Fast forward detector for MPD/NICA project: Concept, simulation, and prototyping

Concept of a fast forward detector (FFD) developed as part of Multi-Purpose Detector (MPD) setup for future experiments with beams of nuclear collider NICA is described. The FFD is aimed at triggering nucleus-nucleus collisions at the center of the MPD setup and generating start pulse for TOF detector. Two units of the detector module were designed, produced, and tested with cosmic rays and proton beam. The time resolution obtained in the measurements is ～30 ps (sigma). Results of simulation, prototype developing and experimental tests are discussed.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

频域反射法光纤延时精密测量

本文提出了一种应用于光纤延时系统中实现光纤延时精密测量的新方法,用以提高光纤延时测量的精度和准确性.该方法以1064 nm激光调制信号作为光源,通过测量回波信号的幅值和相位信息得到被测通道的频率响应,采用快速傅里叶逆变换得到被测目标的延时信息,实现光纤延时测量.本文通过理论分析和延时测量实验对频域反射法与传统的时域测量方法进行对比,使用频域反射法在调制频率范围10—200 MHz,采样频率间隔0.5 MHz的实验条件下,实现了3.3 ps延时测量分辨率,并证明了该方法具有比时域方法更高的测量精度,测量结果的准确性更好.     

BESⅢ TOF前端读出电子学系统原型设计和实验结果

作为北京谱仪(Beijing Spectrometer, 简称BES)的改造, BESⅢ将把TOF(time-of-flight)测量精度提高到一个新的水平, 总时间分辨不大于90ps. 其中要求前端电子学(Front End Electronics, FEE)对时间测量的不确定性贡献小于25ps. 本文介绍了TOF前端读出电子学系统原型电路的设计和初步的测试结果.     

一种基于微通道板的脉冲X射线时间谱仪

为适应新型超快闪烁材料研究的需要,在原有脉冲X射线时间谱仪的基础上,通过改装微通道板光电倍增管(MCP-PMT),并采用具有快时间响应的前置放大器(FPA)和恒比甄别器(CFD)的方法,使谱仪的时间分辨极限提高到170 ps左右.BaF2晶体闪烁光快成分衰减时间谱的测量结果表明:该谱仪可很好地满足新型超快闪烁材料发光衰减时间特性的研究.     

Using the Q of TOF to Identify the Particles

Time of flight counter (TOF) is one of the main subdetectors of Beijing SpectrometerII (BESII) for identification of charge particles. Time of flight and pulse amplitude are measured from the time of flight counters, when the particle hits on the TOF. Based on Di-mu sample from BESII, the correction of pulse amplitude Q is studied. Using the hadron sample of J/ψ, the relation between the corrected Pulse amplitude and βγ value is analyzed. A conclusion is that it is feasible to use the pulse amplitude Q₀ of TOF to identify the particles. Finally the efficiency and error efficiency is given while the pulse amplitude is used to identify the particles.     

中国散裂中子源反角白光中子源T0信号的精确扇出方法

反角白光中子源位于中国散裂中子源(CSNS),是以不同中子能量下的核数据测量为目标的大型物理实验装置,中子的能量是通过中子飞行时间(TOF)来获取的.实验中,将质子束流轰击钨靶的时刻作为TOF的起始时刻(T0),相应的电子学信号被用于触发整个电子学系统的运行.为了保证TOF测量的准确性和电子学系统各通道采集的同步性,需...     

BESⅢ barrel time-of-flight (TOF) calibration using cosmic ray data

The principle of the method for the BESⅢ TOF calibration using cosmic ray data without magnetic field are reported in this paper. After applying calibration constants, the single-end readout time resolution could reach about 150 ps, and the time resolution for one layer is achieved to be about 110 ps. The paper also described the extraction scheme for the event start time of cosmic events.     

Prototype of time digitizing system for BESⅢ endcap TOF upgrade

The prototype of a time digitizing system for the BESⅢ endcap TOF (ETOF) upgrade is introduced in this paper. The ETOF readout electronics has a distributed architecture. Hit signals from the multi-gap resistive plate chamber (MRPC) are signaled as LVDS by front-end electronics (FEE) and are then sent to the back-end time digitizing system via long shield differential twisted pair cables. The ETOF digitizing system consists of two VME crates, each of which contains modules for time digitization, clock, trigger, fast control, etc. The time digitizing module (TDIG) of this prototype can support up to 72 electrical channels for hit information measurement. The fast control (FCTL) module can operate in barrel or endcap mode. The barrel FCTL fans out fast control signals from the trigger system to the endcap FCTLs, merges data from the endcaps and then transfers to the trigger system. Without modifying the barrel TOF (BTOF) structure, this time digitizing architecture benefits from improved ETOF performance without degrading the BTOF performance. Lab experiments show that the time resolution of this digitizing system can be lower than 20 ps, and the data throughput to the DAQ can be about 92 Mbps. Beam experiments show that the total time resolution can be lower than 45 ps.     

Prototype of time digitizing system for BESⅢ endcap TOF upgrade

The prototype of a time digitizing system for the BESⅢ endcap TOF (ETOF) upgrade is introduced in this paper. The ETOF readout electronics has a distributed architecture. Hit signals from the multi-gap resistive plate chamber (MRPC) are signaled as LVDS by front-end electronics (FEE) and are then sent to the back-end time digitizing system via long shield differential twisted pair cables. The ETOF digitizing system consists of two VME crates, each of which contains modules for time digitization, clock, trigger, fast control, etc. The time digitizing module (TDIG) of this prototype can support up to 72 electrical channels for hit information measurement. The fast control (FCTL) module can operate in barrel or endcap mode. The barrel FCTL fans out fast control signals from the trigger system to the endcap FCTLs, merges data from the endcaps and then transfers to the trigger system. Without modifying the barrel TOF (BTOF) structure, this time digitizing architecture benefits from improved ETOF performance without degrading the BTOF performance. Lab experiments show that the time resolution of this digitizing system can be lower than 20 ps, and the data throughput to the DAQ can be about 92 Mbps. Beam experiments show that the total time resolution can be lower than 45 ps.     

The Monte Carlo Simulation of BESⅢ Ead cap TOF

The End-Cap TOF (ETOF) of Beijing Spectrometer (BESⅢ) consists of 2×48 pieces of trapezoidal scintillator (BC408). Its main physics goal is to realize the 2σ π/k separation at momentum up to 1GeV/c, and to obtain TOF intrinsic time resolution of 80ps.In order to study the effects of several factors on the intrinsic time resolution of ETOF, the Monte Carlo simulation of the detector is carried out by using Geant4 software package. The performance of ETOF at different conditions, such as scintillator covered materials, shapes, and particle hit positions, is simulated and discussed in discussed in detail. The result can provide a reference for the design of ETOF detecor in BESⅢ.     

Towards a microchannel‐based X‐ray detector with two‐dimensional spatial and time resolution and high dynamic range

X‐ray detectors that combine two‐dimensional spatial resolution with a high time resolution are needed in numerous applications of synchrotron radiation. Most detectors with this combination of capabilities are based on semiconductor technology and are therefore limited in size. Furthermore, the time resolution is often realised through rapid time‐gating of the acquisition, followed by a slower readout. Here, a detector technology is realised based on relatively inexpensive microchannel plates that uses GHz waveform sampling for a millimeter‐scale spatial resolution and better than 100 ps time resolution. The technology is capable of continuous streaming of time‐ and location‐tagged events at rates greater than 10⁷ events per cm². Time‐gating can be used for improved dynamic range.     

Development of tools for real-time betatron tune measurements at the Nuclotron

A betatron tune measurement system was developed and tested at the Nuclotron. A white noise and chirp signals were used for transverse beam motion excitation. A custom FlexRIO digitizer module was developed which provides excitation signal generation for kicker electrodes and real-time signal acquisition from pickup electrodes. A high resolution FFT algorithm was implemented inside a NI PXI FPGA module, connected to digitizer. The measurement system is integrated with the NICA control system based on the TANGO Controls. Results and tests performed with the Nuclotron beam are presented.     

Time resolved spectroscopy of second harmonic emission from laser irradiated microballoons

Time resolved second harmonic spectra from glass microballoons irradiated by neodymium laser pulses (∽ 10¹⁶W cm^-2, ∽ 100 ps) have been recorded with a resolution of ∽ 10 ps in time, ∽ 1 Å in wavelength and ∽ 10μm in the target plane. Intense, time and wavelength resolution-limited spots appear, whose origin has not yet been explained.     

MRPC-TOF时间性能和刻度方法的研究

研制的由28个多气隙电阻板室(MRPC)模块构成飞行时间探测系统, 从2003年以来在RHIC-STAR实验上成功运行并获得了大量的实验数据. 为了深入了解MRPC实际运行中的性能,采用质心能量200GeV的Au-Au对撞的实验数据, 对MRPC-TOF的刻度方法进行了深入研究, 主要包括: (1) 对现有的刻度方法做了进一步的改进; (2) 对粒子入射角度等因素进行了修正; (3) STAR径迹重建的位置分辨率对MRPC时间分辨率影响. 用改进后的刻度和修正方法, 计算得到MRPC的本征时间分辨率为大约60ps, 与束流实验结果相近.     

用于裂变碎片质量测量的MCP和Au-Si SBD飞行时间探测系统

为了能很好地鉴别碎片质量,建立一个好的飞行时间测量方法是十分必要的。阐述了建立用于裂变碎片质量测量的微通道板（MCP）和金硅面垒探测器（SBD）飞行时间探测系统。对于80 μg/cm2厚的碳膜,241Am的α粒子的探测效率约为39%,252Cf（sf）裂变碎片的探测效率约为98%。在动能为78 MeV条件下,对252Cf（sf）重裂变碎片（138~148 u）得到的时间分辨为（224:1±6:1）ps;在动能为102 MeV条件下,对252Cf（sf）轻裂变碎片（101~111 u）,得到的时间分辨为（154:5±5:8）ps。In order to separate the mass number of fragments in the fission reactions, it is essential to develop a good time-of-flight (TOF) method. The purpose of this article is to set up a TOF detector system including a microchannel plate (MCP) and a Au-Si surface-barrier detector (SBD). The TOF system shows a detection efficiency of 39% for α-particles released from 241Am and 98% for fragments in the spontaneous fission of 252Cf. The experimental results show that the time resolutions of (224:1±6:1) ps for the heavy fragments (Ek=78 MeV, AH=138~148 u) and (154:5±5:8) ps for the light fragments (Ek=102 MeV, AL=101~111 u) can be obtained.     

Time calibration for the end cap TOF system of BESⅢ

The time calibration for end cap TOF system of BESⅢ is studied in this paper. It has achieved about 110 ps time resolution for muons in dimu events. The pulse height correction using electronic scan curve and the predicted time calculated using Kalman filter method are introduced. This paper also describes the study of using electrons and muons as calibration samples.     

Time calibration for the end cap TOF system of BESⅢ

The time calibration for end cap TOF system of BESⅢ is studied in this paper.It has achieved about 110 ps time resolution for muons in dimu events.The pulse height correction using electronic scan curve and the predicted time calculated using Kalman filter method are introduced.This paper also describes the study of using electrons and muous as calibration samples.