Quantum imaging monitoring and directional visualization of space radiation with timepix based SATRAM spacecraft payload in open space on board the ESA Proba-V satellite

Granja, Carlos; Polansky, Stepan; Vykydal, Z.; Pospı́šil, S.; Tureček, D.; Owens, A.; Mellab, Karim; Nieminen, P.; Dvořák, Zdeněk; Šimčák, Marek; Kozacek, Zdenek; Váňa, Petr; Mareš, Jan

doi:10.1109/nssmic.2014.7431205

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 3 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The detector consists of a semiconductor sensor (size 14 × 14 mm 2 , 300 µm thick) bump-bonded to an ASIC readout chip of 256 × 256 pixels with a pitch size of 55 µm [27]. The matrix structure is obtained in the silicon sensor, which is an n-type semiconductor wafer, with insertion of superficial p-type contacts in a matrix configuration that locally generates a depletion region (V bias ∼ 100 V) corresponding to the active area of a single pixel (Figure 1, left canvas).…”

Section: The Timepix Detectormentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The electrons tracks are characterized by multiple-scattering process with the electrons of the medium and low ionization power, resulting in the typical line or stripe shape (or curly ones if they are high-energy electrons) for β clusters, with an energy deposition that is almost homogeneous among the cluster pixels. Photons (X or γ) generate clusters composed by one or two pixels as the small detector thickness does not generally allow to contain the photo-extracted electrons [27] which deposit energy in only one or two adjacent pixels.…”

Section: Algorithm For Discrimination Of α and β Particlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Novel Algorithm for Radon Real-Time Measurements with a Pixelated Detector

Rizzo

Cardellini

Poggi

et al. 2022

Sensors

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Nowadays, radon gas exposure is considered one of the main health concerns for the population because, by carrying about half the total dose due to environmental radioactivity, it is the second cause of lung cancer after smoking. Due to a relatively long half-life of 3.82 days, the chemical inertia and since its parent Ra-226 is largely diffuse on the earthrgb]0,0,1’s crust and especially in the building materials, radon can diffuse and potentially saturate human habitats, with a concentration that can suddenly change during the 24 h day depending on temperature, pressure, and relative humidity. For such reasons, `real-time’ measurements performed by an active detector, possibly of small dimensions and a handy configuration, can play an important role in evaluating the risk and taking the appropriate countermeasures to mitigate it. In this work, a novel algorithm for pattern recognition was developed to exploit the potentialities of silicon active detectors with a pixel matrix structure to measure radon through the α emission, in a simple measurement configuration, where the device is placed directly in air with no holder, no collection filter or electrostatic field to drift the radon progenies towards the detector active area. This particular measurement configuration (dubbed as bare) requires an α/β-discrimination method that is not based on spectroscopic analysis: as the gas surrounds the detector the α particles are emitted at different distances from it, so they lose variable energy amount in air depending on the traveled path-length which implies a variable deposited energy in the active area. The pixels matrix structure allows overcoming this issue because the interaction of α, β and γ particles generate in the active area of the detector clusters (group of pixels where a signal is read) of different shape and energy dispersion. The novel algorithm that exploits such a phenomenon was developed using a pixelated silicon detector of the TimePix family with a compact design. An α(Am-241) and a β(Sr-90) source were used to calibrate the algorithm and to evaluate its performances in terms of β rejection capability and α recognition efficiency. Successively, the detector was exposed to different radon concentrations at the ENEA-INMRI radon facility in `bare’ configuration, in order to check the linearity of the device response over a radon concentration range. The results for this technique are presented and discussed, highlighting the potential applications especially the possibility to exploit small and handy detectors to perform radon active measurements in the simplest configuration.

show abstract

Section: The Timepix Detectormentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Algorithm For Discrimination Of α and β Particlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Novel Algorithm for Radon Real-Time Measurements with a Pixelated Detector

Rizzo

Cardellini

Poggi

et al. 2022

Sensors

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It is attached to the Proba-V, a satellite which was launched to low Earth orbit (LEO, 820 km, sun-synchronous orbit) in 2013 and has celebrated 10 years in orbit in May of 2023. During this time, it has been providing data for mapping out the fluxes of electrons and protons trapped in the Van Allen radiation belt, e.g., by in-orbit maps of the ionizing dose rate [13][14][15]. Over the years, different data analysis techniques have been successfully used for evaluation of the complex data set, incluing analytic categorization relying on the extraction of manually defined track features, as well as novel machine learning approaches [15][16][17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Results and Perspectives of Timepix Detectors in Space—From Radiation Monitoring in Low Earth Orbit to Astroparticle Physics

Bergmann,

Gohl,

Garvey

et al. 2024

Instruments

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In space application, hybrid pixel detectors of the Timepix family have been considered mainly for the measurement of radiation levels and dosimetry in low earth orbits. Using the example of the Space Application of Timepix Radiation Monitor (SATRAM), we demonstrate the unique capabilities of Timepix-based miniaturized radiation detectors for particle separation. We present the incident proton energy spectrum in the geographic location of SAA obtained by using Bayesian unfolding of the stopping power spectrum measured with a single-layer Timepix. We assess the measurement stability and the resiliency of the detector to the space environment, thereby demonstrating that even though degradation is observed, data quality has not been affected significantly over more than 10 years. Based on the SATRAM heritage and the capabilities of the latest-generation Timepix series chips, we discuss their applicability for use in a compact magnetic spectrometer for a deep space mission or in the Jupiter radiation belts, as well as their capability for use as single-layer X- and γ-ray polarimeters. The latter was supported by the measurement of the polarization of scattered radiation in a laboratory experiment, where a modulation of 80% was found.

show abstract

“…2 of 21 trapped in the Van-Allen radiation belt, e.g., by in-orbit maps of the ionizing dose rate dominated by electrons in polar horn regions, as well as protons in the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) [5][6][7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Results and Perspectives of Timepix Detectors in Space - from Radiation Monitoring in Low Earth Orbit to Astroparticle Physics

Bergmann,

Gohl,

Garvey

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In space application, hybrid pixel detectors of the Timepix family have been considered mainly for measurement of radiation levels and radiation dosimetry in low earth orbits. By the example of the Space Application of Timepix Radiation Monitor (SATRAM), we demonstrate the unique capabilities of Timepix-based miniaturized radiation detectors for particle separation. Using a novel method for proton spectrum reconstruction, we were able to measure the spectrum of protons trapped in the inner Van-Allen radiation belt, for the first time with a single-layer detector. We assess the measurement stability and the resiliency of the detector to the space environment demonstrating that, even though degradation is observed, data quality has not been affected significantly over more than 10 years. Based on the SATRAM heritage and the capabilities of the latest-generation Timepix-series chips, we discuss their applicability for use in a compact magnetic spectrometer for deep-space mission or in the high radiation environment of the Jupiter radiation belts, and their capability for use as single-layer X- and γ-ray polarimeter. The latter was supported by measurement of the polarization of scattered radiation in a laboratory experiment, where a modulation of 80% was found.

show abstract

Quantum imaging monitoring and directional visualization of space radiation with timepix based SATRAM spacecraft payload in open space on board the ESA Proba-V satellite

Cited by 3 publications

References 3 publications

Novel Algorithm for Radon Real-Time Measurements with a Pixelated Detector

Novel Algorithm for Radon Real-Time Measurements with a Pixelated Detector

Results and Perspectives of Timepix Detectors in Space—From Radiation Monitoring in Low Earth Orbit to Astroparticle Physics

Results and Perspectives of Timepix Detectors in Space - from Radiation Monitoring in Low Earth Orbit to Astroparticle Physics

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About