For reconstruction of the spatial structure of many-component objects, it is proposed to use multi-radiography with detection of X-ray by combined detector arrays using detectors of ``scintillator-photodiode'' type. A theoretical model has been developed of multi-energy radiography for thickness measurements of multi-layered systems and systems with defects. Experimental studies of the sensitivity, output signal of various inspection systems based on scintillators $ZnSe(Te)$ and $CsI(Tl)$, and object image reconstruction (with organics and non-ogranics materials singled out) have been carried out.
In this work we attempt to establish the best time resolution attainable with a scintillation counter consisting of a plastic scintillator read out by a Geiger-mode Avalanche Photodiode. The measured time resolution is inversely proportional to the square root of the energy deposited in the scintillator, and scales to 18ps (sigma) at 1MeV. This result competes with the best ones reported for photomultiplier tubes.
We have studied the possibility of using Geiger mode multi-pixel photodiodes to read out long scintillator bars with a single wavelength-shifting fiber embedded along the bar. This detector configuration can be used in large volume detectors in future long baseline neutrino oscillation experiments. Prototype bars of 0.7 cm thickness and different widths have been produced and tested using two types of multi-pixel photodiodes: MRS APD (CPTA, Moscow) and MPPC (Hamamatsu). A minimum light yield of 7.2 p.e./MeV was obtained for a 4 cm wide bar.
The results of a development of a scintillator counter with wavelength shifting (WLS) fibre and a multi-pixel Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode readout are presented. The photodiode has a metal-resistor-semiconductor layered structure and operates in the limited Geiger mode. The scintillator counter has been developed for the EMMA underground cosmic ray experiment.
The Tokai-to-Kamioka (T2K) experiment is a second generation long baseline neutrino oscillation experiment which aims at a sensitive search for the nu_e appearance. The main design features of the T2K near detectors located at 280 m from the target are presented. Scintillator counters developed for the T2K near detectors are described. Readout of the counters is provided via WLS fibers embedded into S-shape grooves in a scintillator and viewed from both ends by multi-pixel avalanche photodiodes operating in a limited Geiger mode. A desription, operational principles and the results of tests of…
Results of experimental studies of detector arrays S-PD (scintillator-photodiode) and PRD (scintillator-photoreceiving device) used for X-ray digital radiography have shown that there exist further possibilities to increase spatial resolution of this system up to 2-3 line pairs per mm. Theoretical analysis and experimental studies show that the two-energy detection method not only allows one to detect organics on the background of metal, but also substantially increases (by 3-5 times) the detection ability of the system as a whole, especially if parameters of the S-PD pair are optimized, in pa…
The application of reach-through avalanche photodiodes (R'APD) as a photodetector for scintillator tiles has been investigated. The light collected by WLS fibers (0.84mm and 1mm diameter) embedded in the scintillator has been transmited to the 0.5mm2 active surface of APD by clear optical fibers and optical connectors. A low noise charge sensitive preamplifier (approximately 400 electrons equivalent noise charge) has been used to gain the photodiode signal. Various configurations of tile-fibre systems, suitable for CMS and LHCb experiments at LHC have been studied using cosmic muons and muon b…
For radiography applications using fast neutrons simultaneously with gammas we have developed a detector with 16 stilbene crystals in a 4$\times$4 2D array with a 5~mm pitch and a depth of 25~mm. The crystal array is read out by Silicon photomultipliers and custom signal processing electronics. The detector prototype was tested using a custom D-D fast neutron generator at the Paul Scherrer Institute. By applying a pulse shape discrimination algorithm the detector is able to detect and distinguish fast neutrons and gammas simultaneously. Various attenuating samples placed between the source and…
Muon radiography is a promising technique to image the internal density structures upto a few hundred meters scale, such as tunnels, pyramids and volcanos, by measuring the flux attenuation of cosmic ray muons after trvaling through these targets. In this study, we conducted an experimantal cosmic ray muon radiography of the Wudalianchi volcano in northeast China for imaging its internal density structures. The muon detector used in this study is made of plastic scintillator and silicon photomultiplier. After about one and a half month observation for the Laoheishan volcano cone in the Wudalia…
We have developed a photon counting detector system for combined neutron and gamma radiography which can determine position, time and intensity of a secondary photon flash created by a high-energy particle or photon within a scintillator screen. The system is based on a micro-channel plate photomultiplier concept utilizing image charge coupling to a position- and time-sensitive read-out anode placed outside the vacuum tube in air, aided by a standard photomultiplier and very fast pulse-height analyzing electronics. Due to the low dead time of all system components it can cope with the high thr…
Prototype of gamma ray detector based on Micro Pixel Avalanche Photodiodes (MAPD) with high pixel density 15000 pixel/$mm^2$, optically coupled to Lutetium Fine Silicate (LFS) scintillator has been developed. The detection performance investigated in the range of energy 59.6 - 662 keV at room temperature. The results of measurements are presented in this work.
The white neutron beamline at the China Spallation Neutron Source will be used mainly for nuclear data measurements. It will be characterized by high flux and broad energy spectra. To exploit the beamline as a neutron imaging source, we propose a liquid scintillator fiber array for fast neutron resonance radiography. The fiber detector unit has a small exposed area, which will limit the event counts and separate the events in time, thus satisfying the requirements for single-event time-of-flight (SEToF) measurement. The current study addresses the physical design criteria for ToF measurement, …
Multi-pixel photodiodes operating in a limited Geiger mode will be used for photoreadout of scintillator counters in underground cosmic ray experiment EMMA. Main parameters of photodiodes and the performance of EMMA scintillator counters are presented.
We utilise muons from cosmic ray to explore hidden underground archaeological structures. Presented here is the design, simulation studies and first laboratory results of a compact, scintillators based, cosmic ray muon telescope for underground muon radiography.
The development prospects of a scintillator-photodiode type detector with an improved energy resolution attaining few per cent, R from 1 to 2%, are considered. The main resolution components have been analyzed theoretically, their theoretical and physical limits have been established. Empirical data on the properties of novel scintillators have been presented confirming the possibility of the R improvement. New optimization methods have been proposed to optimize the detector statistical fluctuations and the scintillator intrinsic resolution. A specific importance of the intrinsic resolution is…
A Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon Photodiode indirect flexible device for radiation flux measurements at low intensities
INFN, Sez. di Perugia（意大利国家核物理研究所佩鲁贾分部）；Centre for Medical Radiation Physics, University of Wollongong（伍伦贡大学医学辐射物理中心）；Najran University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Physics（纳季兰大学文理学院物理系）；Dip. di Fisica e Geologia dell’Università degli Studi di Perugia（佩鲁贾大学物理与地质学系）；Department of Mathematics and Physics "Ennio de Giorgi" University of Salento（莱切恩尼奥德乔治数学与物理系）；INFN Sezione di Lecce（意大利国家核物理研究所莱切分部）；Dipartimento Ingegneria dell’Informazione, Elettronica e Telecomunicazioni, dell’Università degli studi di Roma（罗马大学信息与电子通信工程系）；INFN Sezione di Roma 1（意大利国家核物理研究所罗马第一分部）；INFN-LNL（意大利国家核物理研究所-国家实验室）；Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia Università di Padova（帕多瓦大学物理与天文学系）；INFN TIFPA and Dipartimento di ingegneria industriale dell’Università di Trento（意大利国家核物理研究所TIFPA及特伦托大学工业工程系）；Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)（洛桑联邦理工学院）；DiSPeA, Università di Urbino Carlo Bo（乌尔比诺卡洛博大学DISPeA）；INFN Sezione di Firenze（意大利国家核物理研究所佛罗伦萨分部）；Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche sperimentali e Cliniche “Mario Serio”, University of Florence（佛罗伦萨马里奥塞里奥实验与临床生物科学系）；Scuola di Ingegneria Aerospaziale Università degli studi di Roma（罗马大学航空航天工程学院）；Dipartimento. di Ingegneria dell’Università degli studi di Perugia（佩鲁贾大学工程系）；CNR Istituto Officina dei Materiali (IOM)（意大利国家研究委员会材料研究所）
Proton therapy is a cancer treatment technique currently in growth worldwide. It offers advantages with respect to conventional X-ray and $γ$-ray radiotherapy, in particular, a better control of the dose deposition allowing to reach a higher conformity in the treatments. Therefore, it causes less damage to the surrounding healthy tissue and less secondary effects. However, in order to take full advantage of its potential, improvements in treatment planning and dose verification are required. A new prototype of proton Computed Tomography scanner is proposed to design more accurate and precise t…
Two generations of a novel detector for high-resolution transmission imaging and spectrometry of fast-neutrons are presented. These devices are based on a hydrogenous fiber scintillator screen and single- or multiple-gated intensified camera systems (ICCD). This detector is designed for energy-selective neutron radiography with nanosecond-pulsed broad-energy (1 - 10 MeV) neutron beams. Utilizing the Time-of-Flight (TOF) method, such a detector is capable of simultaneously capturing several images, each at a different neutron energy (TOF). In addition, a gamma-ray image can also be simultaneous…
The T2K neutrino experiment at J-PARC uses a set of near detectors to measure the properties of an unoscillated neutrino beam and neutrino interaction cross-sections. One of the sub-detectors of the near-detector complex, the side muon range detector (SMRD), is described in the paper. The detector is designed to help measure the neutrino energy spectrum, to identify background and to calibrate the other detectors. The active elements of the SMRD consist of 0.7 cm thick extruded scintillator slabs inserted into air gaps of the UA1 magnet yokes. The readout of each scintillator slab is provided …
Gamma-ray and fast-neutron imaging was performed with a novel liquid xenon (LXe) scintillation detector read out by a Gaseous Photomultiplier (GPM). The 100 mm diameter detector prototype comprised a capillary-filled LXe converter/scintillator, coupled to a triple-THGEM imaging-GPM, with its first electrode coated by a CsI UV-photocathode, operated in Ne/5%CH4 cryogenic temperatures. Radiation localization in 2D was derived from scintillation-induced photoelectron avalanches, measured on the GPM's segmented anode. The localization properties of Co-60 gamma-rays and a mixed fast-neutron/gamma-r…
Muon radiography, also known as muography, is a non-destructive geophysical technique for the study of the internal structure of large objects such as volcanoes. This is possible by constructing an image based on the differential absorption of the directional flux of high-energy atmospheric muons produced during the interaction of cosmic rays with the atmosphere. So this no other source of radiation is required for this technique. Many muon telescopes are being built with crossed scintillator bars and so, the resolution of each panel is essentially given by the total surface of the bar crossin…
Muon radiography is a fast growing field in applied scientific research. In recent years, many detector technologies and imaging techniques using the Coulomb scattering and absorption properties of cosmic-ray muons have been developed for the non-destructive assay of various structures across a wide range of applications. This work presents the first results that assess the feasibility of using muons to interrogate waste silos within the UK Nuclear Industry. Two such approaches, using different techniques that exploit each of these properties, have previously been published, and show promising…
We report on the design and performance of a mixed-signal application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) dedicated to avalanche photodiodes (APDs) in order to detect hard X-ray emissions in a wide energy band onboard the International Space Station. To realize wide-band detection from 20 keV to 1 MeV, we use Ce:GAGG scintillators, each coupled to an APD, with low-noise front-end electronics capable of achieving a minimum energy detection threshold of 20 keV. The developed ASIC has the ability to read out 32-channel APD signals using 0.35 $μ$m CMOS technology, and an analog amplifier at the inp…
We have developed image intensifier tubes with delay-anode read-out for time- and position-sensitive photon counting. The timing precision is better than 1 ns with 1000x1000 pixels position resolution and up to one megacounts/s processing rate. Large format detectors of 40 and 75 mm active diameter with internal helical-wire delay-line anodes have been produced and specified. A different type of 40 and 25 mm tubes with semi-conducting screen for image charge read-out allow for an economic and robust tube design and for placing the read-out anodes outside the sealed housing. Two types of extern…
Two detection systems based on optical readout were developed: a. Integrative optical detector A 2nd generation of Time-Resolved Integrative Optical Neutron (TRION) detector was developed. It is based on an integrative optical technique, which permits fast-neutron energy-resolved imaging via time-gated optical readout. This mode of operation allows loss-free operation at very high neutron-flux intensities. The TRION neutron imaging system can be regarded as a stroboscopic photography of neutrons arriving at the detector on a few-ns time scale. As this spectroscopic capability is based on the T…
