Detector Pulse Shape Research Articles

Model-Based Deep Learning Algorithm for Pulse Shape Discrimination in High Event Rates

Pulse shape discrimination (PSD) is at the core of radioactive particles monitoring. Conventional PSD methods are geared towards low event rates, and struggle in the presence of pileups resulting from high rate. In this work we develop a PSD algorithm that combines classic approaches with deep learning techniques, that is highly suitable for coping with the dramatic challenges associated with classifying pulses in high event rates. Common PSD algorithms for high event rates limit their research to two piled-up pulses. Our algorithm is designed and tested under severe pileup conditions, where three or more pulses were piled-up. We tested the algorithm on simulated data based on Cs2LiYCl6:Ce (CLYC) based detector pulse shapes and compare its performance to both traditional PSD algorithms and data-driven deep neural network (DNN) based algorithms. In high event rates, ranging up to 10 Mcps, the algorithm demonstrates up to 8 times fewer miss-classifications than the traditional normalized cross-correlation (NCC) approach, and up to 1.7 times fewer miss-classifications than a purely data-driven DNN-aided method.

Simultaneous experimental evaluation of pulse shape and deadtime phenomenon of GM detector

Analysis of several pulse shape properties generated by a Geiger Mueller (GM) detector and its dependence on applied voltage was performed. The two-source method was utilized to measure deadtime while simultaneously capturing pulse shape parameters on an oscilloscope. A wide range of operating voltages (600–1200 V) beyond the recommended operating voltage of 900 V was investigated using three radioactive sources (204Tl, 137Cs, 22Na). This study investigates the relationship between operating voltage, pulse shape properties, and deadtime of the detector. Based on the data, it is found that deadtime decreases with increasing voltage from 600 to 650 V. At these low voltages (600–650 V), the collection time was long, allowing sufficient time for some recombination to take place. Increasing the voltage in this range decreased the collection time, and hence deadtime decreased. It is also observed that rise and fall time were at their highest at these applied voltages. Increasing the voltage further would result in gas multiplication, where deadtime and pulse width are observed to be increasing. After reaching the maximum point of deadtime (~ 250 µs at ~ 700 V), deadtime started to exponentially decrease until a plateau was reached. In this region, it is observed that detector deadtime and operating voltage show a strong correlation with positive pulse width, rise and fall time, cycle mean, and area. Therefore, this study confirms a correlation between detector deadtime, operating voltage, and pulse shape properties. The results will validate our hypothesis that deadtime phenomena at different operating voltages are phenomenologically different.

Dual-threshold Time-over-Threshold nonlinearity correction for PET detectors

The Time-over-Threshold (ToT) analog-to-digital signal processing approach provides a power-efficient and cost-effective technique to extract all relevant information from detectors in high-energy physics and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging. In this work, three calibration methods were investigated to correct the inherent nonlinear response of the ToT data using 1) γ-ray sources of various energies, 2) internal electronic gain variation in the LabPET II ASIC in combination with a single energy γ-ray source, and 3) internal gain variation along with an embedded pulse charge generator in replacement of a γ-ray source. The electronic gain calibration technique was shown to achieve equivalent correction accuracy as the γ-ray sources calibration. Furthermore, this method has the advantage of allowing a faster calibration requiring only one single γ-ray source (e.g., 511 keV) and a quick automated routine to sweep the internal gain. The last technique would be the most convenient method, provided that the signal pulse shape would be similar to the detector signal responding to a typical γ-ray event. Whereas the concept was demonstrated with a step pulse, extensive processing would be required to recover the nonlinearity correction factors for the detector pulse shape. After calibration, the 511-keV energy resolution of typical LabPET II detectors was only slightly degraded, by less than 12% and 8% for methods 1) and 2), respectively, relative to a conventional ADC-based data acquisition system. The feasibility of fast and accurate calibration for the nonlinearity correction of ToT data in PET imaging was demonstrated, making a daily quality control within reach.

Progress Toward A 2νββ Measurement For The Majorana Demonstrator

The MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR is a 76Ge-based neutrinoless double-beta decay (0νββ) experiment. Staged at the 4850 ft level of the Sanford Underground Research Facility, the DEMONSTRATOR operates an array of high-purity p-type point contact Ge detectors deployed within a graded passive shield and an active muon veto system. The present work concerns the two-neutrino double-beta decay mode (2νββ) of 76Ge. For Ge detectors, having superior energy resolution (0.1%), this mode poses negligible background to the 0νββ mode, even for a ton-scale experiment. However, the measurement of the 2νββ mode allows for careful systematics checks of active detector mass, enrichment fraction, and pulse shape discrimination cuts related to both the 0νββ and 2νββ decay modes. A precision measurement of the 2νββ shape also allows searches for spectral distortions, possibly indicative of new physics, including 0νββχ. Work is underway to construct a full experimental background model enabling a Bayesian fit to the measured energy spectrum and extraction of a precise 2νββ spectrum and half-life.

Modernization of the pulse shape discrimination method for neutron and gamma quanta in scintillation detector

In this paper, we investigated the efficiency of several known and new methods of digital pulse shape discrimination for neutrons and gamma quanta. Experimental data were obtained on a setup consists of a Pu-Be neutron source, organic p-terphenyl scintillation detector and 14 bits, 500 MHz sampling rate flash-ADC with capability to store and upload to the host computer long waveforms for further analysis. A comparison is made in between the results of using traditional and new methods for calculating the signal separation efficiency of Figure of Merit (FOM). The best known from the literature value of the efficiency of neutron and gamma quanta discrimination for the Pu-Be source is FOM = 1.5. We obtained the separation efficiency FOM = 1.77 in the scintillation detector with the p-terphenyl crystal, by a new method. Note also that for the known liquid scintillator BC-501A FOM≈1. A new method of scintillation detector pulse shape discrimination from neutrons and gamma quanta is used to detect the neutron yield from compact neutron generator that is created on the basis of carbon nanotubes.

Stochastic Theory of the Fission Chamber Current Generated by Non-Poissonian Neutrons

The Campbell theorem, relating the variance of the current of a fission chamber (a “filtered Poisson process“) to the intensity of the detection events and to the detector pulse shape, becomes invalid when the neutrons generating the fission chamber current are not independent. Recently, a formalism was developed by the present authors, by which the variance of the detector current can be calculated for detecting neutrons in a subcritical multiplying system, where the detection events are obviously not independent. In the present paper, the previous formalism, which only accounted for prompt neutrons, is generalized to account also for delayed neutrons. A rigorous probabilistic analysis of the detector current was performed by using the same simple, but realistic detector model as in the previous work. The results of the present analysis made it possible to determine the bias of the traditional Campbelling techniques both qualitatively and quantitatively. The results show that the variance still remains proportional to the detection intensity, and is thus suitable for the monitoring of the mean flux, but the calibration factor between the variance and the detection intensity is an involved function of the detector pulse shape and the subcritical reactivity of the system, which diverges for critical systems.

First principles pulse pile-up balance equation and fast deterministic solution

Pulse pile-up (PPU) is an always present effect which introduces a distortion into the spectrum measured with radiation detectors and that worsen with the increasing emission rate of the radiation source. It is fully ascribable to the pulse handling circuitry of the detector and it is not comprised in the detector response function which is well explained by a physical model. The PPU changes both the number and the height of the recorded pulses, which are related, respectively, with the number of detected particles and their energy. In the present work, it is derived a first principles balance equation for second order PPU to obtain a post-processing correction to apply to X-ray measurements. The balance equation is solved for the particular case of rectangular pulse shape using a deterministic iterative procedure for which it will be shown the convergence. The proposed method, deterministic rectangular PPU (DRPPU), requires minimum amount of information and, as example, it is applied to a solid state Si detector with active or off-line PPU suppression circuitry. A comparison shows that the results obtained with this fast and simple approach are comparable to those from the more sophisticated procedure using precise detector pulse shapes.

Multiplicity counting from fission chamber signals in the current mode

In nuclear safeguards, estimation of sample parameters using neutron-based non-destructive assay methods is traditionally based on multiplicity counting with thermal neutron detectors in the pulse mode. These methods in general require multi-channel analysers and various dead time correction methods. This paper proposes and elaborates on an alternative method, which is based on fast neutron measurements with fission chambers in the current mode. A theory of “multiplicity counting” with fission chambers is developed by incorporating Böhnel's concept of superfission [1] into a master equation formalism, developed recently by the present authors for the statistical theory of fission chamber signals [2,3]. Explicit expressions are derived for the first three central auto- and cross moments (cumulants) of the signals of up to three detectors. These constitute the generalisation of the traditional Campbell relationships for the case when the incoming events represent a compound Poisson distribution. Because now the expressions contain the factorial moments of the compound source, they contain the same information as the singles, doubles and triples rates of traditional multiplicity counting. The results show that in addition to the detector efficiency, the detector pulse shape also enters the formulas; hence, the method requires a more involved calibration than the traditional method of multiplicity counting. However, the method has some advantages by not needing dead time corrections, as well as having a simpler and more efficient data processing procedure, in particular for cross-correlations between different detectors, than the traditional multiplicity counting methods.

Pulse shape analysis and position determination in segmented HPGe detectors: The AGATA detector library

The AGATA Detector Library (ADL) was developed for the calculation of signals from highly segmented large volume high-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors. ADL basis sets comprise a huge amount of calculated position-dependent detector pulse shapes. A basis set is needed for Pulse Shape Analysis (PSA). By means of PSA the interaction position of a $ \gamma$ -ray inside the active detector volume is determined. Theoretical concepts of the calculations are introduced and cover the relevant aspects of signal formation in HPGe. The approximations and the realization of the computer code with its input parameters are explained in detail. ADL is a versatile and modular computer code; new detectors can be implemented in this library. Measured position resolutions of the AGATA detectors based on ADL are discussed.

Extended lifetime MCP-PMTs: Characterisation and lifetime measurements of ALD coated microchannel plates, in a sealed photomultiplier tube

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) coating of microchannel plates (MCP) has been shown to offer significant performance advantages in MCP-PMTs (MCP Photomultiplier Tube). ALD is a chemical vapour process used to deposit atomic mono-layers on a substrate. A process has been developed to deposit a surface with improved secondary emission yield (SEY) on to an MCP substrate. The principal advantage of a higher SEY is the ability to achieve significantly higher gain at the same operating voltage across a single MCP. Further to this, it is suspected the atomic mono-layers deposited by ALD coating prevent desorption of gaseous contaminants in the MCP glass. The ions produced during desorption are widely believed to be a direct cause of photocathode ageing in MCP-PMTs, leading to the hope that ALD coating can improve the MCP-PMT lifetime. To fully characterise the performance of ALD coated MCPs, two MCP-PMTs were manufactured, one ALD coated and the other uncoated to be used as a reference. Each detector's gain, DQE, pulse shape and timing jitter were measured followed by a life test of the tubes. The ALD coated tube was found to have a higher gain at the same operating voltage, whilst being equivalent to a standard MCP in other performance characteristics. ALD coating gave a dramatically improved life time, after 5.16Ccm−2 total charge extracted, there was no measurable effect on the photocathode QE, although the MCP gain dropped by approximately 35%.

A novel technique for the characterization of a HPGe detector response based on pulse shape comparison

A novel technique for measuring the HPGe detector pulse shape as a function of the γ-ray interaction position inside the detector volume is presented. This technique is based on a specific pulse shape comparison procedure. Its main feature is that it allows to characterize the 3D position response of a HPGe segmented detector in a much shorter time as compared with the standard coincidence techniques. The method was first validated using a GEANT simulation of a 36-fold HPGe AGATA detector realized taking into account the effects of the electronic chain response and electrical noise on the calculated signal shape. This procedure was then applied to extract experimentally the position response of a non-segmented coaxial HPGe detector along the radial direction, using a 438 MBq 137Cs collimated γ-source. The results of this measurement show a dependence of the pulse shape as a function of γ-ray interaction radial coordinate consistent with that obtained with calculations. The signal acquisition rate reached using this characterization technique allows to realize a full scan of a large volume highly segmented HPGe detector in less than a week.

SPI-specific analysis method and software overview

The SPI spectrometer on INTEGRAL features a camera system with 19 Ge detector modules, imaging photons through a tungsten coded mask. Background is reduced by an anticoincidence detector system surrounding these. The specifics of this instrument lead to data correction and analysis methods which are described here. Raw data for science analysis are detector event messages and spectra for different categories of detector hits and pulse shapes. Preprocessing combines calibrated spectra from these, which are then interpreted using the imaging and spectral response function for measured spectra where parts of the detector plane are occulted by the mask. Background dominates the overall signal, tailored background estimates and models are based on instrument-specific signatures, their correlations, and trends.

Design and first results of CytoBuoy: A wireless flow cytometer for in situ analysis of marine and fresh waters

Background: The high costs of microscopical determination and counting of phytoplankton often limit sampling frequencies below an acceptable level for the monitoring of dynamic ecosystems. Although having a limited discrimination power, flow cytometry allows the analysis of large numbers of samples to a level that is sufficient for many basic monitoring jobs. For this purpose, flow cytometers should not be restricted to research laboratories. We report here on the development of an in situ flow cytometer for autonomous operation inside a small moored buoy or on other platforms. Methods and Results: Operational specifications served a wide range of applications in the aquatic field. Specific conditions had to be met with respect to the operation platform and autonomy. A small, battery-operated flow cytometer resulted, requiring no external sheath fluid supply. Because it was designed to operate in a buoy, we call it CytoBuoy. Sampling, analysis, and radio transmission of the data proceed automatically at user-defined intervals. A powerful feature is the acquisition and radio transmission of full detector pulse shapes of each particle. This provides valuable morphological information for particles larger than the 5-μm laser focus. Conclusions: CytoBuoy allows on-line in situ particle analysis, estimation of phytoplankton biomass, and discrimination between different phytoplankton groups. This will increase the applicability of flow cytometry in the field of environmental monitoring. Cytometry 37:247–254, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Design and first results of CytoBuoy: A wireless flow cytometer for in situ analysis of marine and fresh waters

The high costs of microscopical determination and counting of phytoplankton often limit sampling frequencies below an acceptable level for the monitoring of dynamic ecosystems. Although having a limited discrimination power, flow cytometry allows the analysis of large numbers of samples to a level that is sufficient for many basic monitoring jobs. For this purpose, flow cytometers should not be restricted to research laboratories. We report here on the development of an in situ flow cytometer for autonomous operation inside a small moored buoy or on other platforms. Operational specifications served a wide range of applications in the aquatic field. Specific conditions had to be met with respect to the operation platform and autonomy. A small, battery-operated flow cytometer resulted, requiring no external sheath fluid supply. Because it was designed to operate in a buoy, we call it CytoBuoy. Sampling, analysis, and radio transmission of the data proceed automatically at user-defined intervals. A powerful feature is the acquisition and radio transmission of full detector pulse shapes of each particle. This provides valuable morphological information for particles larger than the 5-microm laser focus. CytoBuoy allows on-line in situ particle analysis, estimation of phytoplankton biomass, and discrimination between different phytoplankton groups. This will increase the applicability of flow cytometry in the field of environmental monitoring.

Temporal structure of scintillation detector pulse in EAS

At the Moscow University EAS array the detector pulse shapes were observed with the help of two scintillation detectors of area 4 , each separated by 23 m. The pulse shapes were analysed in EAS with a particle density of more than 10 . 13 pulses were observed in the EAS with sizes at core distances R > 200 m. Some of the pulses have fine temporal structure with secondary peaks corresponding to tens of particles. Comparison of the individual experimental pulse shapes with the pulse shapes expected for the EAS particles arriving randomly due to the average time distribution indicates the non-statistical temporal structure of the pulses.

Cosmic dust investigations

Our earlier laboratory investigations of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) dust detectors — which we developed for cometary and interplanetary dust studies — were limited to dust mass and velocity ranges of 10−13–10−10 g, and 1–12 km/s, respectively. These measurements established a unique dependence of detector signal amplitude on particle mass and velocity, namely mavb, where a = 1.3 and b = 3.0, respectively, for particles that stopped in thick (e.g. 28 μm) PVDF detectors. We have now extended our dust accelerator investigations to higher dust masses (∼10−9–10−6 g) in the same velocity range so that the dust particles fully penetrate a wide range of PVDF detector thicknesses, including the 28 μm thick detectors we employed for our Comet Halley dust coma measurements. For these penetrating particles we show that the values of a and b are 0.90±0.05 and 1.05±0.05, respectively. We also report, for the first time, the measurement of crater sizes in the detector for these penetrating particles and the correlated detector signal amplitude and pulse shape. From these simultaneous measurements we have proved that the basic response mechanism is irreversible depolarization in the PVDF detector, as we had proposed earlier. These new laboratory investigations also were arranged to determine particle fragmentation and particle (and fragment) velocity after detector penetration by time-of-flight measurements. We discuss the bearing of these studies on our interpretation of measured Comet Halley dust coma mass spectra.

Low capacitance large volume shaped-field germanium detector

A large-volume (150 cm/sup 3/) germanium detector with a full-depletion capacitance of only approximately=1 pf has been fabricated. The effect of impurity space charge was utilized to obtain an appropriate electric field distribution in the detector so that carriers are collected on a small-area electrode. Detectors based on this principle are capable of very-low-noise operation and have immediate applications in experiments for the direct detection of dark matter. Detector pulse shapes and carrier-trapping effects were also examined for possible applications involving higher energy radiations. >

Low noise germanium radial drift detector

A germanium radial drift detector with a built-in drift field has been fabricated using conventional processing techniques. It has an active area of 5 cm 2 and a full depletion capacitance of 1.4 pF. It exhibited low noise and good energy resolution. Detector pulse shapes have been measured and found to agree well with the calculated shape.

Characterization of Microchannel Plate Photomultipliers for Plasma Diagnostics

Properties of four types of microchannel plate photomultipliers have been studied, with emphasis on applications to plasma diagnostic experiments. Detector pulse shapes, peak linear currents, pulse rate effects, and ionic feedback effects have been documented. Minimum FWHM of 210 ps was observed. Peak linear currents up to 11 A were documented.

The influence of Ge(Li) detector pulse shape variations on constant fraction and snap-off timing discriminators

The influence of the systematic variations inherent in the pulse shapes from Ge(Li) detectors on the timing characteristics of the snap-off and constant fraction discriminators is calculated. The results are compared with experimental measurements. The expected and observed performance of the two timing discriminators is discussed.