Direct detection at submillimetre wavelengths using superconducting tunnel junctions

Superconducting tunnel-junction direct detectors are considered in some detail. For frequencies below twice that of the gap there is some bias voltage for which the input impedance is real, the responsivity quantum limited, and the dynamic range high. A susperconducting detector saturates for two reasons: intrinsic saturation due to the relative increase in two-photon tunnelling processes, and extrinsic saturation due to the input match changing with bias voltage. The responsivity of a detector with a resistive RF source is least sensitive to bias-voltage changes and has the greatest dynamic range when operating with a sloping load line. In the case of an inductive source, the dynamic range can be higher than the intrinsic saturation rate would suggest. Ideally, superconducting tunnel-junction detectors should be biased in a constant-voltage mode. If the responsivity is to be depressed by no more than a few percent, the photon step should have a height which is no more than one quarter of the total current turn-on at the gap. Superconducting direct detectors can be used to make precise and well-calibrated optical measurements at submillimetre wavelengths.     

金刚石膜α粒子探测器的电学性能研究

从外加偏压、预辐照处理等方面对三明治结构金刚石膜探测器在α粒子辐照下的电学性能进行了研究.电流-电压特性和脉冲高度分布测试和分析表明，金刚石膜探测器在能量为5.5MeV的²⁴¹Am α粒子辐照一定时间后，其暗电流有所增加.探测器顶电极施加负偏压时，在α粒子辐照下得到的净电流和信噪比均较大.Raman光谱测试表明，造成上述现象的原因很可能是金刚石膜厚度方向的不均匀性分布.负偏压下探测器对α粒子的能量分辨率为25.0%，优于正偏压下的能量分辨率(38.4%).随着α粒子辐照时间的延长，探测器的净电流和电荷收集效率均有明显增加. 关键词： 金刚石薄膜 辐射探测器 电学性能 脉冲高度分布     

The analysis of the integral gated mode single photon detector

This paper critically analyses and simulates the circuit configuration of the integral gated mode single photon detector which is proposed for eliminating the transient spikes problem of conventional gated mode single photon detector. The relationship between the values of the circuit elements and the effect of transient spikes cancellation has been obtained. With particular emphasis, the bias voltage of the avalanche photodiode and the output signal voltage of the integrator have been calculated. The obtained analysis results indicate that the output signal voltage of the integrator only relates to the total quantity of electricity of the avalanche charges by choosing the correct values of the circuit elements and integral time interval. These results can be used to optimize the performance of single photon detectors and provide guides for the design of single photon detectors.     

Extended wavelength InGaAs infrared (1.0–2.4 μm) detector arrays on SCIAMACHY for space-based spectrometry of the Earth atmosphere

Space qualified InGaAs solid-state array detectors, covering the near-infrared 1–2.4 μm wavelength range, have been developed for application in space-based spectroscopy of the Earth atmosphere. The SCIAMACHY atmospheric chemistry instrument on the ESA ENVISAT satellite (2002–2005) will be equipped with a series of these novel detectors. Detectors are arranged in linear arrays of 1024 pixels of 25×500 μm² dimension and meet requirements on modestly low operating temperature (150 K) and low levels of dark current and noise. In this paper the underlying physics of dark current and noise of the detector system is studied on the basis of a theoretical model in combination with measurements. At 2.4 μm wavelength the dark-current performance achieved is 20–100 fA at an operating temperature of 150 K and a bias voltage of −2 mV. This corresponds to a figure of merit for detector resistance R₀ times detector pixel area A of R₀A=2.5–12.5 MΩ cm². This result has required the development of a customised multiplexer for parallel detector read-out at near-zero bias voltage. Further reduction of the operating temperature will not result in lowering the dark current and noise of the InGaAs detectors which are shown to be limited by tunnelling current. A route to future improvement is discussed.     

X-ray sensitivity of Cd0.9Zn0.1Te detectors

The X-ray sensitivity of Cd_0.9Zn_0.1Te detectors as a function of the effective X-ray energy and bias voltage is studied. It is shown that the sensitivity grows with effective X-ray energy and much more significantly with bias voltage. The sensitivity depends on the angle the X-ray beam makes with an electric field in the detector. In the energy range 28–72 keV, the sensitivity is the highest when the X-ray beam is normal to the electric field in the detector.     

基于4H-SiC的高能量分辨率α粒子探测器

为突破传统半导体核探测器耐高温与抗辐照性能不足的瓶颈,采用4H-SiC宽禁带半导体材料研制了4H-SiC探测器,并研究其构成的探测系统对α粒子的能量分辨率和能量线性度。所研制4H-SiC探测器漏电流低,当外加反向偏压为200V时,其漏电流仅14.92nA/cm2。采用具有5种主要能量α粒子的226 Ra源研究其构成的探测系统对α粒子的能量分辨率,获得4H-SiC探测系统对4.8~7.7 MeV能量范围内α粒子的能量分辨率为0.61%~0.90%,与国际上报道的高分辨4H-SiC探测系统能量分辨率一致。同时,实验结果表明:4H-SiC探测系统对该能量范围内α粒子的能量线性度十分优异,线性相关系数为0.999 99。     

Different characteristics of high-temperature superconducting infrared detectors with granular and epitaxial films

We describe the measurements of infrared detection in granular and epitaxial films of YBa₂Cu₃O_7– . The experimental frequency response measurements stated that the response voltage of detector for epitaxial film decreased much more rapidly than that for granular film. Different relationship of infrared response and bias current for detectors from two types of films has been demonstrated. We attribute the descrapency to the characters of detectors associated with different types of film structures.     

Metamaterials with tunable nonlinearity

A new approach to the implementation of electromagnetic metamaterials with tunable nonlinearity in the microwave range has been proposed. The characteristics of a split ring resonator equipped with a varactor diode to ensure a nonlinear response and a photodiode to supply a dc bias voltage depending on the illumination intensity have been examined. It has been shown that an increase in the illumination intensity shifts the resonance response toward lower frequency and an increase in the power of the exciting signal shifts the resonance response toward higher frequency.     

光伏型碲镉汞探测器在波段内连续激光辐照下的两种不同过饱和现象的产生机理

利用连续波段内激光对两批光伏型碲镉汞探测器进行了激光辐照实验, 发现了两种不同的过饱和现象. 实验表明, 光伏型碲镉汞探测器在强光辐照下都会出现开路电压随光强增强而减小的过饱和现象, 明晰了PV型探测器在强光辐照下的一般规律性现象和由探测器个体差异导致的特殊现象. 从等效电路模型出发, 剖析了两种过饱和现象的发生条件, 建立了数值计算的理论模型, 对两种过饱和现象进行了数值模拟, 计算结果与实验结果符合得较好. 研究表明, 光伏型碲镉汞探测器在波段内强光辐照下引起的过饱和现象有两种产生机理, 一种是热效应引起的暗电流增大机理; 另一种是探测器材料中缺陷引起的漏电流增大机理. 关键词： 波段内连续激光 光伏型碲镉汞探测器 过饱和现象     

压水堆堆芯功率分布在线监测计算中的探测器失效诊断与处理方法

作为堆芯功率分布在线监测计算的重要输入参数，堆内中子探测器的测量数据对堆芯功率分布在线监测具有重要影响，因此在线监测计算中探测器失效的诊断和处理十分必要。采用谐波展开法进行堆芯功率分布的在线监测计算，采用直接观察法、探测器测量值比较法以及探测器重构值比较法分三个阶段对探测器失效进行诊断。基于以上理论，在在线监测系统NECP-ONION中加入探测器失效诊断功能，利用BEAVRS基准题对失效诊断和处理进行验证。数值结果表明，将三阶段的诊断方法结合使用，不仅可以有效判断探测器完全失效的情况，同时对于探测器测量值偏离正常值也具有判断能力。对于探测器失效的处理，NECP-ONION具有较好的探测器失效承受能力。当探测器测量值严重偏离正常值时，程序可诊断其失效并去除错误测量值信息后进行重构；当偏离正常值不足以做出失效诊断时，在线监测程序监测计算精度在可接受范围内。     

Miniature array postdetection-encoded MRI

A method for performing nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements simultaneously from more than a single radiofrequency (RF) coil is presented. The method employs the detection of magnetic resonance signals in an array of detectors, where each detector is responsible for detecting a unique frequency bandwidth or a magnetic resonance signal from a unique location in a region in a primary, substantially homogeneous, static magnetic field. The detectors may be separated logically into groups, whereby all the detectors in a given group are essentially RF-decoupled from each other to substantially eliminate cross-talk by switching circuits or by being placed from each other sufficiently remotely. Sampling of detected signals from detectors in this array is done simultaneously over groups of noninteracting detectors. The detected signals from all detectors in a given group are simultaneously transmitted to a single preamplifier, thus increasing significantly the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in that preamplifier. Prior to transmitting each detected NMR signal of each detector to the preamplifier, each detected signal is separately and uniquely encoded electronically. This provides a method whereby the signal of each detector is uniquely encoded. Accumulating all these encoded signals, which were simultaneously received in a number of RF detectors into a single amplifier, results in the total signal having a high SNR ratio. This total amplified signal is later decoded into each detector's original signal by a decoding circuitry. Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques may be thereafter applied to obtain an image. Or else, conventional NMR techniques may be thereafter applied to obtain an improved SNR from a sample, using a single preamplifier with a multitude of detectors. Applying this method to a large number of miniature and closely packed RF detectors placed in an array-like configuration results in an MRI technique with a very fast acquisition time, an increased SNR and a high spatial resolution equivalent to the number of detectors per unit of length. Deblurring and decoupling algorithms allow for images from layers as deep as 6 mm to be acquired.     

A fast method to measure the thickness of removed layer from etching of SSNTD based on EDXRF

Solid state nuclear track detectors are commonly used for measurements of concentrations of radon gas and/or radon progeny. All these measurements depend critically on the thickness of the removed layer during etching. However, the thickness of removed layer calculated using the etching period does not necessarily provide a sufficiently accurate measure of the thickness. For example, the bulk etch rate depends on the strength of stirring during etching for the LR 115 detector. We propose here to measure the thickness of the removed layer by using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. In the present work, a reference silver nitrate pellet is placed beneath the LR 115 detector, and the fluorescence X-ray intensity for silver is then measured. We have found a linear relationship between the X-ray intensity and the thickness of the removed layer for LR 115 detector. This provides a fast method to measure the thickness of removed layer from etching of LR 115 detector. However, this method was found to be inapplicable for the CR-39 detector. Therefore, alternative methods have yet to be explored for the CR-39 detector.     

Automatic tuned MRI RF coil for multinuclear imaging of small animals at 3T

We have developed an MRI RF coil whose tuning can be adjusted automatically between 120 and 128 MHz for sequential spectroscopic imaging of hydrogen and fluorine nuclei at field strength 3 T. Variable capacitance (varactor) diodes were placed on each rung of an eight-leg low-pass birdcage coil to change the tuning frequency of the coil. The diode junction capacitance can be controlled by the amount of applied reverse bias voltage. Impedance matching was also done automatically by another pair of varactor diodes to obtain the maximum SNR at each frequency. The same bias voltage was applied to the tuning varactors on all rungs to avoid perturbations in the coil. A network analyzer was used to monitor matching and tuning of the coil. A Pentium PC controlled the analyzer through the GPIB bus. A code written in LABVIEW was used to communicate with the network analyzer and adjust the bias voltages of the varactors via D/A converters. Serially programmed D/A converter devices were used to apply the bias voltages to the varactors. Isolation amplifiers were used together with RF choke inductors to provide isolation between the RF coil and the DC bias lines. We acquired proton and fluorine images sequentially from a multicompartment phantom using the designed coil. Good matching and tuning were obtained at both resonance frequencies. The tuning and matching of the coil were changed from one resonance frequency to the other within 60 s.     

A concept for a tunable antenna-coupled intersubband terahertz (TACIT) detector

Detectors based on intersubband transitions in quantum wells have great potential for use between one and several terahertz. We propose a tunable, antenna-coupled, intersubband terahertz (TACIT) detector that is both sensitive and fast, with a speed limited only by the intersubband relaxation rate (1 ns at at ). The detector is sensitive over a narrow range of frequencies, and the frequency of peak absorption can be tuned by applying a bias voltage to the device.     

Effect of gamma energy, temperature and shelf life on the response of gamma and BD-100R neutron bubble detectors

The use of commercially available bubble detectors for gamma and neutron detection has been reported by several groups. We have carried out systematic investigations to study the response of gamma bubble detector as a function of energy, the effect of waiting time on sensitivity of BD-100R neutron bubble detector and the effect of shelf life on both types of bubble detectors. Our results show that the response of the gamma bubble detector is energy dependent. Waiting time of up to 260 hours for BD-100R neutron detector has no significant effect. Both the detectors have a limited shelf life. These factors must be taken into account while using these detectors.     

Tunable polarization response of a planar asymmetric-spiral infrared antenna

We present measurements at 10.6 microm that demonstrate electronic tuning of the polarization response of asymmetric-spiral infrared antennas connected to Ni-NiO-Ni diodes. Continuous variation of the bias voltage applied to the diode results in a rotation of the principal axis of the polarization ellipse of the spiral antenna. A 90 degrees tuning range is measured for a bias voltage that varies from -160 to +160 mV .This effect is caused by a small asymmetry of the deposited diode contact or by a variation of the detector capacitance with the applied bias voltage.     

Photomultiplier-Based Scintillation Radiation Detectors of Increased Sensitivity and Time Resolution for Measurements under Conditions of High Electromagnetic Interference

Scintillation detectors for detecting X-ray, gamma, and neutron radiation with time resolutions of 3–4 ns and having high noise stability have been developed. The detector housings are shielded from the strong electromagnetic interference produced at the moment of discharge. The detector design features an original voltage divider. With these detectors, the parameters of the high-energy radiation from a megavolt atmospheric nanosecond discharge can be studied at the limit of sensitivity of this class of devices.     

双层深度编码探测器的晶体表面优化

设计了双层LSO晶体和位置灵敏型光电倍增管耦合构成的用于小动物PET成像的 深度编码探测器. 众所周知, 晶体的不同的表面处理影响着光输出量, 进而影响着它们构建的PET探测器的性能. 为了优化设计的深度编码探测器的性能, 测试了两种不同表面处理的LSO闪烁晶体阵列探测器的晶体分辨能力及其能量、时间和空间分辨率, 结果表明, 光滑表面LSO晶体构建的深度编码探测器显示出良好的空间、能量及时间分辨特性.     

GaN基PIN结构X射线探测器

使用GaN基材料制备了PIN结构核辐射探测器,研究了探测器对x射线响应的多方面性能.在没有X射线照射时,探测器具有很小的漏电流,在-10 V时小于0.1nA.对探测器的X射线的响应时间特性进行了分析和模拟,给出了很好的物理机制解释.研究了信噪比随外加偏压的变化,并得到了最佳信噪比对应的工作电压为-20 V.     

Computer‐assisted area detector masking

Area detectors have become the predominant type of detector for the rapid acquisition of X‐ray diffraction, small‐angle scattering and total scattering. These detectors record the scattering for a large area, giving each shot good statistical significance to the resulting scattered intensity I(Q) pattern. However, many of these detectors have pixel level defects, which cause error in the resulting one‐dimensional patterns. In this work, new software to automatically find and mask these dead pixels and other defects is presented. This algorithm is benchmarked with both ideal simulated and experimental datasets.