Optical ionization detector
Abstract
An optical ionization detector wherein a beam of light is split so that one arm passes through a fiber optics and the other arm passes through a gas-filled region, and uses interferometry to detect density changes in a gas when charged particles pass through it. The gas-filled region of the detector is subjected to a high electric field and as a charged particle traverses this gas region electrons are freed from the cathode and accelerated so as to generate an electron avalanche which is collected on the anode. The gas density is effected by the electron avalanche formation and if the index or refraction is proportional to the gas density the index will change accordingly. The detector uses this index change by modulating the one arm of the split light beam passing through the gas, with respect to the other arm that is passed through the fiber optic. Upon recombining of the beams, interference fringe changes as a function of the index change indicates the passage of charged particles through the gaseous medium.
- Inventors:
-
- Danville, CA
- Castro Valley, CA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 869215
- Patent Number(s):
- 5298755
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01J - MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRA-RED, VISIBLE OR ULTRA-VIOLET LIGHT
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01N - INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- optical; ionization; detector; beam; light; split; arm; passes; fiber; optics; gas-filled; region; interferometry; detect; density; changes; gas; charged; particles; pass; subjected; electric; field; particle; traverses; electrons; freed; cathode; accelerated; generate; electron; avalanche; collected; anode; effected; formation; index; refraction; proportional; change; accordingly; modulating; passing; respect; passed; optic; recombining; beams; interference; fringe; function; indicates; passage; gaseous; medium; gas density; gas region; beam passing; fiber optics; charged particles; electric field; fiber optic; light beam; charged particle; gaseous medium; ionization detector; electron avalanche; particles pass; interference fringe; gas-filled region; optical ionization; density changes; arm passes; /250/
Citation Formats
Wuest, Craig R, and Lowry, Mark E. Optical ionization detector. United States: N. p., 1994.
Web.
Wuest, Craig R, & Lowry, Mark E. Optical ionization detector. United States.
Wuest, Craig R, and Lowry, Mark E. Sat .
"Optical ionization detector". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/869215.
@article{osti_869215,
title = {Optical ionization detector},
author = {Wuest, Craig R and Lowry, Mark E},
abstractNote = {An optical ionization detector wherein a beam of light is split so that one arm passes through a fiber optics and the other arm passes through a gas-filled region, and uses interferometry to detect density changes in a gas when charged particles pass through it. The gas-filled region of the detector is subjected to a high electric field and as a charged particle traverses this gas region electrons are freed from the cathode and accelerated so as to generate an electron avalanche which is collected on the anode. The gas density is effected by the electron avalanche formation and if the index or refraction is proportional to the gas density the index will change accordingly. The detector uses this index change by modulating the one arm of the split light beam passing through the gas, with respect to the other arm that is passed through the fiber optic. Upon recombining of the beams, interference fringe changes as a function of the index change indicates the passage of charged particles through the gaseous medium.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1994},
month = {1}
}