The Application of Superconducting Tunnel Junction Detectors to Astronomy

Detectors based on the superconducting-insulating-superconducting (SIS) junction long ago surpassed Schottky-diode semiconductor detectors as the most sensitive heterodyne mixers in the millimeter and submillimeter (far-infrared) wavelength range. Other novel superconducting device configurations have been applied as direct detectors. Though still in the early stages of development, and yet to find widespread application, they have demonstrated advantages over traditional semiconductor detectors in specialized situations. Exciting progress has been made in recent years in developing the superconducting tunnel junctions (STJ) as a photon detector for optical and near-optical wavelengths, where silicon CCD's are currently dominant. I examine some of the areas in which the properties of STJ detectors may best match the instrument capabilities that astronomical observations require, and discuss the implications of the intrinsic spectral resolution of the STJ. This capability will enable a significant increase in observing efficiency, once the technology matures, that should justify increased complexity of cryogenic systems, particularly for instruments to be used on the next generation of large ground-based telescopes.     

Application of phototransferred thermoluminescence (PTTL) for dose re-assessment in routine dosimetry using MTS-N (LiF:Mg,Ti) thermoluminescent detectors

Erasure of the thermoluminescence (TL) signal on detector readout is considered to be a disadvantage of TL dosimetry, as post-readout dose reassessment is then impossible in principle. A method of dose reassessment based on phototransferred thermoluminescence (PTTL) has been developed at the Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences (IFJ PAN) and applied to MTS-N (LiF:Mg,Ti) detectors. We demonstrate the possibility of applying PTTL for dose reassessment in MTS-N TL detectors routinely applied in the dosimetric service at IFJ PAN. Readings of TL detectors exposed to relatively high doses by the customers of our dosimetry service can now be reassessed using our automatic readers. A major obstacle in applying the PTTL method at lower exposures is the presence of residual dose accumulated in LiF:Mg,Ti detectors after many field exposure and readout cycles. Since most of the TL detectors in our service have been already used for a long time (e.g. for over 10 years in the case of some detector batches), we find that our PTTL method of dose reassessment is possible only in detectors which had received doses exceeding 5 mSv.     

Performance of photon drag and photon drag-optical rectification detectors in the 2 to 33 μm range

Previous studies of the spectral response of p-Ge photon drag and n-Gap photon drag-optical rectification detectors have been extended. Measurements have also been made of the spectral response of p-Si photon drag, p-GaP photon drag-optical rectification and p-GaAs photon drag-optical rectification detectors. The wavelength range of main interest is between 2 and 11 μm, (HF, HCl, HBr, H₂O vapour and CO₂ lasers), but some measurements have also been made at 28 and 33 μm, (H₂O vapour laser).     

The time recovery of the spectroscopic properties of heavily irradiated CdZnTe and CdTe detectors

The time recovery of the spectroscopic capabilities of CdZnTe and CdTe detectors, irradiated with increasing doses of high- and low-energy neutrons, as well as electrons, has been investigated by studying their spectroscopic behavior at different photon energies using leakage current measurements and PICTS (photo-induced current transient spectroscopy) analysis. The detectors were stored at room temperature for up to one year to study the time evolution of their spectroscopic performance and to correlate it with the presence of defective states in the material. We have observed a clear improvement in the material’s detection properties with time, though only in those detectors which have not been severely degraded by the irradiation. The recovery can be associated with a decrease in the concentration of some defective states, thus allowing the assessment of the crucial role these play in determining the charge collection processes in the material and its spectroscopic capabilities. Received: 1 August 2001 / Accepted: 3 August 2001 / Published online: 20 December 2001     

Thermoluminescence α-Al2O3:C detectors (TLD-500K): Some results of a long-term testing

Anion-defective α-Al₂O₃:C single crystals, commercially grown in Russia as TLD-500K detectors, have been increasingly used for environmental radiation measurements. These detectors have attracted great interest because of their high sensitivity and simple annealing procedure. The application of TLD for routine measurements in environmental monitoring, involving storage periods which may extend up to one year, imposes strict requirements on the fading, the change in sensitivity with long periods of time and other characteristics of the dosimeters. Many of these properties of TLD-500K have not yet been completely investigated and need to be further explored. This paper presents some results of long-term testing of the detectors. The variation in sensitivity within the detector group as well as changes of the sensitivity with time and number of read-outs were estimated. All tests were made by using low doses of irradiation, adequate for environmental dosimetry.     

HIRFL-CSR外靶终端上硅微条探测器阵列的搭建

硅微条探测器因具有很强的位置分辨率与能量分辨率而在世界各大核物理实验室得到广泛应用。中国科学院近代物理研究所研制了性能优越、位置精度达到0.5 mm×0.5 mm的双面硅微条探测器,用于HIRFL-CSR的外靶实验终端谱仪(ETF)上,用作径迹测量以及△E-E望远镜系统△E的探测。硅微条探测器体积小、集成度高,利用柔性印刷电路板(FPCB)引出信号,配合ASIC芯片的前端电路,能够方便地给出每一条的能量信息和位置信息。在此详细阐述了在HIRFL-CSR的ETF上双面硅微条探测器阵列的搭建,并测量了放射源在真空中探测单元的能量分辨本领。结果表明,该硅条探测器的每个探测单元对5~9 MeV能量的α粒子的能量分辨率在1%左右。     

Nuclear detectors based on n-silicon/copper–phthalocyanine heterojunctions

Nuclear detectors based on n-silicon/copper–phthalocyanine (CuPc) heterojunctions have been fabricated using thermally evaporated CuPc thin films. Two different materials (Au and Al) have been employed to make contact to CuPc. Current–voltage (I–V) characteristics and energy spectra obtained on exposure of the detectors to α-particles have been compared with conventional Au/n-Si surface barrier detector. The results show that the detectors with Au as well as Al contact show characteristics comparable to Au/n-Si detectors. The results have been understood in terms of the band diagram of the junctions formed.     

二维材料异质结高灵敏度红外探测器

要想实现弱光探测,需要探测器具有高灵敏度。石墨烯、过渡金属硫化物、黑磷等二维材料因具有宽光谱吸收、带隙可调、高载流子迁移率等良好的光学与电学性能,广泛应用于红外探测器的制作,然而这些材料存在弱光吸收、载流子迁移率低、空气稳定性差等问题,制约了其在高灵敏度红外探测领域的应用。同单一的二维材料相比,二维材料异质结不仅具有各单一材料的特点,而且由于两种材料的结合展现出新颖的物理特性,近年来在高灵敏度红外探测领域得到了广泛研究。本文基于影响灵敏度的主要因素,分析总结了提高红外探测器灵敏度的主要策略,回顾了近几年基于二维材料异质结高灵敏度红外探测器的发展,总结了其主要性能指标,最后指出了进一步提升红外探测灵敏度所面临的挑战,从如何平衡探测器响应度与响应速度、大面积二维异质结制备、异质结界面优化利用等方面展望了如何获得综合性能良好的高灵敏度红外探测器以及实现探测器商业应用,以期对高灵敏度红外探测领域的发展提供一定的指导意见。     

双束质子辐照砷化镓光电导探测器的I-V特性

 对用能量为7.5MeV和20MeV,注量为10¹¹～10¹³cm^-2的质子辐照后的砷化镓材料制作的光电导探测器的光电流和暗电流进行了测试，并由此推得电导率的变化。结果表明，经过能量为7.5MeV的质子改性后的砷化镓探测器相对于未改性的附加光电导率Δσ减少，而且随着辐照注量的增加而越小，而对于先用能量为20MeV质子辐照后再用能量为7.5MeV的质子辐照的砷化镓材料制作的探测器，其附加光电导率Δσ的减少则更为明显。对上述现象进行了分析，并根据其相应关系预测了该种探测器的响应时间、灵敏度、拖尾现象及受X射线激发的输出脉冲的后延的变化情况。     

ZnS(Ag)/<Superscript>6</Superscript>LiF and LiI(Eu) scintillators and silicon photomultipliers for thermal neutron detectors with high space and time resolution

ZnS(Ag)/⁶LiF and LiI(Eu) scintillators for thermal neutron detectors have been investigated and neutron detectors based on these scintillators and photomultipliers have been tested. The efficiencies of these detectors are 5 and 66%, respectively. The possibility of developing position-sensitive detectors of thermal neutrons with high space and time resolution is discussed.     

Track measurements of fast particle streams in pulsed discharge explosive plasma

This paper reports results of track registration for fast particles from the hot spot sparked inside a metal target. CR-39 track detectors placed in the ion pinhole camera, a magnetic analyzer, and Thomson-type mass-spectrometer in order were used to obtain images of the hot spot and to determine spectra of the fast particles. Using track detectors in the pinhole camera, we have obtained specific split images. The “average etch rate ratio versus track length” locus for track sample groups is depicted by means of squared diameters asymptotic method. Our analysis shows the majority of tracks belong to hydrogen nuclei. The track loci for the detectors from the pinhole or analyzers turn out to be split into two parallel streaks that have been interpreted as a proton–deuteron doublet. Data obtained using the Thomson analyzer clearly demonstrate the equal numbers of protons and deuterons for some parallel parabola sections.     

Variations in the counting rates of Cl-Ar and Ga-Ge solar neutrino detectors

Variations in the solar-neutrino counting rates have been searched for through joint analysis of the independent data from Cl-Ar (Davis’ experiment) and Ga-Ge (SAGE experiment) detectors. The measurement data from these two detectors cover the period from 1970 to 2005. Quasi-two-year variations in the counting rates of the Cl-Ar and Ga-Ge detectors and a correlation between their sessions with a high counting rate and intense cosmic-ray flares on the Sun have been found.     

高灵敏GaAs探测器及应用

在ICF实验研究中,我们应用新研制的经快中子辐照处理过的GaAs晶体材料做成的光导电探测器首次实验观察到各种结构的内爆靶发射的硬X光时间波形信号以及硬X光的空间角分布。这种探测器对X光有很高的灵敏度(约10~(-18)C/keV),有快的响应(约100ps),具有抗干扰能力强,灵敏度高体积小,用于ICF实验的X光诊断有独特优点。     

Silicon drift detectors for exotic atoms

Silicon drift detectors (SDDs), new large-area X-ray detectors with good resolution both in energy and timing, have been used for kaonic atom X-ray measurements. Results from using SDD X-ray detectors in the study of kaonic atoms are reported.     

Fast detectors for Mössbauer spectroscopy

The methods to increase the productivity (statistical quality) of Mössbauer measurements have been considered. Some fast detectors for gamma- and secondary radiation have been described. These detectors allow in many cases to essentially reduce the time for the Mössbauer spectra accumulation with a given productivity.     

Advantages and disadvantages of luminescence dosimetry

Owing to their excellent dosimetric properties, luminescence detectors of ionizing radiation are now extensively applied in individual dosimetry services. The most frequently used personal dosemeters are based on Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL), radiophotoluminescence (RPL) or thermoluminescence (TL). Luminescence detectors have also found several applications in clinical dosimetry, especially around new radiation modalities in radiotherapy, such as Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) or ion beam radiotherapy. Requirements of luminescence detectors applied in individual and clinical dosimetry and some recent developments in luminescence of detectors and techniques leading to significant improvements of the functionality and accuracy of dosimetry systems are reviewed and discussed.     

Inter-comparison among fast neutron dosimetric services using PADC material of different composition

A trial inter-comparison has been performed among four fast neutron dosimetric services: PSI(CH), ENEA (I), DRPS (UK), LANL (US). The PADC used for the tests has been produced by Intercast Europe S.p.A. Three sets of detectors have been employed: two of PADC standard material from two different batches, and one of PADC with the addition of 0.1% dioctylphthalate. Each set consisted of 50 detectors.

For each set of detectors, 20 have been irradiated free-in-air at 1 mSv of H^*(10) with an ²⁴¹Am–Be source at ENEA-IRP, whilst the other detectors have been used as background samples. For each batch the value of the average background signal, B, the average neutron sensitivity, S, and minimum detectable dose equivalent, MDDE, have been determined. Two identical tests have been completed and separated with a time of 4 months in order to evaluate the ageing effect on the material stored in different conditions. Each dosimetric service processed the detectors according to local routine procedures. Three laboratories used an Autoscan60 reader, whilst one laboratory has an in-house reading system. Therefore, the results of the tests allowed a comparison of either the performance PADC materials, of different batches and of different compositions, or to evaluate how different etching, reading and storage conditions affect the results.     

HOT infrared photodetectors

At present, uncooled thermal detector focal plane arrays are successfully used in staring thermal imagers. However, the performance of thermal detectors is modest, they suffer from slow response and they are not very useful in applications requiring multispectral detection. Infrared (IR) photon detectors are typically operated at cryogenic temperatures to decrease the noise of the detector arising from various mechanisms associated with the narrow band gap. There are considerable efforts to decrease system cost, size, weight, and power consumption to increase the operating temperature in so-called high-operating-temperature (HOT) detectors. Initial efforts were concentrated on photoconductors and photoelectromagnetic detectors. Next, several ways to achieve HOT detector operation have been elaborated including non-equilibrium detector design with Auger suppression and optical immersion. Recently, a new strategies used to achieve HOT detectors include barrier structures such as nBn, material improvement to lower generation-recombination leakage mechanisms, alternate materials such as superlattices and cascade infrared devices. Another method to reduce detector’s dark current is reducing volume of detector material via a concept of photon trapping detector. In this paper, a number of concepts to improve performance of photon detectors operating at near room temperature are presented. Mostly three types of detector materials are considered — HgCdTe and InAsSb ternary alloys, and type-II InAs/GaSb superlattice. Recently, advanced heterojunction photovoltaic detectors have been developed. Novel HOT detector designs, so called interband cascade infrared detectors, have emerged as competitors of HgCdTe photodetectors.     

Cosmic-ray neutron spectrometry by solid state detectors

Extensive data have been gathered since the early 1990s on the response of different detectors based on the registration of neutron-induced fission in bismuth, gold, tantalum by the spark replica counter and the thin film breakdown counter. These detectors make it possible to exploit the excellent characteristics of the fission reactions in bismuth, gold and tantalum for the measurements of high-energy neutrons.

Most of the investigations have been carried out at the quasi-monoenergetic neutron beam facility at The Svedberg Laboratory-TSL of the Uppsala University in cooperation with the Khlopin Radium Institute (KRI).

The responses of different fission detectors in the intermediate range of neutron energy (35–180 MeV) have been evaluated: a region where the predictive power of available nuclear reaction models and codes is not reliable yet. For neutron energy greater than 200 MeV, the fission-detector responses have been derived from the data of the proton fission cross-sections.

Finally, by using the ratio of the responses of these detectors, a simple and accurate way to evaluate the spectrum hardness can be obtained, thus providing a tool to obtain spectral information needed for neutron dosimetry without the need to know the entire spectrum.

The experimentally measured spectra obtained to-date have different shapes and they are also different from those calculated.

In this paper, a new approach will be reported to analyse the existing spectra by using response ratios of different detectors. Preliminary data have been already obtained for the high-energy neutron spectrum from the CERN concrete facility.     

超导转变边沿单光子探测器原理与研究进展

量子信息技术近十多年来的快速发展对单光子探测器的性能提出了更高的要求,高性能单光子探测器也因此受到了更多的关注.与传统的单光子探测器相比,超导转变边沿(TES)单光子探测器在探测效率、能量分辨、光子数分辨和暗计数等方面具有突出优势.目前,超导TES单光子探测器已经被成功地应用在量子光学实验和量子密钥分配系统中,未来在量子信息技术等研究领域具有更广泛的应用.本文从超导TES单光子探测器的工作原理、制备流程、测试系统、主要性能指标以及研究现状和进展等方面对该探测器技术进行简要综述.