Direct detection of Tritium and Carbon-14 beta particles with GaAs photodiodes

Barnett, A. M.; Lees, J.E.; Bassford, D.J.

doi:10.1088/1748-0221/7/09/p09012

Cited by 8 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics hand side of the spectrometer zero energy peak tail not being entirely eliminated with the low energy threshold of 2 keV (the same energy threshold entirely eliminated the zero energy peak tail of the 55 Fe X-ray spectrum at 20°C) as a result of increased stray capacitive load on the input of the preamplifier due to the mechanical package of the 63 Ni radioisotope β À particle source being different compared to that of the 55 Fe radioisotope X-ray source could explain the increased number of counts in the accumulated 63 Ni β À particle spectrum compared to the simulated detected spectrum. Similar effects in a GaAs-based β À particle spectrometer measuring a 14 C radioisotope β À particle source was attributed to this phenomenon (Barnett et al, 2012). However, the presence of the mechanical package of the 63 Ni radioisotope β À particle source in the reported setup is expected to have negligible capacitive effects.…”

Section: 1029/2018ja025687supporting

confidence: 65%

GaAs Spectrometer for Planetary Electron Spectroscopy

et al. 2018

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Work toward producing a radiation‐hard and high temperature tolerant direct detection electron spectrometer is reported. The motivation is to develop a low‐mass, low‐volume, low‐power, multimission capable instrument for future space science missions. The resultant prototype electron spectrometer employed a GaAs p+‐i‐n+ mesa photodiode (10 μm i layer thickness; 200 μm diameter) and a custom‐made charge‐sensitive preamplifier. The GaAs detector was initially electrically characterized as a function of temperature. The detector‐preamplifier assembly was then investigated for its utility in electron spectroscopy across the temperature range 100 to 20 °C using a laboratory 63Ni radioisotope β− particle source (end point energy = 66 keV). Monte Carlo simulations using the computer program CASINO were conducted and showed that the spectrometer had a quantum detection efficiency which increased with increasing electron energy up to 70 keV; a quantum detection efficiency of 73% was calculated. The accumulated 63Ni β− particle spectra together with CASINO simulations of the detected spectra showed that the GaAs based spectrometer could be used for counting electrons and measuring the energy deposited per electron in the detector's active region (i layer). The development of a GaAs electron spectrometer of this type may find use in future space missions to environments of intense radiation (such as at the surface of Europa for investigation of electron‐driven radiolysis of ice) and high temperature (such as at Mercury, and comets passing close to the Sun).

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Section: 1029/2018ja025687supporting

confidence: 65%

GaAs Spectrometer for Planetary Electron Spectroscopy

et al. 2018

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“…One possibility is that the beta illumination increased the stead-state component of the detector current thus broadening the zero-energy noise peak. A similar phenomenon with a possibly different aetiology was observed in a GaAs spectrometer illuminated with a 14 C radioisotope beta particle source 21 ; in that case the increased number of counts at low energies was attributed to increased series white noise as a consequence of additional stray capacitance brought by the radioisotope beta particle source adding additional capacitive load to the preamplifier’s input. However, that explanation cannot apply to the present case because the front-end of the preamplifier was well controlled.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 55%

“…Wide bandgap semiconductor photodiodes coupled to low-noise preamplifier electronics are an alternative and desirable technology for developing radiation-hard direct detection electron spectrometers which have excellent energy resolution. Direct detection electron spectroscopy with wide bandgap photodiodes and suitable low-noise readout electronics has been demonstrated at room temperature using GaAs 20,21 , AlGaAs 22 , and SiC 23 detectors. A GaAs electron spectrometer was subsequently developed for operation in the temperature range 100 °C to 20 °C with a view to production of a multi-mission capable electron spectrometer for space science 24 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

InGaP electron spectrometer for high temperature environments

Butera

Lioliou

Zhao

et al. 2019

Sci Rep

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In this work, a 200 μm diameter InGaP (GaInP) p + -i-n + mesa photodiode was studied across the temperature range 100 °C to 20 °C for the development of a temperature-tolerant electron spectrometer. The depletion layer thickness of the InGaP device was 5 μm. The performance of the InGaP detector was analysed under dark conditions and then under the illumination of a 183 MBq 63 Ni radioisotope beta particle source. The InGaP photodiode was connected to a custom-made low-noise charge-sensitive preamplifier to realise a particle counting electron spectrometer. Beta spectra were collected at temperatures up to 100 °C with the InGaP device reverse biased at 5 V. The spectrum accumulated at 20 °C was compared with the spectrum predicted using Monte Carlo simulations; good agreement was found between the predicted and experimental spectra. The work is of importance for the development of electron spectrometers that can be used for planetary and space science missions to environments of high temperature or extreme radiation (e.g. Mercury, Jupiter’s moon Europa, near-Sun comets), as well as terrestrial applications.

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“…Barnett, Lees, and Bassford attempted direct detection of 3 H and 14 C beta particles with GaAs photodiodes [67]. depth and deposition of energy within the detector.…”

Section: Applications In Radiation Detectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of strontium-90, a review and the potential for direct in situ detection

Turkington

Gamage

Graham

2018

2018 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference Proceedings (NSS/MIC)

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Strontium-90 is one of the primary beta-emitting radionuclides found at nuclear decommissioning sites. Monitoring its activity in the environment is of utmost importance given its radiotoxicity. Current procedures for the beta detection of strontium-90 are time consuming, produce secondary waste and expensive. There is a demand for real-time in situ radiostrontium monitoring in groundwater at nuclear decommissioning sites. This paper presents a review of existing techniques for strontium-90 monitoring and examines a novel approach through direct beta detection with a gallium arsenide photodiode based detector. A proof of concept detector was modelled in the physics simulation software, Geant4, and evaluated as candidate for in situ detection of beta emitting radionuclides. The simulation results indicate that the detector is physically capable of counting 89.86% of incident 0.546 MeV electrons from a 1 mm range in water. This validation will provide the basis for further development of an in situ beta detector.

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Direct detection of Tritium and Carbon-14 beta particles with GaAs photodiodes

Cited by 8 publications

References 47 publications

GaAs Spectrometer for Planetary Electron Spectroscopy

GaAs Spectrometer for Planetary Electron Spectroscopy

InGaP electron spectrometer for high temperature environments

Detection of strontium-90, a review and the potential for direct in situ detection

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