High-Resolution Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy With a SiPM-Based Detection Module for 1” and 2” LaBr₃:Ce Readout

Abstract

In this paper, we present a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM)-based photodetector module designed to readout large cerium-doped lanthanum bromide (LaBr 3 :Ce) scintillators (cylindrical 1" × 1" and 2" × 2") for nuclear physics experiments. The detector prototype has a modular structure and implements a real-time stabilization of the SiPM gain to compensate for the gain drift with temperature. The SiPM module consists of an array of 5 by 6 near-ultraviolet high-density SiPMs (Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Italy), each one having an active area of 6 mm × 6 mm and 30-µm microcells. The single array is used for the 1" crystal readout, and it is assembled in a 2×2 format to read the 2" scintillator. Spectroscopic measurements were performed with both crystals. The 2" crystal was irradiated with different radioactive sources in an energy range between 122 keV and 1.3 MeV, and an energy resolution of 3.19 ± 0.01% full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) has been achieved at 662 keV. The result is very close to the 3.07 ± 0.03% FWHM measured with Super Bialkali photomultiplier tube (PMT) (Hamamatsu R6233-100) at the same energy with the same 2" crystal. In the framework of the comparison between SiPM and PMT for LaBr 3 :Ce readout, we provide an analysis of the energy resolution contributions based on the measurements performed with the developed gamma-ray detection system.

Handheld Magnetic-Compliant Gamma-Ray Spectrometer for Environmental Monitoring and Scrap Metal Screening

“…Thus, we built a first prototype of detector with a cubic scintillator and 4 SiPMs [ 16 ] and measured its energy resolution, which turned out to be significantly worse (16.4%). Since electronic noise is negligible at these energies [ 17 ], the reason for this discrepancy is ascribed to the lateral loss of light in the optical interface between the scintillator and the SiPM, which in simulations is considered ideal, while, in the real case, some light is escaping from this optical layer, especially in our demonstrator, where this delicate coupling was manually assembled (either with optical grease or a silicone pad).…”

A General Overview for Localizing Short Gamma-Ray Bursts with a CubeSat Mega-Constellation

“…Conventionally, this is achieved by using photomultiplier tubes (PMTs). PMTs require high biasing voltages as well as they are bulky and fragile and sensitive to magnetic fields [Cozzi et al, 2018]. Silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs), on the other hand, are relatively new technology.…”

“…Silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs), on the other hand, are relatively new technology. SiPMs are made of dense arrays of avalanche photodiodes (APDs), and they are insensitive to magnetic fields, they have high multiplication gain (∼10 6 ) and hence negligible electronic noise, low operation voltages, compact designs, and they provide very high timing resolution in the order of a few nanoseconds [Jenkins, 2015;Cozzi et al, 2018;Butt et al, 2015]. In addition to the SiPMs, Silicon Drift Detectors (SDD) as read-out apparatus of scintillators provide high quantum efficiency (>80%) and no photo-multiplication process.…”

Analytical Study of Front-End Circuits Coupled to Silicon Photomultipliers for Timing Performance Estimation under the Influence of Parasitic Components

“…Accuracy in time measurements represents a challenging task for a growing number of photo-detection systems in applications such as time-of-flight positron emission tomography (ToF-PET) [ 1 ], γ-ray spectroscopy [ 2 ], time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) [ 3 , 4 ], and distance measurements (LiDAR) [ 5 , 6 ]. In this kind of applications, time resolution as low as 100 ps FWHM, or even less, are often required.…”