Flash x-ray measurements with a time projection Compton spectrometer

Conference · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-9002(90)90749-V· OSTI ID:6971701

Baldwin, G T; Landron, C O; Lee, J R; Leeper, R J; Lorence, Jr, L J

We have developed a Time Projection Compton Spectrometer'' (TPCS) to measure the time-integrated photon energy spectrum between 0.1 and 2 MeV of short-pulse, intense bremsstrahlung sources. A target in the TPCS produces Compton electrons when illuminated by the flash X-ray source. Target electrons are trapped magnetically by current in a rod on the axis of an evacuated drift tube. The curvature and gradient of magnetic field cause the electrons to drift parallel to the spectrometer axis. Time of electron arrival at the end of a 1-m drift encodes the energy spectrum of the X-ray burst. The detector is a plastic scintillator coupled to a fast photomultiplier tube. Despite heavy shielding, enough prompt X-rays penetrate to give a time fiducial. Background is measured on shots with the X-ray target removed. The response of the TPCS is calculated using the TIGERP computer code to model photon/electron transport in the target and a sophisticated algorithm to compute electron drift velocity. The response functions and signal are the known components of a matrix equation, which is solved to determine the unknown spectrum. We tested the TPCS with flash X-ray sources on the Saturn accelerator. Signals have been analyzed, spectra unfolded, and results compared with other methods. 14 refs., 12 figs.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/DP
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 6971701
• Report Number(s): SAND-90-0164C; CONF-900563--5; ON: DE90011050
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
430300 -- Particle Accelerators-- Auxiliaries & Components
440800* -- Miscellaneous Instrumentation-- (1990-)
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
COMPTON SPECTROMETERS
DATA
DESIGN
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EQUIPMENT
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GAMMA SPECTROMETERS
INFORMATION
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NUMERICAL DATA
PLASTIC SCINTILLATION DETECTORS
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIATION SOURCES
RADIATIONS
SCINTILLATION COUNTERS
SHIELDING
SOLID SCINTILLATION DETECTORS
SPECTRA
SPECTROMETERS
X-RAY EQUIPMENT
X-RAY SOURCES
X-RAY SPECTRA