Modern trends in the development of position sensitive neutron detectors for condensed matter research

Different types of neutron scattering experiment for the study of condensed matter properties pose specific and often contradictory requirements for detector characteristics. There is no single type of detector which satisfies all the criteria. Therefore, compromise is inevitable and some of the characteristics are trade off in favour of others. Present report gives an overview of detector systems presently operating at the leading neutron scattering facilities as well as some development work around the globe.      

Performance studies on high pressure 1-D position sensitive neutron detectors

The powder diffractometer and Hi-Q diffractometer at Dhruva reactor make use of five identical 1-D position sensitive detectors (PSDs) to scan scattering angles in the range 3° to 140°. In order to improve the overall throughput of these spectrometers, it is planned to install a bank of 15 high-efficiency and high-resolution PSDs arranged in three layers with five PSDs in each layer. With each high pressure PSD (³He 10 bar + Kr 2 bar) showing the efficiency gain of 1.8 at 1.2 Å, detector bank is expected to show overall gain of 5.5 times the present detection efficiency and reduction in data collection time by equivalent factor. The 1-D PSDs are developed in batches of five, and are characterized so that all PSDs operate at uniform parameters such as position resolution, uniformity of efficiency and linearity of response. Position spectrum indicates the differential position resolution to be ～1 mm and integral position resolution to be 3–4 mm. Broadening of position spectrum at the extreme end of sensitive length of PSD is analysed using fine shift of the beam. Dependence of position resolution and dynamic range of output pulse on the input impedance of pre-amplifier is also presented.     

Indoor radon measurement in Izmir Province,Turkey

In 2013, an extensive study was performed in a total of 117 locations in Izmir province and indoor radon levels were measured using the alpha track etch integrated method with LR-115 detectors. As the maps are more practical to interpret the results of radiological survey, the distributions of indoor ²²²Rn activities in four most densely populated districts of Izmir were mapped in detail. It is seen that the estimated average radon concentration level (210 Bq m^?3) determined in Izmir province was almost three times higher than the mean value for Turkey (81 Bq m^?3). Exposed annual effective dose equivalents for Izmir province were estimated in the range of 0.7 to 12.3 mSv year^?1 with a mean of 5.3 mSv year^?1. In this study, it is pointed out that indoor radon concentration was affected by the age of the building and height above the ground.     

Neutron light output function and resolution investigation of the deuterated organic liquid scintillator EJ-315

In this paper we investigate the light response to fast neutrons and estimate the pulse height resolution of a deuterated liquid organic scintillator, EJ-315, considering the detector's non-linear light response to gamma-rays. Initially, collision data and a neutron beam trigger are recorded in coincidence mode, and incident neutron energy is calculated with a time-of-flight technique. Fast neutrons are further discriminated from gamma-ray background based on the scintillation material decay patterns using a pulse shape discrimination algorithm. A light response matrix composed of multiple neutron energy and their corresponding light outputs is derived. The pulse height resolution property of the EJ-315 is characterized utilizing the derivatives of the pulse height distributions with corrections of the measurements setup uncertainties. Additionally, the EJ-315's pulse height resolution is also characterized by comparing the smoothed derivatives of quasi-monoenergetic neutron pulse height distributions, given by the Peierls-formula-based analytic model, to match the measurement data. Results show rather consistent 10–13% pulse resolution for mono-energetic neutrons with kinetic energy above 2 MeV. The resolution decreases slightly with an increase in neutron energy indicating the improved resolution performance of EJ-315 in the higher energy events.     

Growth and characterization of TGS and DTGS single crystals doped with Pt(II), Pt(IV) and L‐alanine

The single crystals of triglycine sulfate doped with bivalent and tetravalent Pt‐ions and with L‐alanine (LADTGS/Pt(II) and LATGS/Pt(IV)) were grown in the ferroelectric phase from low temperature solutions. Using stick seeds the full‐shaped crystals with many growth pyramids have been prepared. The growth rate along the axis c of the doped crystals is much higher than in an undoped one. Morphology, domain structure and P‐E hysteresis loops have been investigated. The effect of the dopant on the growth velocity is explained on the basis of catalytic action of supposed platinum complexes. The first series of the pyroelectric detectors have been prepared from these materials and their fundamental parameters are presented. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

MSM结构GaAs探测器的抗辐照性能

研究一种双金属接触的GaAs半导体探测器在14MeV中子辐照下的性能.测量了探测器经过10¹²n/cm²中子辐照剂量后的反向漏电流、电荷收集效率和最小电离粒子能谱,并且与⁶⁰Co 1.25MeV光子辐照的测量结果相比较.对中子辐照引起探测器时间性能变化和辐照损伤机制进行了探讨.并根据实验结果提出了这种双金属接触GaAs探测器灵敏层分布的一种假设,理论计算和实验数据相符合.     

InSb芯片碎裂与迸溅金点的关系

批量生产中经常发生的锑化铟(InSb)芯片碎裂问题制约着InSb红外焦平面探测器(IRFPAs)成品率的提升.经分析认为:低周期液氮冲击下发生在器件边沿区域的InSb芯片破碎与该区域中迸溅金点的存在有关.为从理论上明晰迸溅金点对InSb芯片局部碎裂的影响,本文建立了包含迸溅金点的InSb IRFPAs结构模型,分析了迸...     

Development and integration of near atmospheric N2 ambient sputtered Au thin film for enhanced infrared absorption

The exceedingly fragile nature of thermally grown Au-black coating makes handling and patterning a critical issue. Infrared absorption characteristics of near atmospheric, N₂ ambient DC sputtered Au thin films are studied for this purpose. The thin Au films are sputtered at different chamber pressures in Ar and N₂/Ar gas ambient from 4.5 to 8.0 mbar and optimized for enhanced infrared absorption. The absorber film sputtered in N₂/Ar ambient at 8.0 mbar chamber pressure offers significant absorption of medium to long wave infrared radiations. The micro-patterning of sputtered Au thin film is carried out by using conventional photolithography and metal lift off methods on a prefabricated µ-infrared detector array on Si (1 0 0) substrate. The steady state temperature response of sputtered film has been examined using nondestructive thermal imaging method under external heating of the detector array.