Dosimetry Methods of Fast Neutron Using the Semiconductor Diodes

Semiconductor detectors based on a silicon pin diode are frequently used in the detection of different nuclear radiations. For the detection and dosimetry of fast neutrons, these silicon detectors are coupled with a fast neutron converter. Incident neutrons interact with the converter and produce charged particles that can deposit their energy in the detectors and produce a signal. In this study, three methods are introduced for fast neutron dosimetry by using the silicon detectors, which are： recoil proton spectroscopy, similarity of detector response function with conversion function, and a discriminator layer. Monte Carlo simulation is used to calculate the response of dosimetry systems based on these methods. In the different doses of an 241Am-Be neutron source, dosimetry responses are evaluated. The error values of measured data for dosimetry by these methods are in the range of 15-25%. We find fairly good agreement in the 241Am-Be neutron sources.     

An Implantation and Detection System for Spectroscopy of 22,24Si

A new decay detection system with high detection efficiency and low detection threshold has been developed for charged-particle decay studies, including -delayed proton, decay or direct proton emission from proton-rich nuclei. The detection system was tested by using the -delayed proton emitter 24Si and was commissioned in the decay study of 22Si produced by projectile fragmentation at the First Radioactive Ion Beam Line in Lanzhou. Under a continuous-beam mode, the isotopes of interest were implanted into two double-sided silicon strip detectors, where the subsequent decays were measured and correlated to the preceding implantations by using position and time information. The system allows to measure protons with energies down to about 200 keV without obvious background in the proton spectrum. Further application of the detection system can be extended to the measurements of -delayed proton decay and the direct proton emission of other exotic proton-rich nuclei.     

A large area plastic scintillation detector with 4-corner-readout

A 760 mm × 760 mm × 30 mm plastic scintillation detector viewed by photomultiplier tubes(PMTs)from four corners has been developed, and the detector has been tested with cosmic rays and γ rays. A positionindependent effective time Teff has been found, indicating this detector can be used as a TOF detector. The hit position can also be reconstructed by the time from the four corners. A TOF resolution of 236 ps and a position resolution of 48 mm have been achieved, and the detection efficiency has also been investigated.     

用于中子测量的俘获探测器研究

为了在弱中子场和有限小空间内测量绝对裂变率, 制作了俘获探测器, 研究了俘获探测器的性能。 介绍了用于中子测量的俘获探测器和铅屏蔽室, 以及该探测器系统在特定条件下测量裂变反应率的结果, 并与裂变室测量结果进行了比较。 探讨了铅屏蔽室大小对测量结果的影响。 To detect the absolute neutron flux in a weak neutron field and restricted space, the fission fragment trapping detector was fabricated and the properties of the detector were studied. In this paper, the detector and shielding chamber used in neutron detection were described and the experimental measurements of the fission rate in specific condition were performed with the detection system and the result has been compared with that obtained by fission chamber. The influence of the shielding chamber on the measured results was analyzed.     

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.     

Production and Identification of New Isotope ^265Bh（Z=107）

New Isotope ^265Bh was produced in bombardment of a ^243Am target with 168 MeV 26Mg ions. The experiment was carried out at the Sector Focus Cyclotron of Heavy Ion Research Facility in Lanzhou in 2003. The reaction products were transported and collected by using helium-jet technique and a set of rotating wheel system. Identification was made by observation of correlated a-particles between the new isotope ^265Bh and its ^261Db and ^257Lr daughter nuclei. A parent-daughter searching mode was used to facilitate detection of α-α correlations. A total of four pairs of PIPS detector (200mm^2 active area) were used to measure the kinetic energy of a particles. The a particle energy resolution was about 40 keV for the top detectors and 100 keV for the bottom detectors because of energy degradation in the polypropylene foil.     

PET探测器技术的新进展

PET设备中探测器的研发, 一直是很活跃且具有高创新性的领域。 提高现有基于闪烁晶体探测器的性能, 研究适用于多模式成像设备（PET/CT和PET/MRI）的新型探测器, 满足TOF和DOI技术的需求并促进其发展应用, 构成PET探测器的几个主要研究方向。 介绍了PET探测器在闪烁晶体、 光电探测器和半导体探测器等方面的最新进展, 指出未来最有潜力的探测器设计方案。 The research on PET detector is a very active and highly innovative field. The main research interests of PET detector include improving performances of scintillation crystal detectors, investigating new detectors being suitable for multimodality imaging (e.g., PET/CT and PET/MRI), meeting needs of TOF and DOI technologies in order to promote their development and application. In this paper, new developments in PET detector technology about scintillation crystal, photodetector and semiconductor detector are introduced and the most potential detector design scheme in the future is brought forward.     

Design and performance study of the LEPD silicon tracker onboard the CSES satellite

The low energy particle detector (LEPD) is one of the main payloads onboard the China seismic electromagnetic satellite (CSES). The detector is designed to ascertain space electrons (0.1-10 MeV) and protons (2-50 MeV). It has the capability of identifying the electrons and protons, to measure the energy spectrum and the incident angle of the particles. The LEPD is made up of a silicon tracker system, a CsI (Tl) mini-calorimeter, an anti-coincidence system made by plastic scintillator, as well as electronics and a data acquisition system (DAQ). The tracker is also a kind of E-E telescope; it consists of two layers of double-sided silicon strip detectors (DSSD). The signals emerging from the silicon tracker can be read out by two pieces of application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), which also can generate an event trigger for the LEPD. The functions of the DSSD system in the LEPD for charged particles were tested by 241Am @5.486 MeV α particles. The results show that the DSSD system works well, and has high performance to detect charged particles and measure the position of incident particles.     

An improved method of energy calibration for position-sensitive silicon detectors

Energy calibration of resistive charge division-based position-sensitive silicon detectors is achieved by parabolic fitting in the traditional method, where the systematic variations of vertex and curvature of the parabola with energy must be considered. In this paper we extend the traditional method in order to correct the fitting function, simplify the procedure of calibration and improve the experimental data quality. Instead of a parabolic function as used in the traditional method, a new function describing the relation of position and energy is introduced.The energy resolution of the 8.088 Me V α decay of213 Rn is determined to be about 87 ke V(FWHM), which is better than the result of the traditional method, 104 ke V(FWHM). The improved method can be applied to the energy calibration of resistive charge division-based position-sensitive silicon detectors with various performances.     

Performance of a double sided silicon strip detector as a transmission detector for heavy ions

The performance of a double sided silicon strip detector （DSSSD）, which is used for the position and energy detection of heavy ions, is reported. The analysis shows that although the incomplete charge collection （ICC） and charge sharing （CS） effects of the DSSSD give rise to a loss of energy resolution, the position information is recorded without ambiguity. Representations of ICC/CS events in the energy spectra are shown and their origins are confirmed by correlation analysis of the spectra from both the junction side and ohmic side of the DSSSD.     

BrachyView: Feasibility study into the application of Timepix detectors for soft tissue thickness imaging in prostate brachytherapy treatment

BrachyView is a novel in-body imaging system for real-time intraoperative prostate brachytherapy treatment planning, which monitors the position of low dose rate brachytherapy seeds using an array of high-resolution pixelated silicon detectors (Timepix). The detector array is also capable of performing in-body imaging of the prostate when used in conjunction with an external X-ray source. This study presents a quantitative analysis of the Timepix detector for use as a soft-tissue imaging plane by evaluating varying thicknesses of tissue-equivalent plastic incorporated into a medical prostate phantom. The feasibility of using BrachyView as a diagnostic tool is established by demonstrating the resolving power and high contrast obtainable with this configuration.     

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。     

基于足印探测的激光测高仪在轨标定

高精度的地表目标三维观测结果需要卫星激光测高仪对其系统误差进行定期的在轨标定工作,这包含系统误差的估计和校正以及标定结果的精度检验,现有方式分别通过姿态机动法和足印探测法予以实现.然而,姿态机动方式不适用于我国的卫星平台,传统足印探测方式没有针对系统误差的估计模型,仅能用于标定结果的精度检验.本文推导了基于足印探测方式的激光指向角系统误差估计模型,使得足印探测法能完成包含在轨误差校正以及精度检验的工作闭环,同时对用于激光足印获取的地面能量探测器进行了改进设计.通过设计仿真实验对所推导的误差估计模型进行验证,并量化分析了探测器阵列激光入射角度、标定场地表粗糙度及探测器布设间距等因素对系统误差校正精度的影响.结果表明,若要实现1.8 m的水平定位精度(对应0.6 arcsec激光指向精度),探测器阵列间距达到20 m即可,探测器阵列面的入射角需高于3°,标定场地表粗糙度需小于10 cm.以上结论对我国未来发射GF-7号光学/激光立体测绘卫星具有重要参考价值.     

Diffractive Microlens Array Monolithic Integration with PtSi Focal Plane array

Diffractive microlens arrays can completely collect the light at the focal plane and concentrate it into a smaller spot size on the detector plane, the photodetector area can be substantially reduced. Increased gamma radiation hardening and noise reduction result from the decrease in photodetector sensitive area. The diffractive microlens arrays have been designed by considering the correlative optical and processing parameters for PtSi focal plane array. They have been fabricated on the backside of PtSi focal plane array chip by successive photolithography and Ar⁺ ion-beam-etching technique. The alignment of microlens array with PtSi focal plane array was completed by a backside aligner with IR light source. The practical processes and fabrication method are discussed. The performance parameters of PtSi FPA with diffractive microlens array are presented.     

Test and evaluation of reference-based nonuniformity correction methods for microbolometer infrared detectors

In the paper, reference-based nonuniformity correction methods for microbolometer infrared detectors are discussed and tested. In order to evaluate their effectiveness, a complete readout circuit for amorphous silicon microbolometer focal plane array has been designed. The tests were carried out on a developed stand including several extended blackbodies. Some modification of standard two-point correction algorithm incorporating detectors response at external shutter to compensate offset drift is also proposed. The obtained results are presented.     

Semiconductor detectors and focal plane arrays for far-infrared imaging

The detection of far-infrared (far-IR) and sub-mm-wave radiation is resistant to the commonly employed techniques in the neighbouring microwave and IR frequency bands. In this wavelength detection range the use of solid state detectors has been hampered for the reasons of transit time of charge carriers being larger than the time of one oscillation period of radiation. Also the energy of radiation quanta is substantially smaller than the thermal energy at room temperature and even liquid nitrogen temperature. The realization of terahertz (THz) emitters and receivers is a challenge because the frequencies are too high for conventional electronics and the photon energies are too small for classical optics. Development of semiconductor focal plane arrays started in seventies last century and has revolutionized imaging systems in the next decades. This paper presents progress in far-IR and sub-mm-wave semiconductor detector technology of focal plane arrays during the past twenty years. Special attention is given on recent progress in the detector technologies for real-time uncooled THz focal plane arrays such as Schottky barrier arrays, field-effect transistor detectors, and microbolometers. Also cryogenically cooled silicon and germanium extrinsic photoconductor arrays, and semiconductor bolometer arrays are considered.     

Parallel asynchronous focal plane array processing

A new approach to focal plane processing based on silicon injection mode devices is suggested. These devices provide a natural basis for parallel asynchronous focal plane image preprocessing. The simplicity and novel properties of the devices would permit an independent analog processing channel to be dedicated to every pixel. A laminar architecture built from arrays of the devices would form a two-dimensional (2-D) array processor with a 2-D array of inputs located directly behind the focal plane detector array. A 2-D image data stream would propagate in neuronlike asynchronous pulse coded form through the laminar processor. No multiplexing, digitization or serial processing would occur in the preprocessing stage. High performance is expected because approximately linear pulse coding has already been observed for input currents ranging over six orders of magnitude down to one picoampere with noise referred to input of about 10 femtoamperes. Very low power requirements suggest utility in space and in conjunction with very large arrays. Multispectral processing is possible because of compatibility with the cryogenic environment of high performance infrared detectors.     

Monolithically integrated near-infrared and mid-infrared detector array for spectral imaging

A multi-band focal plane array sensitive in near-infrared (near-IR) and mid-wavelength infrared (MWIR) is been developed by monolithically integrating a near-infrared (1–1.5 μm) p–i–n photodiode with a mid-infrared (3–5 μm) QWIP. This multiband detector involves both intersubband and interband transitions in III–V semiconductor layer structures. Each detector stack absorbs photons within the specified wavelength band, while allowing the transmission of photons in other spectral bands, thus efficiently permitting multiband detection. Monolithically grown material characterization data and individual detector test results ensure the high quality of material suitable for near-infrared/QWIP dual-band focal plane array.     

用于校准能见度仪的标准散射体定标系统中光学系统的误差分析

为了实现用于校准能见度仪的标准散射体的快速高精度定标,依据标准散射体校准前向散射式能见度仪的校准原理,建立定标系统中光学系统的误差分析方法.分析标准散射体定标系统的工作原理,结合其光学系统、机械结构的加工及装调偏差,建立了标准散射体定标系统的光学系统模型并设计实验证明其正确性.分析影响定标系统中光学系统精度的主要误差,得到标准散射体定标系统中光学系统的误差传递模型.通过对畸变偏差、像面位置偏差、主点位置偏差、像面倾斜偏差和焦距偏差的分析,提出了一种系统综合误差分析的方法并建立了综合偏差模型,对每个偏差单独分析,得出畸变偏差、像面位置偏差、主点位置偏差、像面倾斜偏差和焦距偏差的偏差范围依次为0.024 mm,0.399 mm,0.02 mm,0.28 rad和0.392 mm.该研究为提高用于校准能见度仪的标准散射体定标系统的精度以及校准时误差的来源分析与补偿提供理论依据.     

Detection efficiency evaluation for a large area neutron sensitive microchannel plate detector

In this paper, the detection efficiency of a large area neutron sensitive microchannel plate detector has been evaluated. A ~6LiF/ZnS scintillator detector 65 mm in diameter and 0.32 mm in thickness, with product code,EJ426HD2, produced by Eljen Technology, was employed as the benchmark detector. The TOF spectra of these two detectors were simultaneously measured and the energy spectra were then deduced to calculate the detection efficiency curve of thenMCP detector. Tests show the detection efficiency@25.3 me V thermal neutrons is 34% for this ~nMCP detector.