Scintillator Plate Research Articles

TU-E-217BCD-06: Cone Beam Breast CT with a High Resolution Flat Panel Detector-Improvement of Calcification Visibility.

To investigate the advantage of a high resolution flat panel detector for improving the visibility of microcalcifications (MCs) in cone beam breast CT Methods: A paraffin cylinder was used to simulate a 100% adipose breast. Calcium carbonate grains, ranging from 125-140 μm to 224 - 250 μm in size, were used to simulate the MCs. Groups of 25 same size MCs were embedded at the phantom center. The phantom was scanned with a bench-top CBCT system at various exposure levels. A 75μm pitch flat panel detector (Dexela 2923, Perkin Elmer) with 500μm thick CsI scintillator plate was used as the high resolution detector. A 194 μm pitch detector (Paxscan 4030CB, Varian Medical Systems) was used for reference. 300 projection images were acquired over 360° and reconstructed. The images were reviewed by 6 readers. The MC visibility was quantified as the fraction of visible MCs and averaged for comparison. The visibility was plotted as a function of the estimated dose level for various MC sizes and detectors. The MTFs and DQEs were measured and compared. For imaging small (200 μm and smaller) MCs, the visibility achieved with the 75μm pitch detector was found to be significantly higher than those achieved with the 194μm pitch detector. For imaging larger MCs, there was little advantage in using the 75μm pitch detector. Using the 75μm pitch detector, MCs as small as 180 μm could be imaged to achieve a visibility of 78% with an isocenter tissue dose of ∼20 mGys versus 62% achieved with the 194 μm pitch detector at the same dose level. It was found that a high pitch flat panel detector had the advantages of extending its imaging capability to higher frequencies thus helping improve the visibility when used to image small MCs. This work was supported in part by grants CA104759, CA13852 and CA124585 from NIH-NCI, a grant EB00117 from NIH-NIBIB, and a subcontract from NIST-ATP.

Development of a cosmic veto gamma-spectrometer

Cosmic radiation contributes significantly towards the background radiation measured by a gamma-spectrometer. A novel cosmic veto gamma-spectrometer has been developed that provides a mean background reduction of 54.5%. The system consists of plastic scintillation plates operated in time-stamp mode to detect coincident muon interactions within an HPGe gamma-spectrometer. The instrument is easily configurable and provides improved sensitivity for radionuclides indicative of nuclear weapons tests and reactor incidents, including 140Ba, 95Zr, 99Mo, 141Ce, 147Nd, 131I, 134Cs and 137Cs. This has been demonstrated for Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty applications to obtain the required 140Ba MDA of 24 mBq within 2 days counting. Analysis of an air filter sample collected during the Fukushima incident indicates improved sensitivity compared to conventional gamma-spectrometers.

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A mobile detector for measurements of the atmospheric muon flux in underground sites

Muons comprise an important contribution of the natural radiation dose in air (approx. 30 nSv/h of a total dose rate of 65-130 nSv/h), as well as in underground sites even when the flux and relative contribution are significantly reduced. The flux of the muons observed in underground can be used as an estimator for the depth in mwe (meter water equivalent) of the underground site. The water equivalent depth is an important information to devise physics experiments feasible for a specific site. A mobile detector for performing measurements of the muon's flux was developed in IFIN-HH, Bucharest. Consisting of 2 scintillator plates (approx. 0.9 m2) which measure in coincidence, the detector is installed on a van which facilitates measurements at different locations at surface or underground. The detector was used to determine muon fluxes at different sites in Romania. In particular, data were taken and the values of meter water equivalents were assessed for several locations from the salt mine from Slanic Prahova, Romania. The measurements have been performed in 2 different galleries of the Slanic mine at different depths. In order to test the stability of the method, also measure- ments of the muon flux at surface at different elevations were performed. The results were compared with predictions of Monte-Carlo simulations using the CORSIKA and MUSIC codes.

A mobile detector for measurements of the atmospheric muon flux

Measurements of the underground atmospheric muon flux are important in order to determine accurately the overburden in mwe (meter water equivalent) of an un- derground laboratory for appreciating which kind of exper- iments are feasible for that location. Slanic- Prohava is one of the 7 possible locations for the European large un- derground experiment LAGUNA (Large Apparatus studying Grand Unification and Neutrino Astrophysics). A mobile de- vice consisting of 2 scintillator plates ( 0.9 m 2 , each) one above the other and measuring in coincidence, was set-up for determining the muon flux. The detector it is installed on a van which facilitates measurements on different positions at the surface or in the underground and it is in operation since autumn 2009. The measurements of muon fluxes pre- sented in this contribution have been performed in the under- ground salt mine Slanic-Prahova, Romania, where IFIN-HH has built a low radiation level laboratory, and at the surface on different sites of Romania, at different elevations from 0 m a.s.l up to 655 m a.s.l. Based on our measurements we can say that Slanic site is a feasible location for LAGUNA in Unirea salt mine at a water equivalent depth of 600 mwe. The results have been compared with Monte-Carlo simula- tions performed with the simulation codes CORSIKA and MUSIC.

A New Flat-Fielding Technique for X-Ray Radiography of Low-Z Samples Using Xradia MicroXCT Microscope

High image resolution (˜1.3 μm/pixel) and precision positioning capability make the Xradia X-ray microscopy an attractive platform on which to study X-ray opacity variations. It can complement precision radiography (PR) as an instrument with much higher spatial resolution. PR measures X-ray transmission intensity variations down to 0.01% at 100-μm resolution. Since the requirement to differentiate minute lateral variations in X-ray transmission intensity scales inversely with the spatial resolution, an X-ray imaging microscope such as the Xradia MicroXCT can be useful if it measures the transmission intensity variations to <1%. In normal practice, a number of imaging artifacts limit the intensity measurement to only ˜2% precision. Such artifacts include the thermal drift and the illumination uniformity of the X-ray source, as well as thickness variations in the scintillator plate and the beryllium X-ray tube window. The conventional flat-fielding technique is not effective against the dynamic interaction between the beryllium window texture and the moving shadow cast by a moving X-ray spot. We have modified the image processing routine so that the lateral variations in the transmitted intensity can be measured to ˜0.3% precision on low-Z samples. This technique can be used to record microstructure variations in beryllium samples. Currently, the beryllium microstructures are characterized by ultrasmall angle X-ray scattering on a synchrotron source, which is not commonly accessible, is expensive, and has a long turnaround time. This Xradia-based method has the potential to make it a routine measurement.

SLC36A4 (hPAT4) Is a High Affinity Amino Acid Transporter When Expressed in Xenopus laevis Oocytes

The SLC36 family of transporters consists of four genes, two of which, SLC36A1 and SLC36A2, have been demonstrated to code for human proton-coupled amino acid transporters or hPATs. Here we report the characterization of the fourth member of the family, SLC36A4 or hPAT4, which when expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes also encodes a plasma membrane amino acid transporter, but one that is not proton-coupled and has a very high substrate affinity for the amino acids proline and tryptophan. hPAT4 in Xenopus oocytes mediated sodium-independent, electroneutral uptake of [(3)H]proline, with the highest rate of uptake when the uptake medium pH was 7.4 and an affinity of 3.13 μM. Tryptophan was also an excellently transported substrate with a similarly high affinity (1.72 μM). Other amino acids that inhibited [(3)H]proline were isoleucine (K(i) 0.23 mM), glutamine (0.43 mM), methionine (0.44 mM), and alanine (1.48 mM), and with lower affinity, glycine, threonine, and cysteine (K(i) >5 mM for all). Of the amino acids directly tested for transport, only proline, tryptophan, and alanine showed significant uptake, whereas glycine and cysteine did not. Of the non-proteogenic amino acids and drugs tested, only sarcosine produced inhibition (K(i) 1.09 mM), whereas γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), β-alanine, L-Dopa, D-serine, and δ-aminolevulinic acid were without effect on [(3)H]proline uptake. This characterization of hPAT4 as a very high affinity/low capacity non-proton-coupled amino acid transporter raises questions about its physiological role, especially as the transport characteristics of hPAT4 are very similar to the Drosophila orthologue PATH, an amino acid "transceptor" that plays a role in nutrient sensing.

Scintillating screens sensitivity and resolution studies for low energy, low intensity beam diagnostics

In order to investigate the limits of scintillating screens for beam profile monitoring in the ultra-low energy, ultra-low intensity regime, CsI:Tl, YAG:Ce, and a Tb glass-based scintillating fiber optic plate (SFOP) were tested. The screens response to 200 and 50 keV proton beams with intensities ranging from a few picoampere down to the subfemtoampere region was examined. In the following paper, the sensitivity and resolution studies are presented in detail for CsI:Tl and the SFOP, the two most sensitive screens. In addition, a possible use of scintillators for ultra-low energy antiproton beam monitoring is discussed.

Design and construction of pulsed neutron diagnostic system for plasma focus device (SBUPF1)

In this paper, two designs of pulsed neutron counter structure are introduced. To increase the activation counter efficiency, BC-400 plastic scintillator plates along with silver foils are utilized. Rectangular cubic and cylindrical geometries for activation counter cell are modeled using MCNP4C code. Eventually, an optimum length of 14 cm is calculated for the detector cell and optimum numbers of 20 silver foils for rectangular cubic geometry and ten foils for cylindrical geometry have been acquired. Due to the high cost of cutting, polishing of plastics, and etc., the rectangular cubic design is found to be more economical than the other design. In order to examine the functionality and ensure the detector output and corresponding designing, neutron yield of a 2.48 kJ plasma focus device (SBUPF1) in 8 mbar pressure with removal source method for calibration was measured (3.71+/-0.32)x10(7) neutrons per shot.

An apparatus for measuring the timing properties of scintillators for neutron imaging

The development of new instruments for the energy resolved neutron imaging at pulsed neutron sources requires the determination of the decay time of the signal from scintillator plates under working conditions. We present a new apparatus and a method for measuring the time response of various scintillators. After an evaluation of the apparatus accuracy by measuring the time profile of known light signals, we have investigated the properties of three different commercial scintillators at a pulsed neutron beamline. The obtained results are presented and compared in view of their possible use at a new imaging facility.

Scintillating anticoincidence detection elements design and tests with muons and protons

Design, construction and tests of anticoincidence detection elements are presented. Initially planned to be used as active shielding parts of the anticoincidence detector of the Simbol-X mission, they are aimed to detect cosmic protons and provide veto signal against charged-particle background induced on imaging detectors. The sample is made of a scintillator plate into which grooves are machined and waveshifting fibers glued. The fibers are connected to multianode photomultiplier (PM) tubes. The tubes characteristics have been evaluated for this application. The device has been tested with atmospheric muons that deposit similar energy to that of cosmic protons thanks to a specially designed muon telescope also described in this paper. Tests have also been performed with protons of a tandem accelerator beam line. The response is on average above 10 photoelectrons, which is not complicated to detect, which allows very good detection efficiency as well as very good ability to reject noise. In addition many evolution and performance improvements appear possible.

A Moon-borne electromagnetic calorimeter

We discuss an electromagnetic sampling calorimeter for the detection of very high energy gamma-rays on the Moon, which is based on the use of scintillating cylinders and plates imbedded in the lunar soil. The use of lunar soil as a calorimeter radiator reduces the weight of the material to be transported to the Moon and minimises environmental impact. Plastic scintillator bars inserted into the regolith about 1.5 m are the active elements of this instrument: at the surface, each bar is terminated by a plastic scintillator plate to veto high energy charge particles. The readout system for the scintillator bars and plates are based on recently developed single photon solid state detectors (Silicon Photomultiplier, SiPM), extremely compact, sturdy and sensitive devices suited for detecting small light pulses in a space experiment. The performance of a regolith-scintillator calorimeter is evaluated and the relevant parameters are optimised using a GEANT4 simulation.

The MOON project and DBD matrix elements

This is a brief report on experimental studies of double beta decays (DBD) in Japan, the MOON project for spectroscopic studies of neutrino-less DBD (0vββ) and on experimental studies of DBD nuclear matrix elements. Experimental DBD studies in Japan were made by geochemical methods on 130Te, 128Te and 96Zr and by a series of ELEGANT(EL) counting methods, EL III on 76Ge, EL IV, V on 100Mo, 116Cd, and EL VI on 48Ca. Future counter experiments are MOON, CANDLES, XMASS and DCBA. The MOON project, which is based on EL V, aims at studies of the Majorana nature of the neutrino (v) and the v-mass spectrum by spectroscopic 0vββ experiments with the v-mass sensitivity of < mmv > = 100-30 meV. The MOON detector is a super ensemble of multi-layer modules, each being composed by PL scintillator plates and position-sensitive detector planes. DBD nuclear matrix elements have been studied experimentally by using charge exchange reactions. The 2-neutrino DBD matrix elements are expressed by successive single-β matrix elements through low-lying intermediate states.

Scintillator based detector for fast-ion losses induced by magnetohydrodynamic instabilities in the ASDEX upgrade tokamak

A scintillator based detector for fast-ion losses has been designed and installed on the ASDEX upgrade (AUG) tokamak [A. Herrmann and O. Gruber, Fusion Sci. Technol. 44, 569 (2003)]. The detector resolves in time the energy and pitch angle of fast-ion losses induced by magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) fluctuations. The use of a novel scintillator material with a very short decay time and high quantum efficiency allows to identify the MHD fluctuations responsible for the ion losses through Fourier analysis. A Faraday cup (secondary scintillator plate) has been embedded behind the scintillator plate for an absolute calibration of the detector. The detector is mounted on a manipulator to vary its radial position with respect to the plasma. A thermocouple on the inner side of the graphite protection enables the safety search for the most adequate radial position. To align the scintillator light pattern with the light detectors a system composed by a lens and a vacuum-compatible halogen lamp has been allocated within the detector head. In this paper, the design of the scintillator probe, as well as the new technique used to analyze the data through spectrograms will be described. A last section is devoted to discuss the diagnosis prospects of this method for ITER [M. Shimada et al., Nucl. Fusion 47, S1 (2007)].

Fine shashlik simulation from tests results

We have studied the response uniformity of the LHCb electromagnetic calorimeter modules in a beam of high energy muons. Tests of prototype module built with thin (0.5 mm) absorber and scintillator plates were performed as well as transverse scans of an ECAL module with 50 GeV electrons. To understand the light collection uniformity a dedicated Monte Carlo program for the the light propagation in different scintillator tiles was developed. Parameters of this program are tuned and checked using experimental data

Performance of an X-ray imaging detector based on a structured scintillator

Structured scintillator plates have been fabricated by filling thallium-doped caesium iodide (CsI) into a silicon pore array. Their X-ray imaging properties have been characterized using a standard dental X-ray source and a charge coupled device (CCD) detector. Results indicate that finer structured pore arrays provide superior imaging resolution while their light output is lower. Direct absorption of X-ray quanta in the CCD is a significant contributor of detector noise. This can be avoided by using a thick fibre optic plate or, in certain cases, by using a hot-pixel software algorithm.

The decrease of light yield collection for scintillation counters of CDF muon trigger over time

The muon system of CDF spectrometer plays an important role in investigating processes with heavy quarks. The efficient functioning of scintillation counters, which comprise a considerable part of the CFD muon trigger, is a necessary condition for obtaining experimental data. The results of long-term measurements of the light yield, collected far from the photomultiplier end of the scintillation plate for different types of counters in order to predict the period of their effective operation in experiments, are presented.

Study of response nonuniformity for the LHCb calorimeter module and the prototype of the CBM calorimeter module

A spatial nonuniformity of the response to high-energy muons is studied in the modules of the LHCb electromagnetic calorimeter and the prototype of the calorimeter module with lead plates and scintillator tiles 0.5 mm thick. The nonuniformity of the response of the inner LHCb modules to 50-GeV electrons is also measured. Software is developed for a thorough simulation of light collection in scintillator plates of a shashlik calorimeter. A model is elaborated to describe light transmission from the initial scintillation to the wavelength-shifting fiber with a subsequent reradiation and propagation of light over the fiber to the photodetector. The results of the simulation are in good agreement with data.

Large-area low-level gross alpha ZnS scintillation counting

An efficiency of (44±2)% is achieved for samples placed directly on a 5 in diameter ZnS scintillator plate, placed on top of a 5 in photomultiplier in a light-tight pot. Background count rate is as low as (9±3) h −1, equivalent to (5±2) mBq on 95 cm 2 for a second scintillator face to face or for a high-purity copper disk. Results are displayed continuously and printed on-line. An automatic repetition of measurements permits a measurement of activity as a function of time. From such a function radionuclides such as radon and its decay products may be distinguished from other radionuclides by their half-life in a technically simpler way than by their energy.

A New Method for Calibration and Response Measurement of a Scintillation Detector Using Radioisotope Sources

A new method for calibration was developed that takes the energy deposited by radioisotope sources into account; it was validated with a plastic scintillation plate using a (207)Bi source. The energy deposits of the conversion electrons in the (207)Bi source led to an energy difference of a few keV for the 976 keV monoenergetic peak. Calibration with high accuracy is essential to estimate radiation doses as well as to evaluate detector performance. The method will be available not only for use in scintillation detectors but also for other detectors.