A position resolution MRPC for muon tomography

Muon tomography is a promising method in the detection and imaging of high Z material. In general, considering the quality of track reconstruction in imaging, a detector of good position resolution, high efficiency and large area is required. This paper presents the design and study of a prototype of position sensitive MRPC with 0.15 mm narrow gas gap and 2.54 mm strip readout. Through a cosmic-ray experiment, the performance of MRPC module is carefully observed and each channel is calibrated. Through an X ray experiment with a narrow slit, the position resolution is studied. The results show that the time resolution of the module can reach 61ps and the spatial resolution can reach 0.36 mm.     

THGEM探测器X光斑寻迹和位置分辨实验研究

介绍了一种基于THGEM的X射线光斑寻迹探测器,用于X射线单光子计量技术研究和测量,探测器有效面积200 mm×200 mm,采用128路基于ASIC和FPGA的高速读出电子学,探测器分为中间高分辨区和外围低分辨区两部分,两部分共用一套读出电子学。实验在中国计量科学研究院利用X光机产生的束线,测试光斑位置、光斑精细分布以及探测器的位置分辨。实验结果表明,探测器实现了同时对光斑寻迹和光斑的精细测量,探测器中间高分辨区x方向的位置分辨率为0.63 mm（FWHM）,y方向位置分辨率为0.62mm（FWHM）,探测器各项性能指标均达到了预期目标。This paper introduces the detector of X-ray spot tracing based on the THGEM. It is used for X ray single photon measurement technology research and measurement with an effective area of 200 mm×200 mm. The circuit board has 128 array of high speed readout electronics based on ASIC and FPGA. And it is divided into two parts:the middle area of high sensitive and the peripheral area of low sensitive. The two parts share a set of readout electronics. The experiment tests the position and the fine structure of the beam line produced by X ray machine in National Institute of Metrology. The results of the experimental show that the detector realizes both the spot tracing and the fine structure of the spot. The position resolution is 0.63 mm in x direction and 0.62 mm in y direction in high sensitive of the detector, which achieve the desired goal of preliminary design.     

Prototype of a large neutron detector based on MWPC

A prototype of large-area position sensitive neutron detector was designed and constructed according to the requirements of the Small-Angle Scattering spectrometer of China Spallation Neutron Source(CSNS).The detector was based on the 3He neutron convertor and MWPC with an effective area of 650 mm×650 mm.A prototype was completed and tested with 55Fe X-ray.The high-pressure vessel was designed and constructed with high-strength aluminum alloy.A position resolution of about 4.6mm×2.3 mm(FWHM)and efficiency65%for neutrons with wavelength of 1.8?was determined after the operational gas filled.     

双维位置灵敏CsI(Tl)闪烁探测器

介绍了一种双维位置灵敏CsI(Tl)闪烁探测器, 利用GEANT4对它进行了蒙特卡罗模拟, 得到了RIB 17N的位置分布谱及探测器的空间位置分辨,　模拟结果与实验测量值很好地吻合。给出了影响探测器分辨的主要因素及改进方案。A two dimensional position sensitive CsI(Tl) scintillation detector readout with PSPMT was introduced. The performance of detector was simulated by using Monte Carlo code GEANT4. The position spectrum of RIB 17N and the detector’s position resolution were obtained, and the simulation results accorded with the experimental ones. The main factors, which can affect performance of the detector, and some planned detector improvements were presented.     

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 mm×200 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.     

Monte-Carlo simulation of a compact gamma-ray detector using wavelength-shifting fibers coupled to a YAP scintillation crystal

The production and transportation of fluorescent light produced in wavelength-shifting fibers (WSFs) coupled to YAP scintillation crystal is simulated using the GEANT4 codes. An advantage of the wavelength-shifting fiber readout technique over a direct readout with a position-sensitive photo-sensor is the reduced requirement for position sensitive photomultiplier tube photocathode area. With this gamma-ray detector, the gamma camera is small and flexible and has larger effective field of view and low cost. Simulation results show that a) a mean 12 of photons per 59.5 keV gamma ray interaction is produced in the WSF located nearest to the incident gamma ray, and a spatial resolution of 3.6 mm FWHM is obtained, b) a mean 27 of photons per 140 keV gamma ray interaction is produced and a spatial resolution of 3.1 mm FWHM is obtained. Results demonstrate the feasibility of this concept of a compact gamma-ray detector based on wavelength-shifting fibers readout. However, since the very low photoelectron levels, it is very important to use a photon counting device with good single photo-electron response to readout the WSFs.     

A Single Photon Imaging System Based on Wedge and Strip Anodes

A new prototype of single photon imaging system based on wedge and strip anodes is developed. The prototype can directly measure the intensity and position information for an ultra-weak radiant source which takes on the character of single photons. The image of the ultra-weak radiant source can be reconstructed with a wedge and strip anodes detector and an electronic readout subsystem by photon counting and photon position sensitive detecting in a period of time. With proper evaluation, the prototype reveals a spatial resolution superior to 150μm, a 66-kHz maximal counting rate and a dark-count below 0.67 count /cm^2 s.     

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.     

Study of a position-sensitive scintillator neutron detector

The investigation of a novel thermal neutron detector is developed to fulfill the requirements of the high intensity power diffractometer (HIPD) at the Chinese Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS). It consists of two layers of ⁶LiF/ZnS(Ag) scintillators, two layers of crossed WLSF arrays, several multi-anode photo multiplier tubes (MA-PMT), and the matching readout electronics. The neutron detection efficiency of the scintilltors, the light transportation ability of the WLSF, and the spatial linearity of the readout electronics are measured and discussed in this paper. It shows that the sandwich structure and the compact readout electronics could fulfill the needs of the HIPD. A prototype with a 10 cm×10 cm sensitive area has been constructed to further study the characteristics of the neutron scintillator detector.     

三级GEM探测器的增益一致性实验研究

随着二维GEM气体探测器在X射线成像探测领域的应用, 三级GEM的探测结构和电场均匀性带来的增益一致性修正问题, 成为需要深入研究的课题内容。 介绍了有效探测面积为100 mm×100 mm的三级倍增GEM探测器, 共采用100路阵列读出, 每路读出Pad面积为9.5 mm×9.5 mm。 测量了55Fe放射源准直入射的全能峰谱。 实验表明, 随着时间的变化, 探测器的增益基本上保持稳定; 随气流的增大, 增益由变化明显到变化不大。 GEM探测器各个阵列单元的增益一致性良好（>80%）; 能量分辨率在0.18～0.22之间, 运用最小二乘法拟合给出增益一致性的修正结果, 修正后相差约0.1, 为GEM气体探测器的增益一致性修正方法提供了参考方案。 With the application of the two dimensional GEM gaseous detector in X ray imaging, the correction method of gain uniformity caused by triple GEM avalanche structures and electric field uniformity should be studied. The paper reported the study of the triple GEM detector with effective area 100 mm×100 mm used the Pad’s size of 9.5 mm×9.5 mm. In the test, 100 readout channels were designed. Results showed that gain remained stable over time; as air flow increases, gain from increases obviously to changes very little. Particularly, triple GEM’s gain uniformity was very good (more than 80%) and the range of energy resolution was from 0.18 to 0.22. To improve gain consistency of results, the difference value revised was obtained to be about 0.1 by the least square method. It provided a better method to improve gain uniformity of GEM detector.     

二维多丝室探测器读出方法的优化

中国散裂中子源将建设一台基于~3He气体的二维多丝室,作为多功能反射谱仪束线的中子探测器.基于已有的研究,为优化选择二维多丝室探测器的丝结构,本文研究了三种不同的丝结构,并采用重心读出方法和数字读出方法进行了探测器的性能测量,得到了满足多功能反射谱仪探测器需求的读出方法.实验结果表明:对同种丝结构的二维多丝室探测器,重心读出方法的位置分辨和成像性能都好于数字读出方法;基于重心法读出的多丝室探测器位置分辨率可以达到约160μm,基于数字读出方法的多丝室探测器位置分辨率可以达到约400μm.优化设计的丝结构为:基于重心读出法的阳极丝间距1.5 mm、读出通道间距4 mm,基于数字读出法的阳极丝间距1.5 mm、读出通道间距2 mm.优化设计的丝结构均能满足谱仪的位置分辨要求.     

用于GPPD谱仪的大面积闪烁体中子探测器性能测试

中国散裂中子源（Chinese Spallation Neutron Source,CSNS）的建成为中子散射技术的发展和应用奠定了基础。通用粉末衍射谱仪（general purpose powder diffractometer,GPPD）是CSNS一期建设的三条谱仪之一。研制了用于GPPD的大面积闪烁体探测器阵列,在CSNS的BL20中子束线上开展了探测器关键性能参数的实验测试。测试结果显示,对波长为1.4 Å和2.8 Å的中子,其探测效率分别为（38.5±1.7）%和（56.1±1.1）%,模拟与实验相结合,给出对2 Å的中子,其探测效率约为（46.1±2.0）%,有效面积内的探测效率不均匀度约为19.6%,经优化后可以降低到14.9%;探测器位置分辨可以达到4.0 mm×4.0 mm,最高计数率约79 kHz。探测器单元的整体性能指标能满足GPPD的物理需求。     

中国散裂中子源小角中子散射谱仪探测器研制

中子小角散射探测器是小角散射（SANS）谱仪的关键设备之一,探测器要求有足够大的探测面积、较高的探测效率及较好的空间分辨率,能够在真空腔中稳定地工作并可在腔体内前后移动。综合考虑,SANS探测器采用120只8 mm直径位置灵敏3He管,组成有效面积1 000 mm（X）×1 020 mm（Y）的二维探测器阵列。探测器阵列分为10个模块,每一个模块功能完全独立,包括12只3He管及其对应的读出电子学和数据获取系统。读出电子学位于探测器背面的回字形密闭腔体内,由CSNS电子学组自主研发。SANS探测器从设计、选型、样机、调试到安装历时三年,中子束流实验结果显示探测器探测效率大于50%（@2Å）,空间分辨率好于10 mm（FWHM）,完全达到设计要求,目前正在中国散裂中子源小角散射谱仪运行使用。     

新型涂硼热中子MWPC探测器的时间信号读出方法

基于10B薄膜的二维灵敏探测器是新近发展起来的热中子探测器,其灵敏面积大,时间和位置分辨好,n/抑制能力高,抗辐射能力强,可二维读出且具有良好的耐计数能力。针对新型的涂硼灵敏热中子多丝正比（MWPC）探测器,在延迟线时间差方法的基础上,提出一种中子击中位置数字信息的读出方法,并设计NIM读出插件用以验证该方法对于二维中子探测位置信息的读出能力。测试结果表明,本方法能完成4通道探测器信号的实时测量,其时间测量精度好于50 ps。结合FPGA片上系统实时数据控制和处理技术,单插件可支持最高1.3MHz的探测计数率。     

散裂中子源高气压二维位置灵敏3He探测器的实验研究

为满足中国散裂中子源多功能反射谱仪中子探测器的基本物理要求:有效面积达到200 mm×200 mm、探测效率大于50%（2Å）、位置分辨好于2 mm等,中国科学院高能物理研究所研制了3He高气压二维多丝正比室位置灵敏中子探测器。该探测器采用二维多丝室结构,腔体内充3He/C₃H₈（6 atm/2.5 atm）的组合气体。本文首先利用Am/Be中子源完成对探测器全面积均匀性测试,均匀性指标达到了95.1%;探测器在中国散裂中子源的20号束流线站安装后,对其进行了在束测量,通过飞行时间选取波长2.8Å的慢中子,测量了探测器二维位置分辨和二维成像性能。在X方向（垂直于阳极丝的方向）的位置分辨为0.99 mm,Y方向（平行于阳极丝的方向）的位置分辨为1.36 mm,探测器具有很好的二维位置分辨和二维成像能力。测量结果表明探测器满足反射谱仪的研制要求。     

A stopping layer concept to improve the spatial resolution of gas-electron-multiplier neutron detector

In recent years, gas electron multiplier (GEM) neutron detectors have been developing towards high spatial resolution and high dynamic counting range. We propose a novel concept of an Al stopping layer to enable the detector to achieve sub-millimeter (sub-mm) spatial resolution. The neutron conversion layer is coated with the Al stopping layer to limit the emission angle of ions into the drift region. The short track projection of ions is obtained on the signal readout board, and the detector would get good spatial resolution. The spatial resolutions of the GEM neutron detector with the Al stopping layer are simulated and optimized based on Geant4GarfieldInterface. The spatial resolution of the detector is 0.76 mm and the thermal neutron detection efficiency is about 0.01% when the Al stopping layer is 3.0 μ m thick, the drift region is 2 mm thick, the strip pitch is 600 μ m, and the digital readout is employed. Thus, the GEM neutron detector with a simple detector structure and a fast readout mode is developed to obtain a high spatial resolution and high dynamic counting range. It could be used for the direct measurement of a high-flux neutron beam, such as Bragg transmission imaging, very small-angle scattering neutron detection and neutron beam diagnostic.     

Monte-Carlo simulation of a compact gamma-ray detector using wavelength-shifting fibers coupled to a YAP scintillation crystal

The production and transportation of fluorescent light produced in wavelength-shifting fibers (WSFs) coupled to YAP scintillation crystal is simulated using the GEANT4 codes.An advantage of the wavelength-shifting fiber readout technique over a direct readout with a position-sensitive photo-sensor is the reduced requirement for position sensitive photomultiplier tube photocathode area.With this gamma-ray detector,the gamma camera is small and flexible and has larger effective field of view and low cost.Simulation results show that a) a mean 12 of photons per 59.5 keV gamma ray interaction is produced in the WSF located nearest to the incident gamma ray,and a spatial resolution of 3.6 mm FWHM is obtained,b)a mean 27 of photons per 140 keV gamma ray interaction is produced and a spatial resolution of 3.1 mm FWHM is obtained.Results demonstrate the feasibility of this concept of a compact gamma-ray detector based on wavelength-shifting fibers readout.However,since the very low photoelectron levels,it is very important to use a photon counting device with good single photo-electron response to readout the WSFs.