Particle Detectors Research Articles

High-energy-resolution passivated implanted planar silicon detectors

Abstract An alpha particle detector with high energy resolution is highly desired in the fundamental field of high-energy physics and various applications of environmental monitoring. In this paper, an excellent energy resolution of 0.35% for 5486 keV α-particles from 241Am with charge collection efficiency of 98.5% is achieved by a passivated implanted planar silicon detector with the window area of 530 mm². High energy resolution is attributed to high crystalline quality with long carrier lifetime, indicating less scattering of charges by defects and suppression of randomness of signal amplitude distribution. Enhanced energy resolution of radiation detectors will substantially reinforce the exploration within the realm of basic physics and augment the capabilities pertaining to biomedical drug development.

Neutron observations from the energetic particle detector on China’s Space Station

Neutron observations from the energetic particle detector on China’s Space Station

Characterization of PIN Particle Detectors Based on Semi-Insulating GaAs with an MOCVD Grown P+ GaAs Anode Contact Layer

Characterization of PIN Particle Detectors Based on Semi-Insulating GaAs with an MOCVD Grown P⁺ GaAs Anode Contact Layer

Resonant interactions between suprathermal protons and ion-scale waves near an interplanetary shock

Context. The interaction between waves and particles is crucial for particle acceleration near interplanetary shocks. Previously, research on these processes was constrained by limited data and the coarse time resolution of interplanetary missions. However, recent high-resolution observations from the Solar Orbiter mission are providing new insights into this area. Aims. We analyzed data measured by the Energetic Particle Detector, the Magnetometer, and the Solar Wind Analyzer on board Solar Orbiter, to investigate wave-proton interactions upstream an interplanetary shock observed on April 8, 2022. Methods. We performed a mean-field-transformed wavelet analysis on the magnetic field data to derive the wave properties. We reconstructed pitch angle distributions and gyrophase distributions in the solar wind frame of reference to analyze the proton behavior. Results. We find that the observed waves are quasi-parallel propagating, ion-scale transverse waves that exhibit alternating left-handed and right-handed polarization. Fluxes of suprathermal protons oscillate quasi-periodically with these waves and show signs of wave modulation. In addition, signatures hinting at resonance, such as phase shifts across energy, are revealed in proton fluxes. The proton phase space density near the calculated resonant energy increases during the interaction, which indicates the acceleration or scattering of protons. Conclusions. We present direct observations of particles resonating with waves close to an interplanetary shock, which captures these dynamics within single wave periods. Our results highlight the role of wave-particle interactions in dynamic processes occurring in the inner heliosphere.

Magnetosphere-Ground Responses and Energy Spectra Analysis of Solar Proton Event on 28 October 2021

Among the coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and solar proton events (SPEs) frequently observed by near-Earth spacecraft, the SPE that occurred on 28 October 2021 stands out as a remarkable research event. This is due to the infrequency of reported ground-level enhancements it induced. The CSES (China seismo-electromagnetic satellite) is equipped with high-energy particle detectors, namely, HEPP and HEPD, capable of measuring protons within an energy range of 2 MeV to 143 MeV. These detectors provide valuable opportunities for studying solar activity. By utilizing the Monte Carlo method to simulate the pile-up effect and accounting for the detector’s dead time, with the assistance of real-time incident counting rates, we successfully corrected the spectra in the 10–50 MeV range. The energy spectrum is important for understanding solar proton events. We used the data from the HEPP (high-energy particle package) and HEPD (high-energy particle detector) to obtain the total event-integrated spectrum, which possessed good continuity. Additionally, we compared the observations from the CSES with those from the NOAA satellite and achieved reasonable agreement. We also searched for ground-based responses to this solar activity in China and discovered Forbush decreases detected by the Yang Ba Jing Muon Telescope experiment. In conclusion, the HEPP and HEPD can effectively combine to study solar activity and obtain a smooth and consistent energy spectrum of protons across a very wide energy range.

Upward, MeV‐Class Electron Beams Over Jupiter's Main Aurora

AbstractJupiter's poleward (Zone II) main aurora exhibits bi‐directional electron acceleration; upward acceleration dominates but downward acceleration generates strong aurora. During Juno's first perijove (PJ1), the upward acceleration manifested as narrow electron angular beams (within ∼5° of the magnetic field) over the 30–1,200 keV energy range of Juno's Jupiter Energetic Particle Detector Investigation (JEDI). These beams can be simply connected (non‐uniquely) to >10 to perhaps 100's of MeV electrons that penetrated the radiation shielding of the camera head of the Magnetometer Investigation's Advanced Stellar Compass (ASC). The most intense of those multiple MeV populations are shown to have been highly directional and propagating upwards. How auroral processes generate such beams is unknown. With azimuthal symmetry assumed (not demonstrated here), these beams provided >1026 s−1 of >30 keV electrons to Jupiter's vast magnetosphere, a possibly critical and dominating source of energetic electrons to that region and ultimately to Jupiter's radiation belts.

LumaCam: a novel class of position-sensitive event mode particle detectors using scintillator screens.

A new type of position-sensitive detectors is gaining attention in the neutron community. They are scintillator based detectors that detect the scintillation light on an individual photon basis via an image intensifier and a fast image sensor. Their readout operates in event mode i.e. it produces information about individual neutron interactions, reconstructed from the sensor data, thus enabling to achieve superior spatial and temporal resolutions compared to regular detectors. Although the development of current detectors is focused on neutrons, the concept is also applicable to the detection of other particles such as high-energy photons. This document provides a description on how these detectors are built, how they operate, and what their characteristics are. An example of a detector implementation based on a Timepix3 chip is described to illustrate the detector concept. This includes a detailed description of the algorithm that reconstructs the neutron interactions from the sensor data, one of the core components that sets it apart from established scintillator-based imaging detectors. Energy-resolved epithermal neutron radiography was performed at the ISIS EMMA beamline with this detector, illustrating some of the fundamental differences in the data that can be produced with the new type of detector compared to more established types of scintillator based neutron detectors. The term LumaCam is proposed to refer to this new class of position-sensitive event-mode detectors.

Radial evolution of interplanetary coronal mass ejection-associated particle acceleration observed by Solar Orbiter and ACE

On 2022 March 10 a coronal mass ejection erupted from the Sun, resulting in Solar Orbiter observations at 0.45 au of both dispersive solar energetic particles arriving prior to the interplanetary coronal mass ejection (ICME) and locally accelerated particles near the ICME-associated shock structure as it passed the spacecraft on 2022 March 11. This interplanetary shock was later detected on 2022 March 14 by the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE), which was radially aligned with Solar Orbiter, at 1 au. Ion composition data from both spacecraft — via the Solar Orbiter Energetic Particle Detector/ Suprathermal Ion Spectrograph (EPD/SIS) and the Ultra Low Energy Isotope Spectrometer (ULEIS) on ACE — allowed for an in-depth analysis of the radial evolution of species-dependent ICME-driven shock-associated acceleration processes for this event. We present a study of the ion spectra observed at 0.45 and 1 au during both the gradual solar energetic particle and energetic storm particle phases of the event. The shapes of the spectra seen at each spacecraft differ significantly, likely due to the varying shock geometry: Solar Orbiter spectra tend to lack spectral breaks, and the higher-energy portions of the ACE spectra have a comparable average flux to the Solar Orbiter spectra. Through an analysis of rigidity effects on the spectral breaks observed by ACE, we conclude that the 1 au observations were largely influenced by a suprathermal pool of $ He $ ions that were enhanced due to propagation along a stream interaction region that was interacting with the ICME at the times of observation.

Transimpedance amplifier for LGAD noise measurements: design and characterization

A wideband low-noise transimpedance amplifier (TIA) is designed for the measurement of the noise power spectral density (NPSD) of the current of low-gain avalanche diodes (LGADs). The design focuses on minimization of system background noise and maximization of operating bandwidth. The diffusive line effect of the high value resistor used in the feedback network has been analyzed, and a compensation of its effect has been implemented. With a transimpedance of 200 MΩ, a background white noise of 9.5 fA/√(Hz) and an input current dynamic range up to 20 nA are achieved. The useful bandwidth ranges from 1 kHz up to 3 MHz depending on the noise level to be measured. An effective method for calibrating the system and measuring its transfer function with high accuracy over the full bandwidth is described. The designed TIA enables an accurate characterization of LGADs noise, which is a crucial step for the technology qualification and for the prediction of the performance of these devices as radiation and particle detectors.

Radial Evolution of Non-Maxwellian Electron Populations Derived from Quasi-thermal Noise Spectroscopy: Parker Solar Probe Observations

Understanding the transport of energy within space plasmas, particularly in the solar wind, remains a complex challenge. Accurate measurement of electron temperatures and their nonthermal characteristics is crucial for comprehending energy transport properties in plasmas. Quasi-thermal-noise (QTN) spectroscopy has emerged as a dependable tool for precise electron parameters assessment as it is less susceptible to spacecraft effects than particle detectors. In this study, we apply a QTN spectroscopy fitting method to analyze data from the Parker Solar Probe FIELDS radio instrument obtained during Encounters 2 through 13, under unbiased antenna conditions. We use the kappa function to characterize the electron velocity distribution and employ a fitting technique to derive the changes in each parameter across heliocentric distances ranging from 12 Rs to 76 Rs. Specifically, we find that the electron density scales as n e ∝ r −2.09±0.04 and the T e ∝ r −0.65±0.02. The distribution of the kappa index has three distinct regions as a function of radial distance from the Sun. Furthermore, we conduct a statistical analysis of solar wind energy flux which we finds follows a power-law relationship w total ∝ r −1.92±0.04.

The Catalogue of Gamma-Ray Burst Observations by HEPD-01 in the 0.3–50 MeV Energy Range

The High-Energy Particle Detector (HEPD-01) on board the China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite, located on a Sun-synchronous orbit at 500 km of altitude with an inclination of 97°, features a dedicated logic counting low-energy event rates, which proved sensitive to intense Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB). The present work reports a comprehensive analysis of signals induced by GRBs in the event-rate data collected between 2018 August and 2022 June. After accurately modeling the background rate as observed in different passages of the satellite over the same geographical area, we detected significant deviations to be compared with observations of GRB candidates from other observatories. The analysis revealed 12 statistically significant excesses, that have been associated with GRB 181222B, GRB 190114C, GRB 190129B, GRB 190305A, GRB 190928A, GRB 200412B, GRB 200422A, GRB 200826B, GRB 201009A, GRB 210702A, GRB 211211A, and GRB 220624A. We report light curves for 0.3–50 MeV photons, comparing them with findings from other space telescopes. The catalog of observations is published, complete of GRB observation time, duration, integrated counts, and fluence.

Content delivery network solutions for the CMS experiment: The evolution towards HL-LHC

The Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Geneva is poised for a transformative upgrade, preparing to enhance both its accelerator and particle detectors. This strategic initiative is driven by the tenfold increase in proton-proton collisions anticipated for the forthcoming high-luminosity phase scheduled to start by 2029. The vital role played by the underlying computational infrastructure, the World-Wide LHC Computing Grid, in processing the data generated during these collisions underlines the need for its expansion and adaptation to meet the demands of the new accelerator phase. The provision of these computational resources by the worldwide community remains essential, all within a constant budgetary framework. While technological advancements offer some relief for the expected increase, numerous research and development projects are underway. Their aim is to bring future resources to manageable levels and provide cost-effective solutions to effectively handle the expanding volume of generated data. In the quest for optimized data access and resource utilization, the LHC community is actively investigating Content Delivery Network (CDN) techniques. These techniques serve as a mechanism for the cost-effective deployment of lightweight storage systems that support both, traditional and opportunistic compute resources. Furthermore, they aim to enhance the performance of executing tasks by facilitating the efficient reading of input data via caching content near the end user. A comprehensive study is presented to assess the benefits of implementing data cache solutions for the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment. This in-depth examination serves as a use-case study specifically conducted for the Spanish compute facilities, playing a crucial role in supporting CMS activities. Data access patterns and popularity studies suggest that user analysis tasks benefit the most from CDN techniques. Consequently, a data cache has been introduced in the region to acquire a deeper understanding of these effects. In this paper, the details of the implementation of a data cache system in the PIC Tier-1 compute facility are presented. It includes insights into the developed monitoring tools and discusses the positive impact on CPU usage for analysis tasks executed in the region. The study is augmented by simulations of data caches, with the objective of discerning the most optimal requirements in both size and network connectivity for a data cache serving the Spanish region. Additionally, the study delves into the cost benefits associated with deploying such a solution in a production environment. Furthermore, it investigates the potential impact of incorporating this solution into other regions of the CMS computing infrastructure.

Monitoring partially observed average kiloelectron-volt emissions using exponentially weighted moving average chart

The average lifespan of particles is a key parameter in nuclear physics, critical for identifying different particle types. Modern particle detectors are highly effective at detecting the arrival of individual radioactive nuclei and observing their decay events. However, challenges arise when matching arrivals with departures, especially when departures are only partially observed. One inefficient approach involves conducting experiments with very low arrival rates to facilitate matching. The kiloelectron-volt E(keV) emission is obtained during this radioactive process. We propose a Modified Distance Weighted Exponentially Weighted Moving Average (MDE) control chart for monitoring kiloelectron-volt E(keV) data. Control charts are vital in quality control, offering real-time insights into process stability by distinguishing between normal (common-cause) and unusual (special-cause) variations. This capability enables precise decision-making, showing when a process is within control or requires intervention, thus preventing unnecessary adjustments and costly errors. By highlighting trends and shifts, control charts foster continuous improvement, identifying areas where processes can be optimized. The proposed control chart is developed for Weibull lifetimes under type-I censoring. For constructing an efficient control charting structure, we employed the conditional median (CM) methods. The goal is to detect changes in the mean of Weibull lifetimes with censored data under both known and estimated parameter conditions. The performance of the proposed MDE chart is evaluated by the average run length (ARL). Besides a simulation study, a real-life data set on kiloelectron-volt E(keV) related to the alpha decays of the 177 Lutetium isotope is also discussed. It is observed that the proposed chart is more efficient than existing control charts for monitoring kiloelectron-volt E(keV) censored data.

Study on the influence of fire source location on cable tunnel detection and alarm system

In order to study the fire detection method of cable tunnel. We carried out physical experiments in the cable tunnel test section, using the heater pyrolyze PVC so that its pyrolysis as the ignition source obtained a total of 17 fire source location points in the horizontal and vertical directions of seven different fire detectors, and only processed the response time data of the alarm detector obtained the response time and the analysis results were drawn. With the increase of the distance from the fire source, the response time of each type of detector increases in different forms. It is found that the detection distance of the grating fiber temperature sensor is shorter, and the response time near the fire source is more stable. The detection performance of the point pyrolytic particle detector is more affected by the detection distance, which is advantageous for the detection point to have better response performance. The intelligent active suction detector is also affected by the detection distance, which is less affected than the point detector, the response time curve is more stable, and the detection performance is better at each test point. Clc numberX Document Identification Code; A.

The Solar Modulation Events of The 25th Solar Activity Cycle as Seen by Particle Detectors' Networks

The Solar Modulation Events of The 25th Solar Activity Cycle as Seen by Particle Detectors' Networks

Elimination of dead layer in silicon particle detectors via induced electric field based charge collection

The front surface of semiconductor particle detectors typically contains undepleted recombination active regions that the impinging particles pass through before reaching the sensitive area of the device. These so-called dead layers pose a fundamental limitation for achievable energy resolutions and are unavoidable in externally doped pn-junction detectors. Here, we fabricate a silicon particle detector using an alternative method for charge collection that extends the sensitive region to the front surface of the device and minimizes the dead layer. The junction is realized by inducing an electric field at the surface of the detector using a charged thin film. Such an approach has previously been implemented in photodiodes, which have demonstrated effective collection of charge carriers from the very surface of the devices. Our detector displays low leakage currents and recombination, which allow efficient charge collection throughout the device, as demonstrated by excellent internal quantum efficiency of the device. The detector is further characterized using detection of alpha particles as a case example. We achieve 20 keV energy resolutions that are, already without extensive device optimization, on the same level with commercial externally doped silicon particle detectors. Notably, the design shows promise for detection of shallow penetrating charged particles, which is very sensitive to dead layers.

Investigating the average kiloelectron-volt emission of partially observed events in nuclear physics through distance weighted mean based censored control chart.

The average lifespan of particles, a crucial parameter in nuclear physics, is essential for identification purposes. Modern particle detectors excel at recognizing individual radioactive nuclei arrivals and their subsequent decay events. However, challenges arise when matching arrivals with departures, especially when departures are only partially observed. One inefficient approach involves conducting experiments with very low arrival rates to facilitate matching. The kiloelectron-volt E(keV) emission is obtained during this radio active process. This study focuses on the meticulous surveillance of the average keV emission from partially observed events within the domain of nuclear physics. To accomplish this, the methodology employs the statistical approach known as Distance Weighted Mean (DWM), integrated with the application of censored control charts. The utilization of censored control charts allows for the effective management of incomplete data, enabling researchers to make informed decisions despite potential limitations in observation. We propose a DWM based exponentially weighted moving average-cumulative sum (DWM-EC) control chart for monitoring kiloelectron-volt E(keV) data. The proposed charts is developed for Weibull lifetimes under type-I censoring. For the construction of an efficient control charting structure, we employed the conditional median (CM) methods. The goal is to find changes in the mean of Weibull lifetimes with censored data with known and estimated parameter conditions. The performance of the proposed DWM-EC chart is evaluated by the average run length (ARL). Besides a simulation study, a real-life data set on E(keV) related to the alpha decays of 177 Lutetium isotope is also discussed.

Superconducting quasiparticle-amplifying transmon: A qubit-based sensor for meV-scale phonons and single terahertz photons

With great interest from the quantum computing community, an immense amount of R&D effort has been invested into improving superconducting qubits. The technologies developed for the design and fabrication of these qubits can be directly applied to applications for ultralow-threshold particle detectors, e.g., low-mass dark matter and far-infrared photon sensing. We propose a novel energy-resolving sensor based on the transmon qubit architecture combined with a signal-enhancing superconducting quasiparticle amplification stage. We refer to these sensors as SQUATs: superconducting quasiparticle-amplifying transmons. We detail the operating principle and design of this new sensor and predict that, with minimal R&D effort, solid-state-based detectors patterned with these sensors can achieve sensitivity to single terahertz photons, and sensitivity to 1meV phonons in the detector absorber substrate on the microsecond timescale. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Cosmic-Ray Flux Correlation between MCMU and JBGO Neutron Monitors

Neutron monitors (NMs) are large ground-based detectors of atmospheric secondary particles, mostly neutrons, from primary cosmic rays. Their sky direction and rigidity imply a well-defined incoming (asymptotic) direction in space. From 2015 December 16 to 2017 January 8, 6 of the 18 NM counters had been transferred from McMurdo to Jang Bogo, both in Antarctica, so data from similar detectors were recorded simultaneously at these two nearby NM stations. Autocorrelations of these NM count rates are well fit as the sum of three components: an exponential function and a cosine with a period of 1 day, both centered at zero lag, plus a constant. Fitting the cross correlation of the two count rates, the functions are no longer centered at zero lag. The best-fit cosine phase is at time lag −160.22 ± 0.12 minutes. Calculating cosmic-ray trajectories in Earth's magnetic field throughout the time interval, the mean difference in response-weighted asymptotic longitudes corresponds to time lag −169.41 ± 0.31 minutes, in close agreement with the observed lag. Thus, the cosine term is consistent with and provides a technique to cleanly measure the cosmic-ray anisotropy. In contrast, the peak term shows a time lag of –14.55 minutes, much closer to the –9.60 minutes lag in rotation due to the difference in geographic longitude. We find a similar behavior in the correlations between other pairs of stations. We propose that rapid fluctuations in the counting rate may be primarily due to cosmic-ray particles of very high energy.

A study of particle detectors based on single crystal diamond substrate

The diamond radiation detector was prepared using a high-quality monocrystalline substrate. A square contact of 3.6 × 3.6 mm2 was fabricated on one side of the substrate, while the other side has a full area metallized contact. The current-voltage characteristics were measured up to 1 kV in both directions. The fabricated diamond detector shows very low current below 2 pA in whole voltage ranges. The detector was then used for alpha particle detection. The triple radiation source was used with different monoenergetic particles with energies varying from 5.1 MeV to 5.8 MeV. The range of alpha particles used was no more than 15 μm according to SRIM simulations. The diamond detector shows a high resolution for alpha particle spectroscopy below 0.43% at 5.5 MeV energy.