CEE-TPC中GEM读出探测器传输性能实验研究

气体电子倍增器(GEM)因其具有较好的位置分辨以及各项同性的二维结构等优点，近年来受到了广泛的关注，在HIRFL-CSR上正在建设的低温高密核物质测量谱仪(CEE)也计划使用GEM作为TPC的读出探测器。不同电场条件下GEM探测器的传输特性对探测器的有效增益及能量分辨有较大影响。文中研究了单层GEM探测器中漂移区电场及感应区电场对探测器传输特性的影响；随后研究了双层GEM探测器的电压分配及传输区电场对探测器电荷传输性能的影响。结果表明，在单层及多层GEM探测器中，漂移区电场、传输区电场及感应区电场主要通过改变电子透过率和GEM雪崩电场强度及分布影响探测器的电荷传输性能，进而影响探测器的有效增益及能量分辨。以上实验结果表明GEM探测器是CEE-TPC读出探测器的理想选择，同时测试结果也为TPC中多层级联GEM工作点的选择提供了参考依据。     

一种基于~4He气闪烁体的裂变中子探测器

研制了一种新中子探测器,它以²³⁵UO₂裂变靶作为转换靶,⁴He气体作为闪烁体.该探测器充分结合了²³⁵U和⁴He两种核素的特点,从而具有中子能量响应平坦、中子灵敏度较高、n/γ分辨本领高等优点,能很好地在混合脉冲裂变辐射场中测量中子.本文对探测器的原理和结构设计进行了介绍,计算了不同能量中子、γ射线在探测器中的能量沉积,并从理论和实验上对探测器的中子灵敏度、γ射线灵敏度、n/γ分辨本领和时间响应进行了研究.结果表明探测器的中子灵敏度约10^-15C·cm²,γ灵敏度约10^-17C·cm²,时间响应约33.1 ns.     

4He闪烁裂变中子探测器的中子灵敏度

对4He闪烁裂变中子探测器的中子灵敏度进行了理论和实验研究。采用蒙特卡罗方法模拟了不同能量中子和不同厚度裂变靶产生的裂变碎片在4He中的能量沉积,计算结果表明:中子在4He气中的能量沉积曲线和裂变碎片的能量沉积曲线能够互补,从而使探测器对中子的能量响应变得更平坦;探测器的中子灵敏度为10-15 Ccm2量级。并对探测器的中子灵敏度进行了实验标定,实验结果与理论计算结果较为一致。     

基于反角白光中子源次级质子的探测器标定

目前国内外的质子标定终端较少,且普遍为单能质子束流.基于中国散裂中子源的反角白光中子源的eV—200 MeV中子能量区间的白光中子束流,以及中子与氢的~1H(n, el)反应,可以获得宽能谱的能量连续次级质子.利用1 GSps采样率、12 bit的波形数字化获取系统采集探测器输出波形信号,通过对波形信号的分析,得到中子及反冲质子的飞行时间,进而得到反冲质子的动能.利用该方法得到的质子,为探测器质子标定等研究提供了新的研究平台.在该研究平台已经开展了带电粒子望远镜的标定实验.研究了CsI (Tl)探测器不同的信号读出方式对望远镜的DE-E二维谱、幅度-质子动能二维谱等粒子鉴别方法得到的粒子鉴别的效果,得到了较优的探测器信号读出方案.该研究为带电粒子望远镜的建设提供了实验依据,也说明了基于反角白光中子源的宽能谱质子标定的可行性.     

基于微通道板的中子探测器γ射线灵敏度

研制了一种基于微通道板的超快脉冲中子探测器,对其γ射线灵敏度进行了理论和实验研究。建立了探测器的γ射线灵敏度理论计算模型,利用蒙特卡罗方法模拟计算了不同能量γ射线在不同厚度聚乙烯靶中产生的出射电子能谱和出射角度分布,并结合经验公式计算了单个电子在微通道板(MCP)孔道中产生的二次电子产额,最后得到了探测器的γ射线灵敏度,结果表明当聚乙烯靶厚度大于某一值时,γ射线灵敏度基本相同。利用西北核技术研究所的标准γ射线放射源对探测器的γ射线灵敏度进行了实验标定,实验结果与理论计算结果一致。     

基于读出条读出的二维位置灵敏气体电子倍增器的研制

为研发能够满足北京同步辐射(BSRF)实验要求的二维探测器,研制了基于读出条读出的二维位置灵敏X射线气体电子倍增器(GEM).实验过程中通过改进读出条的周期,并基于中科院高能所实验物理中心电子学组研制的多路电荷放大器系统与VME存储-ADC系统,对软X射线源的位置分辨率进行了精密测量且得到了优异的二维位置分辨:X方向约为84μm,Y方向约为75μm.研究了三级GEM压差之和对位置分辨的影响,并测试了探测器的位置准确度与线性.对基于阳极读出的GEM用于模拟读出测试系统得到了一定的理论认识,侧重研究了GEM探测器基于模拟读出的系统特性,给出了相关的分析与讨论.     

SiC基中子探测器对热中子的响应

以SiC二极管和中子转换材料6LiF为基础,研制了SiC基中子探测器,并用241Am源与临界装置分别研究了SiC基中子探测器的粒子响应、热中子响应。结果表明:SiC基中子探测器能够满足241Am源粒子的计数测量,但由于SiC二极管灵敏区薄,故不能用于5.48 MeV的粒子能谱测量;SiC基中子探测器对热中子响应良好,不同功率下,脉冲幅度谱中可清晰看到由6Li(n,)3H的反应产物粒子、3H粒子形成的双峰;脉冲幅度甄别法可将射线及电子学噪声甄别掉;在直接测量与符合测量中,SiC基中子探测器的计数率均与临界装置功率成线性关系,且直接测量的线性度比符合测量的线性度好,最好可达0.999 97。研究表明:降低肖特基接触金属的厚度、增加其外延层厚度、提高其外延层品质,可将SiC二极管用于带电粒子能谱测量。     

镀膜型nMCP探测效率和位置分辨优化的蒙特卡罗模拟研究

中子敏感微通道板(Neutron sensitive microchannel plate,nMCP)因其具有高探测效率和位置分辨,配合先进的读出电子学可作为能量分辨中子成像探测器的优先选择。相比于基体掺杂型的nMCP,基于原子层沉积技术(Atomic Layer Deposition,ALD)的nMCP具有原材料消耗少、通道内壁具有高的二次电子发射系数等优势。首先,通过实验对掺杂natGd型nMCP的典型中子和伽马信号进行研究。然后,采用Geant4模拟和理论计算对镀膜10B₂O₃型nMCP的孔径、壁厚、倾角和镀膜厚度进行优化。计算结果表明,当nMCP的几何参数选择为镀膜厚度1 μm、孔径10 μm、壁厚1 μm以及倾角3°时,nMCP性能达到约56%的热中子探测效率和约22 μm的位置分辨。计算结果对CSNS能量选择中子成像探测器nMCP的几何参数设计具有重要意义。     

X射线偏振探测器中的极化光电过程模拟

采用蒙特卡罗程序Geant4模拟2～10 keV线偏振X射线光子在几种常用工作气体中的极化光电过程,明确了光电子出射位置、方位角分布与入射光子偏振方向、能量之间的响应关系。光电子的出射方向在入射光子偏振方向上的分布概率最高,且出射光电子的方位角分布可近似为余弦平方函数。光子能量增大时,各角度光电子计数不同程度地减少,但都呈现出在方位角为0或π（-π）时有极大值的统计规律。此外,揭示并量化了气体厚度、气体组成、气体体积分数之比和光子能量对探测效率的影响规律。气体厚度越大、平均原子序数越大,则探测效率越高。光子能量增大会导致探测效率降低,而对于由Xe或Ar组成的工作气体,当光子能量大于某壳层电子结合能时,由于相应壳层电子开始被弹射出,探测效率会有一定程度的提高。这些结果可为X射线偏振探测器的结构设计提供理论依据和数据支持。     

基于微结构气体探测器对单能和连续谱快中子的模拟解谱

本工作探索了基于Triple GEM探测器对快中子能谱的测量,利用MCNPX和Geant4软件分别模拟了两种在Triple GEM阴极耦合由多层聚乙烯组成的堆栈式中子转化质子的转化模型,研究对象包含了5种单能中子源和Am-Be连续谱中子源.模拟得到了探测系统对160条单能中子的响应函数和上述源的反冲质子谱分布,使用GRAVEL和MLEM算法对模拟得到的6种快中子源的反冲质子谱进行了解谱研究,并把解谱结果与标准输入谱进行了对比,结果显示与标准输入谱均符合较好,解谱的相对不确定度为10%—15%;并研究了气体探测器能量分辨率对解谱精度影响的关系,结果表明微结构气体探测器的能量分辨率好于30%时,快中子的解谱精度就可以满足实际应用需求.本研究在以前的实验基础上提出了一种新的转化结构,并通过模拟结果得出微结构气体探测器可以应用于快中子探测,并能够利用得到的反冲质子谱结合合适的反演算法实现入射中子源的能谱重建.本文积累的建模和解谱算法为将来微结构气体探测器组成的快中子探测系统应用于未知快中子源探测,能谱重建,实现源项识别提供了新的办法.     

A stopping layer concept to improve the spatial resolution of gas-electron-multiplier neutron detector

In recent years, gas electron multiplier (GEM) neutron detectors have been developing towards high spatial resolution and high dynamic counting range. We propose a novel concept of an Al stopping layer to enable the detector to achieve sub-millimeter (sub-mm) spatial resolution. The neutron conversion layer is coated with the Al stopping layer to limit the emission angle of ions into the drift region. The short track projection of ions is obtained on the signal readout board, and the detector would get good spatial resolution. The spatial resolutions of the GEM neutron detector with the Al stopping layer are simulated and optimized based on Geant4GarfieldInterface. The spatial resolution of the detector is 0.76 mm and the thermal neutron detection efficiency is about 0.01% when the Al stopping layer is 3.0 μ m thick, the drift region is 2 mm thick, the strip pitch is 600 μ m, and the digital readout is employed. Thus, the GEM neutron detector with a simple detector structure and a fast readout mode is developed to obtain a high spatial resolution and high dynamic counting range. It could be used for the direct measurement of a high-flux neutron beam, such as Bragg transmission imaging, very small-angle scattering neutron detection and neutron beam diagnostic.     

Simulation study on the boron-coated GEM neutron beam monitor

A Monte Carlo method of the 3D GEM simulation is introduced.The physical process of the neutron detection is described with the Geant4 code and the Garfield code.The results of the optimized electric-fields,the emitted ions spectrum,the electrons transverse diffusion and the signal width are presented.Moreover,the preliminary result with a CF-252 neutron source is reported.These are useful in designing detector structures and to provide an optimized option for the development of the boron-coated GEM neutron beam monitor.     

基于复合结构的气体电子倍增器增益模拟和实验研究

气体电子倍增器(GEM)作为高性能的微结构气体探测器在高能物理相关领域内得到了广泛的研究和应用.其中增益是GEM探测器基本性能研究中的一个重要参数,该值的精确测量至关重要.增益的测量一般采用电流测量或者能谱测量方法,但均存在精度较低或者过程繁琐的问题,且无法精确测量低增益值.针对GEM探测器增益的精确测量,本文提出了一种由GEM探测器与微网结构气体探测器(MM)级联构成的复合结构探测器(GEM-MM).利用GEM-MM结构以相对方法实现GEM增益的精确测量.该方法既可以省去传统方法中复杂的电子学标定过程,同时不需要进行原初电离电子数的估算,保证了增益的精确测量,并且可以实现GEM低增益的测量.基于GEM-MM测量GEM增益的原理,本文首先对GEM-MM电荷输运过程进行了模拟研究,优化了合适的工作电压.比较了三种不同类型和配比工作气体下GEM增益模拟结果,并在Ar/iC_4H_(10)(95/5)气体中测量了单层GEM在3—24范围内的有效增益.不同Penning系数下GEM增益的模拟结果表明,Penning系数为0.32时GEM增益的模拟结果与实验测量结果符合得很好.由此可以确定一个大气压下的Ar/iC_4H_(10)(95/5)气体中,Penning系数为0.32±0.01.     

A hybrid structure gaseous detector for ion backflow suppression

A new concept for a hybrid structure gaseous detector module with ion backflow suppression for the time projection chamber in a future circular collider is presented.It is a hybrid structure cascaded Gas Electron Multiplier(GEM) with a Micromegas detector.Both Micromegas and GEM have the capability to naturally reduce most of the ions produced in the amplification region.The GEM also acts as the preamplifer device and increases gas gain together with the Micromegas.Feasibility tests of the hybrid detector are performed using an ~(55)Fe X-ray source.The energy resolution is better than 27% for 5.9 keV X-rays.It is demonstrated that a backflow ratio better than 0.2% can be reached in the hybrid readout structure at a gain of 5000.     

Study of a nTHGEM-based thermal neutron detector

With new generation neutron sources, traditional neutron detectors cannot satisfy the demands of the applications, especially under high flux. Furthermore, facing the global crisis in ~3He gas supply, research on new types of neutron detector as an alternative to ~3He is a research hotspot in the field of particle detection. GEM(Gaseous Electron Multiplier) neutron detectors have high counting rate, good spatial and time resolution, and could be one future direction of the development of neutron detectors. In this paper, the physical process of neutron detection is simulated with Geant 4 code, studying the relations between thermal conversion efficiency, boron thickness and number of boron layers. Due to the special characteristics of neutron detection, we have developed a novel type of special ceramic n THGEM(neutron THick GEM) for neutron detection. The performance of the n THGEM working in different Ar/CO_2 mixtures is presented, including measurements of the gain and the count rate plateau using a copper target X-ray source. A detector with a single n THGEM has been tested for 2-D imaging using a ~(252)Cf neutron source. The key parameters of the performance of the n THGEM detector have been obtained, providing necessary experimental data as a reference for further research on this detector.     

基于GEM读出的TPC工作气体的研究

针对TPC中对于电子漂移的要求, 结合Garfield软件, 研究了我们所研制的TPC原型所用的工作气体. 分析了不同气体对于电子漂移的寿命、漂移速度、横向和纵向扩散, 以及电离特性等参数的影响; 结合分析论证, 得到了以Ar, CH₄和CF₄为主要成分的气体作为工作气体时TPC的性能指标. 并且测试了该气体中的读出GEM探测器的能量分辨率、气体增益等性能参数, 获得了很好的结果.     

Discriminating cosmic muons and X-rays based on rise time using a GEM detector

Gas electron multiplier(GEM) detectors have been used in cosmic muon scattering tomography and neutron imaging over the last decade.In this work,a triple GEM device with an effective readout area of 10 cm x10 cm is developed,and a method of discriminating between cosmic muons and X-rays based on rise time is tested.The energy resolution of the GEM detector is tested by ~(55)Fe ray source to prove the GEM detector has a good performance.Analysis of the complete signal-cycles allows us to get the rise time and pulse heights.The experiment result indicates that cosmic muons and X-rays can be discriminated with an appropriate rise time threshold.     

位敏型探测器数字法读出研究(英文)

中国散裂中子源( CSNS ) 的建造对中子探测器提出了非常高的要求,如更大的有效面积、二维位置灵敏、高计数率、高探测效率和低的 灵敏度等。与传统的模拟读出方法相比,数字法读出具有更高的计数率, 更小的数据传输量,更简单的电子学设计以及更高的信噪比。对数字法读出进行了理论计算,利用GEM探测器的原始数据分析了数字法读出的位置分辨率与读出条宽度的关系。结果表明,数字法读出对于位置分辨要求较低( 小于4 mm) 的大面积位置灵敏探测器是一种较好的选择,如CSNS 小角谱仪探测器。Efficient thermal neutron detectors with large area, two-dimensional position sensitive, high counting rate high detection efficiency and low gamma sensitivity are required to satisfy the demands for the China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS). Compared with the traditional analog readout method, the digital readout method has the advantages of higher counting rate, smaller quantity of data transmission, simpler readout system and higher signal to noise ratio. The theoretical analysis of the digital readout method is reported in this paper. Used the raw data of GEM detector, the relationship between the position resolution and the width of the readout strip was studied. The results indicate that the digital readout method could be a good choice for the large area position sensitive detector where the requirement of position resolution is less than 4 mm, e.g. the detector of Small-Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) diffractometer of CSNS.     

Electron transmission ef f iciency of gating-GEM foil for TPC

In a TPC, ion feedback from the readout detector can cause a space-charge effect and distort the electrical field in the drift region. Gating is one of the effective methods to solve this problem, which can block ions at the expense of losing a certain amount of primary electrons. Compared with the traditional design with a wire structure, gating based on GEM foil is more attractive because of its simplicity. In this paper, the factors in uencing the electron transmission e ciency are studied with simulations and experiments. After optimizing all these parameters, an electron transmission e ciency over 80% is obtained.