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DOE OSTI2020

Machine learning for imaging Cherenkov detectors

Imaging Cherenkov detectors are largely used in modern nuclear and particle physics experiments where cutting-edge solutions are needed to face always more growing computing demands. This is a fertile ground for AI-based approaches and at present we are witnessing the onset of new highly efficient and fast applications. This paper presents novel directions with applications to Cherenkov detectors. In particular, recent advances on detector design and calibration, as well as particle identification are presented.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

DOE OSTI2022

Single detector laser-induced fluorescence imager and raman spectral instrument

Apparatus include divergence optics removably coupled to receive a probe beam in a first imaging mode to cause the probe beam to diverge before impinging on a first area of a target surface, and to not receive the probe beam in a second imaging mode to cause the probe beam to impinge on a second area of the target surface smaller than the first area, collection optics configured to receive, in response to the probe beam, luminescence light emitted from the first area and spectral light emitted from the second area, and an optical detector coupled to the collection optics, wherein the optical detector includes a luminescence imaging detector portion and a spectral imaging detector portion adjacent to the luminescence imaging detector portion, wherein the luminescence imaging detector portion is configured to receive the luminescence light emitted from the first area and the spectral imaging detector portion is configured to receive the spectral light from the second area.

Gasda, Patrick J.↗

DOE OSTI2024

Mitigation of the Brighter-fatter Effect in the LSST Camera

Abstract Thick, fully depleted charge-coupled devices are known to exhibit nonlinear behavior at high signal levels due to the dynamic behavior of charges collecting in the potential wells of pixels, called the brighter-fatter effect (BFE). The effect results in distorted images of bright calibration stars, creating a flux-dependent point-spread function that if left unmitigated, could make up a large fraction of the error budget in Stage IV weak-lensing (WL) surveys such as the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). In this paper, we analyze image measurements of flat fields and artificial stars taken at different illumination levels with the LSST Camera (LSSTCam) at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in order to quantify this effect in the LSSTCam before and after a previously introduced correction technique. We observe that the BFE evolves anisotropically as a function of flux due to higher-order BFEs, which violates the fundamental assumption of this correction method. We then introduce a new method based on a physically motivated model to account for these higher-order terms in the correction, and then we test the modified correction on both data sets. We find that the new method corrects the effect in flat fields better than it corrects the effect in artificial stars, which we suggest is the result of sub-pixel physics not included in this correction model. We use these results to define a new metric for the full-well capacity of our sensors and advise image processing strategies to further limit the impact of the effect on LSST WL science pathways.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

DOE OSTI2021

Excalibur: A Nonparametric, Hierarchical Wavelength Calibration Method for a Precision Spectrograph

Excalibur is a nonparametric, hierarchical framework for precision wavelength calibration of spectrographs. It is designed with the needs of extreme-precision radial-velocity (EPRV) instruments in mind, which require calibration or stabilization to better than 10{sup −4} pixels. Instruments vary along only a few dominant degrees of freedom, especially EPRV instruments that feature highly stabilized optical systems and detectors. Excalibur takes advantage of this property by using all calibration data to construct a low-dimensional representation of all accessible calibration states for an instrument. Excalibur also takes advantage of laser-frequency combs or etalons, which generate a dense set of stable calibration points. This density permits the use of a nonparametric wavelength solution that can adapt to any instrument or detector oddities better than parametric models, such as a polynomial. We demonstrate the success of this method with data from the Extreme Precision Spectrograph (EXPRES), which uses a laser-frequency comb. When wavelengths are assigned to laser comb lines using excalibur, the rms of the residuals is about one-fifth that of wavelengths assigned using polynomial fits to individual exposures. Radial-velocity measurements of HD 34411 show a reduction in rms scatter over a 10 month time baseline from 1.17 to 1.05 m s{sup −1}.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

DOE OSTI2021

Characterisation of signal-induced noise in Hamamatsu R11265 Multianode Photomultiplier Tubes

Signal-induced noise is observed in Hamamatsu R11265 Multianode Photomultiplier Tubes, manifesting up to several microseconds after the single photoelectron response signal and localised in specific anodes. The mean number of noise pulses varies between devices, and shows significant dependence on the applied high-voltage. The characterisation of this noise and the mitigation strategies to perform optimal single-photon counting at 40 MHz, as required by the LHCb Ring-Imaging Cherenkov detectors, are reported.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

DOE OSTI2020

A study of radiation tolerance in optical cements

We study the effect ionizing radiation has on light transmission in the wavelength range 190–1100 nm for a number of optically clear epoxies. We find that the transmittance of traditional, commercially available, optical epoxies show significant degradation for exposures of 1×10 12 MIPs/cm 2 . Degradation of light transmission progresses from the shortest wavelengths at low doses to longer wavelengths as the dose increases. In epoxy joints that are 0.1 mm thick, we observe that more than 5% of the light is lost for wavelengths less than 400 nm for traditional optical epoxies. Our studies have identified an optically clear epoxy that shows little degradation for radiation exposures up to 5.9× 10 14 MIPs/cm 2 (≈ 220 kGy).

Radiation-hard detectors↗

DOE OSTI2025

MAIA: A new detector concept for a 10 TeV muon collider

Muon colliders offer a compelling opportunity to explore the TeV scale and conduct precision tests of the Standard Model, all within a relatively compact geographical footprint. This paper introduces a new detector concept, MAIA (Muon Accelerator Instrumented Apparatus), optimized for $\sqrt{s}=10$ TeV $\mu\mu$ collisions. The detector features an all-silicon tracker immersed in a 5T solenoid field. High-granularity silicon-tungsten and iron-scintillator calorimeters surrounding the solenoid capture high-energy electronic and hadronic showers, respectively, and support particle-flow reconstruction. The outermost subsystem comprises an air-gap muon spectrometer, which enables standalone track reconstruction for high-momentum muons. The performance of the MAIA detector is evaluated in terms of differential particle reconstruction efficiencies and resolutions. Beam-induced background (BIB) simulations generated in FLUKA are overlaid with single particle gun samples to assess detector reconstruction capabilities under realistic experimental conditions. Even with BIB, reconstruction efficiencies exceed 95% for energetic tracks, photons, and neutrons in the central region of the detector. This paper outlines promising avenues of future work, including forward region optimization and opportunities for enhanced flavor/boosted object tagging, and addresses the technological assumptions needed to achieve the desired detector performance.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2024

A science-driven approach to optimize the design for a biological small-angle neutron scattering instrument

Biological small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) instruments facilitate critical analysis of the structure and dynamics of complex biological systems. However, with the growth of experimental demands and the advances in optical systems design, a new neutron optical concept is necessary to overcome the limitations of current instruments. This work presents an approach to include experimental objectives ( i.e. the science to be supported by a specific neutron scattering instrument) in the optimization of the neutron optical concept. The approach for a proposed SANS instrument at the Second Target Station of the Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA, is presented here. Further, the instrument is simulated with the McStas software package. The optimization process is driven by an evolutionary algorithm using McStas output data, which are processed to calculate an objective function designed to quantify the expected performance of the simulated neutron optical configuration for the intended purpose. Each McStas simulation covers the complete instrument, from source to detector, including realistic sample scattering functions. This approach effectively navigates a high-dimensional parameter space that is otherwise intractable; it allows the design of next-generation SANS instruments to address specific scientific cases and has the potential to increase instrument performance compared with traditional design approaches.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

DOE OSTI2021

Performance of the CMS muon trigger system in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV

The muon trigger system of the CMS experiment uses a combination of hardware and software to identify events containing a muon. During Run 2 (covering 2015-2018) the LHC achieved instantaneous luminosities as high as 2 $\times$ 10$^{34}$cm$^{-2}$s$^{-1}$ while delivering proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV. The challenge for the trigger system of the CMS experiment is to reduce the registered event rate from about 40 MHz to about 1 kHz. Significant improvements important for the success of the CMS physics program have been made to the muon trigger system via improved muon reconstruction and identification algorithms since the end of Run 1 and throughout the Run 2 data-taking period. The new algorithms maintain the acceptance of the muon triggers at the same or even lower rate throughout the data-taking period despite the increasing number of additional proton-proton interactions in each LHC bunch crossing. In this paper, the algorithms used in 2015 and 2016 and their improvements throughout 2017 and 2018 are described. Measurements of the CMS muon trigger performance for this data-taking period are presented, including efficiencies, transverse momentum resolution, trigger rates, and the purity of the selected muon sample. This paper focuses on the single- and double-muon triggers with the lowest sustainable transverse momentum thresholds used by CMS. The efficiency is measured in a transverse momentum range from 8 to several hundred GeV.

Trigger detectors↗

DOE OSTI2024

ML-based calibration and control of the GlueX Central Drift Chamber

The GlueX Central Drift Chamber (CDC) in Hall D at Jefferson Lab, used for detecting and tracking charged particles, is calibrated and controlled during data taking using a Gaussian process. The system dynamically adjusts the high voltage applied to the anode wires inside the chamber in response to changing environmental and experimental conditions such that the gain is stabilized. Control policies have been established to manage the CDC's behavior. These policies are activated when the model's uncertainty exceeds a configurable threshold or during human-initiated tests during normal production running. Finally, we demonstrate the system reduces the time detector experts dedicate to calibration of the data offline, leading to a marked decrease in computing resource usage without compromising detector performance.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

DOE OSTI2021

Pulse shape discrimination in CUPID-Mo using principal component analysis

CUPID-Mo is a cryogenic detector array designed to search for neutrinoless double-beta decay ($0\nu\beta\beta$) of $^{100}$Mo. It uses 20 scintillating $^{100}$Mo-enriched Li$_2$MoO$_4$ bolometers instrumented with Ge light detectors to perform active suppression of $\alpha$ backgrounds, drastically reducing the expected background in the $0\nu\beta\beta$ signal region. As a result, pileup events and small detector instabilities that mimic normal signals become non-negligible potential backgrounds. These types of events can in principle be eliminated based on their signal shapes, which are different from those of regular bolometric pulses. We show that a purely data-driven principal component analysis based approach is able to filter out these anomalous events, without the aid of detector response simulations.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

DOE OSTI2023

Entrainment and aerosol effects on marine boundary-layer clouds: An investigation using ACE-ENA data from HOLODEC, G1, Pico and ACTOS (Final Report on Project Activities)

Marine boundary-layer clouds cover large regions of the globe and are known to strongly influence radiative balances. The microphysical properties and persistence of these clouds are tightly coupled with cloud-top entrainment and aerosol properties within both the boundary layer and the overlying free troposphere. This work addressed the microphysical response to entrainment and aerosol properties in marine stratocumulus clouds, using data from the Aerosol and Cloud Experiments in the Eastern North Atlantic (ACE-ENA) project. Specifically, emphasis was placed on 1. extensive in situ measurements taken with the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) G1 aircraft using the Holographic Detector for Clouds (Holodec) instrument; 2. airborne measurements obtained with the helicopter-borne Airborne Cloud Turbulence Observation System (ACTOS) operated by the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) during the first phase of ACE-ENA; and 3. above-boundary-layer, mountain-top measurements taken at the Pico Mountain Observatory (OMP) by the research group of the co-investigator and scientists from TROPOS during the first phase of ACE-ENA. The work is aligned with the topic “Warm Boundary-Layer Atmospheric Processes.” Key results include the following. Data from the Holographic Detector for Clouds (Holodec) were reprocessed, refined, and validated through a careful instrument intercomparison, resulting in a high-quality dataset available on the ARM archive for ACE-ENA. High-resolution ACTOS measurements of thermodynamics, microphysical, and turbulence properties were analyzed to explore the behavior of the entrainment velocity at cloud top. Analysis of the vertical variability of cloud droplet size distribution shape suggests that mixing is more inhomogeneous near cloud top, and more homogeneous deeper into the cloud. Analysis of aerosol measurements from OMP explored the mixing state and cloud condensation nucleus properties, as well as the implications for radiative forcing. Finally, a machine learning algorithm was developed for identifying characteristic cloud droplet size distributions, and was employed to explore microphysical regimes in stratocumulus clouds observed during ACE-ENA. The characteristic size distributions are narrow, and only when spatially averaged do they produce the broad “gamma” distributions typically assumed in models. This implies that precipitation development should account for variability and correlations in the distribution shape as well as the number concentration of cloud droplets.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2024

10 Boron-film-based gas detectors at ESS

The development of detectors for the European Spallation Source is an important parallel element to the effort put into the design and construction of the neutron source and instruments. The 10Boron-film-based detector developments that started over a decade ago as basic detector concepts have now reached technical maturity after intense prototyping work and numerous testing campaigns. Several of the ESS beamlines that will soon enter the commissioning phase started welcoming the detector systems built with the 10 B-film converter technology. The real-size demonstrators evolved in the last 2–3 years into a diverse suite of gas proportional counters for use in diffraction, reflectometry and small-angle scattering studies in spite of the operational complexity posed by the requirements for large-area coverage, low material budget and robustness for operation in the high-flux and high-radiation environment of ESS. The detectors are now being shipped to ESS or undergoing the last performance and calibration tests before being handed over to the instrument teams for installation in the host beamlines. A common feature of these detector systems is the very large number of readout channels that they are instrumented with in order to fulfill the demanding requirements for sensitivity, spatial resolution and count-rate capability. Across all of the detector types that will operate at ESS, the integration, testing and commissioning of the read-out technologies and software tools for data reduction, calibration and analysis are the focus of the detector and integration teams. These will yield a wealth of knowledge about their operation as well as initial results on the in-situ performance, a very important asset to ensure rapid commissioning of the detectors when neutrons from the ESS source become available. In this paper we will give an overview of the 10 B-film-based detector technologies included in the ESS detector suite that are currently facing the transition from the production phase to installation and integration with the other beamline components, which comes with its own specific challenges of both organizational and technical nature.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

DOE OSTI2024

Beams of polarized hadrons at EIC: Action plan to address acute challenges

In the recent years, more and more groups in the field of polarization instrumentation and technology have disappeared, taking their expertise in the experimental technologies with them. When the RHIC was conceived, there were numerous experimental and theoretical groups around the world from which experts could be recruited to build new instruments, powerful sources, specialized detector systems, investigate new approaches and concepts, and much more. We should recognize that we presently are in a critical situation regarding the availability of skilled individuals to provide and service the required instruments to make the EIC a success. We need to rejuvenate the field of polarization technology, especially for hadrons, and significantly expand education and training efforts. The document highlights a number of key areas that require attention. Three scientists/engineers/postdocs and at least one or two PhD students should be sought immediately to start building a group capable of tackling the future tasks and challenges in hadron polarimetry at the EIC.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

DOE OSTI2024

The Long Neglected Cycloidal Mass Analyzer

Cycloid mass spectrometers offer powerful advantages for isotope ratio measurements, including double focusing (mass and energy), linear mass dispersion over a large spatial area, and a small footprint. However, the linear cycloid has not been adopted as widely as other mass analyzer designs, in part because of challenges with utilizing common ion detectors such as electron multipliers and Faraday cups. Integration of a linear cycloid with a capacitive transimpedance amplifier detector arrays can overcome these challenges, resulting in a compact powerful mass spectrometer for precision isotope ratio measurements.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

DOE OSTI2024

Performance of plane wavefront Fizeau interferometers in power spectral density measurements with tilted plane optics

Binary pseudo-random array (BPRA) test samples are useful devices for calibrating the instrument transfer function (ITF) of Fizeau interferometers, interferometric microscopes, and other optical and non-optical surface and wavefront metrology instruments. The intrinsic white noise character of the power spectral density (PSD) function of the BPRA pattern simplifies the extraction of the ITF from the measured PSD. The ITF determined in a dedicated calibration experiment can be used to reconstruct the surface height profile from the measured data, effectively enhancing the instrument’s spatial resolution. For a high confidence reconstruction procedure, a reliable analytical model of the IFT is desirable. Usually, the model accounts for the contributions to the ITF related the imperfections of the instrument’s optical and detector systems. Here, we experimentally demonstrate that in the case of surface height metrology with Fizeau interferometers, the PSD measurements and, therefore, the efficacy of the ITF calibration of the tool, are strongly affected by the instrument data acquisition and processing procedures, as well as by the shape of the optic under test and its alignment with respect to the interferometer.

Yashchuk, V V↗

DOE OSTI2022

Kilonova Detectability with Wide-Field Instruments [Slides]

A diverse set of instruments increase the chances of detecting and identifying a kilonova. Early observations increase the probability of detection. More sensitive wide-field ultraviolet instruments are needed as GW detectors reach design sensitivity. There is a dearth of wide-field infrared instruments. These results are useful for guiding kilonova searches following a GW detection and sGRD observation, proposals for time on current and upcoming instruments, and planning future wide-field instruments.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2022

Kilonova Detectability with Wide-Field Instruments

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗