SEARCH · Search NASA
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.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
The goal of the project was to determine the optimal functional parameters for a new LAPPD, determine the cloud charge radius and test for gain variation due to pore sharing. Also, cosmics tests with C4F8 heavy gas of the new LAPPD were planned.
Large Area Picosecond PhotoDetectors (LAPPDs) are photosensors based on microchannel plate technology with about 400 cm 2 sensitive area. The external readout plane of a capacitively coupled LAPPD can be segmented into pads providing a spatial resolution down to 1 mm scale. The LAPPD signals have about 0.5 ns rise time followed by a slightly longer fall time and their amplitude reaches a few dozens of mV per single photoelectron. In this article, we report on the measurement of the time resolution of an LAPPD prototype in a test beam exercise at CERN PS. Most of the previous measurements of LAPPD time resolution had been performed with laser sources. In this article we report time resolution measurements obtained through the detection of Cherenkov radiation emitted by high energy hadrons. Our approach has been demonstrated capable of measuring time resolutions as fine as 25-30 ps. The available prototype had performance limitations, which prevented us from applying the optimal high voltage setting. Finally, the measured time resolution for single photoelectrons is about 80 ps r.m.s.
Incom Inc. Large Area Picosecond Photodetector (LAPPD) 38 has been tested at Jefferson Lab to identify single-photoelectron signals to assess the potential of this type of device for future applications in Cherenkov light detection. Here, single-photoelectron signals were clearly detected if a tight masking of photons impinging on the photocathode was used compared to the pixelation of the charge collection signal board.
Abstract We present advances made in the Large Area Picosecond Photodetector (LAPPD), an 8" × 8" microchannel plate photomultiplier tube (MCP-PMT), since pilot production was initiated at Incom, Inc. in 2018. The Gen-I LAPPD utilizes a stripline anode for direct charge readout. The novel Gen-II LAPPD employs an internal resistive thin-film which capacitively couples to a customizable external signal readout board, streamlining production and increasing customer flexibility. The Gen-II LAPPD, with an active area of 373 cm 2 , is capable of high single photoelectron (PE) gain of ∼10 7 , low dark rates (∼1 kHz/cm 2 ), single PE (SPE) timing resolution of ∼65 ps, and 𝒪(mm) position resolution. Coupled with a UV-grade fused silica window, the LAPPD features a high quantum efficiency (QE) bialkali photocathode of >30% at 365 nm with spectral response down to ∼165 nm. The LAPPD is an excellent candidate for electromagnetic calorimeter (ECAL) timing layers, photon-based neutrino detectors, high energy collider experiments, medical imaging systems, and nuclear non-proliferation applications.
The Accelerator Neutrino Neutron Interaction Experiment (ANNIE) is both a physics experiment and a technology testbed for next-generation light-based neutrino detection. In this paper, we report the first demonstration of a fully integrated Large Area Picosecond Photodetector (LAPPD) operating in a running neutrino beam experiment. Particular focus is given to the design, commissioning, and successful deployment of the Packaged ANNIE LAPPD (PAL), a waterproof, self-triggering module incorporating fast waveform digitization and precision timing synchronized to the ANNIE detector subsystems. We identify beam-correlated LAPPD data frames consistent with charged-current neutrino interactions observed in multiple detector subsystems, establishing the first detection of neutrino-induced Cherenkov light with an LAPPD. These results validate the system-level performance of LAPPDs under realistic experimental conditions — including long-term stability, timing synchronization, and event matching with conventional PMT and muon detector systems — marking a critical step toward their deployment in future large-scale neutrino and particle detectors.
The SoLID spectrometer's gas Cherenkov counters require photosensors that operate in a high luminosity and high background environment. The reference design features arrays of 9 or 16 tiled multi-anode photomultipliers (MaPMTs), distributed across 32 sectors, to serve the light-gas and heavy-gas Cherenkov counters, respectively. To assess the viability of a pixelated INCOM Large Area Picosecond Photodetector (LAPPD TM ) as an alternative photosensor to replace MaPMT arrays in either detector, we evaluated its performance under realistic SoLID running conditions in Hall C at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab). The results of this test confirmed that the coarse-pixelated (2.5 × 2.5 cm 2 pixel size) LAPPD is capable of handling the total projected signal and background rates of the three pillar SoLID experiments. The tested photosensor detected Cherenkov signals with the capability of separating single-electron events from pair production events while rejecting background. Although the design was not aimed at ring-imaging Cherenkov detectors, Cherenkov disk images were captured in two different gas radiators. Through a direct comparison with a GEANT4 simulation, we confirmed the experimental performance of the LAPPD.
The increase in instantaneous luminosity during the high-luminosity phase of the LHC represents a significant challenge for future detectors. A strategy to cope with high-pileup conditions is to add a fourth dimension to the measurements of the hits, by exploiting the time separation of the various proton–proton primary collisions. According to LHCb simulation studies, resolutions of about 10–20 picoseconds, at least an order of magnitude shorter than the average time span between primary interactions, would be greatly beneficial for the physics reach of the experiment. Microchannel plate (MCP) photomultipliers are compact devices capable of measuring the arrival time of charged particles with the required resolution. The technology of large-area picosecond photodetectors (LAPPDs) is under investigation to implement a timing layer that can be placed within a sampling calorimeter module with the purpose of measuring the arrival time of electromagnetic showers. LAPPD performances, using a Gen-I tile with a delay-line anode and a Gen-II with a capacitively coupled anode, have been measured thoroughly both with laser (wavelength of 405 nm and pulse width of 27.5 ps FWHM) and high-energy electron (1–5.8 GeV) beams. Time resolutions of the order of 30 ps for single photoelectrons and 15 ps for electromagnetic showers initiated by 5-GeV electrons, as measured at the shower maximum, are obtained.
The Accelerator Neutrino Neutron Interaction Experiment (ANNIE) probes the physics of neutrino-nucleus interactions in a gadolinium-loaded water (Gd-water) target while serving as a flexible testbed for advanced next-generation optical neutrino detection technologies. These advanced technologies include novel detection media (particularly Gd-water and hybrid Cherenkov-scintillation through water-based liquid scintillator) and novel photosensors. In this paper we demonstrate the first implementation of a fully-integrated setup for Large Area Picosecond PhotoDetectors (LAPPDs) in a neutrino experiment. Details are presented regarding the design, commissioning, and deployment of an LAPPD and the supporting systems. We also present the first neutrino interactions ever observed with an LAPPD.
The Accelerator Neutrino Neutron Interaction Experiment (ANNIE) is a 26-ton gadolinium-dopedwater Cherenkov detector with a submerged water-based liquid scintillator filled vessel. It is on-axis of the Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB) at Fermilab, and its main physics goal is to measurethe neutrino cross-section which will improve the systematic uncertainties of next-generationlong-baseline neutrino experiments. The first such measurement will be the final state neutronmultiplicity of neutrino-nucleus interactions in water. ANNIE is also the first large-scale highenergy physics experiment to deploy multiple Large Area Picosecond Photodetectors (LAPPD), anovel photon detector technology with a timing resolution of <100 ps and a sub-centimeter spatialresolution which will help to improve the vertex reconstruction. This work will give an updateon the status of the LAPPD deployment as well as first results from neutrino beam induced eventsrecorded by the LAPPDs.
The Accelerator Neutrino Neutron Interaction Experiment (ANNIE) was designed to reconstruct neutrino events from the Fermilab Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB) with the parallel goals of measuring neutron production in interactions with oxygen and serving as a testbed for new technology. The ANNIE detector consists of a 26-ton water Cherenkov target tank instrumented with conventional photomultiplier tubes (PMTs), a downstream tracking muon spectrometer, and an upstream double wall of plastic scintillator to serve to veto charged particles incoming from neutrino events that occur upstream of the experimental setup. ANNIE has also deployed multiple Large-Area Picosecond PhotoDetectors (LAPPDs) and a test vessel of water-based liquid scintillator (WbLS). This paper describes the event reconstruction performance of the detector before implementation of these novel technologies, which will serve as a baseline against which their impact can be measured. That said, even the techniques used for event reconstruction using only the conventional PMT array and muon spectrometer are significantly different than those used in other water Cherenkov detectors due to the small size of ANNIE (which makes nanosecond-scale timing not as useful as in a large detector) and the availability of reconstruction information from the tracking muon spectrometer. We demonstrate that combining the information from these two elements into a single fit using only pattern recognition yields a muon vertex uncertainty of 60 cm, a directional uncertainty of 13.2 degrees, and energy reconstruction uncertainty of about 10% for BNB muon neutrino Charged Current Zero Pion (CC0π) events.
Abstract This manuscript describes measurements of water-based liquid scintillators (WbLS), demonstrating separation of the Cherenkov and scintillation components using a low energy $$\beta $$ β source and the fast timing response of a Large Area Picosecond Photodetector (LAPPD). Additionally, the time profiles of three WbLS mixtures, defined by the relative fractions of scintillating compound, are characterized, with improved sensitivity to the scintillator rise-time. The measurements were made using both an LAPPD and a conventional photomultiplier tube (PMT). All samples were measured with an effective resolution $$O\left( 100~\text {ps}\right) $$ O 100 ps , which allows for the separation of Cherenkov and scintillation light (henceforth C/S separation) by selecting on the arrival time of the photons alone. The Cherenkov purity of the selected photons is greater than 60% in all cases, with greater than 80% achieved for a sample containing 1% scintillator. This is the first demonstration of the power of synthesizing low light yield scintillators, of which WbLS is the canonical example, with fast photodetectors, of which LAPPDs are an emerging leader, and has direct implication for future mid- and large-scale detectors, such as Theia , ANNIE, and AIT-NEO.
Here, we first briefly describe the history and motivation behind Cherenkov and scintillation light detection. We then discuss the instrumentation needed to detect these photons as it applies to both photodetectors and readout electronics. One of the motivations is future large neutrino detectors that could, in principle, differentiate between Cherenkov and scintillation light if using novel water-based scintillators. In this paper, we present the first measurements utilizing the second generation of Large Area Picosecond Photodetectors (LAPPDs) in conjunction with commercial system-on-a-chip readouts from Nalu Scientific—in particular, the High Density System on Chip (HDSoC) and Advanced ASoC Rapid Digitizer, Variable Adaptive Readout Chip (AARDVARC) platforms. These state-of-the-art full-waveform digitizers feature sampling rates on the order of 1 and 10 samples per nanosecond, respectively. Using a picosecond laser, we measured the timing jitter between a pair of LAPPD channels, demonstrating the potential of this setup for precise timing applications.
We report the solenoidal large intensity device (SoLID) at Jefferson Lab will push the boundaries of luminosity for a large-acceptance detector, which necessitates the use of a light-gas threshold Cherenkov counter for online event selection. Due to the high luminosity, the single-photon background rate in this counter can exceed 160 kHz/cm 2 at the photosensors. Therefore, it is essential to validate the high-rate limits of the planned photosensors and readout electronics in order to mitigate the risk of failure. We report on the design and an early set of studies carried out using a small Cherenkov counter in a high-rate environment up to 60 kHz/cm 2 , in Hall C at Jefferson Lab. Commercially available multi-anode photomultipliers (MaPMT) and low-cost large-area picosecond photodetectors (LAPPD) were tested using the JLab FADC250 modules for readout. The test beam results show that the MaPMT array and the internal stripline LAPPD can detect and identify single-electron and pair-production events in high-rate environments. Due to its higher quantum efficiency, the MaPMT array provided a better separation between the single-electron and the pair-production events compared to the internal stripline LAPPD. A GEANT4 simulation confirms the beam test performance of our counter device.
The Device for Indirect Capture Experiments on Radionuclides (DICER) is a new instrument that is being developed at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) to study neutron capture reactions on short-lived radionuclides. To achieve that, DICER is using an indirect technique based on measuring the neutron transmission through very small samples (0.12–1.2 mm in diameter, $\mu \text{g}$ -mg in mass). The main detection system of DICER consists of two dual photomultiplier (PMT)-based detectors which are sensitive to the scintillation light produced when neutrons interact with 6 Li glass disks. DICER is developing a new collimation system that includes a 0.1-mm collimator. In such small sizes, the need for neutron beam imaging is crucial and necessary to confirm the appropriate alignment between the irradiated sample and the neutron detectors. The large area picosecond photodetector (LAPPD) is a multichannel plate (MCP)-based photodetector, with picosecond-level timing, single-photon detection capabilities, and spatial resolution of the order of 1 mm. Coupling the LAPPD with a 6 Li glass scintillator results in a neutron imaging detector. The first irradiation of the LAPPD at DICER indicated that apart from imaging the beam, the LAPPD can be used as the main neutron detection system. Furthermore, these results were proof of principle measurements demonstrating the capabilities of the beamline, and the challenge with small samples will be addressed in the future. The first efforts and developments, including irradiations of the LAPPD and the first beam images, will be presented.
The goal of ANNIE is to make the first detailed measurement of the number of neutrons produced by neutrinos interacting with nuclei. This measurement is important for understanding the results of previous and planned neutrino experiments, as neutrons carry away energy from the neutrino interactions that must be accounted for in determining the energy and neutrino type. This effort is also focused on using a new photodetector technology and key target material enhancements to enable advanced water-based neutrino detectors. The ANNIE detector has been installed in the Booster Neutrino Beam at Fermilab, which provides a pulsed source of neutrinos in the energy range of 300-1200 MeV, which is relevant for the next generation of neutrino experiments. In 2017-2018 measurements of the neutron background in this beam were made with a partially-instrumented ANNIE detector. These measurements guided our design of the upgraded detector now built. The upgrade has been realized by adding Large Area Picosecond Photodetectors (LAPPDs) for the first time, more conventional photomultiplier tubes (PMTs), as well as adding electronics channels to the existing data acquisition system.
The Accelerator Neutrino Neutron Interaction Experiment (ANNIE) is a Gadolinium-loaded water Cherenkov detector placed in the Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB) at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, USA. The primary physics goal of ANNIE is to perform neutrino cross-section measurements that will constrain systematic uncertainties in the next generation of long-baseline neutrino experiments. The first measurement will be the multiplicity of final-state neutrons from neutrino-nucleus interactions in water. Alongside these measurements, ANNIE has achieved the first ever deployments of two novel detector technologies in a neutrino beam: Large Area Picosecond Photodetectors (LAPPDs) and Water-based Liquid Scintillator (WbLS). LAPPDs are micro-channel-plate-based devices that provide timing resolution of ~100 picoseconds and sub-centimeter spatial resolution. WbLS combines the low attenuation and Cherenkov production of pure water with the high light-yield and low detection threshold of liquid scintillator. This talk will discuss the status of ANNIE's physics and R&D measurements.
The Accelerator Neutrino Neutron Interaction Experiment (ANNIE) is a 26-ton gadolinium-doped water Cherenkov detector situated 100-m downstream in Fermilab's Booster Neutrino Beam. ANNIE's main physics goal is to measure the final state neutron multiplicity of neutrino-nucleus interactions as a function of momentum transfer. This measurement will improve our understanding of these complex interactions and help reduce the associated systematic uncertainties, thus benefiting the next generation of long-baseline neutrino experiments. ANNIE will achieve its physics goals with the use of a new type of photodetector, the Large Area Picosecond Photodetector (LAPPD). The experiment is the first physics experiment to deploy an array of LAPPDs. Significant progress has been made on the characterization and development of this system. In this talk, we will present the status of ANNIE experiment.
The Accelerator Neutrino Neutron Interaction Experiment (ANNIE) is a 26-ton gadolinium-loaded (Gd-loaded) water Cherenkov detector located on the Booster Neutrino beamline at Fermilab. ANNIE's primary physics objectives include measuring neutron multiplicity for neutrino-nucleus interactions and performing cross-section measurements of charge current quasi-elastic and neutral current quasi-elastic processes. These measurements aim to improve neutrino energy reconstruction and reduce uncertainties in current and future neutrino oscillation experiments. Additionally, ANNIE serves as a testbed for advanced technologies such as Large Area Picosecond Photodetectors (LAPPDs) and Water-Based Liquid Scintillator, which enhance vertex resolution and enable detection below the Cherenkov threshold. By leveraging the high neutron capture cross section of Gd-loaded water, ANNIE is well positioned to observe final-state neutrons in beam-correlated neutrino interactions. To constrain the uncertainties in the neutron capture efficiency and time within the detector, we have conducted multiple calibration campaigns using an AmBe source. The AmBe source is deployed at different locations of the tank to map the neutron capture efficiency and determine the expected neutron capture time. Additionally, the AmBe calibration data are used to define the precise neutron clustering that will be useful for identifying neutron-like clusters from neutrino interaction. In this poster, we will present the current status of the AmBe neutron calibration program and the development of neutron cluster definition for the ANNIE Experiment.