Experimental studies of micromegas detectors with different micro-meshes

The structure of micromegas (micro-mesh gaseous structure) detectors with different micro-meshes of stainless steel wire woven netting and Ni foil has been presented. The counting rates, energy resolution, gain, discharge probability and time resolution have been measured. Wider counter plateaus and gain for the developed detector were obtained. Excellent energy resolution of the micromegas detector, 17% (FWHM) based on Ni foil micro-mesh and 25% (FWHM) based on stainless steel wire woven netting micro-mesh, has been obtained for the 5.9 keV photon peak of the 55Fe X-ray source in an Ar/CO2(10%) gas mixture. The best time resolution at -620 V micro-mesh voltage and -870 V drift voltage is 14.8 ns for cosmic rays in an Ar/CO2 (10%) gas mixture. These results satisfy the basic demand of the micromegas detector preliminary design.     

高增益型气体电子倍增微网结构探测器的性能研究

随着微结构气体探测器的不断发展, 不同的探测需求相继提出.为了实现气体探测器在高增益和低打火率的条件下长时间稳定工作, 结合气体电子倍增器(GEM)与微网结构气体探测器(MicroMegas)的探测优势, 成功研制出一种基于GEM作为预放大的MicroMegas探测器, 详细介绍了探测器结构和工作原理, 并利用⁵⁵Fe放射源对探测器增益、打火率、能量分辨和工作稳定性等性能进行了实验测量. 分析结果显示GEM-MicroMegas探测器可以连续工作30 h 以上, 探测器增益可以超过10⁶, 相对于无GEM膜的MicroMegas探测器, 相同增益下打火率可以降低近100倍. 关键词： 微网结构气体探测器 能量分辨率 增益 打火率     

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.     

Monte Carlo studies of micromegas as a neutron detector and its track reconstruction

In this paper a two dimensional readout micromegas detector with a polyethylene foil as converter was simulated on GEANT4 toolkit and GARFIELD for fast neutron detection.A new track reconstruction method based on time coincidence technology was developed in the simulation to obtain the incident neutron position.The results showed that with this reconstruction method higher spatial resolution was achieved.     

Monte Carlo studies of micromegas as a neutron detector and its track reconstruction

In this paper a two dimensional readout micromegas detector with a polyethylene foil as converter was simulated on GEANT4 toolkit and GARFIELD for fast neutron detection. A new track reconstruction method based on time coincidence technology was developed in the simulation to obtain the incident neutron position. The results showed that with this reconstruction method higher spatial resolution was achieved.     

Investigation of GEM-Micromegas detector on X-ray beam of synchrotron radiation

To reduce the discharge of the standard bulk Micromegas and GEM detectors, a GEM-Micromegas detector was developed at the Institute of High Energy Physics. Taking into account the advantages of the two detectors, one GEM foil was set as a preamplifier on the mesh of Micromegas in the structure and the GEM preamplification decreased the working voltage of Micromegas to significantly reduce the effect of the discharge. At the same gain, the spark probability of the GEM-Micromegas detector can be reduced to a factor 0.01 compared to the standard Micromegas detector, and an even higher gain could be obtained. This paper describes the performance of the X-ray beam detector that was studied at 1W2B Laboratory of Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility. Finally, the result of the energy resolution under various X-ray energies was given in different working gases. This indicates that the GEM-Micromegas detector has an energy response capability in an energy range from 6 keV to 20 keV and it could work better than the standard bulk-Micromegas.     

MICROMEGAS探测器初步测试

介绍了一种利用鱼线做放大区间隔的MICROMEGAS探测器, 灵敏面积为50 mm ×50 mm。 在Ar+CO₂（10%）气体条件下, 利用55Fe源5.9 keV的 X射线对MICROMEGAS探测器进行了初步测试: 计数率大于103 Hz的条件下, 计数率坪长达到280 V; 当栅极电压在800 V时能量分辨为30%; 当增益高于104时打火率低于10-4; PCB板读出条周期为400 μm条件下的位置分辨好于120 μm。 结果表明, 研制的MICROMEGAS探测器达到了初步设计的基本要求。 In this paper,A MICROMEGAS(Micro Mesh Gaseous Structure) detector with the amplification gap defined by stretching nylon fishing lines has been described . And its count plateau, gas gain and energy resolution in the condition of a 55Fe X ray source and Ar CO₂ (10%) mixture gases are measured as functions of mesh voltage. The count plateau approaches 280 V at the count rate of 103 Hz. The discharge rate is less than 10－4 when the gas gain is up to 104. The energy resolution is 30% (FWHM) based on －800 V mesh voltage. The position resolution is less than 120 μm at the condition of the sensitive area (50 mm×50 mm) Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) and its strip pitch of 400 μm. The results can satisfy the basic demand of MICROMEGAS detector preliminary design.     

Study of bulk micromegas detector

In this paper,we present a study of a micromegas detector prototype built with bulk technology.Following a short discussion of the micromegas detector's structure and working mechanism,the bulk fabrication process is described,and some testing results of the prototype are presented.     

Micromegas探测器计数曲线、增益以及能量分辨特性的研究

介绍了自行研制的Micromegas探测器的基本结构和工作原理. 在不同工作气体(Ar和CO₂)配比条件下,利用⁵⁵Fe放射源对该探测器的能量分辨、计数曲线和气体增益等特性进行了较为详尽的测试. 对相关结果进行了讨论. 关键词： Micromegas探测器 计数曲线 能量分辨率 增益     

micro-bulk工艺micromegas的研究

本文介绍了micromegas探测器的主要工艺----micro-bulk工艺.并使用⁵⁵Fe放射源对制作完成的micro-bulk工艺原理探测器 进行了测试,对比了与绝缘丝工艺原理探测器能量分辨率的差别,并进一步研究了micro-bulk工艺探测器电子透过率等性能测试 的结果.     

Non-uniformity effects of the inter-foil distance on GEM detector performance

The non-uniformity effect of the inter-foil distance has been studied using a gaseous electron multiplication(GEM) detector with sensitive area of 50mm×50mm. A gradient of the inter-foil distance is introduced by using spacers with different heights at the two ends of the foil gap. While the cluster size and the intrinsic spatial resolution show insignificant dependence on the inter-foil distance, the gain exhibits an approximately linear dependence on the inter-foil distance. From the slope, a quantitative relationship between the change of the inter-foil distance and the change of the gain is derived, which can be used as a method to evaluate the non-uniformity of the foil gap in the application of large-area GEM detectors.     

基于Micromegas探测技术的中子CT可行性研究(英文)

在培育新品种过程中能够实时掌握了解土壤中植物根系的形态以及其生长情况将为植物学家提供很多不可或缺的信息。对基于 micromegas 探测技术的中子 CT 在这一新应用的试验环境进行了仿真模拟, 通过三维图像重建后,得到了令人满意的预期结果。首先通过 Geant4 和 Garfield 模拟计算利用聚乙烯薄膜作为中子转换层的 micromegas 中子探测器, 得到了非常理想的位置分辨, 说明基于micromegas 探测技术建立中子 CT 照相系统的可行性。 然后利用MCNP仿真模拟14 MeV 中子CT 的实验环境, 最后由Matlab程序进行图像重建。In this paper, the possibility using micromegas(Micro Mesh Gaseous Structure) as neutron detector in 14 MeV neutron computed tomography(CT) has been simulated. The results show that the micromegas neutron detector has high spatial resolution and is a good candidate for neutron radiography. The three dimensional images of plant roots in soil are successfully and clearly obtained by the 14 MeV neutron CT with micromegas as a neutron detector. In the present simulation, MCNP is employed for 14 MeV neutron transport in the sample and Matlab for the 3 D photograph reconstruction.     

Surface energy evaluation of unhydrogenated DLC thin film deposited by thermionic vacuum arc (TVA) method

The aim of this paper is concerned with the surface energy evaluation by contact angle measurements of DLC films deposited by thermionic vacuum arc (TVA) on different substrates: glass plate, zinc foil, stainless steel and alumina foil. TVA is an original method based on a combination of the evaporation by electron bombardment and anodic arc. The evaluation of the surface free energy has been carried out by surface energy evaluation system (SEE System). The influence of the experimental conditions is also investigated.     

Design and experimental study of a two-dimensional position sensitive X-ray detector

A prototype of a two-dimensional position sensitive X-ray detector was designed and constructed for small angle X-ray scattering experiments at BSFR (Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility). The detector is based on MWPC with cathode strip readout, and has a sensitive area of 200 mmx200 mm. The spatial resolution (FWHM) of about 210 μm along the anode wire direction was obtained from the 55Fe X-ray test of the detector.     

Secondary electron time detector for mass measurements at CSRe

The Isochronous Mass Spectrometry is a high accurate mass spectrometer. A secondary electrons time detector has been developed and used for mass measurements. Secondary electrons from a thin carbon foil are accelerated by an electric field and deffected 180° by a magnetic field onto a micro-channel plate. The time detector has been tested with alpha particles and a time resolution of 197 ps (FWHM) was obtained in the laboratory. A mass resolution around 8×10-6 for m/m was achieved by using this time detector in a pilot mass measurement experiment.     

Design and performance of a 2-D multi-wire position sensitive X-ray detector

A 2-D multi-wire position sensitive detector for X-ray diffraction and small angle X-ray scattering studies is described. The detector has an active area of 100 mm × 100 mm and consists of an anode plane with 10 μm SS wires at 3 mm spacing and a pair of orthogonal cathode readout planes with 25 μm SS wires placed at 1.5 mm spacing. The position information is obtained using charge division method and recorded using a laboratory built data acquisition system. The resolution and gas gain was measured for 5.9 keV X-rays (⁵⁵Fe-source) as a function of the anode wire voltage and gas pressure. It was observed that the proportional region of the PSD at 100 kPa pressure extended up to a high voltage value of around 1.5 kV and it shifted to high values up to 2 kV for gas pressure of 300 kPa. The energy resolution improved from 18% (FWHM) to 12% with increase in pressure. The spatial resolution of the PSD also showed improvement, with a value of 1.2 mm × 1.4 mm at 300 kPa gas pressure. A maximum gain of 5 × 10⁴ is obtained.     

Experimental studies of THGEM in different Ar/CO_2 mixtures

In this paper, the performance of a type of domestic THGEM (THick Gaseous Electron Multiplier) working in Ar/CO₂ mixtures is reported in detail. This kind of single THGEM can provide a gain range from 100 to 1000, which is very suitable for application in neutron detection. In order to study its basic characteristics as a reference for the development of a THGEM based neutron detector, the counting rate plateau, the energy resolution and the gain of the THGEM have been measured in different Ar/CO₂ mixtures with a variety of electrical fields. For the Ar/CO₂(90%/10%) gas mixture, a wide counting rate plateau is achieved from 720 V to 770 V, with a plateau slope of 2.4%/100 V, and an excellent energy resolution of about 22% is obtained at the 5.9 keV full energy peak of the ⁵⁵Fe X-ray source.     

Superconducting tunnel junctions as detectors for high‐resolution x‐ray spectroscopy

Superconducting tunnel junctions (STJs) are a type of cryogenic detector with a working temperature of about 100 mK. They allow the combination of low energy threshold, high quantum efficiency and good count rate capability with an excellent energy resolution; at an x‐ray energy of 5.9 keV an energy resolution of 10.8 eV (FWHM) has been achieved. The detector system described is based on STJs which consist of two superconducting Al electrodes separated by a thin dielectric tunnel barrier. The tunneling process of quasi‐particles created by deposition of energy in the electrodes leads to a detectable current signal. The STJ is equipped with a superconducting Pb absorber which is read out via phonons. The Pb absorber increases absorption efficiency (～50% at 6 keV) and suppresses detector artefacts. The degeneration of Pb, most probably due to oxidation, is overcome by the introduction of a protective SiO layer on top of the absorber. This layer leads to a slight reduction of energy resolution. Nevertheless, a resolution of 9.7 eV at 1.7 keV and of ～20 eV at 5.9 keV could be realized with a prototype detector. Currently this STJ‐based detector system is being incorporated into a prototype cryogenic spectrometer for XRF analysis. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Micromegas中子探测器位置分辨特性的Monte-Carlo研究(英文)

利用GEANT4和Garfield气体探测器模拟程序模拟了Micromegas中子探测器位置特性。 在漂移极上加一层聚乙烯薄膜作为转换材料, 通过反冲质子法测量中子的位置。 提出了一套通过设定探测器上层结构的方案来得到探测器的位置分辨特性。 通过对模拟结果的分析与比较, 得到一种易于测定探测器位置分辨特性的方法。 该工作不仅可以优化气体探测器结构设计, 缩短实验周期, 而且还能极大程度地节约经费。 In the present work, the spatial resolution of Micromegas as a neutron detector was simulated with GEANT4 and Garfield program. The polyethylene foil was used as neutron converter. A new method based on structural setting on the top layer of the detector was adopted to obtain spatial resolution. According to our simulation, it turned out to be a better spatial resolution, and this method was easily realized in experiment.     

应用于热中子的nTHGEM探测器性能研究

随着脉冲强流中子源的发展,对高性能中子探测器提出了更大的挑战,3He气体资源严重短缺和高计数率中子探测器的迫切需求,已开始制约着中子源应用技术的发展。中国科学院高能物理研究所针对中子的特殊性,专门研发了一种陶瓷基材的nTHGEM（neutron Thick Gaseous Electron Multiplier）探测器用于中子探测。基于nTHGEM的中子探测器具有高计数率、高位置与时间分辨能力、增益大、制作工艺简单,且便于大面积制作的特点,是目前国际上发展替代3He探测技术的重要方向之一。为了详细研究nTHGEM探测器的本身性能,本工作使用55Fe放射源研究了nTHGEM探测器的增益、计数率稳定性、能量分辨率等关键参数与nTHGEM膜间电压、收集场强、漂移场强之间的关系,优化了nTHGEM探测器在不同工作气体中的工作参数,为后续进一步优化nTHGEM探测器设计和工艺奠定了基础。实验结果表明,单层nTHGEM探测器在Ar（90%）+CO₂（10%）混合气体中增益能达到103,探测器计数率稳定性良好。另外,还在中国原子能科学研究院的CARR反应堆（China Advanced Research Reactor）上进行了中子束流实验,通过狭缝测量到探测器位置分辨率为（3.01±0.03）mm（FWHM）,已经接近高气压3He MWPC中子探测器水平。With the development of pulsed intense neutron source, the high-performance neutron detector poses more challenges. The severe shortage of 3He gas resources and the urgent need of neutron detector with high counting rate have begun to restrict the neutron source application technology development. In response to the particularity of neutrons, the Institute of High Energy Physics of CAS developed a nTHGEM(neutron Thick Gaseous Electron Multiplier)of ceramic substrate for neutron detection. The neutron detector based on nTHGEM is one of the most important directions for the development of alternative 3He detection technology in the world at present because of its high counting rate, high position and time resolution, large gain, simple fabrication process and large area production. In order to study the properties of nTHGEM detector in detail, this paper studied the relationship between nTHGEM detector's gain, counting rate stability, energy resolution and other key parameters and nTHGEM film voltage, collection field strength and drift field strength using 55Fe radioactive source, Optimized the working parameters of nTHGEM detector in different working gases, which laid the foundation for further optimization of nTHGEM detector design and process. The experimental results show that the single-layer nTHGEM detector has a gain of 103 in a Ar(90%)+CO₂(10%) mixed gas with good counting rate stability. In addition, a neutron beam experiment was performed on the China Advanced Research Reactor at the China Institute of Atomic Energy, and the position resolution of the detector was (3.01±0.03) mm (FWHM) measured by slits. Its performance is close to the high pressure 3He MWPC neutron detector level.