miniTimeCube as a neutron scatter camera

Jocher, Glenn; Koblanski, J.; Li, Viacheslav A.; Negrashov, S.; Dorrill, R.; Nishimura, K.; Sakai, M.; Learned, J. G.; Usman, S.M.

doi:10.1063/1.5079429

Cited by 11 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 24 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…These capabilities should prove beneficial in a large number of contexts. Possible future applications of similar detectors include general characterization of neutron fields [44], measurements in high-rate environments [45,46], fast neutron imaging, nuclear security applications [47], and radiation monitoring in space [48,49,50].…”

Section: Discussion Of Results and Wider Impactsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Compact, directional neutron detectors capable of high-resolution nuclear recoil imaging

Jaeglé

Lewis

Garcia-Sciveres

et al. 2019

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A:

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We report on the design, production, and performance of compact 40-cm 3 Time Projection Chambers (TPCs) that detect fast neutrons by measuring the three-dimensional (3D) ionization distribution of nuclear recoils in 4 He:CO 2 gas at atmospheric pressure. We use these detectors to characterize the fast-neutron flux inside the Belle II detector at the SuperKEKB electron-positron collider in Tsukuba, Japan, where the primary design constraint is a small form factor. We find that the TPCs meet or exceed all design specifications, and are capable of measuring the 3D surface shape and charge density profile of ionization clouds from nuclear recoils and charged tracks in exquisite detail. Scaled-up detectors based on the detection principle demonstrated here may be suitable for directional dark matter searches, measurements of coherent neutrino-nucleus scattering, and other experiments requiring precise detection of neutrons or nuclear recoils.

show abstract

Section: Discussion Of Results and Wider Impactsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Compact, directional neutron detectors capable of high-resolution nuclear recoil imaging

Jaeglé

Lewis

Garcia-Sciveres

et al. 2019

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A:

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Worldwide, there are now multiple efforts to develop a "single-volume" directional neutron detectors [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9], motivated primarily by a desire to reduce size and complexity of neutron imagers. An effective way to achieve the detection and characterization of multiple neutron scatters is to use an array of independent detector segments.…”

Section: Single-volume Neutron-scatter Imagersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of a Positron-Emission-Tomography-based SiPM readout for Compact Segmented Neutron Imagers

Li¹,

Sutanto²,

Classen³

et al. 2022

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Gamma-ray emission from special nuclear material (SNM) is relatively easy to shield from detection using modest amounts of high-Z material. In contrast, fast-neutrons are much more penetrating and can escape relatively thick high-Z shielding without losing significant energy. Furthermore, fast neutrons provide a clear and unambiguous signature of the presence of SNM with few competing natural background sources. The challenge of detecting fast neutrons is twofold. First, the neutron flux from SNM are only a fraction of the corresponding gamma-ray flux. Second, fast neutrons can be difficult to differentiate from gamma rays. The ability to discriminate gamma rays from neutrons combined with neutron imaging can yield large benefit to isolate the localized SNM neutron source from background. With the recent developments of pulse-shape-sensitive plastic scintillators that offer excellent gamma-ray/neutron discrimination, and arrays of silicon photomultipliers combined with highly scalable and fast positron-emission-tomography (PET) multi-channel readout systems, field-deployable neutron imagers suitable for SNM detection might now be within reach. In this paper, we present a characterization of the performance of a recently available commercial PET-scanner readout, including its sensitivity to pulse-shape differences between fast neutrons and gamma rays, energy and timing resolution, as well as linearity and dynamic range. We find that, while the pulse-shape discrimination is achievable with stilbene, further improvement of the readout is required to achieve it with the best available plastic scintillators. The time and energy resolution appear to be adequate for neutron imaging in some circumstances.

show abstract

“…Truly monolithic designs propose to reconstruct multiple interaction positions within a single volume [8,9]. A second technique proposes closely packed but optically segmented scintillators [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design and calibration of an optically segmented single volume scatter camera for neutron imaging

Galindo-Tellez¹,

Keefe²,

Adamek³

et al. 2021

J. Inst.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Optically Segmented Single Volume Scatter Camera (OS-SVSC) aims to image neutron sources for non-proliferation applications using the kinematic reconstruction of elastic double-scatter events. Our prototype system consists of 64 EJ-204 organic plastic scintillator bars, each measuring 5mm × 5mm × 200mm and individually wrapped in Teflon tape. The scintillator array is optically coupled to two silicon photomultiplier ArrayJ-60035 64P-PCB arrays, each comprised of 64 individual 6x6mm J-Series sensors arranged in an 8 × 8 array. We report on the design details, including component selections, mechanical design and assembly, and the electronics system. The described design leveraged existing off-the-shelf solutions to support the rapid development of a phase 1 prototype. Several valuable lessons were learned from component and system testing, including those related to the detector's mechanical structure and electrical crosstalk that we conclude originates in the commercial photodetector arrays and the associated custom breakout cards. We detail our calibration efforts, beginning with calibrations for the electronics, based on the IRS3D application-specific integrated circuits, and their associated timing resolutions, ranging from 3090ps. With electronics calibrations applied, energy and position calibrations were performed for a set of edge bars using 22Na and 90Sr, respectively, reporting an average resolution of 12.07±0.03mm for energy depositions between 900keVee and 1000keVee. We further demonstrate a position calibration method for the internal bars of the matrix using cosmic-ray muons as an alternative to emission sources that cannot easily access these bars, with an average measured resolution of 14.86+-0.29mm for depositions between 900keVee and 1000keVee. The coincident time resolution reported between pairs of bars measured up to 400ps from muon acquisitions. Energy and position calibration values measured with muons are consistent with those obtained using particle emission sources.

show abstract

miniTimeCube as a neutron scatter camera

Cited by 11 publications

References 24 publications

Compact, directional neutron detectors capable of high-resolution nuclear recoil imaging

Compact, directional neutron detectors capable of high-resolution nuclear recoil imaging

Evaluation of a Positron-Emission-Tomography-based SiPM readout for Compact Segmented Neutron Imagers

Design and calibration of an optically segmented single volume scatter camera for neutron imaging

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About