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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 1,099 records · Page 61
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Accurate activity determination of a californium neutron source

Accurately counting analog events requires constructing an electronics chain that produces one count for each input pulse. Here, in this work, we review the use of Nuclear Instrumentation Module electronic units for counting neutron capture events in a 3He tube. We identify two unique types of false trigger events in a leading-edge discriminator and show how a dual timer module can be used to produce a veto window to exclude these events. We use the constructed electronics chain to build an apparatus to measure neutron pulses from a 252 Cf neutron source. We compare the measurements with a Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) model to determine the activity of the neutron source. Furthermore, by making additional measurements with borated polyethylene attenuators between the source and detector, we are able to determine the boron concentration of the polyethylene. This technique provides accurate determination of the source activity to a precision of 2.8% at the k=1 level. The method used is simple, inexpensive, and requires no additional calibrated instruments.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2023

The 先生 (SENSEI†) Experiment: sub-GeV dark matter searches with skipper-CCD

Skipper-CCDs are pixeled Silicon-based detectors that can perform multiple non-disruptive measurements of the same charge package. Their sub-electron resolution allows the detection of eV energy transfers, such as that expected from ultra-light dark matter interacting with electrons in a Silicon target. SENSEI (Sub-Electron Noise Skipper Experimental Instrument) is the first experiment to use Skipper-CCD for this purpose and to publish world-leading results using this technology. In this talk, we present an overview of the SENSEI experiment and the current status after the successful commissioning of the second batch of science-grade sensors at SNOLAB. We will also discuss the prospects in rare-events searches with skipper-CCDs: from SENSEI’s 100 g detector to OSCURA’s 10 kg array, and more.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Development of the CMS detector for the CERN LHC Run 3

Since the initial data taking of the CERN LHC, the CMSexperiment has undergone substantial upgrades and improvements. Thispaper discusses the CMS detector as it is configured for the thirddata-taking period of the CERN LHC, Run 3, which started in2022. The entire silicon pixel tracking detector was replaced. A newpowering system for the superconducting solenoid was installed. Theelectronics of the hadron calorimeter was upgraded. All the muonelectronic systems were upgraded, and new muon detector stationswere added, including a gas electron multiplier detector. Theprecision proton spectrometer was upgraded. The dedicated luminositydetectors and the beam loss monitor were refurbished. Substantialimprovements to the trigger, data acquisition, software, andcomputing systems were also implemented, including a new hybridCPU/GPU farm for the high-level trigger.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2026

Searching for axion dark matter with array-scalable single magnon detectors

We introduce an array-scalable, magnon-based detector to search for the spin-dependent interactions of electron-coupled axion dark matter with mass in the 1−100 μ⁢eV range. These axions can excite single magnons in magnetic targets, such as yttrium iron garnet (YIG) spheres, which are subsequently sensed by the detector. In our concept, this sensing is implemented by coupling the magnons in the YIG spheres to magnetic-field-resilient single-electron charge-qubits, whose state is then interrogated with a quantum nondemolition measurement. Using standard superconducting fabrication techniques, it is possible to integrate many YIG sphere-qubit sensors, forming a large detector array. We outline the detector design and operation for our concept, and determine its sensitivity to axion dark matter. We find that using available technology can already exceed the sensitivity of previous ferromagnetic haloscopes, and further improvements in performance would search for electron-coupled axion dark matter in unexplored parameter space.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2021

High-energy micrometre-scale pixel direct conversion X-ray detector

The objective of this work was to fabricate and characterize a new X-ray imaging detector with micrometre-scale pixel dimensions (7.8 µm) and high detection efficiency for hard X-ray energies above 20 keV. A key technology component consists of a monolithic hybrid detector built by direct deposition of an amorphous selenium film on a custom designed CMOS readout integrated circuit. Characterization was carried out at the synchrotron beamline 1-BM-B at the Advanced Photon Source of Argonne National Laboratory. The direct conversion detector demonstrated micrometre-scale spatial resolution with a 63 keV modulation transfer function of 10% at Nyquist frequency. In addition, spatial resolving power down to 8 µm was determined by imaging a transmission bar target at 21 keV. X-ray signal linearity, responsivity and lag were also characterized in the same energy range. Finally, phase contrast edge enhancement was observed in a phase object placed in the beam path. This amorphous selenium/CMOS detector technology can address gaps in commercially available X-ray detectors which limit their usefulness for existing synchrotron applications at energies greater than 50 keV; for example, phase contrast tomography and high-resolution imaging of nanoscale lattice distortions in bulk crystalline materials using Bragg coherent diffraction imaging. Here, the technology will also facilitate the creation of novel synchrotron imaging applications for X-ray energies at or above 20 keV.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Design and validation of a nanosecond short-wave infrared streak camera using gaseous detonation experiments

A custom short-wave infrared (SWIR) galvanometric streak camera was developed to provide nanosecond- scale, time-resolved optical diagnostics. The system was designed as a compact, mechanically driven alternative to traditional tube-based streak cameras, using a galvanometer mirror and multiple-reflection optical path to achieve high temporal resolution while maintaining electronic synchronization for trigger sequencing. Temporal resolution achieved 139.5 ns/px, allowing direct conversion of image-slope gradients to physical wave velocities. The instrument was validated using hydrogen-oxygen-argon detonations within a modular detonation tube, capturing transient emission structures and post-detonation decay behavior with microsecond precision. Although signal levels in filtered configurations were limited by lens transmission and detector sensitivity, the system successfully resolved intensity rise and decay characteristics across 10-60 % argon mixtures. The observed trends demonstrate the feasibility of compact galvanometer-based streak systems for high-speed SWIR imaging in reactive environments!

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2024

Technique for an improved and time-resolved carbon areal density measurement with a single channel diagnostic for inertial confinement fusion

Measurement of the areal density and velocity of the carbon ablator shell during peak burn in inertial confinement fusion give powerful information on the state of the ablator and where in the trajectory of implosion it reaches peak burn. Detailed comparison of the absolute densities and velocities of the carbon in implosions has been prevented by the limited ability to resolve shot-to-shot variation within a shot series or within a campaign. Here, a new approach using a single, ultra fast (~10 ps) gamma ray channel can massively reduce uncertainties and will provide insights on improvements to target and drive variables. Small improvements in these experimental design parameters may result in much greater yields.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2023

The large-area hybrid-optics CLAS12 RICH: First years of data-taking

The CLAS12 deep-inelastic scattering experiment at the upgraded 12 GeV continuous electron beam accelerator facility of Jefferson Lab conjugates luminosity and wide acceptance to study the 3D nucleon structure in the yet poorly explored valence region, and to perform precision measurements in hadron spectroscopy. A large area ring-imaging Cherenkov detector has been designed to achieve the required hadron identification in the momentum range from 3 GeV/c to 8 GeV/c, with the kaon rate about one order of magnitude lower than the rate of pions and protons. The adopted solution comprises aerogel radiator and composite mirrors in a novel hybrid optics design, where either direct or reflected light could be imaged in a high-packed and high-segmented photon detector. The first RICH module was assembled during the second half of 2017 and installed at the beginning of January 2018, in time for the start of the experiment. The second RICH module, planned with the goal to be ready for the beginning of the operation with polarized targets, has been timely built despite the complications caused by the pandemic crisis and successfully installed in June 2022. Finally, the detector performance is here discussed with emphasis on the operation and stability during the data-taking, calibration and alignment procedures, reconstruction and pattern recognition algorithms, and particle identification.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2024

Gallium oxide (Ga 2 O 3 ) energy dependent scintillation response to fast neutrons and flash gamma-rays

Gallium oxide is a newly emerged ultrawide bandgap (4.9 eV) semiconductor that is suitable as a combined electronics and radiation detection platform. We have experimentally demonstrated fast neutron and gamma-ray scintillation from Czochralski-grown β-Ga 2 O 3 in a recent series (October 2023) of experiments at the unmoderated pulsed neutron spallation source located at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center. Using the neutron time-of-flight (TOF) technique and a fast-gated intensified CCD camera, we observed energy-dependent neutron scintillation for neutron energies ranging from 1 to 400 MeV, including the 14.1 MeV neutron energy relevant to D–T fusion. Neutron flux is quantified and calibrated by cascading the scintillator after the fission chamber, enabling a detailed analysis of temporal and energy-dependent characteristics of the scintillation events. Further, a pronounced scintillation signal from the spallation gamma flash with a temporal full width of half maximum of ~4 ns is indicative of the material’s rapid response. Neutron energy dependent scintillation is observed using the TOF method at a 22.6-m distance from the neutron source. These results highlight the possibility of developing a Ga 2 O 3 based fusion neutron diagnostic platform integrated with both scintillation and electronics functions on the integrated chip scale.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2025

High energy particle detection with large area superconducting microwire array

We present the first detailed study of an 8-channel2×2 mm$^{2}$ WSi superconducting microwire single photondetector (SMSPD) array exposed to 120 GeV proton beam and 8 GeVelectron and pion beam at the Fermilab Test Beam Facility. TheSMSPD detection efficiency was measured for the first time forprotons, electrons, and pions, enabled by the use of a silicontracking telescope that provided precise spatial resolution of30 μm for 120 GeV protons and 130 μm for 8 GeVelectrons and pions. The result demonstrated consistent detectionefficiency across pixels and at different bias currents. Timeresolution of 1.15 ns was measured for the first time for SMSPDwith proton, electron, and pions, enabled by the use of an MCP-PMTwhich provided a ps-level reference time stamp. The resultspresented is the first step towards developing SMSPD array systemsoptimized for high energy particle detection and identification forfuture accelerator-based experiments.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2020

ADC Nonlinearity Correction for the Majorana Demonstrator

Imperfections in analog-to-digital conversion cannot be ignored when signal digitization requirements demand both wide dynamic range and high resolution, as is the case for the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR 76 Ge neutrinoless double beta decay search. Enabling the experiment's high-resolution spectral analysis and efficient pulse shape discrimination required careful measurement and correction of ADC nonlinearites. Here, a simple measurement protocol was developed that did not require sophisticated equipment or lengthy data taking campaigns. A slope-dependent hysteresis was observed and characterized. A correction applied to digitized waveforms prior to signal processing reduced the differential and integral nonlinearites by an order of magnitude, eliminating these as dominant contributions to the systematic energy uncertainty at the double-beta decay Q value.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2021

Muon-neutrino disappearance with multiple liquid argon time projection chambers in the Fermilab Booster neutrino beam

The Short Baseline Neutrino (SBN) program consists of three liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) experiments: SBND, MicroBooNE and ICARUS, with 110 m, 470 m and 600 m baselines respectively. The detectors are located in the Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB) at Fermilab which has a peak energy around 0.7 GeV and contains predominantly muon neutrinos. The baseline and energy range of the SBN program is conducive to measuring neutrino oscillation parameters under various sterile neutrino hypotheses. Sterile neutrinos have been proposed as a possible solution to the numerous short baseline anomalies. The proposed particles must be sterile in nature such that they do not interact via the weak force, however they may undergo oscillations with the active neutrino flavours. Their existence may consequently be confirmed through measurements of the appearance and disappearance of the active flavours. The analyses presented in this thesis aimed to calculate and understand the sensitivity of the SBN program to measuring the ?µ disappearance parameters under the (3+1) sterile neutrino oscillation hypothesis. The sensitivity of SBN to measuring the ?µ disappearance sterile oscillation parameters, sin2 2?µµ, ?m2 41, was calculated through semi-exclusive joint fits of the ?µ CC 0p and ?µ CC Other reconstructed neutrino energy spectra. The first iteration used truth-level Monte Carlo (MC) events, and determined that the 5s SBN sensitivity is comparable to the 90% MINOS/MINOS+ confidence level and supersedes the 90% MiniBooNE confidence level across entire phase space. Semi-exclusive joint fits of the aforementioned sample spectra were performed between the MC and multiple mock data sets in SBND. This analysis assessed the accuracy with which the near detector can disentangle systematic from physics effects in the oscillation analysis. The result was a 5.49% discrepancy between the ICARUS Monte Carlo and mock data event rates, when the systematic constraints from the near detector fit were extrapolated to the far detector. The second iteration of the SBN sensitivity analysis involved the application of an event selection procedure developed in SBND, following the full reconstruction chain. ?µ CC 0p events were selected from sample of neutrinos with 84.5% efficiency and 84.3% purity. The sterile neutrino sensitivity was determined once more at the near detector with these samples, and was shown to be consistent with the truth-level studies.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2020

Polimaster PM1401K-3 Test Report

Extensive testing, including measurements on large quantities of special nuclear material, were taken to assess the functionality of the Polimaster PM1401K-3 to other detectors used in the field. The Polimaster can detect alpha, beta, gamma, and neutron radiation. However, efficiency and accuracy has been sacrificed to accomplish this. Compared to the IdentiFINDER 2, SRM, and FH-40 alpha probe, the Polimaster underperforms in almost all categories regarding radiation detection. The Helium-3 neutron detector in the Polimaster, due to a larger volume, outperformed the IdentiFINDER 2 for neutron measurements. The alpha search mode showed higher efficiency than the FH-40 alpha probe, but uses a more complicated process. The user interface is relatively easy to navigate, clear, and comparable to other detectors. However, the detector has added complications when trying to detect alpha or beta radiation or save a spectrum.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2020

Development of an ultra-fast BaF₂-based detector

BaF₂ is one of the fastest known scintillators, emitting at 220 nm with sub-nanosecond decay constant; Excellent for timing applications. 4.88 g/cm³ → High detection efficiency; At 15 cm thick, nearly 100% efficient for gammas up to 10 MeV. Problem: ~80% of the total light output consists of slower (600 ns decay constant) emission peaked at 310 nm; High count rate → pile up. Goal: develop a BaF₂-based detector that leverages the fast emission component for optimal timing characteristics; Suppression of slow component.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2021

Summer 2021 Co-op Report: X-Ray Scintillation Detector (A Co-op Work Experience Report)

The M-3 team was in need of a detector that could be used properly characterize their X-Ray machines. It can also be used to diagnose the X-ray in the case that problems arise before or during an experiment. They put me in charge of designing, ordering, and constructing said detector. After doing research, I found that scintillation-based detectors would be the best diagnostic tool for this purpose. It will allow the team to collect a full photon count of the X-ray pulse as well as provide spectroscopy functions with which we can view photon counts at different energy levels. This will also allow them to calculate an accurate dose given from the machine. Due to lead times, the crystals are still in manufacturing, thus the detector could not be completed. Although the designs and calculations needed to construct and operate the scintillator have been completed which is what I will be presenting in this document. Compared to the detectors being used before, my design offers a cheaper and far more efficient alternative.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2021

Assembly and Functional Test of NRAD Heated Instrumentation Rig

This is a technical report (TEV-4296) which documents the configuration and materials of construction for a heated sensor test conducted in the NRAD reactor. It is being reviewed for external release so that operators of university reactors can evaluate whether this level of documentation will be acceptable for similar tests conducted in their reactors. The Objective section of this TEV is reproduced below. The purpose of this TEV is to document assembly and functional testing of a device which is designed to allow advanced sensors to be temporarily placed at the periphery of the NRAD reactor. While in this location, the operational characteristics of the sensors can be evaluated while they are exposed to a neutron flux. This device (or “rig”) consists of a cartridge heater surrounded by six guide tubes, which are in turn surrounded by insulation and an aluminum dry tube. The heater allows for the sensors to be tested while at elevated temperature.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2022

System Response Characterization for a d–t Neutron Radiography System

We report the system response of a pixelated associated particle imaging (API) neutron radiography system. The detector readout currently consists of a 2x2 array of organic glass scintillator detectors, each with an 8x8 array of optically isolated pixels that match the size and pitch of the ARRAYJ-60035-64P-PCB Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM) array from SensL/onsemi with 6x6 mm 2 SiPMs. The alpha screen of the API deuterium-tritium neutron generator is read out with the S13361-3050AE-08 from Hamamatsu, which is an 8x8 array of 3x3 mm 2 SiPMs. Data from the 320 channel system is acquired with the TOFPET2-based readout system. We present the predicted imaging capability of an eventual 5x5 detector array, the waveform-based energy and pulse shape characterization of the individual detectors, and the timing and energy response from the TOFPET2 system.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗