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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Conceptual design of the modular detector and readout system for the CMB-S4 survey experiment

We present the conceptual design of the modular detector and readout system for the Cosmic Microwave Background – Stage four (CMB-S4) ground-based survey experiment. CMB-S4 will map the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and the millimeter-wave sky to unprecedented sensitivity, using 500,000 superconducting detectors observing from Chile and Antarctica to map over 60% of the sky. The fundamental building block of the detector and readout system is a detector module package operated at 100 mK, which is connected to a readout and amplification chain that carries signals out to room temperature. It uses arrays of feedhorn-coupled orthomode transducers (OMT) that collect optical power from the sky onto dc-voltage-biased transition-edge sensor (TES) bolometers. The resulting current signal in the TESs is then amplified by a two-stage cryogenic Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) system with a time-division multiplexer to reduce wire count, and matching room-temperature electronics to condition and transmit signals to the data acquisition system. Sensitivity and systematics requirements are being developed for the detector and readout system over wide range of observing bands (20 to 300 GHz) and optical powers to accomplish CMB-S4’s science goals. While the design incorporates the successes of previous generations of CMB instruments, CMB-S4 requires an order of magnitude more detectors than any prior experiment. This requires fabrication of complex superconducting circuits on over 10 m2 of silicon, as well as significant amounts of precision wiring, assembly and cryogenic testing

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2022

The Readout Electronics of the Mu2e Electromagnetic Calorimeter

The Mu2e electromagnetic calorimeter has been designed to measure ~100 MeV electrons with energy resolution σE/E <10%, time resolution σt < 500ps and position resolution σx < 1cm. The detector is composed of 1348 un-doped CsI crystals coupled to two large area Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs). Each SiPM is connected to a Front End Electronics (FEE) chip which hosts the shaping amplifier and the high voltage linear regulator. A group of 20 FEE is controlled by one Mezzanine Board (MB) which transmits the amplified signals to one Digitizer ReAdout Controller board (DiRAC). The DiRAC samples the waveforms at 200 MHz with 12-bit ADCs, packs the data according to the Mu2e custom format and transmits them to the event builder through an optical transceiver. To limit the number of pass-through connectors and the length of the cables, the readout and digitization electronics is located inside the detector cryostat and close to the interaction target. The boards will have to sustain a neutron fluence of about 5x10 10 n/cm 2 @ 1 MeVeq (Si)/y and a Total Ionizing Dose of about 12 krad, while working into a 1T magnetic field and a vacuum of 10 (-4) Torr. This harsh operational environment has made the electronics design challenging and required an extended campaign of tests to select and qualify the employed electronic components. In this paper we report on the board architecture and design, on the qualification of the prototypes, as well as on the results of the first vertical slice test of the Mu2e calorimeter.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2026

MIP dQ/dx Calibration in DUNE ND-LAr Prototypes with Pixelated Charge Readout

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) will be a next-generation long baseline neutrino oscillation experiment that will employ LArTPC technology in a near detector placed at Fermilab and a far detector at the Sanford Underground Research Facility, at a baseline of 1300 km. The DUNE Liquid Argon Near Detector (ND-LAr) design takes into account the high neutrino intensity expected from the beam at the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF): 35 modules, each containing two optically separated time projection chambers, are instrumented with a pixel-based, true 3D charge readout alongside scintillation light traps to disentangle the O(100) interactions expected per 10us beam spill. A robust prototyping program supports ND-LAr’s design: the 2x2 Demonstrator consists of four scaled-down ND-LAr modules exposed to the NuMI beam at Fermilab, and the Full Scale Demonstrator (FSD) is a single ND-LAr module tested with cosmic rays at the University of Bern. We present here an analysis of minimum ionizing particle (MIP) tracks selected from 2x2 beam data and FSD cosmic ray data used to benchmark the pixel-based charge readout simulation and calibration in both detectors, with the ultimate goal of validating the design of DUNE ND-LAr as well as informing future calibration methods. This poster will showcase the dependence of the charge response on track inclination as well as a per-pixel dQ/dX extraction.

Mandujano, Roberto [UC, Irvine]↗
DOE OSTI2021

Waveform analysis of a large-area superconducting nanowire single photon detector

Superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SNSPDs) are typically used as single-mode-fiber-coupled single-pixel detectors, but large area detectors are increasingly critical for applications ranging from microscopy to free-space quantum communications. However, the long meander-line length of such large-area SNSPDs results in a proportionately large kinetic inductance that affects the waveform generated by the device. Here, we explore changes in the rising edge of the readout pulse for a single-pixel large-area SNSPD as a function of the optical spot size on the detector and compare to the rising edge of the dark-count waveform. We observe a bimodal distribution of bright-count rise times and show that the probability of a slow rise time increases in the limit of large spot sizes, indicative of a position sensitive response. Additionally, in the limit of low bias currents, the dark-count readout pulse is most similar to the large spot-size bright-count readout pulse, which suggests that dark counts arise from locations spanning the device. Overall, these results are consistent with a simple model of traveling microwave modes excited by single photons incident at varying positions along the length of the nanowire.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2024

Development of an MKID frequency-to-pixel LED mapper for SPT-3G+

SPT-3G+ is the next-generation camera for the South Pole Telescope (SPT). SPT is designed to measure the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and the mm/sub-mm sky. The planned focal plane consists of 34,000 microwave kinetic inductance detectors (MKIDs), divided among three observing bands centered at 220, 285, and 345 GHz. Each readout line is designed to measure 800 MKIDs over a 500 MHz bandwidth, which places stringent constraints on the accuracy of the frequency placement required to limit resonator collisions that reduce the overall detector yield. To meet this constraint, we are developing a two-step process that first optically maps the resonance to a physical pixel location, and then next trims the interdigitated capacitor (IDC) to adjust the resonator frequency. We present a cryogenic LED apparatus operable at 300 mK for the optical illumination of SPT-3G+ detector arrays. We demonstrate integration of the LED controls with the GHz readout electronics (RF-ICE) to take data on an array of prototype SPT-3G+ detectors. We show that this technique is useful for characterizing defects in the resonator frequency across the detector array and will allow for improvements in the detector yield.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2024

Readout of Oriented Triplet Excitons in Linear Acenes via Room-Temperature Electrically Detected Magnetic Resonance

In this study, optically generated molecular spin centers offer an attractive platform for room-temperature spintronic and quantum applications. The linear acene family of molecules are especially good candidates due to their efficient generation of highly polarized triplet excitons via singlet fission. However, the direct detection and manipulation of these spin centers in thin films via the electrical means desirable for ultimate microelectronic devices has proven challenging. In particular, highly oriented triplet features have previously been detected in crystalline anthracene but longer acenes reveal only doublet features in Electrically-Detected Magnetic Resonance (EDMR). In this work we present EDMR spectra of highly oriented triplet excitons in pentacene for the first time, using a host-guest style device made of tetracene and pentacene. The guest acts as an energetic trap site, permitting the isolation and detection of molecular triplets at room temperature. Modeling of these results shows that the observed resonance features correspond to triplet sublevel transitions on isolated pentacene guest molecules. Rotation of the applied field confirms the tendency of the linear acenes to self-orient with the longest molecular axis perpendicular to the device substrate. Lastly, we find the disappearance of resonant triplet features in the neat acenes is not primarily due to the effects of exciton delocalization, but a broader mechanism of spin relaxation primarily influenced by exciton diffusivity.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

Floquet Prethermalization with Lifetime Exceeding 90 s in a Bulk Hyperpolarized Solid

Here, we report the observation of long-lived Floquet prethermal states in a bulk solid composed of dipolar-coupled 13 C nuclei in diamond at room temperature. For precessing nuclear spins prepared in an initial transverse state, we demonstrate pulsed spin-lock Floquet control that prevents their decay over multiple-minute-long periods. We observe Floquet prethermal lifetimes $T^{'}_{2}$≈90.9 s, extended >60 000-fold over the nuclear free induction decay times. The spins themselves are continuously interrogated for ~10 min, corresponding to the application of ≈5.8×10 6 control pulses. The 13 C nuclei are optically hyperpolarized by lattice nitrogen vacancy centers; the combination of hyperpolarization and continuous spin readout yields significant signal-to-noise ratio in the measurements. This allows probing the Floquet thermalization dynamics with unprecedented clarity. We identify four characteristic regimes of the thermalization process, discerning short-time transient processes leading to the prethermal plateau and long-time system heating toward infinite temperature. This Letter points to new opportunities possible via Floquet control in networks of dilute, randomly distributed, low-sensitivity nuclei. In particular, the combination of minutes-long prethermal lifetimes and continuous spin interrogation opens avenues for quantum sensors constructed from hyperpolarized Floquet prethermal nuclei.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2023

Prototyping the Light Detection of the DUNE Near Detector

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is a long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment with a 70kt liquid argon time projection chamber (LAr TPC) at the Far Detector complex at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) and a Near Detector (ND) complex planned for the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. The ND complex plans for three detector subsystems, including a modular LAr TPC comprised of 35 optically segregated modules. The modular detector design required the development a novel dielectric light readout, the ArCLight technology, which can be operated in a high voltage environment and has a large active surface. A demonstrator of four modular detectors, DUNE ND-LAr 2x2, will operate in 2023 in Fermilab's NuMI beam. After the construction of the modules was completed, they were successfully operated and commissioned in liquid argon using cosmic-ray muons at the University of Bern. This talk will discuss the designs of the light readout systems used in these modules with focus on the construction and commissioning of the ArCLights as well as the performance of the LRS during the tests at Bern.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2022

System Response Characterization for a d–t Neutron Radiography System

We report the system response of a pixelated associated particle imaging (API) neutron radiography system. The detector readout currently consists of a 2x2 array of organic glass scintillator detectors, each with an 8x8 array of optically isolated pixels that match the size and pitch of the ARRAYJ-60035-64P-PCB Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM) array from SensL/onsemi with 6x6 mm 2 SiPMs. The alpha screen of the API deuterium-tritium neutron generator is read out with the S13361-3050AE-08 from Hamamatsu, which is an 8x8 array of 3x3 mm 2 SiPMs. Data from the 320 channel system is acquired with the TOFPET2-based readout system. We present the predicted imaging capability of an eventual 5x5 detector array, the waveform-based energy and pulse shape characterization of the individual detectors, and the timing and energy response from the TOFPET2 system.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2023

High-speed Focal Plane Wave Front Sensing with an Optical Chopper

Focal plane wave front sensing and control is a critical approach to reducing noncommon path errors between a conventional astronomical adaptive optics (AO) wave front sensor (WFS) detector and a science camera. However, in addition to mitigating noncommon path errors, recent focal plane wave front sensing techniques have been developed to operate at speeds fast enough to enable "multi-WFS" AO, where residual atmospheric errors are further corrected by a focal plane WFS. Although a number of such techniques have been recently developed for coronagraphic imaging, here we present one designed for noncoronagraphic imaging. Utilizing conventional AO system components, this concept additionally requires (1) a detector imaging the focal plane of the WFS light source and (2) a pupil plane optical chopper device that is the noncommon path to the first WFS and is synchronized to the focal plane imager readout. These minimal hardware requirements enable the temporal amplitude modulation to resolve the sine ambiguity of even wave-front modes for low, mid, and high wave front spatial frequencies. Similar capabilities have been demonstrated with classical phase diversity by defocusing the detector, but such techniques are incompatible with simultaneous science observations. This optical chopping technique, however, enables science imaging at up to 50% duty cycle. In conclusion, we present both simulations and laboratory validation of this concept on SEAL, the Santa Cruz Extreme AO Laboratory testbed.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

The Single-Volume Scatter Camera

The multi-institution Single-Volume Scatter Camera (SVSC) collaboration led by Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) is developing a compact, high-efficiency double-scatter neutron imaging system. Kinematic emission imaging of fission-energy neutrons can be used to detect, locate, and spatially characterize special nuclear material. Neutron-scatter cameras, analogous to Compton imagers for gamma ray detection, have a wide field of view, good event-by-event angular resolution, and spectral sensitivity. Existing systems, however, suffer from large size and/or poor efficiency. We are developing high-efficiency scatter cameras with small form factors by detecting both neutron scatters in a compact active volume. This effort requires development and characterization of individual system components, namely fast organic scintillators, photodetectors, electronics, and reconstruction algorithms. In this presentation, we will focus on characterization measurements of several SVSC candidate scintillators. The SVSC collaboration is investigating two system concepts: the monolithic design in which isotropically emitted photons are detected on the sides of the volume, and the optically segmented design in which scintillation light is channeled along scintillator bars to segmented photodetector readout. For each of these approaches, we will describe the construction and performance of prototype systems. We will conclude by summarizing lessons learned, comparing and contrasting the two system designs, and outlining plans for the next iteration of prototype design and construction.

Manfredi, Juan↗
DOE OSTI2021

Double Image Polarimeter—Ultra Fast: Simultaneous Three-color (BVR) Polarimeter with Electron-multiplying Charge-coupled Devices

We describe a new instrument capable of high-precision (10{sup −5}) polarimetric observations simultaneously in three passbands (BVR). The instrument utilizes electron-multiplying charge-coupled device (EM CCD) cameras for high efficiency and fast image readout. The key features of the Double Image Polarimeter—Ultra Fast (DIPol-UF) are: (i) the optical design with high throughput and inherent stability; (ii) great versatility, which makes the instrument optimally suitable for observations of bright and faint targets; and (iii) a control system, which allows the use of the polarimeter remotely. Examples are given of the first results obtained from high signal-to-noise observations of bright nearby stars and of fainter sources such as X-ray binaries in their quiescent states.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2023

Performance and Commissioning of the BigBite Timing Hodoscope for Nucleon Form Factor Measurements at Jefferson Lab

The BigBite Timing Hodoscope detector is the primary subject of this thesis. The Super BigBite Spectrometer is a Jefferson Lab Hall A Collaboration project that has and will continue to measure nucleon electromagnetic form factors. This spectrometer includes the Timing Hodoscope which provides high resolution particle timing data for scattered electrons in the electron arm of BigBite. The Timing Hodoscope utilizes 90, 25 × 25 × 600 mm3 scintillator bars stacked on top of each other to form a single detector plane, and these bars are connected to 180 photo-multiplier tubes via light guides. Particles collide with the scintillating material creating a shower of optical photons and these particle events in the bars are collected to generate signals that are readout by the data acquisition (DAQ) electronics. NINO ASIC amplifier-discriminator cards output signals from the photo-multiplier tubes into analogue and logic signals, which are sent to analogue-to-digital (ADC) and time-to-digital (TDC) converter data acquisition readout modules. This data is then used for analysis of the detector. The focus of this thesis is the construction, commissioning, calibration, and performance of the BigBite Timing Hodoscope before and during the first of five nucleon electromagnetic form factor experiments at Jefferson Lab Hall A. Before the neutron magnetic form factor, G n M, experiment, cosmic ray data was collected during commissioning to confirm proper operation of the Timing Hodoscope electronics by observing the ADC and TDC data. Commissioning studies for charge normalization, gain matching, and other ADC and TDC detector data variables were performed before moving the detector into Hall A. Following installation in Hall A, several calibration studies were implemented to fine-tune the detector in preparation for use in the experiment. The calibration studies included analysis of timing cuts, TDC alignment, the time-walk effect, time difference offsets, and scintillator velocity corrections. Once the Timing Hodoscope was well-calibrated, data-taking during the experiment commenced and the beam-on-target data was used to characterize the Timing Hodoscope performance during the G n M experiment run-time. The performance analysis included studies observing energy deposit, cluster size, rates, accidentals, pile-up, tracking efficiency, position resolution, and time resolution. After application of physics cuts to ensure a data set comprised of particle tracks corresponding to elastic electrons, which is the main data of interest for measurement of G n M, the Timing Hodoscope is shown on average across all kinematic settings to have a >98% tracking efficiency, a position resolution of 4-6 cm in the non-dispersive plane and 1.5-2 cm in the dispersive plane, and a time resolution of 500-750 ps. These performance results are compared to a GEANT4 based performance simulation of the BigBite Timing Hodoscope for reference, showing to what degree the measured performance values match those taken from the simulation.

Marinaro, Ralph↗
DOE OSTI2024

Single-Shot Readout and Weak Measurement of a Tin-Vacancy Qubit in Diamond

The negatively charged tin-vacancy center in diamond (SnV − ) is an emerging platform for building the next generation of long-distance quantum networks. This is due to the SnV − ’s favorable optical and spin properties including bright emission, insensitivity to electronic noise, and long spin coherence times at temperatures above 1 K. Here, we demonstrate measurement of a single SnV − electronic spin with a single-shot readout fidelity of 87.4%, which can be further improved to 98.5% by conditioning on multiple readouts. In the process, we develop understanding of the relationship between strain, magnetic field, spin readout, and microwave spin control. We show that high-fidelity readout is compatible with rapid microwave spin control, demonstrating a favorable parameter regime for use of the SnV − center as a high-quality spin-photon interface. Finally, we use weak quantum measurement to study measurement-induced dephasing; this illuminates the fundamental interplay between measurement and decoherence in quantum mechanics, and provides a universal method to characterize the efficiency of color-center spin readout. Taken together, these results overcome an important hurdle in the development of the SnV − -based quantum technologies and, in the process, develop techniques and understanding broadly applicable to the study of solid-state quantum emitters.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2023

Electronics for the far-forward CMS muon detector upgrade, ME0

Abstract With the High Luminosity upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) we expect increased instantaneous luminosities up to 7.5 × 10 34 cm −2 s −1 , or five times more than the original values. In order to maintain performance of the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment under these conditions, ME0 is one of three new muon sub-detectors being added, along with GE1/1 and GE2/1, which use the triple Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) technology. ME0 is designed to cover the forward region of 2.0 < | η | < 2.8, thus improving muon reconstruction at high background rates by supplementing other overlapping muon subsystems up to | η | = 2.4, while also extending the acceptance for the first time to | η | = 2.8. The readout electronics for ME0 must be designed to accommodate high data rates and be sufficiently radiation hard to operate close to the beamline. The Optohybrid (OH) board for ME0, which reads out data from the front-end VFAT3b ASICs, has therefore been designed to operate without an FPGA (unlike GE1/1 and GE2/1) to ensure radiation hardness. The ME0 OH uses the radiation-hard CERN-designed lpGBT ASIC and VTRx+ optical transceiver module for high bandwidth optical links up to 10.24 Gb/s. The backend system is based on the ATCA standard. The design and development status of the readout electronics for ME0 is presented, along with recent results from integration tests performed using the first prototypes.

Instruments & Instrumentation↗
DOE OSTI2026

Results from the DUNE ND-LAr 2x2 Demonstrator Run 2

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is a cutting-edge, long-baseline experiment under construction in the United States, based on large liquid-argon time projection chambers (LArTPCs). The DUNE Near Detector LArTPC (ND-LAr) will employ a novel modular architecture using a pixelated LArPix charge readout. To validate this design and characterize detector response, the 2×2 demonstrator—an array of eight optically isolated LArTPC modules—was deployed at Fermilab in 2024. During winter 2025, the 2x2 demonstrator was operated for a second data-taking campaign (Run 2) with the aim of studying the low-energy response of the detector. Run 2 focused on calibration and response studies using a suite of deployed radioactive sources. Gamma sources (²²Na, ⁶⁰Co, and ⁸⁸Y) were used to probe module-to-module performance variations, energy resolution, and calibrations. Neutron sources (AmBe and a pulsed neutron generator) enabled studies of neutron interactions in liquid argon, including inelastic scatters and neutron capture signals, relevant for low-energy backgrounds and detector modeling. In addition, the detector was doped with ²²⁰Rn, providing Bi–Po coincidence signals that allow precise calibration of the charge and scintillation response. This poster will present results from these calibration campaigns. These studies provide critical validation of the ND-LAr modular LArTPC concept and inform calibration and reconstruction strategies for the full DUNE near detector.

Mora-Lepin, Luis [Florida State U.] (ORCID:0000000↗
DOE OSTI2026

Detector architecture and data flow of the CMS HGCAL Phase-2 Endcap Calorimeter Upgrade

The CMS High Granularity Calorimeter (HGCAL) is the Phase-2 endcap calorimeter upgrade for the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider, designed to provide precise spatial, energy, and timing measurements in a high-radiation, high-pileup environment. This work presents an overview of the HGCAL assembly process, detector architecture, and end-to-end data flow. The data flow goes from signal generation in silicon sensors and scintillator tiles through front-end electronics, optical transmission, and back-end data acquisition. The study highlights how the integrated detector, electronics, and readout systems enable efficient event reconstruction and support the physics objectives of the HL-LHC.

Osei Boakye, Prince [Grambling State U.]↗
DOE OSTI2021

ac Sensing Using Nitrogen-Vacancy Centers in a Diamond Anvil Cell up to 6 GPa

Nitrogen-vacancy color centers in diamond have attracted broad attention as quantum sensors for both static and dynamic magnetic, electrical, strain, and thermal fields and are particularly attractive for quantum sensing under pressure in diamond anvil cells. Optically based nuclear magnetic resonance may be possible at pressures greater than a few gigapascals and offers an attractive alternative to conventional Faraday-induction-based detection. In this work, we present ac sensing results and demonstrate synchronized readout up to 6 GPa but find that the sensitivity is reduced due to inhomogeneities of the microwave field and pressure within the sample space. These experiments enable the possibility of all-optical high resolution magnetic resonance of nanoliter sample volumes at high pressures.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗