Gain-induced reflection can be used for a high power X-ray laser

The principle of gain induced reflection is explained and applied to reflection of X-rays in an undulator. It is shown that a loop gain larger than unity can be obtained in an undulator with counterstreaming electron beams. Numerical examples are given.     

Experimental study of the response of radon track detectors with solid absorbers as radiators

A new concept for passive radon monitors – “radon film badges” has been recently proposed. It uses plastic radiators of high radon absorption ability, coupled with external solid state nuclear track detector (SSNTD). First experiments and theoretical modeling revealed a remarkable potential for practical applications. In this report we present results of a dedicated experiment in which detectors were coupled with different absorbers and placed in a variety of different easy-to-carry packages. The results confirmed that radon can freely diffuse in the packages. The response of the monitors with different absorbers was determined and a good agreement with the theoretical model was found. This strengthen the basis for further research and development of this new methodology.     

Response of chemical vapor deposition diamond detectors to X-ray

The outstanding properties of diamond, such as radiation hardness, high carrier mobility, high band gap and breakdown field, distinguish it as a good candidate for radiation detectors. The detector's performance is strongly limited by the concentration of defects (grain boundaries and/or impurities) in chemical vapor deposition (CVD) diamond. We report the response of free-standing CVD diamond with a thickness of 300 μm and area of 2×2 cm², synthesized by a hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD) technique, to 5.9 keV X-ray radiation from a ⁵⁵Fe source. The linear I-V characteristics indicate that CVD diamond has good ohmic contacts. This detector also shows good results such as dark-current of 10⁻⁸ A, photocurrent of 10⁻⁶ A, energy resolution <0.4%, and a high ratio of signal to noise.     

A portable X-ray source for testing of TRD/ALICE radiators and chambers

Portable X-ray sources were designed and produced for experimental study of radiator absorption uniformity and mapping of large-scale drift chamber gain. The tests are performed on-line with creation of the Transition Radiation Detector (TRD) for the ALICE experiment at CERN. The source is a key element of automatic scanner, and it produces X-ray photons in the energy range up to 10 keV with required intensity. The design and characteristics of the source are described. The article is published in the original.     

Artifact reduction in the CSPAD detectors used for LCLS experiments

The existence of noise and column‐wise artifacts in the CSPAD‐140K detector and in a module of the CSPAD‐2.3M large camera, respectively, is reported for the L730 and L867 experiments performed at the CXI Instrument at the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), in low‐flux and low signal‐to‐noise ratio regime. Possible remedies are discussed and an additional step in the preprocessing of data is introduced, which consists of performing a median subtraction along the columns of the detector modules. Thus, we reduce the overall variation in the photon count distribution, lowering the mean false‐positive photon detection rate by about 4% (from 5.57 × 10^?5 to 5.32 × 10^?5 photon counts pixel^?1 frame^?1 in L867, cxi86715) and 7% (from 1.70 × 10^‐3 to 1.58 × 10^?3 photon counts pixel^?1 frame^?1 in L730, cxi73013), and the standard deviation in false‐positive photon count per shot by 15% and 35%, while not making our average photon detection threshold more stringent. Such improvements in detector noise reduction and artifact removal constitute a step forward in the development of flash X‐ray imaging techniques for high‐resolution, low‐signal and in serial nano‐crystallography experiments at X‐ray free‐electron laser facilities.     

标定脉冲星导航探测器的荧光X射线光源

为标定X射线脉冲星导航用探测器, 设计了一种荧光X射线源, 该射线源的工作原理是 用X射线管的出射线轰击特定荧光靶材, 从而获得能量一定的荧光X射线, 并以此作为标定探测器的荧光X射线光源. 采用硅漂移半导体探测器在大气环境下测试了按上述原理搭建的荧光X射线光源的能谱分布和光子流量, 从光子流量入手推算了该荧光X射线光源用于真空系统中对探测器进行标定的可行性. 研制出了荧光X射线光源样机, 并在真空系统中对荧光X射线光源样机光子流量做了测试. 在探测距离D_x=300 cm, X射线管管流I_a=200 μA时, 所测得的荧光X射线光源光子流量可达19.57 ph/s@4.51 keV, 25.22 ph/s@5.41 keV, 33.27 ph/s@8.05 keV, 确认了所提方法的可行性, 获得了标定探测器的荧光X射线光源.     

X-ray transition radiation of electrons with energy of 300 to 900 MeV in periodic multifoil radiators

Results of experiments conducted at the Tomsk synchrotron to study resonant X-ray transition radiation generated by relativistic electrons in periodic multifoil radiators are reviewed. Both the internal synchrotron beam and the external secondary electron beam from the pair magnetic γ-spectrometer with energies ranging from 300 to 900 MeV were used in the experiments. The radiators consisted of many thin amorphous foils of various materials. The generation of X-ray radiation in a compound radiator consisting of a multifoil radiator and a crystal is also studied. In this case, the resonant X-ray transition radiation generated in the multifoil radiator is diffracted in the crystal and emitted at Bragg angles, together with the parametric X-ray radiation generated in the crystal. Spectral and angular properties of the resonant X-ray transition radiation and diffracted resonant X-ray transition radiation are investigated. The ratio between the contributions from the diffracted resonant X-ray transition radiation and other types of radiation to the total coherent X-ray radiation flux generated by electrons in periodic structures and crystals is estimated.     

Development of the fiber neutron monitor for the energy range 15-100 MeV on the International Space Station (ISS)

In order to investigate the space environment, a new neutron monitor has been prepared. The sensor consists of scintillation fibers (FIB) and will be on board the exposed facility of the Japanese Experimental module (Kibo) of the International Space Station (ISS). The sensor is one of the instruments which measures the particle and plasma environment around the ISS. The sensor will be used by the cosmonauts who work on the ISS, to help them avoid a strong particle radiation which may arrive soon. We believe that such an alert is necessary for the cosmonauts to prevent unnecessary radiation from the sun. Furthermore, the sensor will be very useful in understanding the particle acceleration mechanism at the solar surface. The design of the Engineering Model (EM) was finished and its properties were investigated. This report discusses these results.     

X-ray detectors based on CdZnTe crystals grown from the vapor phase

X-ray detectors on the basis of vapor-phase-grown Cd_0.92Zn_0.08Te crystals are fabricated. The main characteristics of the detectors are investigated. It is shown that vapor-phase-grown CdZnTe crystals can be successfully used for making X-ray detectors.     

On the properties of photovoltaic X-ray detectors based on GaAs epitaxial structures

Operation of a new photovoltaic detector of X-ray bremsstrahlung based on GaAs epitaxial structures at room temperature without bias is studied. The efficiency of the absorbed energy conversion into short-circuit current is calculated from the measured photoresponses for the photon energies in the range from 12 to 120 keV. In this energy range, the absorption in GaAs is governed by photoelectric effect. The efficiency of the X-ray bremsstrahlung energy conversion in GaAs peaks at 80 keV. It is suggested that the X-ray absorption of a thin 50-μm detector can be enhanced by applying an inclined irradiation scheme. The effect is most pronounced in the region of hard X-rays.     

Studies on radon adsorption characteristics of different charcoals used as amplifiers for the track detectors

Ten sorts of charcoals were studied regarding their use as amplifier in the design of a personal dosimeter. It consists of a combination of a Makrofol detector and activated charcoal. The calibration factor for the Makrofol using the charcoals as an amplifier is about ten times higher comparing with an exposure without charcoal. The best results were obtained with Carboxen 563. The background radioactivity of charcoals must also be considered in the dosimeter's design.     

用钮扣电极测量强流直线感应加速器束流位置

 介绍了钮扣电极测量强脉冲束流位置的基本原理，以及针对钮扣电极所设计的一套模拟实验标定装置；着重介绍了钮扣电极测量束流位置的实验过程，以及在实验中所遇到的问题和对实验平台所做的改进。实验表明钮扣电极对束流位置的测量精度达到亚mm量级，对于束位置偏心测量的相对误差范围在10％以内。     

Intensifying process of polarization effect within pixellated CdZnTe detectors for X-ray imaging

The intensifying process of polarization effect at room temperature in a pixellated Cadmium zinc telluride (CdZnTe) monolithic detector is studied. The process is attributed to the increase in build up space charges in the CdZnTe crystal, which causes an expansion of the space charge region under the irradiated area. The simulations of electric potential distributions indicate that the distorted electric potential due to the high X-ray flux is significantly changed and even deteriorated due to increasing space charges within the irradiated volume. An agreement between the space charge distribution and electric potential is discussed.     

On the passive electrode signal in X-ray detectors based on superconducting tunnel junctions

X-ray detectors based on superconducting tunnel junctions with the multilayer electrode structure described by the formula Ti/Nb/Al, AlO _x /Al/Nb/NbN were studied. The main signal arose during X-ray absorption in the top electrode and had an energy resolution of ∼90 eV at the 5.9-keV line. The bottom passive Ti/Nb electrode provided rapid absorption of excess quasiparticles. The residual signal of the passive electrode was from 7 to 17% of the main signal amplitude. The dependences of the amplitude of this signal on the voltage and the absorbed X-ray energy were measured for detectors with different thicknesses of the top and bottom electrodes. The rate of quasiparticle trapping by the energy trap in the Ti/Nb bilayer was estimated. The main mechanisms of the formation of the passive electrode signal formation were considered and methods for its suppression were proposed.     

Measurement of soft X-ray radiation using the PF-4 plasma focus setup with semiconductor X-ray detectors

Soft X-rays were measured with time resolution at angles of 45° and 90° to the system axis in an argon atmosphere using SPPD 11-04 fast semiconductor detectors. The dependence of the X-ray yield was studied as a function of the voltage of a capacitor bank of the plasma focus in a range from 8 to 14 kV and argon pressures from 0.5 to 4 Torr. Generalization of the results obtained allowed possible interpretation of the nature of observed emission.     

用钮扣电极测量强流直线感应加速器束流位置

介绍了钮扣电极测量强脉冲束流位置的基本原理,以及针对钮扣电极所设计的一套模拟实验标定装置;着重介绍了钮扣电极测量束流位置的实验过程,以及在实验中所遇到的问题和对实验平台所做的改进。实验表明钮扣电极对束流位置的测量精度达到亚mm量级,对于束位置偏心测量的相对误差范围在10％以内。     

Photoparticle production in solid state detectors used for neutron dosimetry in the presence of photons

Photon-induced neutron, proton and alpha particle production in polyethylene and CR-39 has been estimated for the photon energy range of 2–30 MeV, using our previously established methods and photonuclear cross-section data for hydrogen, carbon and oxygen. The rarer isotopes of the constituents of CR-39 and polyethylene, namely ²H, ¹³C, ¹⁷O and ¹⁸O, have been taken into account. Neutrons and protons are produced in polyethylene and CR-39 for photon energies above 2.2 MeV, the (γ, np) threshold for ²H. Photoparticles produced in these materials may need to be taken into consideration when using them for neutron dosimetry in the presence of photons in this energy range, especially when the neutron flux is several orders of magnitude less than that of the photons.     

C235-V3 cyclotron for a proton therapy center to be installed in the hospital complex of radiation medicine (Dimitrovgrad)

Proton therapy is an effective method of treating oncologic diseases. In Russia, construction of several centers for proton and ion therapy is slated for the years to come. A proton therapy center in Dimitrovgrad will be the first. The Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (Russia) in collaboration with Ion Beam Application (IBA) (Belgium) has designed an C235-V3 medical proton cyclotron for this center. It outperforms previous versions of commercial IBA cyclotrons, which have already been installed in 11 oncologic hospital centers in different countries. Experimental and calculation data for the beam dynamics in the C235-V3 medical cyclotron are presented. Reasons for beam losses during acceleration are considered, the influence of the magnetic field radial component in the midplane of the accelerator and main resonances is studied, and a beam extraction system is designed. In 2011–2012 in Dubna, the cyclotron was mounted, its magnetic field was properly configured, acceleration conditions were optimized, and beam extraction tests were carried out after which it was supplied to Dimitrovgrad. In the C235-V3 cyclotron, an acceleration efficiency of 72% and an extraction efficiency of 62% have been achieved without diaphragming to form a vertical profile of the beam.     

磁绝缘传输线电流测量差模式B-dot探头

研制了一种用于磁绝缘传输线（MITL）电流测量的差模式B-dot探头;利用PSpice商用软件和标定实验数据,建立了该探头等效电路模型,给出了探头系统传递函数,并分析了探头频率响应特性。计算结果表明,该探头对于被测信号大于2.5 MHz频率分量部分的相频响应基本保持不变,而幅频响应曲线呈较好的直线性。该探头已用于强光一号1.0 m长、2 cm阴阳极间隙的同轴型MITL电流传输特性研究实验,并获得了较好的测量波形。测量结果表明：短路负载条件下,传输线沿线不同位置B-dot 电流测量结果基本相同,峰值电流约1.0 MA、峰值时间约125 ns。即传输线沿线电流损失几乎可以忽略,该实验结果与短路负载MITL工作特性理论较好地吻合。     

A study of possibilities of development of GaAs detectors for high-power nanosecond X-ray pulses

It is proposed to use chromium-compensated semi-insulating GaAs detectors for detecting high-power nanosecond X-ray pulses. An X-ray facility based on a small direct-acting electron accelerator “Sinus-150” developed at the Institute of High-Current Electronics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk was used as a source of pulsed X-ray radiation. The detectors are shown to detect 5 ns pulses under exposure to 30 mR radiation during one pulse without distortions. In so doing, one-ampere currents flow through the active detector area 0.2 cm². It is found that the physical processes limiting the working capacity of GaAs detectors are due to capture of nonequilibrium electrons and holes by deep centers. At the nonequilibrium charge-carrier concentrations higher than 5·10¹³ cm³, nonuniform distributions of the electric field are formed in the active region and these can result in distortion of the output detector signal shape. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 9, pp. 14–18, September, 2008.