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Title: Characterization of the Mercury pulsed power x-ray source spectrum using multichannel density aerogel Cherenkov detectors

Journal Article · · Review of Scientific Instruments
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5038745· OSTI ID:1479994
ORCiD logo [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [2]; ORCiD logo [2];  [2];  [2]; ORCiD logo [2];  [2]; ORCiD logo [3];  [3];  [3];  [3]
  1. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
  2. Mission Support and Test Services, Las Vegas, NV (United States)
  3. Naval Research Lab. (NRL), Washington, DC (United States)
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The Aerogel Cherenkov Detector for Cygnus (ACD/C) is a time-dependent, x-ray spectral detector that uses SiO2 aerogels spanning an index of refraction (n = 1.02–1.07) corresponding to a 1.1–2.3 MeV x-ray energy threshold. The ACD/C was developed for pulsed power x-ray sources like Cygnus located at the Nevada National Site and Mercury located at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). Aerogels sit between the measurement capabilities of gas (>2 MeV) and solids such as fused silica (>0.3 MeV). The detector uses an aluminum converter to Compton scatter incoming x-rays and create relativistic electrons, which produce Cherenkov light in an aerogel or a fused silica medium. The ACD/C was fielded at the NRL when Mercury was tuned to produce up to 4.8 MeV endpoint bremsstrahlung. Despite a high radiation and electromagnetic interference background, the ACD/C was able to achieve high signal over noise across five aerogel densities and fused silica, including a signal to noise for a 1.1 MeV aerogel threshold. Previous experiments at Cygnus observed a signal that was comparable to the noise (1×) at the same threshold. The ACD/C observed time-resolved rise and fall times for different energy thresholds of the photon spectrum. Finally, Monte Carlo simulations of the ACD/C’s aerogel response curves were folded with a simulation of Mercury’s photon energy spectrum and agree within the error to the observed result.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-06NA25396; NA0003624
OSTI ID:
1479994
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1476132
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-18-23983
Journal Information:
Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 89, Issue 10; ISSN 0034-6748
Publisher:
American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 2 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (9)

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Gamma Ray Measurements at OMEGA with the Newest Gas Cherenkov Detector “GCD-3” journal May 2016
Aerogel Cherenkov detectors in colliding beam experiments journal May 2015
Threshold aerogel Cherenkov detector with Fresnel lens focalization
  • Alfaro, R.; Martínez, M. I.; Paic, G.
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journal March 2007
Three-dimensional density measurements of ultra low density materials by X-ray scatter using confocal micro X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy: Confocal MXRF density measurements journal March 2012
A Cherenkov Radiation Detector With High Density Aerogels journal June 2009
Aerogel Cherenkov detector for characterizing the intense flash x-ray source, Cygnus, spectrum journal August 2016
Monte Carlo validation experiments for the gas Cherenkov detectors at the National Ignition Facility and Omega journal July 2013
High-power, photofission-inducing bremsstrahlung source for intense pulsed active detection of fissile material journal June 2014

Figures / Tables (8)

Figure 1(p. 3)figure Figure 1
Table I(p. 3)table Table I
Figure 2(p. 4)figure Figure 2
Figure 3(p. 4)figure Figure 3
Table II(p. 4)table Table II
Figure 4(p. 5)figure Figure 4
Figure 5(p. 5)figure Figure 5
Figure 6(p. 5)figure Figure 6

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Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
photon spectra
aerogel
Cherenkov detectors
Cygnus
bremsstrahlung
X-ray spectroscopy