High Counting Research Articles

Speeding axion haloscope experiments using heterodyne-variance-based detection with a power meter

We describe a new axion search method based on measuring the variance in the interference of the axion signal using injected photons with a power detector. The need for a linear amplifier is eliminated by putting a strong signal into the microwave cavity, to acquire not only the power excess but also measure the variance of the output power. The interference of the external photons with the axion to photon converted signal greatly enhances the variance at the particular axion frequency, providing evidence of its existence. This method has an advantage in that it can always obtain sensitivity near the quantum noise limit even for a power detector with high dark count rate. We describe the basic concept of this method both analytically and numerically, and we show experimental results using a simple demonstration circuit.

Development and Application of Particle Transport Monte Carlo Simulation Modeling Toolkit

In particle transport Monte Carlo simulation, the manual modeling method is not suitable for complex geometric models. A Monte Carlo Simulation Modeling Toolkit (pyMCMT) is developed based on Python language. The toolkit can generate input card in several classical format such as MCNP and GDML format automatically. In this paper, two typical applications are presented based on the pyMCMT toolkit: 1, constructing a multilayer circular geometric model in complex density distribution by pyMCMT toolkit in order to satisfy the requirement of building large-space fine model with the influence of blast wave. A two-dimensional adaptive model is built for non-uniform atmospheric induced by blast wave. The number of the cells in this model is reduced vastly with the same model resolution; 2, producing the optimized weight window parameter using the mesh-based weight window variance reduction combined with density iteration method which is realized to solve the high statistical fluctuation and low counting efficiency problem in deep penetration process. The successful application of pyMCMT shows that pyMCMT is a modularized, parameterized, customizable and easy-to-debug toolkit for particle transport Monte Carlo simulation modeling, which can improve the modeling efficiency tremendously.

Rape seedling density estimation in‐field conditions based on improved multi‐column convolutional neural network

AbstractEarly‐stage rape seedling density is closely related to yield estimation, growth diagnosis, cultivated area statistics, and field management. Currently, manual sampling and counting, which are inefficient and inaccurate, are heavily relied upon to estimate rape seedling density. Computer vision techniques have emerged as a promising solution to the automation of this task, as digital images have become more commonplace. Farmland field environments, however, face many challenges, including scale variation, denseness, and background occlusion. An improved multi‐column convolutional neural network, called seedling rape density prediction network (SRDPNet), has been proposed in this study to resolve the issues related to accurate density estimation and counting of rape seedlings in complex farmland scenarios. Based on the multi‐column convolutional attention encoder, filters of different sizes are used to capture the basic feature of rape seedlings at various scales. The channel attention and position attention modules are introduced into branches to alleviate the impact of low counting accuracy caused by background error and growth state differences. The SRDPNet was validated using the seedling rapeseed plant counting (SRPC) dataset created in this study. The experimental results showed that the SRDPNet demonstrated high accurate counting performance for the SRPC dataset with a high coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.97396) and mean absolute error (MAE = 3.26, mean square error = 4.56), which are superior to that of the comparison method. SRDPNet can effectively solve the visual challenges of rape seedlings in complex farmland scenes and improve the robustness for complex visual variations.

YOLOv5s-T: A Lightweight Small Object Detection Method for Wheat Spikelet Counting

Utilizing image data for yield estimation is a key topic in modern agriculture. This paper addresses the difficulty of counting wheat spikelets using images, to improve yield estimation in wheat fields. A wheat spikelet image dataset was constructed with images obtained by a smartphone, including wheat ears in the flowering, filling, and mature stages of reproduction. Furthermore, a modified lightweight object detection method, YOLOv5s-T, was incorporated. The experimental results show that the coefficient of determination (R2) between the predicted and true values of wheat spikelets was 0.97 for the flowering stage, 0.85 for the grain filling stage, and 0.78 for the mature stage. The R2 in all three fertility stages was 0.87, and the root mean square error (RMSE) was 0.70. Compared with the original YOLOv5s algorithm, the spikelet detection counting effect of YOLOv5s-T was not reduced. Meanwhile, the model size was reduced by 36.8% (only 9.1 M), the GPU memory usage during the training process was reduced by 0.82 GB, the inference time was reduced by 2.3 ms, the processing time was reduced by 10 ms, and the calculation amount was also reduced. The proposed YOLOv5s-T algorithm significantly reduces the model size and hardware resource requirements while guaranteeing high detection and counting accuracy, which indicates the potential for wheat spikelet counting in highly responsive wheat yield estimation.

Large Volume and Fast Response Gamma Ray Diagnostic in the Large Helical Device

A large volume and fast response gamma ray diagnostic based on the LaBr3(Ce) scintillator was installed to obtain the gamma ray spectrum in the Large Helical Device (LHD) for understanding energetic ion confinement. The advantages of the LaBr3(Ce) scintillator are relatively sensitive to gamma rays due to its relatively heavy weight density of 5.3 g/cc, high counting operation because of a relatively short pulse width of ∼100 ns, and relatively better energy resolution of ∼3%. The gamma ray diagnostic was installed at the outboard side of LHD. The radiation shielding for the LaBr3(Ce) detector was designed to avoid unwanted signals due to stray neutrons and gamma rays using the three-dimensional radiation transport calculation MCNP6. In-situ energy calibration of the LaBr3(Ce) detector was performed using 60Co and 137Cs gamma ray sources. We surveyed a neutron effect on the LaBr3(Ce) detector in an electron-cyclotron-heated deuterium plasma discharge. The pulse counting rate of LaBr3(Ce) detector under the total neutron emission rate of 2×1011 n/s was 110 kcps. Therefore, the LaBr3(Ce) detector is expected to be utilized in most of ion cyclotron resonance frequency (ICRF) discharges, where the total neutron emission rate of ∼1011 n/s. We plan to measure the gamma ray spectrum in deuterium ICRF discharges.

Dual-task gait and white matter hyperintensities in Lewy body diseases: An exploratory analysis.

Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) are part of a spectrum of Lewy body disorders, who exhibit a range of cognitive and gait impairments. Cognitive-motor interactions can be examined by performing a cognitive task while walking and quantified by a dual task cost (DTC). White matter hyperintensities (WMH) on magnetic resonance imaging have also been associated with both gait and cognition. Our goal was to examine the relationship between DTC and WMH in the Lewy body spectrum, hypothesizing DTC would be associated with increased WMH volume. Seventy-eight participants with PD, PD with mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI), PD with dementia or DLB (PDD/DLB), and 20 cognitively unimpaired participants were examined in a multi-site study. Gait was measured on an electronic walkway during usual gait, counting backward, animal fluency, and subtracting sevens. WMH were quantified from magnetic resonance imaging using an automated pipeline and visual rating. A median split based on DTC was performed. Models included age as well as measures of global cognition and cardiovascular risk. Compared to cognitively unimpaired participants, usual gait speed was lower and DTC was higher in PD-MCI and PDD/DLB. Low DTC participants had higher usual gait speed. WMH burden was greater in high counting DTC participants. Frontal WMH burden remained significant after adjusting for age, cardiovascular risk and global cognition. Increased DTC was associated with higher frontal WMH burden in Lewy body disorders after adjusting for age, cardiovascular risk, and global cognition. Higher DTC was associated with age.

Abstract 6719: Osteopontin-c is worse prognostic marker and mediate key steps associated with central nervous system infiltration in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells

Abstract B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) is the most common pediatric malignance, but 35% of patients still relapse after chemotherapy treatment, mainly in the central nervous system (CNS). In order to search for new biomarkers that could predict CNS infiltration and relapse, many studies are trying to find gene products aberrantly expressed in these patients, including osteopontin (OPN). The OPN primary transcript undergoes alternative splicing, generating at least five OPN splicing isoforms (OPN-SI), named OPNa, OPNb, OPNc, OPN4 and OPN5, that have tumor specific roles and have been reported as biomarkers in solid tumors. However, knowledge regarding OPN-SI in B-ALL is scarce. This study aimed to investigate the expression patterns and roles of OPN-SI in CNS infiltration in B-ALL. OPN-SI transcript levels were analyzed by quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) assays using RNA extracted from 54 B-ALL pediatric patient blood samples or from RS4,11 cell line. OPNc transcript knock-down in RS4;11 cells (a B-ALL cell line containing the MLL gene fusion) was performed using anti-OPNc or control scrambled antisense DNA oligomers (anti-OPNc-ASOs and Scbl-ASO, respectively). These oligomers were transfected in RS4;11 cells and the in vitro effects of OPNc knock-down were evaluated by several functional assays, such as cell viability by MTT analysis, cell adhesion, and transmigration and invasion assays using a boyden chamber device. Among tested OPN-SI, OPNc is the most highly expressed OPN-SI in B-ALL patient samples containing the MLL fusion gene, when compared to those samples harboring the ETV6-RUNX1 fusion gene (p<0,005). High OPNc expression levels were significantly associated with poor prognostic features, such as high-risk classification (p<0,005), CNS infiltration and high white blood cell counting (p<0,05). The RS4;11 cells in which OPNc was knocked-down decreased their OPNc expression levels in 85% in relation to control Scbl-ASO transfected cells (p<0,005). These cells decreased their viability in 41% (p<0,05), besides displaying a 55% decrease in RS4;11 cell adhesion to matrigel. In addition, these cells decreased their capacity to transmigrate (54%) and invade the matrigel (51%) in comparison to control cells. In summary, these results suggest that OPNc transcript levels are associated with B-ALL worse prognostic features and that it may mediate some key steps involved on CNS infiltration mechanistic. Hence, our data provide important basis for the potential use of OPNc as a biomarker for B-ALL CNS relapse and for the involvement of this isoform on some steps that can mediate CNS invasion, opening new opportunities to improve B-ALL pediatric patients’ survival rates and quality of life. Citation Format: Ana Clara Ana Clara Santos da Fonseca Bastos, Luciana Bueno Ferreira, Mariana Emerenciano, Etel Rodrigues Pereira Gimba. Osteopontin-c is worse prognostic marker and mediate key steps associated with central nervous system infiltration in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 6719.

Design and performance characterization of the time-of-flight liquid neutron reflectometer at the China spallation neutron source

The full design of a liquid neutron reflectometer for China spallation neutron source is reported. The horizontal sample geometry enables studies on both solid and liquid samples. A neutron beam with a wavelength range from 1 to 10 Å and neutron flux intensity of 4 × 107 n/cm2/s was optimized for the classical specular reflection. A multi-blade detector with high detection efficiency and a high neutron counting rate was used to ensure the performance of neutron detection. Data acquisition and reduction routines were demonstrated to confirm the reliability of the measurements. The design and algorithms developed in this study pave the way for the future construction of liquid reflectometry for high-performance neutron scattering measurements.

Research on Pulse Shaper Based on Trapezoidal Function

In order to improve the time resolution and spatial resolution of photon-counting imaging system, the pulse shaper based on trapezoidal function is studied. The signal with an exponential decay shape from charge sensitive amplifier is converted to digital discrete signal by ADC and then the discrete number sequence is filtered and shaped by digital signal processing technology. The amplitude linearity and time width of the trapezoidal shaper are simulated and verified using software-generated single exponential signals and double exponential signals. While the continuous pulses are applied to the trapezoidal shaper, the separation characteristics of the trapezoidal algorithm for pulses pile-up is verified, and the setting method of the rise edge and fall edge parameters of the trapezoidal shaper is proposed, which can realize the high counting capability of the system.

Improved response model of a superconducting nanowire array for high photon count rate communication

In high-speed photon-counting communication where the slot duration is close to the scale of detector reset time, the detection efficiency recovery characteristics of superconducting nanowire single photon detector (SNSPD) become the key factors affecting counting and communication performance. We introduced the nonlinear detection efficiency recovery model derived from the kinetic inductance model combined with the nonlinear efficiency-current relationship into the pulse position modulation (PPM) optical communication system based on the SNSPD array, and studied the impact of the recovery characteristics on the counting and communication performance of the system. On this basis, we introduce the efficiency recovery model into the correction of the channel logarithmic likelihood ratio (LLR) to estimate the SNR of each slot more accurately. Relevant results show that compared with the existing Poisson channel model, fixed deadtime model and detection efficiency exponential recovery model, this modification combined with FEC can provide the best decoding performance, especially in scenarios with high PPM order, small array pixel number and strong noise level. Besides, the nonlinear detection efficiency recovery model also reflects the best consistency with the experimental measurements of the SNSPD array in terms of response count rates near saturation.

Fast single-photon detectors and real-time key distillation enable high secret-key-rate quantum key distribution systems

Quantum key distribution has emerged as the most viable scheme to guarantee information security in the presence of large-scale quantum computers and, thanks to the continuous progress made in the past 20 years, it is now commercially available. However, the secret key rates remain limited to just over 10 Mbps due to several bottlenecks on the receiver side. Here we present a custom multipixel superconducting nanowire single-photon detector that is designed to guarantee high count rates and precise timing discrimination. Leveraging the performance of the detector and coupling it to fast acquisition and real-time key distillation electronics, we remove two major roadblocks and achieve a considerable increase of the secret key rates with respect to the state of the art. In combination with a simple 2.5-GHz clocked time-bin quantum key distribution system, we can generate secret keys at a rate of 64 Mbps over a distance of 10.0 km and at a rate of 3.0 Mbps over a distance of 102.4 km with real-time key distillation.

High temporal frequency vehicle counting from low-resolution satellite images

Frequent object counting at a specific location (FOC@Loc) is becoming a newly emerging but highly demanded task since the evolution of human activities can provide crucial statistics for social and economic development. Due to the unique requirement of both high temporal frequency for frequent observations and high spatial resolution for object counting, this article aims to propose a novel framework for FOC@Loc to take advantage of both high definitions of high-resolution (HR) image and continuous low-cost low-resolution (LR) image at the same location. To compensate for the low ground sample distance (GSD) in LR images, some prior knowledge about the fixed location is extracted from HR images, including (1) the short-term spatial consistency: provide exact feature-wise and pixel-wise guidance from HR image to the LR image on the same date, learning to predict vehicle area for each LR image; (2) the long-term location consistency: provide the prior parking density of the study location from the sparse HR image sequence, turning the vehicle area into the counting number of each LR image. The final results indicate that this new method obtains highly consistent counting results with the manual annotations, proofing that the HR image guidance information can promote the utilization of LR images for object counting and further analysis. The proposed dataset and methodology have the potential to boost the applications of extensive and inexpensive LR satellite images.

Multiparticle Cumulant Mapping for Coulomb Explosion Imaging.

We extend covariance velocity map ion imaging to four particles, establishing cumulant mapping and allowing for measurements that provide insights usually associated with coincidence detection, but at much higher count rates. Without correction, a fourfold covariance analysis is contaminated by the pairwise correlations of uncorrelated events, but we have addressed this with the calculation of a full cumulant, which subtracts pairwise correlations. We demonstrate the approach on the four-body breakup of formaldehyde following strong field multiple ionization in few-cycle laser pulses. We compare Coulomb explosion imaging for two different pulse durations (30 and 6fs), highlighting the dynamics that can take place on ultrafast timescales. These results have important implications for Coulomb explosion imaging as a tool for studying ultrafast structural changes in molecules, a capability that is especially desirable for high-count-rate x-ray free-electron laser experiments.

Determining the IBEX Ribbon Transverse Profile from ENA Temporal Variations: A Proof of Concept for IMAP Observations

Since its discovery in 2009, the IBEX energetic neutral atom (ENA) Ribbon has been a subject of numerous studies. It appears at energies ∼0.5–6 keV and is most pronounced at ∼1–3 keV. It is almost circular, ∼20°–40° wide, and its center lies near the pristine local interstellar magnetic field direction, whose field lines are draped around the heliosphere. The Ribbon intensity is enhanced above the more diffuse, globally distributed flux (GDF) and varies on timescales that are delayed compared to the underlying and slowly varying GDF. We present a novel method to infer the Ribbon boundaries and transverse profile of the Ribbon using sequential time variations of ENA fluxes, with minimal modeling assumptions involved. The method utilizes the difference in temporal evolution between the total Ribbon content and GDF fluxes. We then use the inferred Ribbon transverse profile to statistically quantify the GDF contribution to the observed peak Ribbon intensity to be ∼32.23% ± 3.15% in 2009–2011. This Ribbon separation method works best during times of gradual changes in solar wind output, and with high angular resolution and ENA counting statistics; results thus provide a proof of concept for the upcoming Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe ENA measurements.

High-Throughput FPGA-Based Inference of Gradient Tree Boosting Models for Position Estimation in PET Detectors

In modern large-scale positron emission tomography (PET) systems, transferring the digitized raw detector data at high count rates to a centralized processing unit is a challenge. Processing data on field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) close to the detectors can reduce data early on and improve scalability of the PET system. We present and evaluate an FPGA implementation of gradient tree boosting (GTB) for 1-D position estimation of gamma interactions in the scintillator. GTB is a supervised machine learning algorithm based on building ensembles of binary decision trees. Models were trained offline and inferred in an FPGA (XC7K410T-2FFG676 Kintex-7). Input features and GTB parameters influencing both positioning performance and model size were varied while evaluating the inferred models concerning data throughput and FPGA resource consumption as well as positioning performance. We achieved throughputs per detector between <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$2.94\times 10^{6}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$4.55\times 10^{6}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> gamma interactions per second. For an optimized GTB model, resource consumption could be reduced by factors of 17 and 10 to less than 1% ( <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$2.51\times 10^{3}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> look-up tables) of available logic and 1.26% (20 BRAMs) of memory resources, while maintaining a positioning performance of 98.63% when compared to the model with the best positioning performance. The presented framework can be easily adapted to other photosensors and scintillator influencing.

Ultra-narrowband interference circuits enable low-noise and high-rate photon counting for InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiodes.

Afterpulsing noise in InGaAs/InP single photon avalanche photodiodes (APDs) is caused by carrier trapping and can be suppressed successfully through limiting the avalanche charge via sub-nanosecond gating. Detection of faint avalanches requires an electronic circuit that is able to effectively remove the gate-induced capacitive response while keeping photon signals intact. Here we demonstrate a novel ultra-narrowband interference circuit (UNIC) that can reject the capacitive response by up to 80 dB per stage with little distortion to avalanche signals. Cascading two UNIC's in a readout circuit, we were able to enable a high count rate of up to 700 MC/s and a low afterpulsing of 0.5 % at a detection efficiency of 25.3 % for 1.25 GHz sinusoidally gated InGaAs/InP APDs. At a temperature of -30 ∘C, we measured an afterpulsing probability of 1 % at a detection efficiency of 21.2 %.

Free-Running Single-Photon Detection via GHz Gated InGaAs/InP APD for High Time Resolution and Count Rate up to 500 Mcount/s

Free-running InGaAs/InP single-photon avalanche photodiodes (SPADs) typically operate in the active-quenching mode, facing the problems of long dead time and large timing jitter. In this paper, we demonstrate a 1-GHz gated InGaAs/InP SPAD with the sinusoidal gating signals asynchronous to the incident pulsed laser, enabling free-running single-photon detection. The photon-induced avalanche signals are quenched within 1 ns, efficiently reducing the SPAD's dead time and achieving a count rate of up to 500 Mcount/s. However, the timing jitter is measured to be ~168 ps, much larger than that of the SPAD with synchronous gates. We adjust the delay between the gating signals and the incident pulsed laser to simulate the random arrival of the photons, and record the timing jitter, respectively, to figure out the cause of the jitter deterioration. In addition, the effects of the incident laser power and working temperature of the APD on the time resolution have been investigated, broadening the applications of the GHz gated free-running SPAD in laser ranging and imaging, fluorescence spectroscopy detection and optical time-domain reflectometry.

Aging suppression, high time resolution and 2D-position sensitive Multi-Strip Multi-Gap Resistive Plate Counter for high rate experiments

The multi-strip, multi-gap resistive plate chambers (MSMGRPCs) of the Time of Flight (TOF) wall of the Compressed Baryonic Matter (CBM) experiment will be exposed to challenging counting rates, up to 50 kHz/cm2. The unprecedented requirement to the CBM-TOF chambers to keep their performance (efficiency over 90% and system time resolution better than 80 ps) at these high counting rates has triggered the development of a new generation of MSMGRPCs with increased counting rate capabilities and suppression of aging effect in high irradiation environment. The MSMGRPCs designed for the low polar angles region of the CBM-TOF wall, besides performing in high counting rate, should also maintain their performance over the lifetime of the experiment. Detailed aging investigation evidenced mainly a gas pollution effect for the chambers with gas exchange via diffusion, enhanced around the spacers. In order to mitigate this phenomenon, a MSMGRPC prototype with a direct gas flow through the gas gaps and a reduced number of spacers in the electric field was developed. Assembling and tests of such prototypes as well as the results of the first aging investigations performed exposing the chamber to a high intensity X-ray flux at different gas flow rates and gas mixtures are reported.

Bi2O3 Nanoparticle-Loaded Plastic Scintillator for High-Energy X-Ray Detection

In this study, we successfully fabricated a Bi <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> O3 nanoparticle-loaded plastic scintillator (PLS) with high detection efficiency for high-energy X-rays. Such a heavy-metal-oxide-loaded PLS is useful for the measurement of high-energy X-rays with a high count-rate >10 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">7</sup> s <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">-1</sup> . Bi <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> O3 nanoparticles were synthesized by surface modification with aliphatic carboxylic acid from a triphenylbismuthine starting material. Up to 50 wt% surface-modified Bi <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> O3 nanoparticle-loaded plastic scintillator (50 wt% Bi-PLS, 31 ± 1 wt% bismuth in the plastic) successfully maintained transparency after polymerization by mixing monomers consisting mainly of styrene or vinyltoluene and 2-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-5-(4-biphenylyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole as the fluorophore. The Bi content of the Bi-PLSs was greater than that of PLSs using organobismuth compounds. The optical properties of each Bi-PLS (8 mm diameter and 3 mm thickness) were measured for transmittance, photoluminescence, and quantum yield. The average transmittance between 380 and 780 nm was over 70% (except for 50 wt% Bi-PLS) and was sufficiently high for practical use. In the recorded photoluminescence spectra, the peak attributed to fluorophore emission was clearly observed at 386 nm, even for 50 wt% Bi-PLS. We tested the Bi-PLS mounted on a photomultiplier tube using a synchrotron X-ray beam (67.41 keV at beamline BL-14A of the Photon Factory). The detection efficiency of 50 wt% Bi-PLS reached 36.8 ± 0.5%, 5.0 times higher than that of a commercially available 5 wt% Pb-loaded PLS. A superior time resolution (full width at half maximum) of 0.21 ± 0.06 ns was obtained using 20 wt% Bi-PLS.

Development of a neutrino detector capable of operating in space

The $\nu$SOL experiment to operate a neutrino detector close to the Sun is building a small test detector to orbit the Earth to test the concept in space. This detector concept is to provide a new way to detect neutrinos unshielded in space. A double delayed coincidence on Gallium nuclei that have a large cross section for solar neutrino interactions emitting a conversion electron and converting the nuclei into an excited state of Germanium, which decays with a well-known energy and half-life. This unique signature permits operation of the detector volume mostly unshielded in space with a high single particle counting rate from gamma and cosmic ray events. The test detector concept which has been studied in the lab and is planned for a year of operations orbiting Earth which is scheduled for launch in late 2024. It will be surrounded by an active veto and shielding will be operated in a polar orbit around the Earth to validate the detector concept and study detailed background spectrums that can fake the double timing and energy signature from random galactic cosmic or gamma rays. The success of this new technology development will permit the design of a larger spacecraft with a mission to fly close to the Sun and is of importance to the primary science mission of the Heliophysics division of NASA Space Science Mission Directorate, which is to better understand the Sun by measuring details of our Sun's fusion core.