Experiment and modeling of scintillation photon-counting and current measurement for PMT gain stabilization

Stein, J.; Kreuels, Achim; Kong, Yong Lin; Lentering, Ralf; Ruhnau, Kai; Scherwinski, Falko; Wolf, A.

doi:10.1016/j.nima.2015.01.101

Cited by 11 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…The F900's energy measurement is based on the charge content of the digitized and baseline-corrected anode-current signals, determined by numeric integration. The number representing the charge integral is then corrected for PMT gain shifts [16] and temperature effects on the scintillator's light yield [17], and finally translated in an energy tag, using a nonlinear calibration function. The latter is routinely parameterized with radioactive reference sources in the process of factory setup to best fit the energy range used for nuclide identification (30 keV to 3 MeV).…”

Section: A the Target F900 Backpack Radiation Detection Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cosmic Muon Rates and Neutron Background in a Backpack Radiation Detection System

Pausch

Kong

Kreuels

et al. 2023

IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci.

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Radiation detection systems for security applications are often equipped with neutron sensors and required to promptly respond with an alarm if the neutron flux exceeds the background level. As the ambient neutron flux is essentially caused by cosmic radiation, this background could be evaluated by assessing the rate of muons crossing the gamma-ray detector which is comprised in such systems anyway. A study performed with a commercial Backpack Radiation Detection System (BRD) demonstrates the feasibility of this approach, supposed the gamma spectrometer is capable of discriminating muon signals from energetic events caused by the gamma-ray cascades following neutron captures. This requires a dynamic range exceeding the usual 3-4 MeV. The instrument used provided standard spectroscopy up to 10 MeV and facilitated charge-loss compensated spectroscopy up to 1 GeV, which allowed a separate assessment of normal gamma events (< 3 MeV), neutron-capture gamma events (3-7 MeV), and muon events (> 10 MeV). In this case, the rate of neutron-capture gamma events can be used as a neutron indicator on its own, while the muon rate signals the ambient neutron background level.

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Section: A the Target F900 Backpack Radiation Detection Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cosmic Muon Rates and Neutron Background in a Backpack Radiation Detection System

Pausch

Kong

Kreuels

et al. 2023

IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci.

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“…Exemplary pulse decompositions disclosing D3C events are shown in Figure 4. The middle picture points to a challenge: 30 keV energy deposited in a NaI(Tl) scintillator generate just 300-360 photoelectrons in an attached PMT with standard bialkali photocathode yielding 10-12 photoelectrons per keV [20], statistically distributed in time [21]. The small signal is hard to find if it piles up with an (often much larger) primary signal.…”

Section: B Signal Processing and Detection Of Delayed Coincidencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The simulation of the detector responses to a distinct, immediate energy deposition in the crystal followed the model described in reference [21]. It comprised (i) The statistical generation of photoelectrons with a given yield per keV (phe/keV), (ii) The random temporal distribution of the individual photoelectrons according to a rise time of 14 ns and decay components of 0.23 𝜇s and 1.0 𝜇s contributing 97 % and 3 % to the overall light emission of the scintillator, respectively, (iii) The Poisson branching process of the photoelectrons at the first dynodes [22],…”

Section: E Simulation Of Delayed Coincidence Signalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neutron Detection in Mixed Neutron-Gamma Fields with Common NaI(Tl) Detectors

Pausch¹,

Kreuels²,

Scherwinski³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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<p>Searching digitized detector signals for piled-up delayed components with distinct energy and delay time signatures is a smart method to provide common NaI(Tl) detectors with additional neutron detection capabilities at no extra cost. This technique nicely complements the idea of neutron detection by analyzing events with high energy depositions above the range of common gamma-ray energies. In combination, both approaches can provide half of the neutron sensitivity offered by a commercial <sup>6</sup>Li co-doped NaI(Tl) (NaIL™) scintillator of the same size, at the price of higher and load-dependent background contributions. Delayed-coincidence techniques are most suitable for neutron monitoring or long-term measurements, where the statistics of the acquired delay-time distributions allows separate fitting of the effect and background contributions. In this case, the thermal neutron flux can be quantified in parallel to gamma-ray spectroscopy at overall detector loads exceeding 10 kcps.</p>

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“…Likewise, the detector response needs to be precisely characterized, and the scintillation crystal aging has to be monitored. Temperature effects on the light yield and PMT gain should be corrected with stabilization techniques [88]. Furthermore, a good knowledge of the γ-ray attenuation coefficients in the patient volume behind the treated area is mandatory.…”

Section: K Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Compact Method for Proton Range Verification Based on Coaxial Prompt Gamma-Ray Monitoring: A Theoretical Study

Hueso-González

Bortfeld

2020

IEEE Trans. Radiat. Plasma Med. Sci.

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Range uncertainties in proton therapy hamper treatment precision. Prompt gamma-rays were suggested 16 years ago for real-time range verification, and have already shown promising results in clinical studies with collimated cameras. Simultaneously, alternative imaging concepts without collimation are investigated to reduce the footprint and price of current prototypes. In this manuscript, a compact range verification method is presented. It monitors prompt gamma-rays with a single scintillation detector positioned coaxially to the beam and behind the patient. Thanks to the solid angle effect, proton range deviations can be derived from changes in the number of gammarays detected per proton, provided that the number of incident protons is well known. A theoretical background is formulated and the requirements for a future proof-of-principle experiment are identified. The potential benefits and disadvantages of the method are discussed, and the prospects and potential obstacles for its use during patient treatments are assessed. The final milestone is to monitor proton range differences in clinical cases with a statistical precision of 1 mm, a material cost of 25000 USD and a weight below 10 kg. This technique could facilitate the widespread application of in vivo range verification in proton therapy and eventually the improvement of treatment quality.

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Experiment and modeling of scintillation photon-counting and current measurement for PMT gain stabilization

Cited by 11 publications

References 15 publications

Cosmic Muon Rates and Neutron Background in a Backpack Radiation Detection System

Cosmic Muon Rates and Neutron Background in a Backpack Radiation Detection System

Neutron Detection in Mixed Neutron-Gamma Fields with Common NaI(Tl) Detectors

Compact Method for Proton Range Verification Based on Coaxial Prompt Gamma-Ray Monitoring: A Theoretical Study

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