Status of the front-end-electronics for the time-of-flight measurements at the MPD experiment

The preamplifier based on the ASIC NINO for the Time of Flight system (TOF) of MPD/NICA was developed and tested. The signal is read from both sides of the strip of the multi gap Resistive Plate Chamber (MRPC). In total there are around 14000 channels of electronics. To measure time of flight of secondary particles from collision of heavy ions on the collider NICA the Time over Threshold (ToT) method is used. According to the bench tests the preamplifier board showed stable work and good time resolution <10 ps for one channel. It was also tested at the test beam facility of the Nuclotron. The time resolution of the TOF detector which used the described preamplifier was reached ～42 ps.     

Long life-time emission of the excited species ejected from the surface of solid Ne

Desorption of long-lived neutral particles from solid Ne is studied using selective photoexcitation and time of flight (TOF) techniques. The luminescence due to direct light from the sample surface is blocked by rotating the sample. Two new prominent features are revealed in the TOF spectra measured with the special geometry in the study: a prominent long tail and a maximum at the delay time of 0.5 ms. From the analysis of the excitation spectra recorded by a time-window technique and the TOF spectra at selective excitation, it is considered that the new features are closely related to Ne*₂ excimer desorption. An analysis of the probable mechanisms of long life-time emission is presented.     

多气隙电阻板室飞行时间谱仪技术

基于多气隙电阻板室(MRPC)技术的飞行时间谱仪广泛应用于现代物理实验,并在粒子鉴别中发挥了重要作用.随着加速器能量和实验亮度的提高,对飞行时间谱仪的粒子计数率和时间分辨要求越来越高.MRPC飞行时间谱仪按技术上可以分成三代.从第一代到第三代,计数率要求越来越高( 30 kHz/cm~2),时间精度也更加严格(20 ps),相应的探测器结构和读出电子学系统呈现出不同的特性.本文总结了三代飞行时间谱仪技术的主要技术特点及主要物理实验,介绍了已经取得的应用成果,提出了该技术的未来发展方向.同时也介绍了MRPC探测器在工业及医学方面的应用.     

Studies of timing properties for a TOF counter at an external target facility

Timing and amplitude properties of a prototype scintillator TOF counter at an external target facility are studied with a cosmic rays test. The dependence of signal pulse height and time resolution on the coordinate along the scintillator TOF counter is investigated with two different discriminators. A time resolution of 165 ps can be achieved at the center of the counter with a constant fraction discriminator. Time resolution better than 150 ps is obtained at the center with a leading edge discriminator after time wall（ correction is applied for off-line analysis.     

Characterisation of the high-energy neutron beam at iThemba LABS

Monoenergetic and white neutron beams with a maximum energy of 200 MeV are produced at the neutron beam facility of the iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator-Based Sciences (iTL) by (p, n) reactions on Li, Be and C targets. The iTL separated-sector cyclotron can accelerate protons from 25 MeV to 200 MeV. Time of flight (TOF) measurements can be carried out by increasing the time separation between proton bunches up to 500 ns with a beam pulse selector. In the present work, the methods of beam characterisation used at this facility are discussed. Comparisons with metrological standards are presented. Specific issues related to monitoring the neutron fields at different accelerator settings are analysed.     

Studies of timing properties for a TOF counter at an external target facility

Timing and amplitude properties of a prototype scintillator TOF counter at an external target facility are studied with a cosmic rays test. The dependence of signal pulse height and time resolution on the coordinate along the scintillator TOF counter is investigated with two different discriminators. A time resolution of 165 ps can be achieved at the center of the counter with a constant fraction discriminator. Time resolution better than 150 ps is obtained at the center with a leading edge discriminator after time walk correction is applied for off-line analysis.     

Ultrasound propagation in trabecular bone: A numerical study of the influence of microcracks

The accumulation of microdamage in trabecular bone tissue is suspected of being a predictive indicator of osteoporosis diagnosis. To quantify this microdamage, the Dynamic AcoustoElastic Testing (DAET) method measures the Time Of Flight (TOF) and amplitude variations of transmitted ultrasound (US) pulses, while the bone sample is submitted to a low frequency sinusoidal hydrostatic pressure (opening/closing of microcracks). However, DAET is both sensitive to viscoelastic properties changes and microcracks density. To verify the microcracks density contribution on DAET results, a numerical approach is proposed. Multliple configurations of microdamaged trabecular bone-tissue-like mesh have been simulated. A 2D pseudo-spectral time domain numerical model was then developed to simulate linear wave propagation in heterogeneous solids. The influence of the microcracks number and orientation on the US TOF was particularly investigated. Results are discussed and compared with experimental data obtained from DAET measurements in trabecular bone samples.     

Laser ablation of YBa2Cu3O7-x: the wavelength dependence

Formation mechanisms of atomic and oxide ions in a plume (laser-induced plasma) produced by the laser ablation of a YBa₂Cu₃O_7-x (YBCO) target was studied by time-of-flight (TOF) analysis. The dependence of the TOF spectra on the laser wavelengths (266 nm and 1064 nm) was examined to elucidate photochemical phenomena in the plume. Significant changes in the relative enrichment of metal oxide and oxygen ions as well as their TOF distributions were observed by the injection of an oxygen jet to the plume, which induces reactive scattering of the YBCO plume and the oxygen jet.     

Observation of a pp mass threshold enhancement in ψ′→π+π－J/ψ(J/ψ→γpp) decay

The decay channel ψ′→π⁺π^－J/ψ(J/ψ→γpp) is studied using a sample of 1.06×10⁸ ψ′ events collected by the BESIII experiment at BEPCII. A strong enhancement at threshold is observed in the pp invariant mass spectrum. The enhancement can be fitted with an S-wave Breit-Wigner resonance function with a resulting peak mass of M=1861⁺⁶_－13 (stat)⁺⁷_－26 (syst) MeV/c² and a narrow width that is Γ<38 MeV/c² at the 90% confidence level. These results are consistent with published BESII results. These mass and width values do not match with well established mesons.

     

The measurement of energy spectra of neutral particles in low energy ion scattering

An apparatus is described for low energy (0.1–10 keV) ion scattering (LEIS) experiments. A time of flight (TOF) spectrometer is incorporated in the system to be able to measure the energy of particles in the neutral state after scattering. The energy resolution ΔE/E of the TOF spectrometer is discussed and found to be 0.5% (FWHM). This is sufficient for our scattering experiments. An electrostatic analyzer (ESA) is used to measure the energy of scattered ions [ΔE/E=0.5% (FWHM)]. Experiments show that in general the ion dose needed to obtain a TOF spectrum (2×10¹⁰ ions/cm²) is much smaller than the dose needed for an ESA-spectrum (6×10¹³ ions/cm²). The ion spectra measured with the TOF spectrometer, by subtracting the neutral yield from the total yield, as well as with the ESA are found to agree quite well. This provides a way to calibrate the TOF spectrometer. The determination of the ion fraction of scattered particles is discussed [10 keV⁴⁰Ar⁺ on Cu(100), scattering angle 30°]. It is shown that the TOF spectrometer is able to measure light recoil particles (e.g. hydrogen) from a heavy substrate. In the analysing system is, in addition to the TOF spectrometer, also incorporated a stripping cell to measure the energy of neutral scattered particles. An energy spectrum of neutral scattered particles measured with both methods is shown.     

Near Field Stimulated Time of Flight Mass Surface Analyzer

This work describes a groundbreaking process that provides a direct highly localized measurement of the atomic mass on surfaces at room temperature. Employing an original system that joins a scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) device and a time of flight (TOF) mass analyzer, we could previously ionize surface atoms by the combination of an optical laser pulse and an electric pulse at the STM tip. Desorbed ions from a localized area were accelerated and detected by a TOF chamber. We will demonstrate in this paper that high localization and mass discrimination can be obtained even without the aid of an electric pulse from the tip. We reduced the angle of incidence of the laser beam to zero (laser beam parallel to the sample surface). In this condition we were able to demonstrate for the first time ionic desorption at a confinement level of the order of 5-10nm, an order of magnitude better than previous configurations.This paper was originally presented at the 11th Optical Near Field Workshop, which was held on June 28, 2002 at Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, organized by the Optical Near Field Group of the Optical Society of Japan, an affiliate of the Japan Society of Applied Physics.     

Preliminary investigation of heterogeneity in the microzone of composites by laser ultrasonic probe measurements

We carry out a preliminary investigation of heterogeneity in the microzone of composites by using a laser ultrasonic probe to measure the time-of- flight (TOF) of the laser-excited longitudinal (L-) and transverse (S-) waves that propagate within the samples. The influence of the number of fibers on the inhomogeneity of the TOF is observed. The results show that the heterogeneity of the TOF in a small region within a composite can be observed with a resolution of 2 ns in time and 50 m in space. The S-wave is better than the L-wave for examining the heterogeneity. The change in the TOF for the sample with two fibers is smaller than that for the sample with one fiber. PACS 62.65.+k; 43.35.+d; 42.62.-b; 81.70.Cv; 81.05.-t     

An absolute method for determination of misalignment of an immersion ultrasonic transducer

An absolute methodology has been developed for quantification of misalignment of an ultrasonic transducer using a corner-cube retroreflector. The amplitude based and the time of flight (TOF) based C-scans of the reflector are obtained for various misalignments of the transducer. At zero degree orientation of the transducer, the vertical positions of the maximum amplitude and the minimum TOF in the C-scan coincide. At any other orientation of the transducer with the horizontal plane, there is a vertical shift in the position of the maximum amplitude with respect to the minimum TOF. The position of the minimum (TOF) remains the same irrespective of the orientation of the transducer and hence is used as a reference for any misalignment of the transducer. With the measurement of the vertical shift and the horizontal distance between the transducer and the vertex of the reflector, the misalignment of the transducer is quantified. Based on the methodology developed in the present study, retroreflectors are placed in the Indian 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor for assessment of the orientation of the ultrasonic transducer prior to the under-sodium ultrasonic scanning for detection of any protrusion of the subassemblies.     

Emission of neutral molecules during UV laser ablation of a photolabile triazeno polymer

The neutral products of irradiating a photolabile triazeno-polymer with a pulsed laser at 248 nm (KrF excimer) were studied with time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry. At fluences below 1.3 J/cm², N₂ is by far the most intense neutral product. Phenyl radical (mass 76) production was also observed. The leading edge of the N₂ TOF signal shows a shoulder corresponding to kinetic energies of about 1.1 eV, followed by a long tail that lasts hundreds of microseconds. The tail is attributed to delayed emission of reaction products from the polymer. The kinetic energy of the fast peak is attributed to direct ejection of products from surface sites undergoing exothermic decomposition. The fluence dependence of the N₂ signal is highly nonlinear and is shown to fit an Arrhenius equation.     

R值扫描实验中触发效率的测量

介绍了北京正负电子对撞机(BEPC)/北京谱仪(BES)R值扫描实验中触发效率的测量方法,BES触发判选系统触发条件表的设置,给出了R值测量实验期间各触发条件、触发道以及不同类型事例的触发效率.     

Growth dynamics of carbon-metal particles and nanotubes synthesized by CO2 laser vaporization

To study the growth of carbon-Co/Ni particles and single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) by 20 ms CO₂ laser-pulse irradiation of a graphite-Co/Ni (1.2 at. %) target in an Ar gas atmosphere (600 Torr), we used emission imaging spectroscopy and shadowgraphy with a temporal resolution of 1.67 ms. Wavelength-selected emission images showed that C₂ emission was strong in the region close to the target (within 2 cm), while for the same region the blackbody radiation from the large clusters or particles increased with increasing distance from the target. Shadowgraph images showed that the viscous flow of carbon and metal species formed a mushroom or a turbulent cloud spreading slowly into the Ar atmosphere, indicating that particles and SWNTs continued to grow as the ejected material cooled. In addition, emission imaging spectroscopy at 1200 °C showed that C₂ and hot clusters and particles with higher emission intensities were distributed over much wider areas. We discuss the growth dynamics of the particles and SWNTs through the interaction of the ambient Ar with the carbon and metal species released from the target by the laser pulse.     

Systematic experiments for proof of Poisson statistics on direct-detection laser radar using Geiger mode avalanche photodiode

The single pulse detection and false-alarm probability in measuring time of flight (TOF) of laser pulse are caused by the creation of primary electrons in Geiger mode avalanche photodiode (APD). Measuring the detection and false-alarm probabilities with longer laser pulse than time bin and artificial noise source, we have experimentally proved that the creations of primary electrons in Geiger mode APD is Poisson distributed. It is also shown theoretically that there is little difference between smaller and larger laser pulse width than time bin cases on measurements of both detection and false-alarm probability.     

激光光解NO2产物—NO分子NO（X2П）与氧原子O(3PJ″)的REMPI离子谱研究

利用激光光解NO₂分子,通过共振增强多光子电离(REMPI resonance enhanced multiphoto ionization)及飞行时间（TOF time of flight）质谱技术,获得了振转态分辨的NO（Ｘ^２Π,υ″,Ｊ″）与自旋-轨道分辨的氧原子O（２Ｐ^３Ｐ_{Ｊ″＝２,１,０})离子谱.NO分子与O原子的离子信号强度与ＵＶ电离激光能量之间的关系分别能用二次方和三次方曲线很好拟合,它表明:光解产物NO分子和氧原子是分别通过（1+1）和（2+1）多光子吸收过程而被电离的.由氧离子信号得到的氧原子基态三个自旋-轨道支能级布居比f_１与f_０分别为0.54±0.09和 0.20±0.04,这一比值与统计分布计算的值为0.6和0.2一致.     

Analysis of the Factors that Influence the Time Resolution of TOF in BESⅢ Detector

In TOF measurement, the factors that can increase the time resolution include noise, amplitude measurement error, and the difference of pulse amplitudes and shapes. This article discusses how these factors affect time resolution, and performs quantitative analysis based on the GEANT4 simulation result of the BESⅢ's TOF detector. The result shows that the discriminator level must be selected carefully. To get better time resolution, pulse waveform digitizing is necessary.     

利用252 Cf快裂变室测量BC501A液闪探测器的相对探测效率和响应函数

本文利用²⁵²Cf快裂变室和多参数数据采集系统,逐事例的同时记录了自发裂变中子和瞬发伽马的飞行时间(TOF),脉冲形状甄别(PSD)和反冲能量(RE,裂变中子是通过测量反冲质子;瞬发伽马是通过测量康普顿反冲电子)三维信息.详细介绍了通过离线数据分析完全扣除三维信息中的伽马事例贡献,以获得Φ50.8 mm×50.8 mm的BC501A液闪探测器的相对探测效率和响应函数的方法.在不通过探测器响应函数进行数据转换的条件下,利用中子的能量直接确定了中子的有效测量阈值.得到的中子 关键词： 252Cf快裂变室')" href="#">²⁵²Cf快裂变室 BC501A液闪探测器 相对探测效率 响应函数