Simulations of a monolithic lanthanum bromide gamma-ray detector

Ertley, Camden; Bancroft, Chris; Bloser, Peter F.; Connor, Taylor; Legere, Jason S.; McConnell, Mark L.; Ryan, J. M.

doi:10.1117/12.859725

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Geant4 offers many tools for modeling the collection of optical scintillation photons [3], [12]. We have expanded and improved on the initial optical simulations reported previously [10].…”

Section: Optical Simulations With Geant4mentioning

confidence: 99%

Balloon-flight test of a lanthanum bromide gamma-ray detector with silicon photomultiplier readout

Bloser

Legere

Wurtz

et al. 2012

2012 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference Record (NSS/MIC)

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New scintillator materials have been shown to hold great potential for low-cost, reliable gamma-ray detectors in high-energy astronomy and solar physics. New devices for the detection of scintillation light promise to make scintillator-based instruments even more attractive by reducing mass and power requirements. In particular, silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) are commercially available that offer gains and quantum efficiencies similar to those of photomultiplier tubes (PMTs), but with greatly reduced mass, high ruggedness, low voltage requirements, and no sensitivity to magnetic fields. SiPMs have by now been shown to perform well as readouts for scintillator gamma-ray detectors in the laboratory. Before they may used in space-based instruments, however, it must be shown that 1) sufficiently large light collecting areas may be fabricated without loss of performance;2) the variability of the gain with temperature can be compensated for; and 3) that SiPMs are sufficiently robust and radiation hard. We present results from ongoing work to investigate whether SiPMs are appropriate for use in space, including data from the successful flight of a combined LaBr3/SiPM detector on a high-altitude scientific balloon, and the performance of larger gamma-ray spectrometers with improved light collection.

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“…Geant4 offers many tools for modeling the collection of optical scintillation photons [3], [12]. We have expanded and improved on the initial optical simulations reported previously [10].…”

Section: Optical Simulations With Geant4mentioning

confidence: 99%

Balloon-flight test of a lanthanum bromide gamma-ray detector with silicon photomultiplier readout

Bloser

Legere

Wurtz

et al. 2012

2012 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference Record (NSS/MIC)

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Geant4 offers many tools for modeling the collection of optical scintillation photons [3], [10]. We used the GLISUR model of optical properties, assuming polished crystal faces and a Lambertian reflector with 97% reflectivity on five sides.…”

Section: Optical Simulations With Geant4mentioning

confidence: 99%

Silicon photo-multiplier readouts for scintillator-based gamma-ray detectors in space

Bloser

Legere

Jablonski

et al. 2010

IEEE Nuclear Science Symposuim &Amp; Medical Imaging Conference

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New scintillator materials have been shown to hold great potential for low-cost, reliable gamma-ray detectors in high-energy astronomy and solar physics. Commercially available silicon photo-multipliers (SiPMs) promise to make scintillator-based instruments even more attractive by reducing mass and power requirements. SiPMs have by now been shown to perform well as readouts for scintillator gamma-ray detectors in the laboratory. We present results from ongoing work to investigate whether SiPMs are appropriate for use in space, including the Monte Carlo modeling of the light collection in a small LaBr 3 /SiPM spectrometer scheduled to fly on a highaltitude balloon flight in 2011.

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“…Recent advances in scintillator technology, such as the availability of LaBr3 1 , have opened up a wide range of exciting new possibilities for high-energy astronomy and space science [2][3][4][5] . LaBr3 offers an energy resolution for gamma-ray measurement that is competitive with that of semiconductor detectors while retaining the many strengths of scintillators: simple and reliable implementation, high stopping power, large volume, room temperature operation, and very fast timing.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scintillator gamma-ray detectors with silicon photomultiplier readouts for high-energy astronomy

et al. 2013

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Space-based gamma-ray detectors for high-energy astronomy face strict constraints of mass, volume, and power, and must endure harsh operating environments. Scintillator materials have a long history of successful operation under these conditions, and new materials offer greatly improved performance in terms of efficiency, time response, and energy resolution. The use of scintillators in space remains constrained, however, by the mass, volume, and fragility of the associated light readout device, typically a vacuum photomultiplier tube (PMT). Recently developed silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) offer gains and efficiencies similar to those of PMTs, but with greatly reduced mass and volume, high ruggedness, and no high-voltage requirements. We have therefore been investigating the use of SiPM readouts for scintillator gamma-ray detectors, with an emphasis on their suitability for space-and balloonbased instruments for high-energy astronomy. We present our most recent results, including spectroscopy measurements for lanthanum bromide scintillators with SiPM readouts, and pulse-shape discrimination using organic scintillators with SiPM readouts. We also describe potential applications of SiPM readouts to specific highenergy astronomy instrument concepts.

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Simulations of a monolithic lanthanum bromide gamma-ray detector

Cited by 4 publications

References 11 publications

Balloon-flight test of a lanthanum bromide gamma-ray detector with silicon photomultiplier readout

Balloon-flight test of a lanthanum bromide gamma-ray detector with silicon photomultiplier readout

Silicon photo-multiplier readouts for scintillator-based gamma-ray detectors in space

Scintillator gamma-ray detectors with silicon photomultiplier readouts for high-energy astronomy

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