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n_TOF Collaboration(Calviani, M. et al), Domingo-Pardo, C., & Tain, J. L. (2011). Fission Cross-section Measurements of (233)U, (245)Cm and (241,243)Am at CERN n_TOF Facility. J. Korean Phys. Soc., 59(2), 1912–1915.
Abstract: Neutron-induced fission cross-sections of minor actinides have been measured using the nTOF white neutron source at CERN. Geneva, as part of a large experimental program aiming at collecting new data relevant for nuclear astrophysics and for the design of advanced reactor systems. The measurements at nTOF take advantage of the innovative features of the n_TOF facility, namely the wide energy range, high instantaneous neutron flux and good energy resolution. Final results on the fission cross-section of (233)U, (245)cm and (243)Am from thermal to 20 MeV are here reported, together with preliminary results for (241)Am. The measurement have been performed with a dedicated Fast Ionization Chamber (FIC), a fission fragment detector with a very high efficiency, relative to the very well known cross-section of (235)U, measured simultaneously with the same detector.
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n_TOF Collaboration, Kappeler, F., Mengoni, A., Mosconi, M., Fujii, K., Heil, M., et al. (2011). Neutron Studies for Dating the Universe. J. Korean Phys. Soc., 59(2), 2094–2099.
Abstract: The neutron capture cross sections of (186)Os and (187)Os are of key importance for defining the 8-process abundance of (187)Os at the formation of the solar system. This quantity can be used to determine the radiogenic abundance component of (187)Os from the decay of (187)Re (t(1/2) = 41.2 Gyr) and to infer the time-duration of the nucleosynthesis in our galaxy (Re/Os cosmochronometer). The neutron capture cross sections of (186)Os, (187)Os, and (188)Os have been measured at the CERN nTOF facility from 1 eV to 1 MeV, covering the entire energy range of astrophysical interest. From these data Maxwellian averaged capture cross sections have been calculated with uncertainties between 3.3 and 4.7%. Additional information was obtained by measuring the inelastic scattering cross section of (187)Os at the Karlsruhe 3.7 MV Van de Graaff accelerator and by neutron resonance analyses of the nTOF capture data to establish a comprehensive experimental basis for the Hauser-Feshbach statistical model. Consistent I-IF calculations for the capture and inelastic reaction channels were performed to determine the stellar enhancement factors, which are required to correct the Maxwellian averaged cross sections for the effect of thermally populated excited states. The consequences of this analysis for the s-process component of the (187)Os abundance and the related impact on the evaluation of the time-duration of Galactic nucleosynthesis via the Re/Os cosmo-chronometer are discussed.
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n_TOF Collaboration(Giubrone, G. et al), & Tain, J. L. (2011). The Role of Fe and Ni for S-process Nucleosynthesis and Innovative Nuclear Technologies. J. Korean Phys. Soc., 59(2), 2106–2109.
Abstract: The accurate measurement of neutron capture cross sections of all Fe and Ni isotopes is important for disentangling the contribution of the s-process and the r-process to the stellar nucleosynthesis of elements in the mass range 60 < A < 120. At the same time, Fe and Ni are important components of structural materials and improved neutron cross section data is relevant in the design of new nuclear systems. With the aim of obtaining improved capture data on all stable iron and nickel isotopes, a program of measurements has been launched at the CERN Neutron Time of Flight Facility n_TOF.
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Nguyen, C. V., Gillam, J. E., Brown, J. M. C., Martin, D. V., Nikulin, D. A., & Dimmock, M. R. (2011). Towards Optimal Collimator Design for the PEDRO Hybrid Imaging System. IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci., 58(3), 639–650.
Abstract: The Pixelated Emission Detector for RadiOisotopes (PEDRO) is a hybrid imaging system designed for the measurement of single photon emission from small animal models. The proof-of-principle device consists of a Compton-camera situated behind a mechanical collimator and is intended to provide optimal detection characteristics over a broad spectral range, from 30 to 511 keV. An automated routine has been developed for the optimization of large-area slits in the outer regions of a collimator which has a central region allocated for pinholes. The optimization was tested with a GEANT4 model of the experimental prototype. The data were blurred with the expected position and energy resolution parameters and a Bayesian interaction ordering algorithm was applied. Images were reconstructed using cone back-projection. The results show that the optimization technique allows the large-area slits to both sample fully and extend the primary field of view (FoV) determined by the pinholes. The slits were found to provide truncation of the back-projected cones of response and also an increase in the success rate of the interaction ordering algorithm. These factors resulted in an increase in the contrast and signal-to-noise ratio of the reconstructed image estimates. Of the two configurations tested, the cylindrical geometry outperformed the square geometry, primarily because of a decrease in artifacts. This was due to isotropic modulation of the cone surfaces, that can be achieved with a circular shape. Also, the cylindrical geometry provided increased sampling of the FoV due to more optimal positioning of the slits. The use of the cylindrical collimator and application of the transmission function in the reconstruction was found to improve the resolution of the system by a factor of 20, as compared to the uncollimated Compton camera. Although this system is designed for small animal imaging, the technique can be applied to any application of single photon imaging.
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Miñano, M. (2011). Radiation Hard Silicon Strips Detectors for the SLHC. IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci., 58(3), 1135–1140.
Abstract: While the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) began taking data in 2009, scenarios for a machine upgrade to achieve a much higher luminosity are being developed. In the current planning, it is foreseen to increase the luminosity of the LHC at CERN around 2018. As radiation damage scales with integrated luminosity, the particle physics experiments will need to be equipped with a new generation of radiation hard detectors. This article reports on the status of the R&D projects on radiation hard silicon strips detectors for particle physics, linked to the Large Hadron Collider Upgrade, super-LHC (sLHC) of the ATLAS microstrip detector. The primary focus of this report is on measuring the radiation hardness of the silicon materials and the detectors under study. This involves designing silicon detectors, irradiating them to the sLHC radiation levels and studying their performance as particle detectors. The most promising silicon detector for the different radiation levels in the different regions of the ATLAS microstrip detector will be presented. Important challenges related to engineering layout, powering, cooling and reading out a very large strip detector are presented. Ideas on possible schemes for the layout and support mechanics will be shown.
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