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Title: Position sensitive alpha detector for an associated particle imaging system

Abstract

Associated Particle Imaging (API) is a nuclear technique that provides for the nondestructive determination of 3D isotopic distributions. The method is based on the detection of the alpha particles associated with the neutron emitted in the deuterium-tritium (DT) fusion reaction, which provides information regarding the direction and time of the emitted 14 MeV neutron. Inelastic neutron scattering leads to characteristic gamma-ray emission from certain isotopes, for example 12C, that can be correlated with the neutron interaction location. An API system consisting of a sealed-type neutron generator, gamma detectors, and a position-sensitive alpha detector is under development for the nondestructive quantification of carbon distribution in soils. This paper describes the design of the alpha detector, detector response simulations, and first experimental results. The alpha detector consists of a Yttrium Aluminum Perovskite (YAP) scintillator mounted on the inside of a neutron generator tube. The scintillation light propagates through a sapphire window to a position-sensitive photomultiplier tube mounted on the outside. The 16x16 output signals are connected through a resistive network for a 4-corner readout. The four readout channels are amplified, filtered, and then digitized for the calculation of the alpha position. First test findings demonstrate that an excellent alpha position resolution, bettermore » than the 1 mm FWHM required by the application, can be achieved with this detector design.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1]
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  1. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E)
OSTI Identifier:
1489663
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC02-05CH11231
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
AIP Conference Proceedings
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 2160; Journal Issue: 1; Conference: 25. International Conference on the Application of Accelerators in Research and Industry, Grapevine, TX (United States), 12-17 Aug 2018; Journal ID: ISSN 0094-243X
Publisher:
American Institute of Physics (AIP)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION

Citation Formats

Unzueta, Mauricio Ayllon, Mixter, Will, Croft, Zachary, Joseph, John, Ludewigt, Bernhard, and Persaud, Arun. Position sensitive alpha detector for an associated particle imaging system. United States: N. p., 2019. Web. doi:10.1063/1.5127697.
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Unzueta, Mauricio Ayllon, Mixter, Will, Croft, Zachary, Joseph, John, Ludewigt, Bernhard, & Persaud, Arun. Position sensitive alpha detector for an associated particle imaging system. United States. doi:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5127697
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Unzueta, Mauricio Ayllon, Mixter, Will, Croft, Zachary, Joseph, John, Ludewigt, Bernhard, and Persaud, Arun. Wed . "Position sensitive alpha detector for an associated particle imaging system". United States. doi:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5127697. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1489663.
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@article{osti_1489663,
title = {Position sensitive alpha detector for an associated particle imaging system},
author = {Unzueta, Mauricio Ayllon and Mixter, Will and Croft, Zachary and Joseph, John and Ludewigt, Bernhard and Persaud, Arun},
abstractNote = {Associated Particle Imaging (API) is a nuclear technique that provides for the nondestructive determination of 3D isotopic distributions. The method is based on the detection of the alpha particles associated with the neutron emitted in the deuterium-tritium (DT) fusion reaction, which provides information regarding the direction and time of the emitted 14 MeV neutron. Inelastic neutron scattering leads to characteristic gamma-ray emission from certain isotopes, for example 12C, that can be correlated with the neutron interaction location. An API system consisting of a sealed-type neutron generator, gamma detectors, and a position-sensitive alpha detector is under development for the nondestructive quantification of carbon distribution in soils. This paper describes the design of the alpha detector, detector response simulations, and first experimental results. The alpha detector consists of a Yttrium Aluminum Perovskite (YAP) scintillator mounted on the inside of a neutron generator tube. The scintillation light propagates through a sapphire window to a position-sensitive photomultiplier tube mounted on the outside. The 16x16 output signals are connected through a resistive network for a 4-corner readout. The four readout channels are amplified, filtered, and then digitized for the calculation of the alpha position. First test findings demonstrate that an excellent alpha position resolution, better than the 1 mm FWHM required by the application, can be achieved with this detector design.},
doi = {10.1063/1.5127697},
journal = {AIP Conference Proceedings},
number = 1,
volume = 2160,
place = {United States},
year = {2019},
month = {10}
}
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DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5127697
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