high-Tc superconductors to X-ray radiation and detection of X-rays, laboratory soft X-ray source with foil target, detection of explosive materials using nuclear radiation, energy response of astronomical CCD X-ray detectors, calibration techniques for high-flux X-ray detectors, fabrication of grazing-incidence optics using flow-polishing techniques, and numerical simulations for capillary-based X-ray optics. (No individual items are abstracted in this volume)

Hoover, Richard B.↗
NASA NTRS1997

An Experimental Study of a Radially Arranged Thin Film Heat Flux Gauge

A new thin-film heat-flux gauge was designed and fabricated on three different substrate materials. Forty pairs of Pt-Pt/10% Rh thermocouple junctions were deposited in a circular pattern on the same plane of the substrate. Over the thermocouples, 5 and 10 micron thick thermal resistance layers were deposited to create a temperature gradient across those layers. Calibration and testing of these gauges were carried out in an arc-lamp calibration facility. The heat flux calculated from the gauge output is in good agreement with the value obtained from the pre-calibrated standard sensor. A CO2 laser was also used to test the steady-state and dynamic responses of the heat-flux gauge. During the steady-state test, the time constant for the heating period was 30 s. The frequency response of the heat-flux gauge was measured in the frequency domain using a CO2 laser and a chopper. The responses from an infrared detector and the heat-flux gauge were measured simultaneously and compared. It was found that the thin-film heat-flux gauge has a dynamic frequency response of 3 kHz.

Cho, Christoper S. K.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Study of energy response and resolution of the ATLAS Tile Calorimeter to hadrons of energies from 16 to 30 GeV

Three spare modules of the ATLAS Tile Calorimeter were exposed to test beams from the Super Proton Synchrotron accelerator at CERN in 2017. The detector’s measurements of the energy response and resolution to positive pions and kaons, and protons with energies ranging from 16 to 30 GeV are reported. The results have uncertainties of a few percent. They were compared to the predictions of the Geant4-based simulation program used in ATLAS to estimate the response of the detector to proton-proton events at the Large Hadron Collider. The determinations obtained using experimental and simulated data agree within the uncertainties.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗