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The precision spectroscopy of kaonic hydrogen and kaonic helium x-rays offers a unique possibility to precisely determine the K{sup -}N strong interaction in the low energy limit. Results and status of modern experiments using silicon drift x-ray detectors (SDDs), namely, KEK E570, SIDDHARTA at DA{Phi}NE and E17 at J-PARC, are discussed.
High altitude balloon magnetic-core digitized spark chamber detector system for determining point sources of cosmic gamma radiation
Si detectors subjected to energetic particle bombardment are known to undergo a deleterious type inversion from n type to p type. The effect is due to defects that trap electrons but the identity of the main responsible traps remains unknown. Using a combination of classical molecular-dynamics simulations and large-scale density-functional theory calculations, we show that amorphous defect clusters formed under particle bombardment are strong acceptors of electrons and may as such well explain the phenomenon.
Nonproportional response of the scintillation yield of NaI:Tl was measured using highly monochromatic synchrotron irradiation ranging from 9-100 keV. Special attention is paid to the x-ray escape peaks. They provide us additional information about photon response in the range 0.9-12 keV. A rapid variation in the photon response curve is observed near the iodine K-electron binding energy. A dense sampling of data is performed around this energy and that data are used to apply a method, which we call K-dip spectroscopy. This method allows us to derive the electron response curve of NaI:Tl down to energies as low as 30 eV. A comparison of our data with data of others employing different methods is made. Advantages, limitations, and peculiarities of presented techniques and methods are discussed.
An on-chip implementable algorithm for allocation of an X-ray photon imprint, called a hit, to a single pixel in the presence of charge sharing in a highly segmented pixel detector is described. Its proof-of-principle implementation is also given supported by the results of tests using a highly collimated X-ray photon beam from a synchrotron source. The algorithm handles asynchronous arrivals of X-ray photons. Activation of groups of pixels, comparisons of peak amplitudes of pulses within an active neighborhood and finally latching of the results of these comparisons constitute the three procedural steps of the algorithm. A grouping of pixels to one virtual pixel, that recovers composite signals and event driven strobes, to control comparisons of fractional signals between neighboring pixels are the actuators of the algorithm. The circuitry necessary to implement the algorithm requires an extensive inter-pixel connection grid of analog and digital signals, that are exchanged between pixels. A test-circuit implementation of the algorithm was achieved with a small array of 32 × 32 pixels and the device was exposed to an 8 keV highly collimated to a diameter of 3-μm X-ray beam. Furthermore, the results of these tests are given in this paper assessing physical implementation of the algorithm.
The Extreme Universe Space Observatory on JEM/EF (JEM-EUSO) is a space mission to study extremely high-energy cosmic rays. The JEM-EUSO instrument is a wide-angle refractive telescope in the near-ultraviolet wavelength region which will be mounted to the International Space Station. Its goal is to measure time-resolved fluorescence images of extensive air showers in the atmosphere. In this paper we describe in detail the main features and technological aspects of the focal surface of the instrument. The JEM-EUSO focal surface is a spherically curved surface, with an area of about 4.5m{sup 2}. The focal surface detector is made of more than 5,000 multi-anode photomultipliers (MAPMTs). Current baseline is Hamamatsu R11265-03-M64. The approach to the focal surface detector is highly modular. Photo-Detector-Modules (PDM) are the basic units that drive the mechanical structure and data acquisition. Each PDM consists of 9 Elementary Cells (ECs). The EC, which is the basic unit of the MAPMT support structure and of the front-end electronics, contains 4 units of MAPMTs. In total, about 1,200 ECs or about 150 PDMs are arranged on the whole of the focal surface of JEM-EUSO.
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center has begun developing the Soft X-ray Spectrometer (SXS) instrument that will be flown on the Japanese Astro-H mission. The SXS's 36-pixel detector array will be cooled to 50 mK using a two-stage adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator (ADR). A complicating factor for its design is that the ADR will be integrated into a superfluid helium dewar at 1.3 K that will be coupled to a 1.8 K Joule-Thomson (JT) stage through a heat switch. When liquid helium is present, the coupling will be weak, and the JT stage will act primarily as a shield to reduce parasitic heat loads. When the liquid is depleted, the heat switch will couple more strongly so that the ADR can continue to operate using the JT stage as its heat sink. A two-stage ADR is the most mass efficient option and it has the operational flexibility to work well with a stored cryogen and a cryocooler. The stages are operated independently, and this opens up a very large parameter space for optimizing the design. This paper discusses the optimization process and most relevant trades considered in the design of the SXS ADR, and its expected performance.
We search for ultra-high energy photons by analyzing geometrical properties of shower fronts of events registered by the Telescope Array surface detector. By making use of an event-by-event statistical method, we derive an upper limit on the absolute flux of primary photons with energies above 10{sup 19} eV.
Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) detector is a gas device with high gain and high efficiency. These detectors use chemically perforated 65 {mu}m thick copper clad Kapton polyimide foils. Given its potential for detecting X-rays and other radiations, GEM detectors may be used in an environment with high radioactivity. The Kapton foils manufacturer, Du Pont Inc., claims that the foils are radioactive resistant. To verify whether the GEM detector performance is affected by the exposure to radiation, several GEM foils were irradiated to a {sup 60}Co source at the gamma-ray irradiation facility at Sterigenics, Tustin, CA. Four sets of GEM foils were exposed to the level of 10 kGy, 100 kGy, 1,000 kGy and 10,000 kGy. The output signal from the GEM detectors with irradiated GEM foils were measured and compared to the detector with no irradiation. We observed that the shapes of the peaks from 5.9 KeV {sup 55}Fe X-ray were distorted and that the detector gain increased compared to that of the un-irradiated detector. In particular, the detector with 10,000 kGy irradiation appeared to have the biggest peak distortion and increased gain. It was also found from that additional electrons from radiation-induced free radicals in the Kapton film contribute to output signal of the irradiated GEM detectors. Further studies are needed to explain the mechanism of these detector performance changes.
The transmission of 3 MeV protons and 16 MeV O{sup 5+} ions through a single cylindrically-shaped insulating macrocapillary glass has been investigated in a preliminary study. The capillary had a diameter d = 0.18 mm and length l 14.4 mm, giving an aspect ratio l/d = 80. The sample was mounted on a goniometer to permit precise positioning with respect to the incident beam direction. Results show that 3 MeV protons transmit through the capillary without energy loss at small tilt angles (near zero), and the 16 MeV O{sup 5+} ions show transmission through the sample also with little energy loss at the same small tilt angles and little change in their charge state ({approx}1%). For a larger tilt angle (= 1.5 deg.), appreciable losses in energy occurred for incident O{sup 5+} and the ions changed their charge state up to 7{sup +}.
We present the first observations of focused multi-MeV carbon ion beams generated using ultra-intense shortpulse laser interactions with thin hemispherical (400{mu}m radius) targets. The experiments were performed at the Trident laser facility (80 J, 0.6 ps, 2x10{sup 20}W/cm{sup 2}) at Los Alamos National Laboratory and at the Omega EP (extended performance) facility (1 kJ, 10 ps, 5x10{sup 18}W/cm{sup 2}) at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics. The targets were chemical vapor deposition diamond, hemi-shells and were heated to remove contaminants. The ion beam focusing was characterized by tracing the projection of a witness mesh in the ion beam on a lithium fluoride nuclear activation detector. From the data, we infer that the divergence of the beam changes as a function of time. We present a 2-D isothermal model to explain the dynamics. We also present discrepancies in the peak proton and carbon ion energies from the two facilities. The implication of which is a fundamental difference in the temporal evolution of the beams from the two facilities. Simulations using the hybrid particle in cell code, Lsp were performed and compared with the experiments.
Emulsion technologies are very much developed in the last decade and still developing in both the emulsion gel and the data taking. Emulsion detectors are suitable for the neutrino experiments because they can distinguish all 3 flavors of neutrino. The OPERA experiment, a recent pillar in the emulsion experiments aiming at the first observation of the neutrino oscillation in CNGS beam in appearance mode, is running, showing the good capability to separate 3 flavor neutrino interactions. In this poster, the recent developments and prospects of the emulsions for the next generation experiments are reported.
Clay, consisting fine-grained minerals, is an interesting materials and can be used in a variety of different fields especially in dermatology application. Using clay such a field it is important to measure its natural radioactivity. Thus the purpose of this study is to measure {sup 226}Ra, {sup 232}Th and {sup 40}K concentration in clay samples enriched with boron. Three different types of clay samples were prepared where boron is used in different rate. The measurements have been determined using a gamma-ray spectrometry consists of a 3''x3'' NaI(Tl) detector. From the measured activity the radium equivalent activities (Ra{sub eq}), external hazard index (H{sub ex}), absorbed dose rate in air (D) and annual effective dose (AED) have also been obtained.
We study the self-collimation phenomenon in photonic crystals (PhC) of wide bandgap materials for ultra-fast and high spatial resolution x-ray detection. We work on various heavy inorganic scintillators: BaF 2 , GaN, ZnO, CsI:Tl, NaI:Tl, LYSO, WO 4 compounds, and plastic scintillators. Conventional scintillator detectors do not rely on a direct detection mechanism; hence, they require intricate design and fabrication processes. We offer a PhC design to observe self-collimation phenomena and overcome the ongoing spatial resolution challenges with these types of materials. We investigate the photonic band diagrams and iso-frequency contours. Fourier transforms based on finite-difference time-domain and frequency domain simulations are done for verifying and analyzing the self-collimation with the selected material. Light extraction efficiency at the PhC–air interface, depending on the truncation distance from the excitation point, is measured. Beam divergence values are calculated at 1 mm propagation distance. The vertical field profiles are obtained to observe the confinement. For the spatial resolution analysis, cross-sectional beam profiles have been examined. Furthermore, Gaussian envelopes are fitted to beam profiles for a consistent data analysis, and full-width-at-half-maximum values are considered. As a result, we theoretically prove and demonstrate the spatially resolved x-ray detection at the sub-micrometer level for a wide range of scintillator materials.
In a conventional light-water reactor loaded with a range of uranium and plutonium-based fuel mixtures, the variation in antineutrino production over the cycle reflects both the initial core fissile inventory and its evolution. Under an assumption of constant thermal power, we calculate here the rate at which antineutrinos are emitted from variously fueled cores, and the evolution of that rate as measured by a representative ton-scale antineutrino detector. We find that antineutrino flux decreases with burnup for low-enriched uranium cores, increases for full mixed-oxide (MOX) cores, and does not appreciably change for cores with a MOX fraction of approximately 75%. Accounting for uncertainties in the fission yields in the emitted antineutrino spectra and the detector response function, we show that the difference in corewide MOX fractions at least as small as 8% can be distinguished using a hypothesis test. The test compares the evolution of the antineutrino rate relative to an initial value over part or all of the cycle. The use of relative rates reduces the sensitivity of the test to an independent thermal power measurement, making the result more robust against possible countermeasures. This rate-only approach also offers the potential advantage of reducing the cost and complexity of the antineutrino detectors used to verify the diversion, compared to methods that depend on the use of the antineutrino spectrum. A possible application is the verification of the disposition of surplus plutonium in nuclear reactors.
We report for the first time general geometrical expressions for the angular resolution of an arbitrary network of interferometric gravitational-wave (GW) detectors when the arrival time of a GW is unknown. We show explicitly elements that decide the angular resolution of a GW detector network. In particular, we show the dependence of the angular resolution on areas formed by projections of pairs of detectors and how they are weighted by sensitivities of individual detectors. Numerical simulations are used to demonstrate the capabilities of the current GW detector network. We confirm that the angular resolution is poor along the plane formed by current LIGO-Virgo detectors. A factor of a few to more than ten fold improvement of the angular resolution can be achieved if the proposed new GW detectors LCGT or AIGO are added to the network. We also discuss the implications of our results for the design of a GW detector network, optimal localization methods for a given network, and electromagnetic follow-up observations.
An analytic relationship between the efficiency, sensitivity, and the coefficient of working-isotope utilization is established for gas-filled cylindrical thermal-neutron counters. This dependence is expressed in terms of the ratio of the characteristic length of a counter to its diameter. The characteristic size is introduced as the ratio of the total absorption cross section to the length of the counter. The parameters of basic {sup 3}He and {sup 10}BF{sub 3} counters used in NM-64 neutron monitors are calculated.
Gamma ray telescope design and operation including low power fast pulse transistor circuit techniques