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At least 19 records

Electronics Systems for the Gamma Ray Energy Tracking Nuclear Array (GRETA)

The Gamma Ray Energy Tracking Nuclear Array (GRETA), a 4-π germanium detector system capable of measuring energy and position (within better than 2mm rms) of gamma-ray interaction points and tracking multiple gamma-ray interactions, is being designed. GRETA is composed of 30 detector modules, each with four high purity germanium crystals. Four electronics modules will support the operation of the detectors: the Digitizer Module, the Signal Filter Board and the Trigger and Timing Modules. The Digitizer Module converts the analog information with analog to digital converters operating at 100 MS/s and sends the conversions through fiber optics to the Signal Filter Board. The Signal Filter Board digitally processes the data to determine the energy and timing information of the gamma interactions within a crystal. The Digitizer and Signal Filter Board send trigger information to the Trigger System. Different trigger algorithms for trigger decision are planned for the Trigger System. The Timing System provides the clock for the electronics systems and auxiliary detectors. In this paper we review the details of the planned GRETA Electronics System.

data acquisition↗

Simple and Scalable Streaming: The GRETA Data Pipeline

The Gamma Ray Energy Tracking Array (GRETA) is a state of the art gamma-ray spectrometer being built at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to be first sited at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University. A key design requirement for the spectrometer is to perform gamma-ray tracking in near real time. To meet this requirement we have used an inline, streaming approach to signal processing in the GRETA data acquisition system, using a GPU-equipped computing cluster. The data stream will reach 480 thousand events per second at an aggregate data rate of 4 gigabytes per second at full design capacity. We have been able to simplify the architecture of the streaming system greatly by interfacing the FPGA-based detector electronics with the computing cluster using standard network technology. A set of highperformance software components to implement queuing, flow control, event processing and event building have been developed, all in a streaming environment which matches detector performance. Prototypes of all high-performance components have been completed and meet design specifications.

Cromaz, Mario↗

CHICOX, a heavy-ion detection system for GRETA

The CHICOX detection system is an array of position sensitive parallel plate avalanche counters used for heavy ion detection in in-beam particle-gamma coincidence experiments. CHICOX, an upgrade of the CHICO2 array, is geometrically compatible with the GRETINA and GRETA gamma-ray arrays and provides an angular resolution sufficient to utilize the excellent position resolution of GRETINA/GRETA. CHICOX was successfully commissioned and fielded as an auxiliary detector to GRETINA in a campaign of stable-beam Coulomb excitation experiments at the ATLAS facility of Argonne National Laboratory. We report here on the design and in-beam performance of the CHICOX array.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

The LLNL Program in Nuclear Structure and Nuclear Astrophysics (NSNA) (FY19 Annual Report)

Our major efforts in FY18-19 were devoted to carrying out the second GRETINA/CHICO2 campaign at ANL and the JANUS campaign at MSU/NSCL. Among a total of 13 fielded experiments, three were for Ph.D. thesis projects; two students at MSU and one at UNC at Chapel Hill. Two experiments in the JANUS campaign were led by LLNL; namely, the study of nuclear structure in 72 Se and 76 Se using the sub-barrier Coulomb excitation method. The data analysis was completed for both selenium isotopes and the results were published. The 72 Se results have been submitted to DOE/SC/NP as a science highlight and the article won a prestigious LLNL S&T Excellence in Publication Award in FY19. For experiments fielded in FY17 at TRIUMF/ISAC2 using TIGRESS/Bambino, the data analysis was completed recently and the 21 Mg results were published in FY19. For the results on the mirror nuclei 23 Mg and 23 Na, the manuscript was written and is in circulation among the coauthors. We intend to submit it for publication later this calendar year. These efforts address the isospin symmetry in the sd shell nuclei in terms of the electromagnetic properties measured with the sub-barrier Coulomb excitation method. The proposal to upgrade CHICO2 to CHICOX by resizing the detector chamber to be compatible to GRETA was approved in FY17 with a budget spread over three fiscal years starting FY18. The preliminary design was completed but cannot be finalized until the design for the GRETA holding frame is completed by the LBNL GRETA team in FY19. The fabrication will proceed once the physical compatibility of CHICOX to GRETA holding frame is confirmed. The narrative below focuses on the research efforts for which LLNL led or played a key role. This report includes two sections: 1) Evolution of shell structure and collectivity in neutron-rich nuclei, and 2) Investigating nucleosynthesis and the Standard Model with β decay.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Characterization of a gamma-ray tracking array: A comparison of GRETINA and Gammasphere using a 60 Co source

In this paper, we provide a formalism for the characterization of the tracking arrays with emphasis on the proper corrections required to extract their photopeak efficiencies and peak-to-total ratios. The methods are first applied to Gammasphere, a well characterized 4pi array based on the principle of Compton suppression, and subsequently to GRETINA. The tracking efficiencies are then discussed and some guidelines as to what clustering angle to use in the tracking algorithm are presented. It was possible, using GEANT4 simulations, to scale the measured efficiencies up to the expected values for the full 4pi implementation of GRETA.

efficiency measurements↗

Graphical Environment Tools for Application to Gamma-Ray Energy Tracking Arrays (Final Report)

Highly segmented, position-sensitive germanium detector systems are being developed for nuclear physics research where traditional electronic signal processing with mixed analog and digital function blocks would be enormously complex and costly. Future systems will be constructed using pipelined processing of high-speed digitized signals as is done in the telecommunications industry. Techniques which provide rapid algorithm and system development for future systems are desirable. This project has used digital signal processing concepts and existing graphical system design tools to develop a set of re-usable modular functions and libraries targeted for the nuclear physics community. Researchers working with complex nuclear detector arrays such as the Gamma-Ray Energy Tracking Array (GRETA) have been able to construct advanced data processing algorithms for implementation in field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) through application of these library functions using intuitive graphical interfaces.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Assembling GRETINA

GRETINA is the most sensitive gamma-ray detector ever built for studies of the nucleus, including how the natural elements were made in stars and supernovae, and the properties of artificial superheavy elements. GRETINA, now being assembled at Berkeley Lab's 88-Inch Cyclotron, is the first stage of GRETA, the even more powerful Gamma-Ray Energy Tracking Array.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

The Performance of the Gamma-Ray Energy Tracking In-Beam Nuclear Array GRETINA

The Gamma-Ray Energy Tracking In-beam Nuclear Array (GRETINA) is a new generation high-resolution -ray spectrometer consisting of electrically segmented high-purity germanium crystals. GRETINA is capable of reconstructing the energy and position of each -ray interaction point inside the crystal with high resolution. This enables -ray energy tracking which in turn provides an array with large photopeak efficiency, high resolution and good peak-to-total ratio. GRETINA is used for nuclear structure studies with demanding -ray detection requirements and it is suitable for experiments with radioactive-ion beams with high recoil velocities. The GRETINA array has a 1 solid angle coverage and constitutes the first stage towards the full 4 array GRETA. We present in this paper the main parts and the performance of the GRETINA system.

Paschalis, S.↗

The polarization sensitivity of GRETINA

Compton polarimeters have played an important role in the study of nuclear structure physics, but have often been limited in their applications because of relatively low -ray detection efficiency. With the advent of -ray tracking detector arrays, which feature nearly solid angle coverage and the ability to identify the location of Compton-scattering events to within a few millimeters, this limitation can be overcome. Here we present a characterization of the performance of the Gamma Ray Energy Tracking In-beam Nuclear Array (GRETINA) as a Compton polarimeter using the 24 Mg(p,p') reaction at 2.45 MeV proton energy. We also discuss a new capability added to the simulation package UCGretina to simulate the emission of polarized photons, and compare it to the measured data. Lastly, we use these simulations to predict the performance of the Gamma Ray Energy Tracking Array (GRETA).

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Absolute efficiency response of the γ-ray spectrometer GRETINA for high-energy γ rays up to 6 MeV

GRETINA (Gamma-Ray Energy Tracking In-beam Nuclear Array), a state-of-the-art γ-ray tracking spectrometer, has been instrumental in advancing nuclear structure studies, particularly in experiments using fast beams of rare isotopes where the γ rays emitted in flight are subject to large Doppler shifts. This work presents an experimental determination of the γ-ray detection efficiency of GRETINA at energies up to 6 MeV. The high-energy γ rays originated from states that were populated in nucleon-removal reactions from a projectile beam at an intermediate beam energy of about 85 MeV/nucleon. Utilizing γ-γ coincidences, efficiency values were extracted in-beam and translated into a source efficiency at rest employing GEANT4 Monte Carlo simulations. A systematic discrepancy in the efficiency of the forward-positioned detectors was identified which is attributed to specific dead-time effects caused by high-energy light-particle events prevalent at forward angles, generating signals in the Ge crystals that saturate the preamplifier’s first stage. Furthermore, this study provides refined efficiency benchmarks for in-beam experiments, improving the accuracy of quantitative γ-ray spectroscopy analyses with GRETINA and GRETA (Gamma Ray Energy Tracking Array) in the future.

GRETINA↗

A new gamma-ray detector, 3-dimension, fast scanning table for pulse-shape analysis

The state-of-the art gamma-ray spectrometers such as AGATA and GRETA are using position sensitive multi-segmented HPGe crystals. Pulse-shape analysis (PSA) allows to retrieve the localisation of the gamma interactions and to perform gamma-ray tracking within germanium. The precision of the localisation depends on the quality of the pulse-shape database used for comparison. The IPHC laboratory developed a new fast scanning table allowing to measure experimental pulse shapes in the whole volume of any crystal. The results of the scan of an AGATA 36-fold segmented tapered coaxial detector are shown here, 48580 experimental pulse shapes are extracted within 2 weeks of scanning. These data will contribute to AGATA PSA performances, but have also applications for gamma cameras or Compton-suppressed detectors. (authors)

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Nuclear Structure Research at Richmond

The goals for the final year were; (1) to continue ongoing efforts to develop and enhance GRETINA and work towards GRETA; (2) to investigate the structure of non-yrast states in shape transitional Sm and Gd nuclei; (3) to investigate the structure of selected light Cd nuclei; (4) to exploit the surrogate reaction technique to extract (n,f) cross sections for actinide nuclei, particularly the first measurement of the 236 Pu and 237 Pu(n,f) cross sections.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Nuclei at extreme conditions. A relativistic study

The major goals of the current project were further development of covariant density functional theory (CDFT), better understanding of its features, its application to different nuclear structure and nuclear astrophysics phenomena and training of graduate and undergraduate students. The investigations have proceeded in a number of directions which are discussed in detail in the part “Accomplishments” of this report. We have studied the role of isovector and isoscalar proton-neutron pairings in rotating nuclei; based on available experimental data it was concluded that there are no evidences for the existence of isoscalar proton-neutron pairing. Generalized theoretical approach has been developed for pycnonuclear reaction rates in the crust of neutron stars and interior of white dwarfs. Using this approach, extensive database for considerable number of pycnonuclear reactions involving stable and neutron-rich light nuclei has been created; it can be used in future for the study of various nuclear burning phenomena in different environments. Time-odd mean fields and their manifestations in terminating states, non-rotating and rotating nuclei have been studied in the framework of covariant density functional theory. Contrary to non-relativistic density functional theories these fields, which are important for a proper description of nuclear systems with broken time-reversal symmetry, are uniquely defined in the CDFT framework. Hyperdeformed nuclear shapes (with semi-axis ratio 2.5:1 and larger) have been studied in the Z = 40-58 part of nuclear chart. We strongly believe that such shapes could be studied experimentally in the future with full scale GRETA detector.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Nuclear Structure Research at Richmond (Final Report)

The activities of the Nuclear Structure Group at the University of Richmond under this award are described. Progress continued on our investigations of shape-transitional rare-earth Sm nuclei with neutron numbers close to N ~ 90 and our results were published in a comprehensive PRC article. Graduate student Peter Humby successfully defended and published his thesis. We began to investigate the properties of the high energy continuum, between 4 and 8 MeV. Progress continued on predicting gamma-ray branching ratios using the PTCRUISER code, developed by postdoc Nathan Cooper. In collaboration with Prof. Anna Simon we carried out our first experiment at Notre Dame to investigate the gamma-ray strength function in 90 Zr. Our involvement in GRETINA and work towards GRETA continued via the P.I.’s service on the Advisory Committee.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Assembly and Initial Testing of the Gamma-Ray Emission Tomography Assessment Prototype for Irradiated Fuel

The following report documents the final development, assembly, and initial testing of the gamma-ray emission tomography assessment system (GRETA-1) for post-irradiation examination of irradiated fuel. It includes descriptions of the system components, including the high-purity germanium gamma-ray detector, the surrounding shield and collimator, the sample scanning hardware, and the control and collection software package. A series of MCNP6 simulations were performed that modeled a fuel rod scan to test image reconstruction algorithms with a complex and understood source distribution. A bench-top scan of isotopic check sources was also performed and analyzed using standard image reconstruction algorithms. The system is currently awaiting deployment at Idaho National Laboratory’s Hot Fuel Examination Facility.

46 - INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AN↗

Seasat microwave wind and rain observations in severe tropical and midlatitude marine storms

Initial results of studies concerning Seasat measurements in and around tropical and severe midlatitude cyclones over the open ocean are presented, together with an assessment of their accuracy and usefulness. Complementary measurements of surface wind speed and direction, rainfall rate, and the sea surface temperature obtained with the Seasat-A Satellite Scatterometer (SASS), the Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer (SMMR), and the Seasat SAR are analyzed. The Seasat data for the Hurrricanes Fico, Ella, and Greta and the QE II storm are compared with data obtained from aircraft, buoys, and ships. It is shown that the SASS-derived wind speeds are accurate to within 10 percent, and the directions are accurate to within 20 percent. In general, the SASS estimates tend to measure light winds too high and intense winds too low. The errors of the SMMR-derived measurements of the winds in hurricanes tend to be higher than those of the SASS-derived measurements.

Black, P. G.↗