Design study of passive detector cooling techniques Final report
Structural design and performance prediction for passive radiator system for laser detector cooling
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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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3D Backscatter Imaging System
Systems and methods for imaging an object using backscattered radiation are described. The imaging system comprises both a radiation source for irradiating an object that is rotationally movable about the object, and a detector for detecting backscattered radiation from the object that can be disposed on substantially the same side of the object as the source and which can be rotationally movable about the object. The detector can be separated into multiple detector segments with each segment having a single line of sight projection through the object and so detects radiation along that line of sight. Thus, each detector segment can isolate the desired component of the backscattered radiation. By moving independently of each other about the object, the source and detector can collect multiple images of the object at different angles of rotation and generate a three dimensional reconstruction of the object. Other embodiments are described.
Turner, D. Clark↗
Overview of the Martian radiation environment experiment
Space radiation presents a hazard to astronauts, particularly those journeying outside the protective influence of the geomagnetosphere. Crews on future missions to Mars will be exposed to the harsh radiation environment of deep space during the transit between Earth and Mars. Once on Mars, they will encounter radiation that is only slightly reduced, compared to free space, by the thin Martian atmosphere. NASA is obliged to minimize, where possible, the radiation exposures received by astronauts. Thus, as a precursor to eventual human exploration, it is necessary to measure the Martian radiation environment in detail. The MARIE experiment, aboard the 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft, is returning the first data that bear directly on this problem. Here we provide an overview of the experiment, including introductory material on space radiation and radiation dosimetry, a description of the detector, model predictions of the radiation environment at Mars, and preliminary dose-rate data obtained at Mars. c2003 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
NASA Program Biomedical Research and Countermeasur↗
Mapping of auroral X-rays from rocket overflights
Remote sensing of energetic auroral X-rays from above the emission region can provide both local and global information regarding X ray and energetic electron deposition within the middle atmosphere. However, contamination of X ray detectors by local corpuscular radiation can severely affect the scope and accuracy of the detector measurements. It is, therefore, necessary to employ techniques designed to observe X rays while rejecting the far more intense corpuscular radiation component. A suitable approach for the mapping of auroral X rays involves the employment of rockets for flights above the emission region. A description is presented of the results obtained from two rocket flights launched from Poker Flat Research Range, Alaska, during aurorally active periods in March 1978. The data were measured with the aid of scanning detectors protected from particles by broom magnet techniques.
Goldberg, R. A.↗
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↗
Temperature control analysis and flight results for the Viking Orbiter 1975 Mars atmospheric water detection instrument
The Mars atmospheric water detector (MAWD) instrument required a temperature of -70 C at the detector. The monochromator housing required +20 C + or - 1 C. This instrument was located on the scan platform, and slewed across two solar panels. The thermal design for the detector was an open flat plate radiator thermally isolated on four 1-in. tubes, with a flexible strap to the detector. MAWD radiator view factors and heat loads from the spacecraft were determined for the Lander on and off, for all angular positions of the scan platform. Subsystem and system tests were performed using the 25-ft diameter solar simulator. In-flight results have shown no anomalies, and no degradation has been observed. Servo-controlled heaters are used to control the temperature.
Kavanagh, H. M.↗
Evaluation of a far infrared Ge:Ga multiplexed detector array
The performance of a multielement Ge:Ga linear array under low-background conditions is investigated. On-focal plane switching is accomplished by MOSFET switches and the integrated charge is made available through MOSFET source followers. The tests were conducted at 106 microns and the radiation on the detectors was confined to a spectral window 1.25 microns wide using a stack of cold filters. At 4.2 K, the responsivity was measured to be nominally 584 A/W, and the NEP was 1.0 x 10 exp -16 W/sq rt Hz. A detailed description of the test setup and the procedure is presented.
Farhoomand, Jam↗
Effects of 1-MeV gamma radiation on a multi-anode microchannel array detector tube
A multianode microchannel array (MAMA) detector tube without a photocathode was exposed to a total dose of 1,000,000 rads of 1-MeV gamma radiation from a Co-60 source. The high-voltage characteristic of the microchannel array plate, average dark count, gain, and resolution of pulse height distribution characteristics showed no degradation after this total dose. In fact, the degassing of the microchannels induced by the high radiation flux had the effect of cleaning up the array plate and improving its characteristics.
Timothy, J. G.↗
Computer implemented classification of vegetation using aircraft acquired multispectral scanner data
The use of aircraft 24-channel multispectral scanner data in conjunction with computer processing techniques to obtain an automated classification of plant species association was discussed. The classification of various plant species associations was related to information needed for specific applications. In addition, the necessity for multiple selection of training fields for a single class in situations where the study area consists of highly irregular terrain was detailed. A single classification was illuminated differently in different areas, resulting in the existence of multiple spectral signatures for a given class. These different signatures result since different qualities of radiation upwell to the detector from portions that have differing qualities of incident radiation. Techniques of training field selection were outlined, and a classification obtained from a natural area in Tishomingo State Park in northern Mississippi was presented.
Cibula, W. G.↗
Quantum-limited Terahertz detection without liquid cryogens
Under this contract, we have successfully designed, fabricated and tested a revolutionary new type of detector for Terahertz (THz) radiation, the tunable antenna-coupled intersubband Terahertz (TACIT) detector. The lowest-noise THz detectors used in the astrophysics community require cooling to temperatures below 4K. This deep cryogenic requirement forces satellites launched for THz- observing missions to include either large volumes of liquid Helium, complex cryocoolers, or both. Cryogenic requirements thus add significantly to the cost, complexity and mass of satellites and limit the duration of their missions. It hence desirable to develop new detector technologies with less stringent cryogenic requirements. Such detectors will not only be important in space-based astrophysics, but also respond to a growing demand for THz technology for earth-based scientific and commercial applications.
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Spectroscopic Measurements and Models of Energy Deposition in the Substrate of Quantum Circuits by Natural Ionizing Radiation
Naturally occurring background radiation is a potential source of correlated decoherence events in superconducting qubits that will challenge error-correction schemes. In order to characterize the radiation environment in an unshielded laboratory representative of superconducting qubits’ environments, we performed broadband, spectroscopic measurements of background radiation events inside a millikelvin refrigerator. The spectrometer was designed to mimic the size and composition of a quantum circuit. Specifically, we measured the background radiation spectra in silicon substrates of two thicknesses, 500 and 1500 µm, and one area, 25 mm 2 . The observed spectra span energies from a few kilo-electron-volts up to nearly 10 MeV, are nearly featureless, and decrease in intensity by a factor of 40 000 between 100 keV and 3 MeV for the 500-µm substrate. We integrate the spectra to obtain the average event rates and deposited power levels. These quantities correspond to a rate of 0.023 events per second and a power of 4.9 keV s -1 , when counting events that deposit at least 40 keV for the 500-µm-thick substrate. We find that the cryogenic measurements are in good agreement with predictions based on simple measurements of the terrestrial gamma-ray flux outside the refrigerator, published models of cosmic-ray fluxes, a crude model of the cryostat, and radiation-transport simulations. This model requires no free parameters to predict the background radiation spectra in the silicon substrates. The agreement between measurements and predictions demonstrates that the model we present can be used to assess the relative contributions of terrestrial and cosmic-ray sources to background radiation interactions in silicon substrates of varying thickness. These spectroscopic measurements are performed with a novel combination of superconducting microresonators located on micromachined silicon islands that define the interaction volume with background radiation. The resonators transduce deposited energy to a readily detectable electrical signal. Microresonator readout closely resembles dispersive superconducting qubit readout, so similar devices—with or without micromachined islands—are suitable for integration with superconducting quantum circuits as detectors for background radiation events. For our specific laboratory conditions, we find that gamma-ray emissions from radioisotopes are responsible for the majority of events that deposit E < 1 MeV. We present results demonstrating that the background radiation spectrum contains relevant contributions from cosmic-ray particles other than muons, particularly a tail of multi-mega-electron-volt events due to protons and neutrons. These observations suggest several paths to reducing the impact of background radiation on quantum circuits, supported by an empirically validated model for generating reliable predictions of radiation interactions with silicon substrates.
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
Performance of multiplexed Ge:Ga detector arrays in the far infrared
The performance of two multi-element, multiplexed Ge:Ga linear arrays under low-background conditions was investigated. The on-focal switching is accomplished by MOSFET switches, and the integrated charge is made available through MOSFET source followers. The tests were conducted at 106 microns, and the radiation on the detectors was confined to a spectral window 1.25 microns wide using a stack of cold filters. At 4.2 K, the highest responsivity was 584 A/W, the noise equivalent power was 1.0 x 10(exp -16) W/square root of Hz, and the read noise was 6100 electrons/sample. A detailed description of the test setup and procedure is presented.
Farhoomand, Jam↗
Directional Spherical Cherenkov Detector
A proposed radiation-detecting apparatus would provide information on the kinetic energies, directions, and electric charges of highly energetic incident subatomic particles. The apparatus was originally intended for use in measuring properties of cosmic rays in outer space, but could also be adapted to terrestrial uses -- for example, radiation dosimetry aboard high-altitude aircraft and in proton radiation therapy for treatment of tumors.
Wrbanek, John D.↗
The Effect of Radiation-Induced Traps on the WFIRST Coronagraph Detectors
No abstract available
Nemati, Bijan↗
High-energy proton radiation damage experiment on a hybrid CMOS detector
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Evan Bray↗
Auroral X-ray detection from rocket overflights
Remote sensing of auroral X-rays from the topside can provide both local and global information concerning X-ray and energetic particle deposition within the middle atmosphere. Usually, contamination of X-ray detectors by corpuscular radiation can severely affect the scope and accuracy of the measurement. Preliminary results obtained with a rocket-borne instrument designed to operate cleanly in a precipitating particle environment are reported. Two dimensional images of the atmospheric bremsstrahlung X-ray sources were also constructed from the detector scan produced by payload translation and coning.
Goldberg, A.↗
X-Ray Detector Research at MSFC for Space Applications
NASA's Vision for Space Exploration has specific goals aimed at exploring the Solar System. This vision, under presidential mandate includes landing humans on the moon before the end of the next decade, paving the way for eventual journeys to Mars and beyond. The first missions to the moon will be in the form of both Orbiters and Landers, with the goal of paving the way for human return. One of the instruments we are currently working on,in collaboration with Brookhaven National Laboratory, is a lunar orbiter fluorescent x-ray spectrometer to finely map the light elements (down to Carbon) on surface of the moon. Funded NASA s Planetary Instrument Definition and Development Program the instrument is based on silicon drift detector arrays read out by custom ASICs. These offer the promise of high spectral resolution, necessary for resolving weak lines against a strong background continuum, and very low power requirements, necessary for large areas (greater than 500 square centimeters) required for future lunar missions. Further, the inherent radiation hardness of these detectors makes them ideal candidates for exploring the Jovian system, where the harsh radiation environment from Jupiter s radiation belts creates unfavorable detector conditions. Looking beyond our solar system, in the hard x-ray regime (20-80keV.), we are studying Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride pixilated detectors as feasible candidates for focal plane detectors of a hard x-ray telescope. This energy region bridges the gap between thermal and non-thermal x-ray emission from astronomical sources, will allow us to better understand supernovae nucleosynthesis (such as through the Ti-44 lines at 68keV and 78keV), Active Galactic Nuclei and other compact objects, more completely. The detectors that we are characterizing are 2mm in thickness and are pixilated with a 16x16 array of 300 micrometer pitch pixels (50micometer gap). These detectors are designed at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, material is from eV Products, and polymer flip-chip assembly was performed by a commercial vendor. An energy resolution of 2.0% at 60keV (or better) should allow us to sufficiently distinguish lines of interest from background continuum, and the detector spatial resolution should be fine enough to over-sample the focal spot from the x-ray focusing optics by about a factor of two. Full technical details of these developments will be presented.
Gaskin, Jessica↗
Energy Characterization of the UMD Electron Accelerator
Multiple different groups at Los Alamos National Laboratory have a cited interest in understanding the effects of ionizing radiation in materials. Of especial interest to the ISR division is understanding the effects in materials that are used in the space environment, where radiation is omnipresent and impossible to fully shield from. Development is under way to simulate the effects of radiation damage in detectors and electronics, primarily with particle transport codes such as Geant4 and RAMPART, a code that provides a user friendly interface to Geant4. However, these simulations need benchmarking to experimental tests, some of which have been performed at a variety of small electron accelerator facilities. One of these facilities is the Linear Electron Accelerator at the University of Maryland Radiation Facilities. This facility can provide electron beams on the order of 100 mA delivered in tight macropulse bunches, which allows for experiments where the behavior of electronics is monitored as a function of pulse number. While the beam rates per macropulse of this accelerator is monitored during an experiment via a current pick-off connected to a large graphite beamstop, the energy distribution of this electron beam is not measured during the experiment and has not been well characterized. The energy distribution of the beam is pertinent for these types of experiments, since dose is directly related to energy deposited in a medium. Further, these experiments are performed in open air and sample placement in the room can dictate what dose rate they receive per macropulse. We have created simulated dosemaps for the UMD vault room, but these simulations assume a given energy of the beam, both for calculating the dose and to simulate how much the beam diverges in the air. There have been two attempts now to characterize this accelerator beam energy with a plate type spectrometer, including the most recent experiment earlier this year to quantify the beam energy distribution. These results will also be compared to a dosimetry experiment performed by collaborators at the UMD facility, the details of which are described in Reference. Understanding the electron beam energy is important for future experiments, because the energy directly impacts the dose and radiation damage given to a sample and is important for properly simulating the electron beam when comparing simulation to experiment.
43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗