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At least 37 records · Page 2

Modular, Parallel Pulse-Shaping Filter Architectures

Novel architectures based on parallel subconvolution frequency-domain filtering methods have been developed for modular processing rate reduction of discrete-time pulse-shaping filters. Such pulse-shaping is desirable and often necessary to obtain bandwidth efficiency in very-high-rate wireless communications systems. In principle, this processing could be implemented in very-large-scale integrated (VLSI) circuits. Whereas other approaches to digital pulse-shaping are based primarily on time-domain processing concepts, the theory and design rules of the architectures presented here are founded on frequency-domain processing that has advantages in certain systems.

Gray, Andrew A.↗

Performance evaluation of pulse shape discrimination capable organic scintillators for space applications

Scintillators with pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) capability are of great interest to many fields in the scientific community. The ability to discern a gamma ray from a neutron using PSD varies between different types of scintillator materials and dopants. Here a new generation of organic scintillator materials with PSD capability were studied to determine their radiation hardness to neutron and gamma-ray radiation. The PSD capability, average pulse shapes, and light output of four types of organic scintillator were characterized before and after neutron and gamma-ray irradiation. The main goal of this investigation is to study the effects of long-term irradiation that may be experienced in space applications on the light output and particle discriminating capabilities of each material. EJ-270, EJ-276, organic glass, and Stilbene were tested. Damage due to neutron irradiation (displacement damage) was not observed in any of the scintillators up to 2.56 x 10 11 n/cm 2 , except for Stilbene which showed a small (12%) decrease in light output. All scintillators presented some light output reduction after gamma-ray irradiation (total ionizing dose), with reductions of 17% (EJ-276 and OGS), 32% (EJ-270), and 42% (Stilbene) observed immediately after 100 kRad.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Pulse Shape and Spectral Variablity of OAO 1657-415

Inspection of pulse shapes obtained by the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) Pulsar Monitor for the high mass X-ray binary pulsar OAO 1657-415 shows that significant variations have occurred. For example, power in the second harmonic of the pulse increased by 50 percent during TJD 10358 - 10374, at the beginning of a slow transition from spinup to spindown.This source is shown to exhibit alternating intervals of spinup and spindown of similar magnitudes. A study will be presented of pulse shape, intensity and spectral variability of the source, with a search for any correlation with spin behavior.

Wilson, Robert B.↗

Pulse Shape Evolution, HER X-1

This study focuses on the pulse shape evolution and spectral properties of the X-ray binary Her X-1 with regard to the well known 35-day cycle of Her X-1. A follow-up set of RXTE observations has been conducted in RXTE AO-2 phase and the two observation sets are being analyzed together. We presented results of early analysis of pulse shape evolution in "Proceedings of the Fourth Compton Symposium." More advanced analysis was presented at the HEAD meeting in November, 1997 in Estes Park, Colorado. A related study of the 35-day cycle using RXTE/ASM data, which laid out the overall picture within which the more detailed PCA observations could be placed has also been conducted. The results of this study have been published in The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 510, 974. A pair of papers on the detailed pulse evolution and the spectral/color evolution are currently being prepared for publication. Some of the significant results of this study have been a confirmation of the detailed pulse profile changes at the end of the Main High state in Her X-1 first observed by GINGA, observations of the pulse evolution in several Short High states which agree with the pulse evolution pattern predicted using a disk occultation model in the PhD Thesis of Scott 1993, observation of a systematic lengthening of the eclipse egress during the Main High state of the 35-day phase and observation of a new type of extended eclipse ingress during which pulsations cease to observed during the Short High state.

VanParadijs, Johannes A.↗

Prospects for Machine Learning and Pulse Shaping on the Scorpius Accelerator [Poster]

The Advanced Sources and Detectors (ASD) project aims to build Scorpius, a multi pulse linear induction accelerator capable of delivering a 1.4 kA electron beam at energies up to 24 MeV. One of the primary advancements of Scorpius is the use of solid state pulsed power (SSPP) to provide flexibility in pulse shaping by independently triggering 45 individual stages stacked in each of 984 line replaceable units (LRU), with 168 LRUs dedicated to the injector. By leveraging circuit modeling of each LRU stage, a machine learning model of the SSPP will be developed to allow for optimization of the pulse shape, including pulse flattening and reflection mitigation. Particle-in-cell simulations of Scorpius have, for example, demonstrated that reducing reflections during multi-pulse operation mitigates beam spill by preventing the production of off-energy electrons between pulses, thereby abating stimulated ion desorption from the wall and beam charge neutralization. This machine learning model will be validated and tuned with experimental data collected from the Scorpius injector and Integrated Test Stand

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Effect of crash pulse shape on seat stroke requirements for limiting loads on occupants of aircraft

An analytical study was made to provide comparative information on various crash pulse shapes that potentially could be used to test seats under conditions included in Federal Regulations Part 23 Paragraph 23.562(b)(1) for dynamic testing of general aviation seats, show the effects that crash pulse shape can have on the seat stroke requirements necessary to maintain a specified limit loading on the seat/occupant during crash pulse loadings, compare results from certain analytical model pulses with approximations of actual crash pulses, and compare analytical seat results with experimental airplace crash data. Structural and seat/occupant displacement equations in terms of the maximum deceleration, velocity change, limit seat pan load, and pulse time for five potentially useful pulse shapes were derived; from these, analytical seat stroke data were obtained for conditions as specified in Federal Regulations Part 23 Paragraph 23.562(b)(1) for dynamic testing of general aviation seats.

Carden, Huey D.↗

The Effect of Pulse Shaping QPSK on Bandwidth Efficiency

This research investigates the effect of pulse shaping QPSK on bandwidth efficiency over a non-linear channel. This investigation will include software simulations and the hardware implementation. Three kinds of filters: the 5th order Butterworth filter, the 3rd order Bessel filter and the Square Root Raised Cosine filter with a roll off factor (alpha) of 0.25,0.5 and 1, have been investigated as pulse shaping filters. Two different high power amplifiers, one a Traveling Wave Tube Amplifier (TWTA) and the other a Solid State Power Amplifier (SSPA) have been investigated in the hardware implementation. A significant improvement in the bandwidth utilization (rho) for the filtered data compared to unfiltered data through the non-linear channel is shown in the results. This method promises strong performance gains in a bandlimited channel when compared to unfiltered systems. This work was conducted at NMSU in the Center for Space Telemetering, and Telecommunications Systems in the Klipsch School of Electrical and Computer Engineering Department and is supported by a grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) NAG5-1491.

Purba, Josua Bisuk Mubyarto↗

Simulation results of Pulse Shape Discrimination (PSD) for background reduction in INTEGRAL Spectrometer (SPI) germanium detectors

Pulse Shape Discrimination (PSD) for background reduction will be used in the INTErnational Gamma Ray Astrophysics Laboratory (INTEGRAL) imaging spectrometer (SPI) to improve the sensitivity from 200 keV to 2 MeV. The observation of significant astrophysical gamma ray lines in this energy range is expected, where the dominant component of the background is the beta(sup -) decay in the Ge detectors due to the activation of Ge nuclei by cosmic rays. The sensitivity of the SPI will be improved by rejecting beta(sup -) decay events while retaining photon events. The PSD technique will distinguish between single and multiple site events. Simulation results of PSD for INTEGRAL-type Ge detectors using a numerical model for pulse shape generation are presented. The model was shown to agree with the experimental results for a narrow inner bore closed end cylindrical detector. Using PSD, a sensitivity improvement factor of the order of 2.4 at 0.8 MeV is expected.

Slassi-Sennou, S. A.↗

Low Energy Neutron-induced Charged-particle (Z) (LENZ) instrument development with a focus on pulse shape discrimination for low-energy charged particles

To study neutron-induced charged-particle reactions with high precision, the Low Energy Neutron-induced Charged-particle (Z) instrument (LENZ) was developed at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center. For the interest of measuring (n,p) and (n, α) reactions simultaneously, Pulse Shape Discrimination methods were investigated to identify different charged particles in the energy range of 3 - 20 MeV and improve signal-to-background ratios using Double-sided Silicon Strip Detectors and waveform digitizers. The risetime and pulse shape properties of detected charged particles were characterized for various silicon detector’s thickness with different orientations. During the post-processing of waveforms, we implemented different digital filters for effective particle identifications and improved energy- and timing- resolutions. We validated the optimized digital filters and pulse shape analyses, via measurements with 228 Th and 229 Th calibration sources, proton-induced reactions on a 7 LiF target, and neutron-induced reactions on CH 2 , Ta 2 O 5 , 58 Ni, and 6 LiF/ 59 Ni targets at the time-of-flight facility, LANSCE. In conclusion, the summary of effective thresholds and Figure of Merits on separating different charged particles is reported.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Pulse shape discrimination for background rejection in germanium gamma-ray detectors

A pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) technique is developed to reject the beta-decay background resulting from activation of Ge gamma-ray detectors by cosmic-ray secondaries. These beta decays are a major source of background at 0.2-2 MeV energies in well shielded Ge detector systems. The technique exploits the difference between the detected current pulse shapes of single- and multiple-site energy depositions within the detector: beta decays are primarily single-site events, while photons at these energies typically Compton scatter before being photoelectrically absorbed to produce multiple-site events. Depending upon the amount of background due to sources other than beta decay, PSD can more than double the detector sensitivity.

Feffer, P. T.↗

A Study of Pulse Shape Evolution and X-Ray Reprocessing in Her X-1

This study focused on the pulse shape evolution and spectral properties of the X-ray binary Her X-1 with regard to the well known 35-day cycle of Her X-1. A follow-up set of RXTE observations has been conducted in RXTE AO-2 phase and the two observation sets are being analyzed together. We presented results of early analysis of pulse shape evolution in "Proceedings of the Fourth Compton Symposium". More advanced analysis was presented at the HEAD meeting in November, 1997 in Estes Park, Colorado. A related study of the 35-day cycle using RXTE/ASM data, which laid out the overall picture within which the more detailed PCA observations could be placed has also been conducted. The results of this study have been published. A pair of papers on the detailed pulse evolution and the spectral/color evolution are currently being prepared for publication. Some of the significant results of this study have been a confirmation of the detailed pulse profile changes at the end of the Main High state in HerX-1 first observed by GINGA, observations of the pulse evolution in several Short High states which agree with the pulse evolution pattern predicted using a disk occultation model, observation of a systematic lengthening of the eclipse egress during the Main High state of the 35-day phase and observation of a new type of extended eclipse ingress during which pulsations cease to observed during the Short High state.

Cushman, Paula P.↗

Pulse-shaping circuit for laser excitation

Narrower, impedence-matched pulses initiate stabler electric discharges for gas lasers. Discharges are more efficient, more compact, capable of high repetition rate, and less expensive than conventional electron-beam apparatus, but gas tends to break down and form localized arcs. Pulse-shaping circuit compresses width of high-voltage pulses from relatively-slow rise-time voltage generator and gradually grades circuit impedance from inherent high impedance of generator to low impedence of gas.

Laudenslager, J. B.↗

A functional form for liquid scintillator pulse shapes

Digitization of detector signals enables analysis of the original waveform to extract timing, particle identification, and energy deposition information. Here we present the use of analytical functions based on sigmoids to model and fit such pulse shapes from liquid organic scintillators, though the method should also be applicable to other detector systems. Neutron and gamma interactions in NE213 detectors were digitized from the phototube anode and fit using a sigmoid-based function. The acuity of the fit in extracting timing information and performing neutron-gamma pulse-shape discrimination are presented and discussed.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Design of FIR digital filters for pulse shaping and channel equalization using time-domain optimization

Three algorithms are developed for designing finite impulse response digital filters to be used for pulse shaping and channel equalization. The first is the Minimax algorithm which uses linear programming to design a frequency-sampling filter with a pulse shape that approximates the specification in a minimax sense. Design examples are included which accurately approximate a specified impulse response with a maximum error of 0.03 using only six resonators. The second algorithm is an extension of the Minimax algorithm to design preset equalizers for channels with known impulse responses. Both transversal and frequency-sampling equalizer structures are designed to produce a minimax approximation of a specified channel output waveform. Examples of these designs are compared as to the accuracy of the approximation, the resultant intersymbol interference (ISI), and the required transmitted energy. While the transversal designs are slightly more accurate, the frequency-sampling designs using six resonators have smaller ISI and energy values.

Houts, R. C.↗

Characterization and pulse-shape discrimination of a multi-stacked structure of ZnS: Ag/PMMA for fast-neutron detection in high-flux environments

The Micro-Layered Fast Neutron Detector (MLFD) is a proton-recoil scintillator that incorporates the basic concept of a Hornyak button detector with an improved design using a layered structure of ZnS:Ag and PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate). The MLFD was predicted to have low sensitivity to gamma rays, hence pulse shape discrimination was performed to determine the gamma-ray contribution. Presented in this paper are the pulse-shape discrimination characteristics of the MLFD. Additionally, the charge integration technique was employed to discriminate between the neutrons and gamma rays using a fast digitzer. The MLFD was found to exhibit excellent neutron/gamma-ray discrimination, with the highest Figure-of-Merit (FoM) being 4.56. With PSD, the neutron signal is distinct from gamma-ray, Ĉerenkov and electronic noise signals. This clear separation was achieved due to the large differences in decay times of the neutron and gamma-ray-induced pulses in the ZnS:Ag phosphor. The MLFD can be employed in high gamma-ray exposure fields, up to at least 1287.7 mR/hr, without appreciable degradation in PSD performance.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Exploring high-intensity laser-driven secondary sources via high-order spectral pulse shaping for high-energy-density experiments

We present here the results of an investigation that aims to explore the impact of spectral pulse shaping on the generation of high-energy electrons (>1 MeV) and x rays (∼5–9 keV) using a high-intensity (I∼10 21 W/cm 2 ) laser system. The study involved a systematic scan of a broad parameter space in group delay dispersion and third-order dispersion, with variations up to 4 × 10 3 fs −2 and 6 × 10 4 fs −3 , respectively, to identify optimal conditions for enhancing secondary source yields. Several spectral phase conditions were found to significantly enhance the generation of hot electrons and x rays by amounts reaching up to 50% relative to the transform-limited pulse. The experiment, conducted at the Scarlet laser facility (800 nm, 5 J, 30 fs) at the Ohio State University, highlights the potential of spectral pulse shaping as a powerful tool for tuning secondary laser-driven sources. These findings are particularly relevant for advancing brighter x-ray and electron probes for high-energy-density science.

Physics - Plasma physics↗

Performance stability of plastics for neutron-gamma pulse shape discrimination

The introduction of the first commercially available plastic scintillators with pulse shape discrimination (PSD) offered by Eljen Technology marked progress towards potentially replacing liquid scintillators in neutron detection. However, use of these plastics over several recent years has revealed an important flaw in these materials: the eventual degradation of scintillation light output and PSD performance. Here, studies described in this paper considered possible reasons for this degradation. Experiments conducted with numerous lab-prepared and commercial EJ-276 samples showed that the main factor affecting the instability is oxidation that involves highly reactive radicals generated during the polymerization process or from the further breakdown of polymer chains under oxygen/air exposure. Based on the obtained results, the stability of scintillation performance for PPO (2,5-Diphenyloxazole)-based PSD plastics has been improved through modifications of the composition via the utilization of scintillation dyes and compounds with antioxidant properties that diminish the effects of oxidation. Elements of these studies were used in the commercial production of the most recent EJ-276D PSD plastic version for fast neutron detection and 6Li-loaded plastics for thermal neutron and antineutrino detection applications. Performance projections of the new PSD plastics indicate a likely degradation of less than 10 % over 5–10 years in comparison to previous EJ-276 that might lose up to 30–40 % of the scintillation light during 1–2 years of storage or deployment under ambient conditions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Average 2-6 keV pulse shapes of Hercules X-1 during the January 1972 'on' state

The available data on the Uhuru satellite sightings of observably bright ('on' state) Her X-1 during January 1972 are divided into eight intervals between successive eclipses. The average pulse shapes obtained are discussed. It is shown that the average pulse shape varies little during most of the 'on' state. However, during about the last three days of the 'on' state, the pulsations almost completely disappear. The results appear to support a class of models in which the 35-day cycle is due to variable obscuration of Her X-1 by a precessing accretion disk or other matter within the system.

Joss, P. C.↗