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DOE OSTI2023

Leveraging staggered tessellation for enhanced spatial resolution in high-granularity calorimeters

Here we advance the concept of high-granularity calorimeters with staggered tessellations, underscoring the effectiveness of a design incorporating multifold staggering cycles based on hexagonal cells to enhance position resolution. Moreover, we introduce HEXPLIT, a sub-cell re-weighting algorithm tailored to harness staggered designs, resulting in additional performance improvements. By combining our proposed staggered design with HEXPLIT, we achieve an approximately twofold enhancement in position resolution for neutrons across a wide energy range, as compared to unstaggered designs. These findings hold the potential to elevate particle-flow performance across various forthcoming facilities.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2020

AI-optimized detector design for the future Electron-Ion Collider: the dual-radiator RICH case

Advanced detector R&D requires performing computationally intensive and detailed simulations as part of the detector-design optimization process. Here, we propose a general approach to this process based on Bayesian optimization and machine learning that encodes detector requirements. As a case study, we focus on the design of the dual-radiator Ring Imaging Cherenkov (dRICH) detector under development as a potential component of the particle-identification system at the future Electron-Ion Collider (EIC). The EIC is a US-led frontier accelerator project for nuclear physics, which has been proposed to further explore the structure and interactions of nuclear matter at the scale of sea quarks and gluons. We show that the detector design obtained with our automated and highly parallelized framework outperforms the baseline dRICH design within the assumptions of the current model. Our technique can be applied to any detector R&D, provided that realistic simulations are available.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2023

Studies of time resolution, light yield, and crosstalk using SiPM-on-tile calorimetry for the future Electron-Ion Collider

We recently proposed a high-granularity calorimeter insert for the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) that is based on plastic scintillator tiles readout with silicon photomultipliers. In this work, we concretize its design by characterizing its building blocks with measurements of light yield, optical crosstalk, and timing resolutions using cosmic-rays, an LED, and a beta source. We also compared two approaches for the optical isolation of cells: "megatiles" with grooved boundaries between cells, and a 3D-printed plastic frame hosting individual cells. Further, we found that the latter suppresses optical crosstalk to negligible levels while providing an easier assembly method. Overall, these performance studies can help inform calorimeter design and realistic simulations of 5D showers (time, energy, position) for the EIC and other experiments.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

DOE OSTI2023

A long path-length optical property measurement device for highly transparent detector media

Measurements of the optical properties of highly transparent liquids are necessary for large-scale detectors that seek to detect optical signatures in kiloton-scale or larger volumes. Detailed understanding of the attenuation and scattering properties of fill media is critical to the ability to accurately simulate detector performance, and yet is often unavailable until in-situ measurements can be performed. Moreover, in-situ measurements may rely on effective attenuation lengths or other approximations to characterize performance, rather than absolute measurements of attenuation and scattering. To better understand the optical properties of potential fill media and purification schemes, a system has been developed which provides simultaneous attenuation and differential scattering cross-section measurements for highly transparent liquids. This horizontal, adjustable path-length “long-arm” system provides excellent isolation from the atmosphere, a high degree of vibration insensitivity, and a simple and reliable method of calibration. Further, scattering measurements can be carried out simultaneously at ports along the beamline equipped with optics allowing the selection of scatter angle and polarization. This enables both reliable quantitative scatter measurements and phase-function separation. This system has been extensively tested using deionized (DI) water as a benchmark, and has demonstrated repeatable measurements of attenuation lengths exceeding 100 m and scattering lengths approaching 1 km.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

DOE OSTI2023

Design, construction and commissioning of a technological prototype of a highly granular SiPM-on-tile scintillator-steel hadronic calorimeter

The CALICE collaboration is developing highly granular electromagnetic and hadronic calorimeters for detectors at future energy frontier electron-positron colliders. After successful tests of a physics prototype, a technological prototype of the Analog Hadron Calorimeter has been built, based on a design and construction techniques scalable to a collider detector. The prototype consists of a steel absorber structure and active layers of small scintillator tiles that are individually read out by directly coupled SiPMs. Each layer has an active area of 72 × 72 cm^2 and a tile size of 3 × 3 cm^2. With 38 active layers, the prototype has nearly 22,000 readout channels, and its total thickness amounts to 4.4 nuclear interaction lengths. The dedicated readout electronics provide time stamping of each hit with an expected resolution of about 1 ns. The prototype was constructed in 2017 and commissioned in beam tests at DESY. It recorded muons, hadron showers and electron showers at different energies in test beams at CERN in 2018. In this paper, the design of the prototype, its construction and commissioning are described. The methods used to calibrate the detector are detailed, and the performance achieved in terms of uniformity and stability is presented.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

DOE OSTI2024

GaN-based W-band receiver chip development for fusion plasma diagnostics

Millimeter-wave diagnostics have proven effective on various magnetic fusion devices worldwide, yet the formidable challenges posed by the harsh environments of future burning plasma devices, characterized by extreme temperatures, pressures, and radiation levels, remain a significant hurdle. To address these challenges, the utilization of wide bandgap Gallium Nitride (GaN)-based millimeter-wave diagnostics is a most promising solution for fusion reactor safety monitoring and control. A noteworthy W-band GaN-based system-on-chip receiver has been the demonstrated by employing HRL T3 40 nm GaN technology. This receiver chip, compactly designed with dimensions of 3 × 5 mm 2 , incorporates essential components such as the 75–110 GHz RF Low-Noise Amplifier (LNA), mixer, Intermediate Frequency (IF) amplifier, and Local Oscillator (LO) chain. This receiver chip will be packaged as a millimeter-wave receiver module and applied on the DIII-D National Fusion Facility, for fusion plasma edge shape monitoring for operational safety and dangerous disruption prediction. The laboratory measurement results have demonstrated suitable performance. Furthermore, this advancement is pivotal for accurate analysis of plasma behavior in the extreme conditions of burning plasma devices, driving progress in fusion research and technology.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

NASA NTRS2018

Micromechanical Broadband Infrared Sensors based on Piezoelectric Bending Resonators

There is a high demand for high-performance and low-cost uncooled infrared (IR) detectors. In order to meet this need we are investigating the use of MEMS piezoelectric resonator technology using aluminum nitride (AlN) thin films. Recent research has shown that piezoelectric resonators have the potential to be used as a core element for highly sensitive, low-noise, and low-power uncooled IR detectors. A novel design of an AlN IR sensor based on piezoelectric bending resonator is described and analyzed in this paper. The detector is constructed by using thermally mismatched materials which stress the resonator and shift the resonance frequency. The IR thermal input is sensed by monitoring the frequency shift induced by the in-plan thermal stress. These designs have the potential for very high sensitivity and are compatible with commercially viable CMOS fabrication technology.

Rais-Zadeh, Mina↗

DOE OSTI2023

Advanced silicon tracking detector developments for the future Electron-Ion Collider

The proposed Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) will operate high-luminosity high-energy electron+proton and electron+nucleus collisions at the collision energies from 20 GeV to 141 GeV to solve several fundamental questions in the high energy and nuclear physics fields. Its instantaneous luminosity can reach 10 33-34 cm -2 s -1 and the bunching crossing rate is around 10 ns. The EIC project has received CD1 approval from the US DOE in 2021 and moves toward the machine design and preparation for construction. To realize various particle measurements with high precision at the future EIC, a low material-budget and high-granularity silicon vertex and tracking detector with fine spatial and momentum resolutions and nearly 4π solid angle coverage is desired. The Monolithic Active Pixel Sensor (MAPS) and AC Coupled Low Gain Avalanche Diode (AC-LGAD) technologies stand out of several advanced technology options for the EIC silicon vertex and tracking detector subsystems. The MAPS technology has advanced features of low material budget, low power consumption, good radiation resistance and fine spatial resolution. The AC-LGAD technology can achieve fast timing resolution. Latest studies and progress of the EIC silicon vertex and tracking detector conceptual design, performance validations in simulation and ongoing MAPS and AC-LGAD R&D will be shown. Furthermore, schedule and plan of the EIC project detector development will be discussed as well.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

NASA NTRS2016

Measurement Approach and Design of the CubeSat Infrared Atmospheric Sounder (CIRAS)

The CubeSat Infrared Atmospheric Sounder (CIRAS) will measure upwelling infrared radiation of the Earth in the MWIR region of the spectrum from space on a CubeSat. The observed radiances can be assimilated into weather forecast models and be used to retrieve lower tropospheric temperature and water vapor for climate studies. Multiple units can be flown to improve temporal coverage or in formation to provide new data products including 3D motion vector winds. CIRAS incorporates key new instrument technologies including a 2D array of High Operating Temperature Barrier Infrared Detector (HOT-BIRD) material, selected for its high uniformity, low cost, low noise and higher operating temperatures than traditional materials. The detectors are hybridized to a commercial ROIC and commercial camera electronics. The second key technology is an MWIR Grating Spectrometer (MGS) designed to provide imaging spectroscopy for atmospheric sounding in a CubeSat volume. The MGS has no moving parts and includes an immersion grating to reduce the volume and reduce distortion. The third key technology is an infrared blackbody fabricated with black silicon to have very high emissivity in a flat plate construction. JPL will also develop the mechanical, electronic and thermal subsystems for CIRAS, while the spacecraft will be a commercially available CubeSat. The integrated system will be a complete 6U CubeSat capable of measuring temperature and water vapor profiles with good lower tropospheric sensitivity. The CIRAS is the first step towards the development of an Earth Observation Nanosatellite Infrared (EON-IR) capable of meeting the replacement needs of the CrIS on JPSS.

Pagano, Thomas S.↗

NASA NTRS2018

Technology Development in Support of Hyperspectral Infrared Atmospheric Sounding in a CubeSat

Hyperspectral infrared sounding in a CubeSat will provide a new dimension to the current suite of IR sounders by allowing measurements at multiple times of day and enabling formation flying of IR sounders for new data products such as Atmospheric Motion Vector (AMV) winds. This paper focuses on technology development during the CubeSat Infrared Atmospheric Sounder (CIRAS) project sponsored by the NASA Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO), and coincident studies by the NOAA Office of Projects, Planning, and Analysis (OPPA). The CIRAS approach incorporates key new instrument technologies developed at JPL’s Microdevices Lab (MDL) including a 2D array of High Operating Temperature Barrier Infrared Detector (HOT-BIRD) material, selected for its high uniformity, low cost, low noise and higher operating temperatures than traditional materials. The second key technology is an MWIR Grating Spectrometer (MGS) designed by Ball Aerospace with a JPL MDL slit and immersion grating to provide hyperspectral infrared imaging in a CubeSat volume. The third key technology is a blackbody calibration target fabricated with MDL’s black silicon to have very high emissivity in a flat plate construction. JPL has completed design and breadboard of the mechanical, electronic and thermal subsystems for CIRAS payload including a HOT-BIRD FPA, with filters in a dewar and a breadboard of the electronics and scan mirror assembly. Blue Canyon Technologies, developer of the CIRAS 6U CubeSat, completed the Final Design Review for the spacecraft.

Yee, Karl↗

NASA NTRS2017

Design and Development of the CubeSat Infrared Atmospheric Sounder (CIRAS

The CubeSat Infrared Atmospheric Sounder (CIRAS) is a NASA Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO) sponsored mission to demonstrate key technologies used in very high spectral resolution infrared remote sensing of Earth’s atmosphere from space. CIRAS was awarded under the ESTO In-flight Validation of Earth Science Technologies (InVEST) program in 2015 and is currently under development at NASA JPL with key subsystems being developed by industry. CIRAS incorporates key new instrument technologies including a 2D array of High Operating Temperature Barrier Infrared Detector (HOT-BIRD) material, selected for its high uniformity, low cost, low noise and higher operating temperatures than traditional materials. The second key technology is an MWIR Grating Spectrometer (MGS) designed to provide imaging spectroscopy for atmospheric sounding in a CubeSat volume. The MGS is under development by Ball Aerospace with the grating and slit developed by JPL. The third key technology is an infrared blackbody fabricated with JPL’s black silicon to have very high emissivity in a flat plate construction. JPL will also develop the mechanical, electronic and thermal subsystems for CIRAS, while the spacecraft will be a 6U CubeSat developed by Blue Canyon Technologies. This paper provides an overview of the design and acquisition approach, and provides a status of the current development.

Vengel, Tony↗

DOE OSTI2022

Report from: US Muon Workshop 2021: A Road Map for a Future Muon Facility February 1-2, 2021

The workshop titled “US Muon Workshop 2021: A road map for a future Muon Facility” was held virtually on February 1-2, 2021. The workshop aimed to bring together world experts in muon spectroscopy (µSR) and other techniques along with interested stakeholders to evaluate the scientific need to construct a new µSR facility in the United States (US). The more than 200 participants highlighted several key scientific areas for µSR research, including quantum materials, hydrogen chemistry, and battery materials, and how each area could benefit from a new, high flux pulsed muon source. Experts also discussed aspects of the µSR technique, such as low-energy µSR, novel software developments, and beam and detector technologies that could enable revolutionary advances in µSR at a next-generation facility. The workshop concluded with discussion of a concept being developed for a new µSR facility at the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). That novel design concept was first envisioned by many of the same µSR experts at a workshop held previously at ORNL in 2016. The participants expressed that the current design had the potential to be a world-leading µSR facility, and strongly encouraged the principal investigators to continue their work in order to refine the concept and determine instrument parameters that would enable new scientific opportunities

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2021

US Muon Workshop 2021: A road map for a future Muon Facility

The workshop title “US Muon Workshop 2021: A road map for a future Muon Facility” was held virtually on February 1-2, 2021. The workshop aimed to bring together world experts in muon spectroscopy (µSR) and other techniques along with interested stakeholders to evaluate the scientific need to construct a new µSR facility in the United States (US). The more than 200 participants highlighted several key scientific areas for µSR research, including quantum materials, hydrogen chemistry, and battery materials, and how each area could benefit from a new, high flux pulsed muon source. Experts also discussed aspects of the µSR technique, such as low-energy µSR, novel software developments, alongside beam and detector technologies, that could enable revolutionary advances in µSR at a next-generation facility. The workshop concluded with discussion of a concept being developed for a new µSR facility at the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). That novel design concept was first envisioned by many of the same µSR experts at a workshop held previously at ORNL in 2016. The participants expressed that the current design had the potential to be a world-leading µSR facility, and strongly encouraged the principal investigators to continue their work in order to refine the concept and determine instrument parameters that would enable new scientific opportunities.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2024

10 Boron-film-based gas detectors at ESS

The development of detectors for the European Spallation Source is an important parallel element to the effort put into the design and construction of the neutron source and instruments. The 10Boron-film-based detector developments that started over a decade ago as basic detector concepts have now reached technical maturity after intense prototyping work and numerous testing campaigns. Several of the ESS beamlines that will soon enter the commissioning phase started welcoming the detector systems built with the 10 B-film converter technology. The real-size demonstrators evolved in the last 2–3 years into a diverse suite of gas proportional counters for use in diffraction, reflectometry and small-angle scattering studies in spite of the operational complexity posed by the requirements for large-area coverage, low material budget and robustness for operation in the high-flux and high-radiation environment of ESS. The detectors are now being shipped to ESS or undergoing the last performance and calibration tests before being handed over to the instrument teams for installation in the host beamlines. A common feature of these detector systems is the very large number of readout channels that they are instrumented with in order to fulfill the demanding requirements for sensitivity, spatial resolution and count-rate capability. Across all of the detector types that will operate at ESS, the integration, testing and commissioning of the read-out technologies and software tools for data reduction, calibration and analysis are the focus of the detector and integration teams. These will yield a wealth of knowledge about their operation as well as initial results on the in-situ performance, a very important asset to ensure rapid commissioning of the detectors when neutrons from the ESS source become available. In this paper we will give an overview of the 10 B-film-based detector technologies included in the ESS detector suite that are currently facing the transition from the production phase to installation and integration with the other beamline components, which comes with its own specific challenges of both organizational and technical nature.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

NASA NTRS1999

Growth of Compound Semiconductors in a Low Gravity Environment: Microgravity Growth of PbSnTe

The growth of the alloy compound semiconductor lead tin telluride (PbSnTe) was chosen for a microgravity flight experiment in the Advanced Automated Directional Solidification Furnace (AADSF), on the United States Microgravity Payload-3 (USNP-3) in February, 1996 and on USNW- 4 in November, 1997. The objective of these experiments was to determine the effect of the reduction in convection, during the growth process, brought about by the microgravity environment. The properties of devices made from PbSnTe, an alloy of PbTe and SnTe, are dependent on the ratio of the elemental components in the starting crystal. Compositional uniformity in the crystal is only obtained if there is no significant mixing in the liquid during growth. The technological importance of PbSnTe lies in its band gap versus composition diagram which has a zero energy crossing at approximately 40% SnTe. This facilitates the construction of long wavelength (greater than 6 gm) infrared detectors and lasers. The properties and utilization of PbSnTe are the subject of other papers. 1,2 PbSnTe is also interesting from a purely scientific point of view. It is, potentially, both solutally and thermally unstable due to the temperature and density gradients present during growth. Density gradients, through thermal expansion, are imposed in directional solidification because temperature gradients are required to extract heat. Solutal gradients occur in directional solidification of alloys due to segregation at the interface. Usually the gradients vary with both experiment design and inherent materials properties. In a simplified one dimensional analysis with the growth axis parallel to the gravity vector, only one of the two instabilities work at a time. During growth, the temperature in the liquid increases ahead of the interface. Therefore the density, due to thermal expansion, is decreasing in that direction. However, the phase diagram shows that the lighter SnTe is preferentially rejected at the interface. This causes the liquid density to increase with distance away from the interface.

Fripp, A. L.↗

DOE OSTI2021

Develop BNNT based cryopumps and detectors

Jefferson Lab Tasks to include period for performance of each task: 1. Design and fabricate initial test apparatus for cryosorber capacity comparison (month 0-3), 2. Test cryosorption capacity of BNNT materials (month 3-9) and alternate materials, 3. Design and fabricate cryopump modifications to accommodate BNNT material (month 9-15), 4. Provide suitable cryopump, electronics and vacuum instrumentation for the cryopump (month 12-18), and 5. Perform testing of BNNT modified cryopump at UHV-XHV pressure range (month 15-24). Modification 1: 6. Design initial detector test apparatus that incorporates BNNT material (months 0-1), 7. Provide photon detector as needed for tests (months 1-12), and 8. Perform tests (months 1-12). BNNT, LLC to 9. Provide Fibril BNNT™ for evaluation and cryopump (month 3-9), 10. Fabricate portions of modifications for cryopump (month 9-15), 11. Integrate Fibril BNNT™ into the cryopump (month 9-15), and 12. Perform regular vacuum testing of the cryopump (month 12-15). Modification 1: 13. Construct BNNT portions of detector test apparatus (months 0-2), 14. Provide BNNT material for detector tests (months 0-9), and 15. Assist in detector tests (months 1-12).

42 ENGINEERING↗

NASA NTRS1994

X-ray remote sensing and in-situ spectroscopy for planetary exploration missions and gamma-ray remote sensing and in-situ spectroscopy for planetary exploration missions

Detectors that will be used for planetary missions must have their responses calibrated in a reproducible manner. A calibration facility is being constructed at Schlumberger-Doll Research for gamma and x ray detectors. With this facility the detector response can be determined in an invariant and reproducible fashion. Initial use of the facility is expected for the MARS94 detectors. Work is continuing to better understand the rare earth oxyorthosilicates and to define their characteristics. This will allow a better use of these scintillators for planetary missions. In a survey of scintillating materials two scintillators were identified as promising candidates besides GSO, LSO, and YSO. These are CdWO4 and CsI(Tl). It will be investigated if a detector with a better overall performance can be assembled with various photon converters. Considerable progress was achieved in photomultiplier design. The length of an 1 inch diameter PMT could be reduced from 4.2 to 2.5 inches without performance degradation. This technology is being employed in the gamma ray detector for the NEAR project. A further weight and size reduction of the detector package can be achieved with miniaturized integrated power supplies.

Mahdavi, M.↗

DOE OSTI2024

Light Output Fitting Software

Light output response of scintillators is crucial to the utilization of organic scintillators as effective tools in radiation detection and measurement. While the response is a continuous distribution, the light output corresponding to the maximum energy deposition is crucial in effectively understanding and simulating a detector. There are a variety of fits derived in literature that will vary for every detector material. The Light Output Response Fitter, or LORF Program is a python script designed to easily and quickly compute and plot fits for a variety of scintillator light output models. It includes a stopping power library constructed from SRIM including Organic Glass, EJ309, EJ301, Stilbene, EJ276, and their deuterated counterparts by default, with the ability for the user to add custom stopping power libraries. The user is also capable of importing the python package and utilizing its in-built functions as appropriate. Uses for this capability include plotting and computing a model with known parameters.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗