Gamma-ray Events Research Articles

Compact lightweight imager of both gamma rays and neutrons based on a pixelated stilbene scintillator coupled to a silicon photomultiplier array

Dual particle imaging, in which both neutrons and gamma-rays in the environment can be individually characterized, is particularly attractive for monitoring mixed radiation emitters such as special nuclear materials (SNM). Effective SNM localization and detection benefits from high instrument sensitivity so that real-time imaging or imaging with a limited number of acquired events is enabled. For portable applications, one also desires a dual particle imager (DPI) that is readily deployable. We have developed a hand-held type DPI equipped with a pixelated stilbene-silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) array module and low sampling-rate analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) processed via a multiplexed readout. The stilbene-SiPM array (12 × 12 pixels) is capable of effectively performing pulse shape discrimination (PSD) between gamma-ray and neutron events and neutron/gamma-ray source localization on the imaging plane, as demonstrated with 252Cf neutron/gamma and 137Cs gamma-ray sources. The low sampling rate ADCs connected to the stilbene-SiPM array module result in a compact instrument with high sensitivity that provides a gamma-ray image of a 137Cs source, producing 6.4 μR/h at 1 m, in less than 69 s. A neutron image for a 3.5 × 105 n/s 252Cf source can also be obtained in less than 6 min at 1 m from the center of the system. The instrument images successfully with field of view of 50° and provides angular resolution of 6.8°.

How to Search for Multiple Messengers—A General Framework Beyond Two Messengers

Abstract Quantification of the significance of a candidate multi-messenger detection of cosmic events is an emerging need in the astrophysics and astronomy communities. In this paper we show that a model-independent optimal search does not exist, and we present a general Bayesian method for the optimal model-dependent search, which is scalable to any number and any kind of messengers, and applicable to any model. In the end, we demonstrate it through an example for a joint gravitational wave, high-energy neutrino, short gamma-ray burst event search; which has not been examined heretofore.

Least-squares fitting algorithm for peak pile-up correction in gamma-ray spectroscopy

In gamma-ray spectroscopy, a pulse pile-up occurs when a gamma-ray hits the detector within a time period shorter than the duration of the pulse induced by a preceding gamma-ray. The resulting pulse is the sum of two overlapping pulses. At a high counting rate, the pulse pile-up can lead to significant loss of data and/or deterioration of the measured gamma-ray energy spectrum. If the temporal separation of consecutive gamma-ray events is small enough, the resulting pile-up pulse exhibits only a single peak. Such events are described as peak pile-ups. It is not trivial to detect and correct peak pile-ups. Consequently, such events are typically wrongly reconstructed as a single pulse or rejected by the pile-up correction algorithms developed to date. We study a least-squares fitting algorithm modified to include detection and correction of peak pile-ups. Performance of the proposed algorithm is studied using data measured with LaBr3:Ce scintillator and a 400 MBq 137Cs source as well as with artificially synthesized pile-up data. The pile-up correction success rate grows rapidly with the temporal separation of piled-up pulses and reaches 50% as soon as the pulses are separated by a time at least of the order of the single pulse rise time. A success rate exceeding 90% is reached for the temporal separation equal to about twice the rise time. The reconstruction efficiency measured as the overall rate of the successful reconstruction of the double-pulse pile-up is about 92%.

A Two-zone Photohadronic Scenario for EHBL-like Behavior of Mrk 501

Abstract Major outbursts have been observed from the well known high-energy-peaked blazar Markarian 501 since its discovery in 1996. Two episodes of very-high-energy gamma-ray flaring events during 2005 May–July and 2012 June are of special significance, as the source exhibited extreme HBL-like behavior. The successful standard photohadronic model does not adequately explain these extraneous behaviors. We propose a two-zone photohadronic scenario to overcome this problem. In this picture, the low-energy regime (zone-1) of the spectrum follows the standard photohadronic interpretation, while the high-energy regime (zone-2) of the spectrum is new, with a spectral index δ 2 ≥ 3.1, which is solely due to the extreme nature of the flaring event. We also estimate the bulk Lorentz factor corresponding to these extreme flaring events. By analyzing many flaring events before and after these extreme events we argue that the extreme HBL-like events are transient and may repeat in the future.

Search for advanced LIGO single interferometer compact binary coalescence signals in coincidence with Gamma-ray events in Fermi-GBM

Presented is the description of a new and general method used to search for γ-ray counterparts to gravitational-wave (GW) triggers. This method is specifically applied to single GW detector triggers. Advanced LIGO data from observing runs O1 and O2 were analyzed, thus each GW trigger comes from either the LIGO-Livingston or the LIGO-Hanford interferometer. For each GW trigger, Fermi Gamma-ray burst monitor data is searched and the most significant subthreshold signal counterpart is selected. Then, a methodology is defined in order to establish which of the GW-γ-ray trigger pairs are likely to have a common origin. For that purpose an association ranking statistic is calculated from which a false alarm rate is derived. The events with the highest ranking statistics are selected for further analysis consisting of LIGO detector characterization and parameter estimation. The γ-ray signal characteristics are also evaluated. We find no significant candidates from the search.

Search for dark matter signatures in the gamma-ray emission towards the Sun with the Fermi Large Area Telescope

Dark matter particles from the Galactic halo can be gravitationally trapped in the solar core or in external orbits. The enhanced density of dark matter particles either in the solar core or in external orbits can result in the annihilation of these particles producing gamma rays via long-lived intermediate states or directly outside the Sun, respectively. These processes would yield characteristic features in the energy spectrum of the subsequent gamma rays, i.e., a box-like or line-like shaped feature, respectively. We have performed a dedicated analysis using a 10-years sample of gamma-ray events from the Sun collected by the Fermi Large Area Telescope searching for spectral features in the energy spectrum as a signature of dark matter annihilation. In the scenario of gamma-ray production via long-lived mediators we have also evaluated the dark matter-nucleon spin-dependent and spin-independent scattering cross section constraints from the flux limits in a dark matter mass range from 3 GeV/c$^2$ up to about 1.8 TeV/c$^2$. In the mass range up to about 150 GeV/c$^2$ the limits are in the range $10^{-46} - 10^{-45}$ cm$^{2}$ for the spin-dependent scattering and in the range $10^{-48} - 10^{-47}$ cm$^{2}$ for the spin-independent case. The range of variation depends on the decay length of the mediator.

Less noticeable shallow decay phase in early X-ray afterglows of GeV/TeV-detected gamma-ray bursts

ABSTRACT The nature of the shallow decay phase in the X-ray afterglow of the gamma-ray burst (GRB) is not yet clarified. We analyse the data of early X-ray afterglows of 26 GRBs triggered by Burst Alert Telescope onboard Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory and subsequently detected by Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) and/or Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes. It is found that nine events (including two out of three very-high-energy gamma-ray events) have no shallow decay phase and that their X-ray afterglow light curves are well described by single power-law model except for the jet break at later epoch. The rest are fitted by double power-law model and have a break in the early epoch (around ks), however, eight events (including a very-high-energy gamma-ray event) have the pre-break decay index larger than 0.7. We also analyse the data of well-sampled X-ray afterglows of GRBs without LAT detection and compare their decay properties with those of high-energy and very-high-energy gamma-ray events. It is found that for the GeV/TeV bursts, the fraction of events whose X-ray afterglows are described by single power law is significantly larger than those for non-GeV/TeV GRBs. Even if the GeV/TeV GRBs have shallow decay phase, their decay slope tends to be steeper than non-GeV/TeV bursts, that is, they have less noticeable shallow decay phase in the early X-ray afterglow. A possible interpretation along with the energy injection model is briefly discussed.

The working principle of hybrid perovskite gamma-ray photon counter

Gamma-ray spectroscopy that quantifies the gamma-ray energies is a critical technology widely needed in astrophysics, nuclear material detection and medical treatment. The key is to precisely count gamma-ray photons using sensitive detectors. In this paper, we investigate the operational principles of chlorine-doped methylammonium lead tribromide (MAPbBr3−xClx) perovskite single crystal detectors that can efficiently count gamma-ray photon events with electrical pulses. Specifically, we find the main dark current originates from the thermally activated electron injection from the impurities, and using high work function contacts can block out the dark noise thus allows for efficient pulse collection at higher electrical fields ∼500 V/cm. As a result, we observe strong electrical pulses when exposing the detector under radioactive sources emitting gamma-ray photons at various energies. Our results also reveal the fundamental issues that prevent the reliable observation of photo-electric peak. This work suggest pathway towards energy resolved gamma-ray spectroscopy using perovskite crystal detectors.

Evolution of collective and noncollective structures in Xe123

An experiment involving a heavy-ion-induced fusion-evaporation reaction was carried out where high-spin states of Xe123 were populated in the Se80(Ca48,5n)Xe123 reaction at 207 MeV beam energy. Gamma-ray coincidence events were recorded with the Gammasphere Ge detector array. The previously known level scheme was confirmed and enhanced with the addition of five new band structures and several interband transitions. Cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky (CNS) calculations were performed and compared with the experimental results in order to assign configurations to the bands.

Source of Energetic Protons in the 2014 September 1 Sustained Gamma-ray Emission Event

We report on the source of {>},300~mbox{MeV} protons during the SOL2014-09-01 sustained gamma-ray emission (SGRE) event based on multi-wavelength data from a wide array of space- and ground-based instruments. Based on the eruption geometry we provide concrete explanation for the spatially and temporally extended gamma -ray emission from the eruption. We show that the associated flux rope is of low inclination (roughly oriented in the east–west direction), which enables the associated shock to extend to the frontside. We compare the centroid of the SGRE source with the location of the flux rope’s leg to infer that the high-energy protons must be precipitating between the flux rope leg and the shock front. The durations of the SOL2014-09-01 SGRE event and the type II radio burst agree with the linear relationship between these parameters obtained for other SGRE events with duration geq 3~mbox{hrs}. The fluence spectrum of the SEP event is very hard, indicating the presence of high-energy (GeV) particles in this event. This is further confirmed by the presence of an energetic coronal mass ejection with a speed {>},2000~mbox{km},mbox{s}^{-1}, similar to those in ground level enhancement (GLE) events. The type II radio burst had emission components from metric to kilometric wavelengths as in events associated with GLE events. All these factors indicate that the high-energy particles from the shock were in sufficient numbers needed for the production of gamma -rays via neutral pion decay.

Prompt Fission Gamma-Ray Measurements at UML Research Reactor

Neutron-induced fission of 235U was studied at the thermal column of the UMass Lowell 1 MW Research Reactor. A collimated, 2.25-inch diameter beam of thermal neutrons with the flux of ~5x105 n/cm2/sec induced fission reaction on a plate of low-enriched uranium with the areal density ~25 mg/cm2 of 235U. We have used the prompt fission-neutron tagging method to identify the fission reaction in the off-line analysis. The method employs the pulse-shape discrimination of neutrons and gamma-ray events in stilbene scintillator and enables identification of coincidence events of prompt fission gamma-rays and prompt fission neutrons in coincidence time intervals less than 20-30 ns. The prompt gamma-ray radiation was detected using two co-linear NaI(Tl) detectors. The measured spectra of prompt-fission gamma rays between 150 keV and 6 MeV are presented. The results from these initial measurements demonstrate the feasibility of the experimental method. Future measurements with extended arrays of detectors are planned.

Neutron/gamma pulse discrimination analysis of GS10 lithium glass and EJ-204 plastic scintillators

Two radiation sensitive scintillators known for their dual sensitivity to neutron and gamma-ray fields are investigated for their pulse discrimination abilities; a lithium glass GS10 inorganic scintillator and a fast organic plastic scintillator EJ-204. Each of these scintillators are optically coupled with an 8 × 8-silicon photomultiplier array to act as a photodetector. Pulse height analysis, the charge comparison method and pulse gradient analysis have all been applied here on neutron and gamma-ray events generated by a Cf-252 source. The three discrimination methods were evaluated based on the figure of merit of the probability density plots generated. Within a GS10 crystal, it has been deduced that pulse height analysis and pulse gradient analysis possess greater abilities to discriminate between the two radiation fields compared to the charge comparison method with both showing a figure of merit of over one. The charge comparison method indicated a lower discrimination ability with a figure of merit around 0.3. When the EJ-204 detector was used, it was deduced that only pulse height analysis exhibits discrimination abilities with a figure of merit around 0.6, while the other two discrimination methods presented no distinction between the two radiation fields.

Gamma Ray Flashes Produced by Lightning Observed at Ground Level by TETRA‐II

AbstractIn its first 2 years of operation, the ground‐based Terrestrial gamma ray flash and Energetic Thunderstorm Rooftop Array (TETRA)‐II array of gamma ray detectors has recorded 22 bursts of gamma rays of millisecond‐scale duration associated with lightning. In this study, we present the TETRA‐II observations detected at the three TETRA‐II ground‐level sites in Louisiana, Puerto Rico, and Panama together with the simultaneous radio frequency signals from the lightning data sets VAISALA Global Lightning Dataset, VAISALA National Lightning Detection Network, Earth Networks Total Lightning Network, and World Wide Lightning Location Network. The relative timing between the gamma ray events and the lightning activity is a key parameter for understanding the production mechanism(s) of the bursts. The gamma ray time profiles and their correlation with radio sferics suggest that the gamma ray events are initiated by lightning leader activity and are produced near the last stage of lightning leader channel development prior to the lightning return stroke.

Simulation of Void Detection System using Gamma-Ray Compton Scattering Technique

A simple void detection system for concrete was successfully developed using high-penetration gamma rays with Compton scattering. This research attempted to identify a void in the subsurface of a concrete volume that could not be accessed from any of the sides. Monte Carlo simulation using GEANT4 toolkit was performed to investigate the gamma-ray backscattering events. An NaI(Tl) detector was used with 60Co and 137Cs as gamma-ray sources. The void's location was successfully detected during material target scanning. Density discrepancies conduce variance of the backscattering peak produced due to the presence of a void. Compared to 60Co as the gamma-ray source, 137Cs is a better choice for application in NDT systems using Compton scattering.

A method for aligning the plastic scintillator detector on DAMPE

The Plastic Scintillator Detector (PSD) onboard the DArk Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE) is designed to measure cosmic ray charge (Z) and to act as a veto detector for gamma ray identification. To fully exploit the charge identification potential of PSD and to enhance its capability to identify gamma ray events, we develop an alignment method for the PSD. The path length of a given track in the volume of a PSD bar is derived taking into account the shift and rotation alignment corrections. By examining energy spectra of corner-passing events and fully contained events, position shifts and rotations of all PSD bars are obtained, and are found to be on average about 1mm and 0.0015 radian respectively. To validate the alignment method, we introduce artificial shifts and rotations of PSD bars into the detector simulation. These shift and rotation parameters can be recovered successfully by the alignment procedure. As a result of the PSD alignment procedure, the charge resolution of the PSD is improved from 4% to 8%, depending on the nuclei.

Detection of UV Radiation from Extensive Air Showers: Prospects for Cherenkov Gamma-Ray Astronomy

Cherenkov emission of extensive air showers (EAS) from cosmic gamma rays and cosmic-ray protons has been modelled. Spectral density of such emission in the 240–700 nm band has been determined for 3 GeV–10 TeV primaries of both sorts. It has been shown that the ratio of EAS Cherenkov emission fluxes in the optical and ultraviolet (UV) bands substantially depends on the sort of the primary, so the ratio can be employed to select gamma-ray events from the background produced by cosmic rays. Detection of EAS Cherenkov emission with specialized silicon photomultipliers sensitive in the UV band would allow one to substantially extend the duty cycle of a Cherenkov gamma-ray telescope, as it would be possible to observe the showers during moonlit nights. The UV-sensitive silicon photomultipliers developed at the Ioffe Institute would allow to detect gamma-ray-induced EAS at the Cherenkov gamma-ray observatory ALEGRO over a threshold of about 40 GeV at 5 km above sea level and about 80 GeV at 2 km above sea level.

Remote measurement of urinary radioactivity in 18F-FDG PET patients using Compton camera for accuracy evaluation of standardized uptake value

Currently, the most commonly used estimate of metabolic activity during clinical positron emission tomography (PET) is standardized uptake value (SUV) obtained from 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) captured in cancer cells. Although SUV is evaluated after corrections for the injected dose, weight, and other such parameters, the entire injected dose is inappropriate for this calculation because some FDG is excreted in urine. Therefore, the injected dose warrants correction by assessment of urinary radioactivity in patients before PET to enhance the accuracy of FDG calculation. However, this is not typically performed in clinical practice owing to secondary effects of radioactive contamination in hospitals and radiation exposure risk to the attending staff. Therefore, we aimed to develop a remote method for the measurement of urinary radioactivity in FDG-PET patients. Urinary radioactivity was estimated in a toilet bowl using gamma-ray distribution obtained with a Compton camera. The gamma-ray events from the toilet bowl per unit time (5 s) facilitated radioactivity calculation. Between 0 and 40 MBq, deviation of our detector from the linearity for radioactivity was <8.3%. The accuracy of radioactive assessment was ±11% for a 5-s measurement of 19.7 MBq 18F-FDG. Overall, we obtained 75 samples (45 males and 30 females). Our results revealed that excretion of FDG in the urine per person varied between 1.9% and 15.6% of the injected dose (range, 225–305 MBq). Urinary radioactivity can be evaluated before PET using a Compton camera. SUV determination in clinical context could be enhanced by considering urinary radioactivity for corrections caused by individual differences in radioactivity.

Design and performance of the micro-dose calibrator

A new class of dose calibrator called a micro-dose calibrator, designed to measure radioactivity rates in the range between 1 kBq up to 370 kBq, has been designed and an 8 NaI(Tl)/photo multiplier tube (PMT) module prototype built to evaluate its performance. The design of the micro-dose calibrator is based on the concept of a segmented well counter. By segmenting a single crystal well counter into multiple crystals or segments, with each segment operated and read out independently, one can extend the operational range of a standard single crystal well counter while maintaining its accuracy and spectrographic capabilities. The micro-dose calibrator is operated in N-fold coincidence mode to ensure that a single radioactive decay resulting in multiple segments detecting gamma ray events are counted as a single decay. The N fold coincidence detection is achieved using a pipeline coincidence processing algorithm implemented in software as part of a multi-threaded acquisition system. A tri-functional model pulse pileup dead time correction is applied to extend the operational range of the micro-dose calibrator. The micro-dose calibrator achieved an operation range between 1 kBq up to 3.4 MBq for 18F with a 1% linearity precision using a 60 s integration time window. Over a 9 d period, a daily count rate measure of a 137Cs point source had a coefficient of variation of 0.17% with only one high voltage calibration performed on day 0. The central 20 mm up to 35 mm axial length in the sample well showed less than 1% change in count rate depending on the radionuclide. Using a 0.5 ml insulin syringe, a volume of dose between 0.13 ml up to 0.50 ml showed less than 1% deviation from volumetric linearity. A 20 cc scintillation vial showed similar volumetric linearity performance for radionuclide solution volumes between 4 cc up to 20 cc.

Search for GeV Gamma-Ray Counterparts of Gravitational Wave Events by CALET

Abstract We present the results of searches for gamma-ray counterparts of the LIGO/Virgo gravitational wave events using CALorimetric Electron Telescope (CALET) observations. The main instrument of CALET, CALorimeter (CAL), observes gamma-rays from ∼1 GeV up to 10 TeV with a field of view (FOV) of nearly 2 sr. In addition, the CALET gamma-ray burst monitor views ∼3 sr and ∼2π sr of the sky in the 7 keV–1 MeV and the 40 keV–20 MeV bands, respectively, by using two different crystal scintillators. The CALET observations on the International Space Station started in 2015 October, and here we report analyses of events associated with the following gravitational wave events: GW151226, GW170104, GW170608, GW170814, and GW170817. Although only upper limits on gamma-ray emission are obtained, they correspond to a luminosity of 1049 ∼ 1053 erg s−1 in the GeV energy band depending on the distance and the assumed time duration of each event, which is approximately on the order of luminosity of typical short gamma-ray bursts. This implies that there will be a favorable opportunity to detect high-energy gamma-ray emission in further observations if additional gravitational wave events with favorable geometry will occur within our FOV. We also show the sensitivity of CALET for gamma-ray transient events, which is on the order of 10−7 erg cm−2 s−1 for an observation of 100 s in duration.

Multilayer phoswich scintillators for neutron / gamma discrimination

MultiLayer Phoswich (MLP) scintillators have been studied for fission neutron detection by Monte-Carlo simulations and experimental tests. n/γ discrimination behavior of these systems and their angular dependencies have been characterized. The possibility to carry on a neutron counting system based of such an approach has been proven, and according to the results, an optimal thickness of layers for fission neutron counting was found around [100–150] μm. But, contrary to current liquid or solid-state discrimination scintillators, it appears that MLP-based neutron counting systems cannot directly classify neutron and gamma-ray interaction events from pulse shape analysis. To operate properly, it is therefore required to implement a compensation algorithm in the system readout.