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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Simulations of Silicon Radiation Detectors for High Energy Physics Experiments

Silicon radiation detectors are an integral component of current and planned collider experiments in high energy physics. Simulations of these detectors are essential for deciding operational configurations, for performing precise data analysis, and for developing future detectors. In this white paper, we briefly review the existing tools and discuss challenges for the future that will require research and development to be able to cope with the foreseen extreme radiation environments of the High Luminosity runs of the Large Hadron Collider and future hadron colliders like FCC-hh and SPPC.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2017

Monte Carlo Simulation of a Segmented Detector for Low-Energy Electron Antineutrinos

Detection of low-energy electron antineutrinos is of importance for several purposes, such as ex-vessel reactor monitoring, neutrino oscillation studies, etc. The inverse beta decay (IBD) is the interaction that is responsible for detection mechanism in (organic) plastic scintillation detectors. Here, a detailed study will be presented dealing with the radiation and optical transport simulation of a typical segmented antineutrino detector withMonte Carlo method using MCNPX and FLUKA codes. This study shows different aspects of the detector, benefiting from inherent capabilities of the Monte Carlo simulation codes.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2017

Simulating the SuperCDMS Dark Matter Detector Response and Readout

Dark matter is one of the remaining great mysteries of modern physics. Cosmological and astrophysical evidence hints strongly at a new particle, or set of particles, unknown to the Standard Model, comprising some 80% of all of the matter in the universe. SuperCDMS is one of the world-leading direct-detection experiments attempting to directly measure interactions between dark and regular matter. SuperCDMS uses solid state crystalline detectors in a nearly-zero background environment to attempt to measure the particle properties of dark matter. The detectors themselves, however, are quite complex; and a very detailed understanding of the microscopic physics is helpful in analyzing the very rare events that occur within them. Furthermore, better understanding and modeling of the detectors can aid in the design and optimization of future iterations of the experiment. The SuperCDMS detectors are well-understood in ideal cases. However, an accurate understanding of the detector response to outlier events or under non-ideal conditions is important for a low-statistics experiment. This work describes the design and implementation of a low temperature condensed matter physics simulation library built on top of the popular Geant4 particle tracking framework. The library, named \Geant4 Condensed Matter Physics" or G4CMP, introduces several solid state concepts to the Geant4 framework such as crystal lattices, phonon quasiparticles, non-scalar elective masses, and implements several physics processes relevant to cryogenic temperature crystals. In addition to the physics library, which is intended for general use, this work also describes a full Monte Carlo simulation package for the SuperCDMS iZIP detectors which utilizes G4CMP at its core and also fully simulates the detector readout sensors. The document will begin with the canonical motivations for the cold dark matter hypothesis, followed by a description of the SuperCDMS experiment. It will then describe the microscopic physics inside of the SuperCDMS detectors, as well as details on their implementation in G4CMP. The full detector simulation with corresponding sensor readout will follow, along with plans for future work; including both scientific studies and improvements, as well as computational improvements and added efficiencies.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Layered shielding design for an active neutron interrogation system

The use of source and detector shields in active neutron interrogation can improve detector signal. In simulations, a shielded detector with a source rotated π/3 rad relative to the opening decreased neutron flux roughly three orders of magnitude. Several realistic source and detector shield configurations were simulated. A layered design reduced neutron and secondary photon flux in the detector by approximately one order of magnitude for a deuterium–tritium source. The shield arrangement can be adapted for a portable, modular design.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2011

ILCRoot tracker and vertex detector response to MARS15 simulated backgrounds in muon collider

Results from a simulation of the background for a muon collider, and the response of a silicon tracking detector to this background are presented. The background caused by decays of the 750-GeV muon beams was simulated using the MARS15 program, which included the infrastructure of the beam line elements near the detector and the 10{sup o} nozzles that shield the detector from this background. The ILCRoot framework, along with the Geant4 program, was used to simulate the response of the tracker and vertex silicon detectors to the muon-decay background remaining after the shielding nozzles. Results include the hit distributions in these detectors, the fractions of type-specific background particles producing these hits and illustrate the use of timing of the hits to suppress the muon beam background.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2016

A scintillator-based approach to monitor secondary neutron production during proton therapy

Here, the primary objective of this work is to measure the secondary neutron field produced by an uncollimated proton pencil beam impinging on different tissue-equivalent phantom materials using organic scintillation detectors. Additionally, the Monte Carlo code mcnpx-PoliMi was used to simulate the detector response for comparison to the measured data. Comparison of the measured and simulated data will validate this approach for monitoring secondary neutron dose during proton therapy. Proton beams of 155- and 200-MeV were used to irradiate a variety of phantom materials and secondary particles were detected using organic liquid scintillators. These detectors are sensitive to fast neutrons and gamma rays: pulse shape discrimination was used to classify each detected pulse as either a neutron or a gamma ray. The mcnpx-PoliMi code was used to simulate the secondary neutron field produced during proton irradiation of the same tissue-equivalent phantom materials. As a result, an experiment was performed at the Loma Linda University Medical Center proton therapy research beam line and corresponding models were created using the mcnpx-PoliMi code. The authors’ analysis showed agreement between the simulations and the measurements. The simulated detector response can be used to validate the simulations of neutron and gamma doses on a particular beam line with or without a phantom. In conclusion, the authors have demonstrated a method of monitoring the neutron component of the secondary radiation field produced by therapeutic protons. The method relies on direct detection of secondary neutrons and gamma rays using organic scintillation detectors. These detectors are sensitive over the full range of biologically relevant neutron energies above 0.5 MeV and allow effective discrimination between neutron and photon dose. Because the detector system is portable, the described system could be used in the future to evaluate secondary neutron and gamma doses on various clinical beam lines for commissioning and prospective data collection in pediatric patients treated with proton therapy.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

WE-D-BRF-01: FEATURED PRESENTATION - Investigating Particle Track Structures Using Fluorescent Nuclear Track Detectors and Monte Carlo Simulations

Purpose: To report on the efforts funded by the AAPM seed funding grant to develop the basis for fluorescent nuclear track detector (FNTD) based radiobiological experiments in combination with dedicated Monte Carlo simulations (MCS) on the nanometer scale. Methods: Two confocal microscopes were utilized in this study. Two FNTD samples were used to find the optimal microscope settings, one FNTD irradiated with 11.1 MeV/u Gold ions and one irradiated with 428.77 MeV/u Carbon ions. The first sample provided a brightly luminescent central track while the latter is used to test the capabilities to observe secondary electrons. MCS were performed using TOPAS beta9 version, layered on top of Geant4.9.6p02. Two sets of simulations were performed, one with the Geant4-DNA physics list and approximating the FNTDs by water, a second set using the Penelope physics list in a water-approximated FNTD and a aluminum-oxide FNTD. Results: Within the first half of the funding period, we have successfully established readout capabilities of FNTDs at our institute. Due to technical limitations, our microscope setup is significantly different from the approach implemented at the DKFZ, Germany. However, we can clearly reconstruct Carbon tracks in 3D with electron track resolution of 200 nm. A second microscope with superior readout capabilities will be tested in the second half of the funding period, we expect an improvement in signal to background ratio with the same the resolution.We have successfully simulated tracks in FNTDs. The more accurate Geant4-DNA track simulations can be used to reconstruct the track energy from the size and brightness of the observed tracks. Conclusion: We have achieved the goals set in the seed funding proposal: the setup of FNTD readout and simulation capabilities. We will work on improving the readout resolution to validate our MCS track structures down to the nanometer scales.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Generation of Synthetic Data for a Radiation Detection Algorithm Competition

This paper details the generation of synthetic radiation data using large-scale Monte Carlo transport models to evaluate radiation search detection algorithms. Modular 3-D Monte Carlo models spanning multiple city blocks were constructed, loosely based on downtown Knoxville, TN, containing buildings composed of multiple materials (brick, granite, and concrete), sidewalks, a four-lane road, side streets, parking lots, and grassy fields. Background and simulated source detector response calculations from these models were used to create synthetic list mode data sets for a 2"×4"×16" NaI(Tl) detector moving through a city street at a constant speed. For the background simulations, major isotopes were computed individually so that background composition and variability could be computed efficiently outside Monte Carlo. The source detector response included six simulated sources placed at 15 source locations. Detector response was developed to be periodic through the city street so that a detector path could begin at one end of the model and wrap around to the other. This framework allowed for the creation of diverse data sets, each with its own unique background and simulated source detector response. Synthetic data allows for high-quality labels, which are useful in developing data-driven radiation detection algorithms. This methodology was used to create synthetic data sets which were released as part of a public data competition to spur the development of new radiation detection algorithms for radiological search applications.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
NASA NTRS1973

Characteristics of capacitor-type micrometeoroid flux detectors when impacted with simulated micrometeoroids

A series of impact tests are described and data presented which characterize the operation of the capacitor-type micrometeoroid flux detectors used on the Meteoroid Technology Satellite (MTS). Capacitor-type detectors with silicon dioxide dielectric thickness of 0.4 and 1.0 microns were tested in the micrometeoroid impact simulator at the Langley Research Center, a 4-MV Van de Graaff electrostatic accelerator. The carbonyl iron projectiles were from 0.5 to 5.0 microns in diameter with velocities from 4 to 10.0 km/sec. The detector bias voltage was varied from -20 to -60 V; some tests were at detector temperatures of 90 C to -100 C; and the angle of impact varied from 0 deg to 75 deg from the normal to the detector. These tests showed that: (1) the detector operation is reliable when the bias voltage is greater than 30 V; (2) after an impact the detector returns to its original condition with an insignificant loss of active area; and (3) the sensitivity of the detector is inversely proportional to the detector thickness. The test results suggest a theoretical model in which the signal is an arc triggered by the impacting projectile, and the detector bias voltage must be high enough to insure that an arc will form.

Kassel, P. C., Jr.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Simulations of Sparse Static Detector Networks for City-Scale Radiological/Nuclear Detection

Sparse static detector networks in urban environments can be used in efforts to detect illicit radioactive sources, such as stolen nuclear material or radioactive "dirty bombs." We use detailed simulations to evaluate multiple configurations of detector networks and their ability to detect sources moving through a $6\times 6$ km 2 area of downtown Chicago. A detector network's probability of detecting a source increases with detector density but can also be increased with strategic node placement. Here, we show that the ability to fuse correlated data from a source-carrying vehicle passing by multiple detectors can significantly contribute to the overall detection probability. In this article, we distinguish static sensor deployments operated as networks able to correlate signals between sensors, from deployments operated as arrays where each sensor is operated individually. In particular, we show that additional visual attributes of source-carrying vehicles, such as vehicle color and make, can greatly improve the ability of a detector network to detect illicit sources.

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗
DOE OSTI2024

Simulating gas-filled neutron detector responses with DRiFT

– Gas-filled neutron detectors have numerous applications across the nuclear engineering and nuclear physics fields. The ability to accurately model and simulate these detectors is important for those applications but is currently limited by the lack of readily-useable detector response software. Recently, the capabilities of DRiFT, a Detector Response Function Toolkit, were expanded to model gas-filled, He-3 and BF3, neutron detectors so that, combined with the radiation transport capabilities of the MCNP code, a high-fidelity treatment of gas-filled neutron detectors can be obtained. Further, this model has been validated by an experiment carried out with the Epithermal Neutron Multiplicity Counter and its capabilities have been demonstrated in two additional experiments. This work shows that utilizing DRiFT to post-process MCNP outputs produces more accurate results than using the MCNP code alone, reducing the difference between experimental and simulated results for measurements taken near the end of a He-3 tube, where the MCNP code struggles to model inactive regions of the detector, from a maximum of 35% with the MCNP code alone to 15% with the MCNP code plus DRiFT. DRiFT's diagnostic capabilities are also demonstrated with measurements for scenarios when pulse pileup or room return effects are significant and must be considered. Altogether, these measurements underpin the ability of DRiFT to accurately model and predict the behavior of gas-filled neutron detectors, making it a valuable tool for the design and testing of systems and experiments that utilize these detectors.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2012

Optimization of a neutron detector design using adjoint transport simulation

A synthetic aperture approach has been developed and investigated for Special Nuclear Materials (SNM) detection in vehicles passing a checkpoint at highway speeds. SNM is postulated to be stored in a moving vehicle and detector assemblies are placed on the road-side or in chambers embedded below the road surface. Neutron and gamma spectral awareness is important for the detector assembly design besides high efficiencies, so that different SNMs can be detected and identified with various possible shielding settings. The detector assembly design is composed of a CsI gamma-ray detector block and five neutron detector blocks, with peak efficiencies targeting different energy ranges determined by adjoint simulations. In this study, formulations are derived using adjoint transport simulations to estimate detector efficiencies. The formulations is applied to investigate several neutron detector designs for Block IV, which has its peak efficiency in the thermal range, and Block V, designed to maximize the total neutron counts over the entire energy spectrum. Other Blocks detect different neutron energies. All five neutron detector blocks and the gamma-ray block are assembled in both MCNP and deterministic simulation models, with detector responses calculated to validate the fully assembled design using a 30-group library. The simulation results show that the 30-group library, collapsed from an 80-group library using an adjoint-weighting approach with the YGROUP code, significantly reduced the computational cost while maintaining accuracy. (authors)

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
NASA NTRS1998

Monte Carlo Simulations of Background Spectra in Integral Imager Detectors

Predictions of the expected gamma-ray backgrounds in the ISGRI (CdTe) and PiCsIT (Csl) detectors on INTEGRAL due to cosmic-ray interactions and the diffuse gamma-ray background have been made using a coupled set of Monte Carlo radiation transport codes (HETC, FLUKA, EGS4, and MORSE) and a detailed, 3-D mass model of the spacecraft and detector assemblies. The simulations include both the prompt background component from induced hadronic and electromagnetic cascades and the delayed component due to emissions from induced radioactivity. Background spectra have been obtained with and without the use of active (BGO) shielding and charged particle rejection to evaluate the effectiveness of anticoincidence counting on background rejection.

Armstrong, T. W.↗
DOE OSTI2015

Simulation of energy absorption spectrum in NaI crystal detector for multiple gamma energy using Monte Carlo method

The spectrum of gamma energy absorption in the NaI crystal (scintillation detector) is the interaction result of gamma photon with NaI crystal, and it’s associated with the photon gamma energy incoming to the detector. Through a simulation approach, we can perform an early observation of gamma energy absorption spectrum in a scintillator crystal detector (NaI) before the experiment conducted. In this paper, we present a simulation model result of gamma energy absorption spectrum for energy 100-700 keV (i.e. 297 keV, 400 keV and 662 keV). This simulation developed based on the concept of photon beam point source distribution and photon cross section interaction with the Monte Carlo method. Our computational code has been successfully predicting the multiple energy peaks absorption spectrum, which derived from multiple photon energy sources.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2020

The Heavy Photon Search (HPS) Software Environment

The Heavy Photon Search (HPS) is an experiment at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab) designed to search for a hidden sector photon (A’) in fixed-target electro-production. It uses a silicon microstrip tracking and vertexing detector placed inside a dipole magnet to measure charged particle trajectories and a fast lead-tungstate crystal calorimeter located just downstream of the magnet to provide a trigger and to identify electromagnetic showers. The HPS experiment uses both invariant mass and secondary vertex signatures to search for the A’. The experimental collaboration is small and quite heterogeneous: it is composed of members of the nuclear physics as well as particle physics communities, from universities and national labs from around the US and Europe. Enabling such a disparate group to concentrate on the physics aspects of the experiment required that the software be easy to install and use, and having such limited manpower meant that existing solutions had to be exploited. HPS has successfully completed two engineering runs and completed its first physics run in the summer of 2019. We begin with an overview of the physics goals of the experiment followed by a short description of the detector design. We then describe the software tools used to design the detector layout and simulate the expected detector performance. Event reconstruction involving track, cluster and vertex finding and fitting for both simulated and real data was, to first order, adopted from existing software originally developed for Linear Collider studies. Bringing it all together into a cohesive whole involved the use of multiple software solutions with common interfaces.

Graf, Norman↗
DOE OSTI2018

Position resolution simulations for the inverted-coaxial germanium detector, SIGMA

The SIGMA Germanium detector has the potential to revolutionise γ-ray spectroscopy, providing superior energy and position resolving capabilities compared with current large volume state-of-the-art Germanium detectors. The theoretical position resolution of the detector as a function of γ-ray interaction position has been studied using simulated detector signals. A study of the effects of RMS noise at various energies has been presented with the position resolution ranging from 0.33 mm FWHM at Eγ = 1, to 0.41 mm at Eγ = 150 keV. Here, an additional investigation into the effects pulse alignment have on pulse shape analysis and in turn, position resolution has been performed. The theoretical performance of SIGMA operating in an experimental setting is presented for use as a standalone detector and as part of an ancillary system.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2023

A Joint Roman Space Telescope and Rubin Observatory Synthetic Wide-Field Imaging Survey

We present and validate 20 deg(2) of overlapping synthetic imaging surveys representing the full depth of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope High-Latitude Imaging Survey (HLIS) and 5 yr of observations of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). The two synthetic surveys are summarized, with reference to the existing 300 deg(2) of LSST simulated imaging produced as part of Dark Energy Science Collaboration (DESC) Data Challenge 2 (DC2). Both synthetic surveys observe the same simulated DESC DC2 universe. For the synthetic Roman survey, we simulate for the first time fully chromatic images along with the detailed physics of the Sensor Chip Assemblies derived from lab measurements using the flight detectors. The simulated imaging and resulting pixel-level measurements of photometric properties of objects span a wavelength range of similar to 0.3-2.0 mu m. We also describe updates to the Roman simulation pipeline, changes in how astrophysical objects are simulated relative to the original DC2 simulations, and the resulting simulated Roman data products. We use these simulations to explore the relative fraction of unrecognized blends in LSST images, finding that 20-30 per cent of objects identified in LSST images with i-band magnitudes brighter than 25 can be identified as multiple objects in Roman images. These simulations provide a unique testing ground for the development and validation of joint pixel-level analysis techniques of ground- and space-based imaging data sets in the second half of the 2020s - in particular the case of joint Roman-LSST analyses.

gravitational lensing↗