Difference between revisions of "HM 2014"

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;Beta's Primary and Secondary Ionization  
 
;Beta's Primary and Secondary Ionization  
  
When a beta particle travels in Ar/CO2 gas, it ionizes the gas which produce primary and secondary electrons. When a 100 keV beta travels in pure argon it produces primarily  1000 ip/cm and 300 ip/cm secondaries <ref> Fabio, S. (2014). Basic processes in gaseous counters. In Gaseous Radiation Detectors: Fundamentals and Applications. Cambridge: University Printing House </ref>
+
When a beta particle travels in Ar/CO2 gas, it ionizes the gas which produce primary and secondary electrons. Ar/Co2 gas mixture is used for detecting beta particles, When beta particles travel through the medium, they mostly collide with the medium atoms to ionize the atoms, or to excite the atoms. For instance,  When a 100 keV beta travels in pure argon gas, it produces primarily  300 ip/cm and 1000 ip/cm secondaries. <ref> Fabio, S. (2014). Basic processes in gaseous counters. In Gaseous Radiation Detectors: Fundamentals and Applications. Cambridge: University Printing House </ref>  
  
  

Revision as of 21:05, 9 March 2015

Beta Primary and Secondary Ionization

U-233 Beta particles are another source of ionization in Ar/CO2 gas. U-233 source emits negative beta particles in wide range of energy,

Beta energy percentages.png U-233 decay beta energy.jpg

but mostly the energy of emitted beta is in the range 9-20 keV. in the former energy range the yield is in between 0.1-1 percent as shown in the figure above.


Beta's Primary and Secondary Ionization

When a beta particle travels in Ar/CO2 gas, it ionizes the gas which produce primary and secondary electrons. Ar/Co2 gas mixture is used for detecting beta particles, When beta particles travel through the medium, they mostly collide with the medium atoms to ionize the atoms, or to excite the atoms. For instance, When a 100 keV beta travels in pure argon gas, it produces primarily 300 ip/cm and 1000 ip/cm secondaries. <ref> Fabio, S. (2014). Basic processes in gaseous counters. In Gaseous Radiation Detectors: Fundamentals and Applications. Cambridge: University Printing House </ref>


G4 is used to evaluate the number of primary and secondary electrons produced in a 1 cm of pure Ar gas, the result is summarized in the following table:

Particle Primary Secondary
1 keV X-ray 0.69 72
100keV electron 906 ip/cm 3455 ip/cm

which make the simulation close up to 10% for the primary and secondary electrons.

Particle Primary Secondary
1 keV X-ray 1 50
100keV electron 1000 ip/cm 3000 ip/cm
5 MeV alpha particle 10^4 3X10^4

Fabio Sauli, Gaseous Radiation Detectors: Fundamentals and Applications. [1] page 21.

02/17/15 QDC & PS-ADC measurements

each run lasted for 5 min. unless is mentioned differently

cath (kV) V_drift V_GEM (kV) open closed notes
3.87 1000 2.87 8569 6570
3.57 700 2.87 8572 8571 QDC does not show a observed difference between open and closed shutter
3.57 700 2.87 8573 8574
3.87 1000 2.87 8576 6575
3.87 1000 2.87 8578 6577
3.87 1000 2.87 8580 6579
3.87 1000 2.87 8582 6581


QDC Calibration

A triangle test pulse was ejected into the QDC for calibration, details of the pulse amplitude (mV) and width (us) in the table below

amplitude (mV) +_ 0.10 width (us) +_0.10 charge (nC) channel number run number
2.04 1.56 0.03 +_ 0.13 1513.2 +_ 1.8 8591
7.00 2.32 0.16 +_ 0.37 2161.7 +_ 1.5 8589
10.00 2.46 0.25 +_ 0.51 2767.5 +_ 1.5 8592
13.00 2.64 0.34 +_ 0.66 3169.7 +_ 1.2 8593
17.50 2.65 0.46 +_ 0.89 3618.2 +_ 0.9 8585

[math] charge = 0.5*\left ( \frac {2.04 mV *1.56 \mu s}{50 \Omega}\right ) [/math]



QDC cal 02 19 15.png

QDC Calibration

Asqaure test pulse was ejected into the QDC for calibration, details of the pulse amplitude (mV) and width (us) in the table below

amplitude (mV) +_ 0.10 charge (nC) channel number run number
7.00 1.14 407.3+_ 0.5 8617
8.00 1.30 1077.0 +_ 0.002 8618
9.00 1.47 2210.3 +_ 0.4 8619
10.00 1.63 3422.0 +_ 0.4 8620

pulse width was 8.16 us.


[math] charge = \left ( \frac {1.14 mV *8.16 \mu s}{50 \Omega}\right ) [/math]

QDC cal 02 22 15.png


The after signal processing of an input signal of 11.2 mV,the QDC's input signal is 20.8 mV according to what observed on the oscilloscope.

Roy's measurements is as the following

Shutter position Alpha particles /min. Beta particles /min.
Open 6879 900
Close 1 38

Depending on G4 simulation, each alpha particle has 270k secondary electrons which appear as a result of ionization. their total charge is

[math] charge =\left ( 2.7\times 10^5 \mbox {e}^-\right ) \left (1.6 \times* 10^{-19} \frac{\mbox{Coul}}{\mbox{e}^-}\right )= 4.32 \times 10^{-14} C = 43.2 pC [/math]


why is the charge multiplied by 2?
you need to document the amplification of this charge to describe how it is measured by ADC. 

Compared to the measured charge spectrum, the figure below average spectrum of five different measurements after subtracting the pedestal.

QDC charge 2.87 3.87kV 02 17 15.png

1/15/15

  1. Rate calculation (Shutter Open)

[2]


  1. SNR -vs- [math]\Delta[/math] V

01/11/15 2.97kV GEM

cathode drift potential and count rate runs for 2.97kV GEM

cathode drift 1-1.1k potential and count rate runs for 2.87kV GEM

01/08/14 Peak shift with changing the GEM preamp. Voltage

The ratio of signal to noise for each voltage is show below:

2.6-9 sig noi ratio.png


2.6-9 sig noi ratio open closed sub.png


Even if the error bars looks small in the first figure that shows the sig./noi. and voltage of the GEM, it is noticed the error bars insect for the measurements of open shutter and the open-closed. So the error bars of the first figure can't tell if the increment of 100V for the GEM preamp's is really causing a change in the collected charge spectra.

12/31/14 Peak shift with changing the GEM preamp. Voltage

The following figures show the effect of opening and closing the shutter as the GEM voltage is 2.67, 2.87 and 2.97 kV.

GEM2.6-9 open.png GEM2.6-9 closed.png GEM2.6-9 sub.png

The ratio of signal to noise for each voltage is show below:

2.6-9 sig noi ratio.png

You need to add error bars and make measurements at additional voltages 
( measure for every 5 volts if error bars can tell the difference between each voltage)

It is noticed that increasing the voltage decreased the signal to noise ratio unless it is within the error bars, also increasing the voltage of the GEM from 2.87 to 2.97 kV does not affect the noise signal ratio, but it increases the charge detected which is expected as main characteristic for the GEM preamp. (results are same using both definitions of signal to noise ratio).


V_GEM (kV) open closed notes
2.87 8479,8481, 8408 8480,8482,8409
2.97 8484, 8486,8415 8483,8485,8416

12/30/14 Determining the noise level using pulse shape and peak sensing discrimination simultaneously

Using an AND-gate for a peak sensing discriminator and a leading edge one is used to determine the relationship between the discrimination level and the the signal rate.

Psensing spectra with an AND-gate output as a gate for the module

Using LED only

The LED disc. is used instead of the PS disc. to measure the Psensing charge spec., the following figure shows the result.


LED o c 3 3.6kV.png

the signal is amplified so it is higher than the noise level, but still the LED disc. is unable to distinguish between open shutter and closed one.

the noise level is measured and it is 78 mV. (run 8445)

The counts near channel 100 suggest that the leading edge discriminator is not rejecting noise that we called a pedestal event.

12/27/14 Peak shift with changing the GEM preamp. Voltage

GEM3k peak sensing charge spectra

GEM3k peak sensing charge spectra

GEM 2.87kV and cath. 3.47kV

CATH3.47 GEM2.87 8409c 8408.png

GEM 2.67 and cath. 3.27kV

CATH3.27 GEM2.67 8410c 8411.png


GEM 2.97 and cath. 3.57kV

CATH3.57 GEM2.97 8416c 8415.png

12/24/14 Peak shift with changing the GEM preamp. Voltage

The following figure shows the peak shift in the Peak sensing charge spectrum as Drfit voltage is 700 V and the GEM voltage is changed as shown in the figure:


Peak shift G2.77 2.9kV 1.png Peak shift G2.77 2.9kV 2.png

The figure above shows the peak shift as the GEM preamp. voltage is 2.77kV and 2.9kV. the higher voltage for the GEM preamp., the higher charge collected from the detector. Also the noise peak rate at channel is less at a higher GEM voltage.

12/24/14 GEM_V = 2.82 kV

cathode drift potential and count rate runs for 2.82kV GEM

12/18/14 Comparing increasing the GEM voltage 30 V to 2.9 KV

GEM_V= 2.87 kV

All open V rate GEM2.87kV.png All closed V rate GEM2.87kV.png All sub V rate GEM2.87kV.png


All fit rate sub 2.87kV.png All fit rate open 2.87kV.png


GEM_V= 2.9 kV

The results shows the integral under the charge spectra:

All open V rate GEM2.9kV.png All closed V rate GEM2.9kV.png All sub V rate GEM2.9kV.png

The maximum rate for the first peak in case of open shutter and in case of the subtraction is shown below:

All fit rate sub 2.9kV.png All fit rate open 2.9kV.png


Notes

Increasing the the GEM voltage

  1. Increased the charge as the shutter is open as the drift voltage is in between 600-800V
  2. Increased the rate of the first peak rate, the rate at 800V and 900 V is not the same for all runs, the latest runs have higher rate, and the error bars are bigger for 800 and 900V.
  3. There is not any difference in maximum rate of the first peak for open shutter and the subtraction, so the shutter is completely stopping the charge flow to the anode as it is closed, even after the GEM's voltage increment.
  4. I will upload more graphs that have the average for each figure for the two values of the GEM voltages.


2.87 kV and 2.9 kV

Averages 2.87 2.9 charge int.png

The figure above shows that increasing the GEM voltage with 30 V does not change the amount of charge except for the drift voltage in the range of 500 to 700 V (increase) and 900 to 1kV (decrease). The first peak rate in increases when the GEM voltage increases 30 V as the drfit voltage in the range of 300-900 V as shown below:


Averages 2.87 2.9 firstpeak.png

12/15/14

Data analysis,

File:12 2 3 4 count rate cathV.xls

12/11/14

you forgot to put possible reason for fluctuation in legend.  Listing the possible reasons below is not informative

Figure 1.) Open-Closed data , from 10/25/14 -> 12/9/14, color code different days, legend indicates date and possible reason for fluctuations.

All sub V rate.png


Figure 2.) Open data , from 10/25/14 -> 12/9/14, color code different days, legend indicates date and possible reason for fluctuations.

All open V rate.png

Figure 3.) Closed data , from 10/25/14 -> 12/9/14, color code different days, legend indicates date and possible reason for fluctuations.

All Closed V rate.png


Fluctuations
  1. Changing the bottle twice.
  2. Weather temperature.
  3. Ar/CO2 gas' temperature was lower than the lab's temperature for the last bottle, a change is observed before and after the 11/20/14.



Figure 4.) Open-Closed data , from 10/9-present, color code different days, legend indicates date and possible reason for fluctuations.

Figure 5.) Open data , from 10/9-present, color code different days, legend indicates date and possible reason for fluctuations.

Figure 6.) Closed data , from 10/9-present, color code different days, legend indicates date and possible reason for fluctuations.

The effect of the drift field

File:Laura De Nardo, Marchiori Elena, PhD thesis,Università degli studi di Padova, 2013/2014

There is an effect for the drift potential on the count rate as its value is less than 0.4 kV, one of the reasons that the drift force line ends on the surface of the GEM electrode, on the other hand, when the drift more than 0.4 kV, the drift force lines converge inside the hole.

Another reason is in case of the drift potential is more than 0.4 kV, the probability of electron-ion recombination before the GEM electrode is less compared to the case when the drift potential is less than 0.4 kV.

If the electric field is higher than 0.8 kV, the electric filed lines end on the surface, and the ones in the holes do not converge as much as in the case of of V_drift =< 0.8 kV, which cause an electron defacusing effect.

File:Bachmann GEM charge transcfer properties driftE.pdf

DriftV amp.png

12/10/14

Three figures

Figure 1.) Open-Closed data , from 10/25/14 -> 12/9/14, color code different days, legend indicates date and possible reason for fluctuations.


Figure 2.) Open data , from 10/25/14 -> 12/9/14, color code different days, legend indicates date and possible reason for fluctuations.

Figure 3.) Closed data , from 10/25/14 -> 12/9/14, color code different days, legend indicates date and possible reason for fluctuations.


Figure 4.) Open-Closed data , from 10/9-present, color code different days, legend indicates date and possible reason for fluctuations.

Figure 5.) Open data , from 10/9-present, color code different days, legend indicates date and possible reason for fluctuations.

Figure 6.) Closed data , from 10/9-present, color code different days, legend indicates date and possible reason for fluctuations.


300px


Figure 7.) Overlay average of 10/25/14-> 12/9/10 measurements and average of 10/9-present, legend indicated GEM voltage,

12/09/14

Count rate GEM 2.9kV 12 08 09 ave.png Count rate GEM 2.9kV 12 09.png Count rate GEM 2.9kV 12 08.png


Reference for number pf counts vs the cathode voltage

12/08/14 2.9kV GEM

cathode drift potential and count rate runs for 2.9kV GEM

12/08/14

The figure shows the drift voltage vs the count rate in another weekend.


12 07 cath rate count.png

The graph is different from the graph taken by the previous weekend 11/29/14 as the drift potential is less than 350 V. as shown below

11/2911 29 cath rate count.png


Investigate ionized electron transmission by looking at previous published studies of Cathode voltage differences.

12/05/14

Beta Transmission ratio percentage in FR4

The figure below shows the number of beta transmitted through 1 mm FR4, the collected data considers only the incident beta only without counting for primary electrons as result of the ionization through the shutter and without electron ionization in the gas in the drift volume.

Beta FR4 trans EkeV percent.pngTABeta FR4 trans EkeV percent.png



Cathode vs Count Rate

11/2911 29 cath rate count.png

The figure shows the count rate as the shutter is open (green), closed (red), and their subtraction (blue) as the drift voltage changes. The measurements were taken in the weekend.

12/0212 02 cath rate count.png 12/0312 03 cath rate count.png 12/0412 04 cath rate count.png

The figures above show the count rate in three different working days, the color refernce is as the figure above.


12 ave cath rate count.png File:12 2 3 4 count rate cathV.xls


The average of previous of the data for the three figures above is calculated with the error bars.


Notes:

  1. As mentioned below, as the drift potential is between 400-900V, the same count rate is measured in average for the the three cases.
  2. The count rate increase between 193V and 200V was not observed.
  3. As the voltage is 900V, in all days, a high noise is observed for shutter open. It confirms what we discussed before; it indicates a need for more amplification and a higher discrimination level if we are interested in determining the full charge spectrum from U-233.
  4. Another set of measurements will be taken this weekend to reproduce the graph for 11/29.

12/01/14

The figure shows the drift voltage effect on the number of counts for shutter open (green), closed (red), and their subtraction (blue)

11 29 cath rate count.png

I noticed:

  1. There is not any effect for increasing the cathode voltage when the drift voltage is 400V or higher.
  2. The count rate is doubled between as the drift voltage changes from 193V to 200V.
  3. Compared to the previous graph (measurements before 11/20/14) a shift in the voltage for the area that number of count rate dramatically increased, it changed from around 600V to 200V. Also the count rate decreased with about 10Hz (only for the subtraction graph in blue) after changing the old bottle.
  4. The data are measured in the weekend, and it would be measured again through the normal working days to compare the results.

11/29/14 Electron range in FR4

E EkeV FR4 range cm.png

The calculations considers the excitation energy for FR4 equals to 107.1 eV.[3], and composite is from the site [4]

11/25

Cath volt count before 11 19 all.png

11/03-19 Ionization calculations

File:Total ionization 3particles.xls

11/20/14

A difference in the number is noticed after changing to the new bottle!!!!!

Cath volt count.png Cath volt count after 11 19.png

10/27/14

Plot[math] \Delta[/math] V -vs- R

The [math]\Delta[/math] V -vs-  R  graph seems to be jumping around a lot.  
This may mean we need more measurements in order to determine if there is a smooth dependence or not

Cath volt count.png Cath volt rate.png


Ar ionization cross section

The energy is in the unit of MeV/amu which is relative to the atomic mass unit of hte target. In our case we are interested in Ar which has an amu = 40.


Ar e ionization xsection 10MeV.png

10/24/14

Table of Histograms with NO SOURCE, shutter open and closed, and changing V cathode

(750 Volts)

Plot the rate of all three particles from source onto one plot


3particles energy.png File:U-33 SourceParticlePercentage.xmgrace.txt


Electron energy threshold to penetrate 1mm thick FR4, and the energy for full penetration.

Plot transmission by taking ratio of (Number particle through shutter)/(Number of particles hitting shutter)[math] \frac{N_{trans}}{N_{inc}}[/math]

Plot Energy loss ( 100 *[math] \frac{E_i-E_f}{E_i}[/math])

10/23/14

Table of Histograms with NO SOURCE, shutter open and closed, and changing V cathode

10/22/14

Long run peak sensing histograms

20min run peak sensing histograms

20 min. GEM-2.87 kV CATH-3.435 kV 10/17/14

you need to label the axis and color code the statistics box so I know which distribution corresponds to which configuration.
Date Shutter source run number Scaler counts (Hz) pedestal Integral in ADC full spectrum (Hz) Integral in ADC spectrum beyond pedestal (Hz) notes
10/16 Open off 7847 150+_7 1429/60 7915/60 5810/60
10/16 Closed off 7846 72+_3 1070/60 4029/60 2817/60
10/16 Open off 7848 137+_16 19 129 111 4runs 7848 62 63 64.png
10/16 Closed off 7862 53+_1 7 47 41
10 /16 Open On 7863 147+_12 30 129 101
10/16 Closed On 7864 67+_4 15 59 45
10/17 Open off 7865 132+_14 28 121 97 4runs 7865 66 68 67.png
10/17 Closed off 7866 95+_7 11 59 49
10 /17 Open On 7868 150+_6 32 128 100
10/17 Closed On 7867 74+_4 13 63 52
10/18 Open off 7872 136+_10 9 124 115 4runs 7872 71 69 70.png
10/18 Closed off 7871 51+_3 4 48 44
10 /18 Open On 7869 140+_10 10 123 115
10/18 Closed On 7870 53+_2 4 49 44
10/19 Open off 7873 124+_14 10 114 104 4runs 7873 74 76 75.png
10/19 Closed off 7874 59+_4 5 54 49
10 /19 Open On 7876 141+_8 10 117 108
10/19 Closed On 7875 60+_4 6 55 50
10/20 Open off 7879 129+_16 8 116 108 4runs 7879 80 82 81.png
10/20 Closed off 7880 49+_2 2 45 42
10 /20 Open On 7882 142+_3 8 108 99
10/20 Closed On 7881 53+_2 5 49 44

10/16/14

you need to label these histograms with more detail that will identify the run number and the run conditions.  
Name each histogram according to the run number then in a figure caption identify the run conditions.
you need to show more than just 4 runs, try to take 10, why is the pedestal peak different in the four that you show.
You need to have units of Hz for the count rate on the y-axis.
 I should not be asking you for the above things at this stage of your career, you should be doing hem automatically
 I am not giving any formal results yet since the voltage of the GEM may increase.
The point is to able to understand what is plotted and have a reference to fall back on
 Formal results will be even more detailed 


Last update for the today's measurements
  1. Reproduciblity is achieved when for the peak sensing spectra for shutter open and shutter close without source.
  2. Increasing the GEm amplification is needed for the case of the shutter open with the source on.

10 16 14 4runs.png



Analyze all runs with same conditions of HV, Gas, … to determine the integral number of counts in the ADC(PADC) histogram that are above the pedestal.

10/14-15/14

Shutter run numbers average number of counts above the pedestal
Open 7797, 7802, 7808, 7816 Sh.open 1stpeak int.png Sh.open 2ndpeak int.png
Closed 7798, 7803, 7809, 7817 Sh.closed 1stpeak int.png Sh.closed 2ndpeak int.png



Fix the percentage plot for the number of betas emitted by the source.

The repcentages do not add to 100% according to two different references.[5][6] they add to about 20%, the first referece bentioned that the average energy for the emitted particles from U-233 are


Ebeta (eV) : 5.043230e+3 (5.363190e+2)

Egamma (eV) : 1.110210e+3 (1.076780e+2)

Ealpha (eV) : 4.888350e+6 (2.896760e+4)


Fix the alpha log plot for cross-section, change units on the beta plot for cross section so they are in barns.

Add plot for expected voltage on oscilloscope.

Alpha Alpha energy percentages.png Ar alpha ionization xsection.png Alpha primaries.png
Beta Beta energy percentages.png Ar e ionization xsection.png[7] Ar e ionization ref p1.gif
Gamma Gamma energy percentages.png Ar gamma ionization xsection.png 300 px

10/13/14

stripchart

B pdaily counts.png


S pdaily counts.png


Relationship between barns and g/cm^2

[math] macroscopic \,\, xsection (cm^2/g) = \frac{6.022 \times 10^{23}}{atomic mass} * xsections \,\, (cm^2)) [/math]



paragraph describing percentage plots for alpha, beta, and gamma with references.


long run time shutter source Notes
7832 6h open off 8dB
7834 35min closed off 8dB
7836 5.5h open on 11 dB

10/10/14

10/02/14

QDC's and Peak sensing's spectra distinguish between shutter open and shutter close as the source is on, I noticed it from yesterday's and today's measurements.

Also the spectra shows a difference in the number of count and the number of channels as the source on or off as the shutter is open. more measurements is needed to calculate the STDEV.


The oscilloscope picture is shows the gate and signal details,



date time run ended Source run number notes
10/02/14 10:45 On 7792 each run time is 20 min.
10/02/14 11:07 off 7793 22', taking the source off directly then measuring the charge does not show any difference in channel number but shows difference in counts.
10/02/14 16:30 off 7795 20', after 5 1/2 h the detector started to show a little difference again between shutter open source is on and when the source is off.
10/03/14 8:00 off 7795 20'
10/03/14 11:21 off 7795 20' equilibrium without source.
10/06/14 09:05 off 7802 20' equilibrium without source.
10/07/14 7:00 off 7806 lower charge is detected
10/07/14 11:19 off 7807 higher charge is detected (TSO's stuff were checking on the source)


GEM_HV= 2870 Volts, Drift HV = 3470 Volts

GEMoutput 10022014 A.png GEMoutput 10022014 B.pngGEMoutput 10022014 C.png

09/30/14

Plot of shutter open/closed (NO SOURCE) counter rate -vs- date


Alpha's Primaries

Alpha energy percentages.png Ar alpha ionization xsection.png Alpha primaries.png

File:Alpha primaries.xls

Plot of Number of electrons collected -vs- Energy of (alpha, beta, and gamma) from U-233

Electrons

Beta energy percentages.png Ar e ionization xsection.png Ar e ionization xsection 10MeV.png [K Paludan et al 1997 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 30 L581 doi:10.1088/0953-4075/30/17/005 ]

link title E stoppingpower MeV MeVcmg-2.png Ar e range MeV gcm-2.png


Gamma

Gamma energy percentages.png Ar gamma ionization xsection.png 300 px

09/29/14

Shutter open/close data plot for 2.87 3.48 kV GEM /Cathode

B pdaily counts.png


S pdaily counts.png


[8] The reference gives percentages of the emitted alpha particles as U-233 -> Th229 File:Alpha percentages.txt

Alpha E percent.png


Roy's detector infomation and measurements

U-233 metal deposited source is measured by Protean Instrument corporation gaseous detector, has a model number of WPC9450 (serial number: 0915723)and uses (P10) gas mixture, as shown below:

Shutter position Alpha particles /min. Beta particles /min.
Open 6879 900
Close 1 38

Alpha Secondaries.png

09/20/14

Rate of ( alpha, photon, beta) -vs- energy for U-233

Primary electron ionization -vs- (alpha,photon, beta) energy


Alpha Secondaries

U-233 decay beta energy.jpg


Photo-Absorption Secondaries


Photo-Absorption Secondaries.png

The reason that the graph started from 30 keV is the lowest gamma energy emitted by U-233 or Cf-252 is higher than that energy.


Electron Ionization


Using NIST data base [9]


we got the following data file for CO2 File:CO2 e ionization xsection.txt, For Ar, the ref. [10] that measured the ionization xsection. Ar e ionization ref p1.gif Ar e ionization ref p1.gif

Ar e ionization xsection.gif

09/20/14

The figure below shows the change in the signal as the GEM capacitor charges, at a specific fixed voltage it reaches saturation (equilibrium),

GEM signal time equilibS.png

If the capacitor does not reach equilibrium, the signal of the detector is expected to change with time.


 What may forbid the GEM capacitor to reach the equilibrium?
  1. The circuit board voltage fluctuations.
  2. The following reference describes almost the same conditions as those of our detector when their detector is in operation to detect simultaneously photons with alpha particles.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A 471 (2001) 151–155

File:Gas electron multiplier for portal imaging wallmark.pdf

The author commented in the conclusion "The studies show that GEMs can operate at extremely high rates (>10^6 Hz/mm^2) with no sign of degradation and stability loss due to radiation damage. However, it was discovered that the maximum achievable gain for all planar gaseous detectors drops with the beam intensity "

"In real clinical operation the detector can operate safely with a gain of 10^2 in the GEM closest to the collector".

 Our detector has a rate of 100-170 Hz (without and with the source), considering  the detector age, will this rate cause an instability?
  1. High detector rate.

File:Fonte GD limitations.pdf

The gain will decrease when the count rate increases, if GEMs' voltage is at the point where gain is stable with the high rate, the detector output will be reproducible. As mentioned above, a gain of 10^2 made it enough for imaging with a well-quenched gas, I doubt we need to increase the gain more than that.

9/18/14

Determine best Cathode HV that produces the largest separation of the source ON/OFF signal.

The detector results are not reproducible, as the voltage is at 3.4 kV, the QDC spectrum is different as the source on; so QDC can not distinguish if the source is on or when it is off the detector.

Something is wrong!!!!

We never have a reproducibility problem before using the QDC until I start using V1495, Can we borrow the older module just to test the reproducibility is still a problem.

It is very unlikely that it is the v1495.  The V1495 only tells the DAQ to read out a module.  
You can test the DAQ by injecting a pulse with a known charge and look for it in the QDC spectrum.
It is VERY important to have scope pictures showing the difference between source ON/OFF.
Then you use scalers to check that your trigger pulse is able to see a difference between source ON/OFF
Then you do the DAQ measurements.  
If you don't follow the above proceedure then you will be building a pyramid on quicksand.

The same case when the cathode voltage increased to 3.6 kV.


Then perform a set of measurements (shutter open/closed and source ON/OFF) to establish reproduceability. Make sure you record the scaler count rates.

9/17/14

Measure the charge for several values of the Cathode HV keeping the GEM preamplifier voltage and gas flow rate constant.

CATH 3.2 KV

QDC source on off 7728 7729.png

CATH 3.1 KV

QDC source on off 7736 7737.png

All the runs have the same duration 20 min.

CATH 3.4 KV

Try to take scope picture to show difference between source on and off signal that are being measured by the QDC.

9/16/14

QDC source on off 7724 7726.png

Condition of above results

Shutter is Open

Red is Cf-252 source ON Run 7724

Green is Cf-252 source OFF run 7726

HV_GEM= -2930 Volts HV_Cathode=-3400 Volts

Gas Flow rate = 0.1 ft^3/hr

Goal
Can the Cf-252 source ON signal be changed?

Change the Cathode voltage to try and turn off the signal when the source is on.

Result

Yes, when the cathode voltage is decreased to -3100V, QDC histogram does not show any difference in the collected charge as the shutter is open with the source on it, and when the shutter is open without the source.


The figure below shows the change in the QDC spectrum when the cathode voltage is -3.2 kV. QDC source on off 7728 7729.png <references/>













Neutron_TGEM_Detector_Abdel