Results and Perspectives of Timepix Detectors in Space—From Radiation Monitoring in Low Earth Orbit to Astroparticle Physics
In space application, hybrid pixel detectors of the Timepix family have been considered mainly for the measurement of radiation levels and dosimetry in low earth orbits. Using the example of the Space Application of Timepix Radiation Monitor (SATRAM), we demonstrate the unique capabilities of Timepi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Instruments |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2410-390X/8/1/17 |
| _version_ | 1797240566443933696 |
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| author | Benedikt Bergmann Stefan Gohl Declan Garvey Jindřich Jelínek Petr Smolyanskiy |
| author_facet | Benedikt Bergmann Stefan Gohl Declan Garvey Jindřich Jelínek Petr Smolyanskiy |
| author_sort | Benedikt Bergmann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In space application, hybrid pixel detectors of the Timepix family have been considered mainly for the measurement of radiation levels and dosimetry in low earth orbits. Using the example of the Space Application of Timepix Radiation Monitor (SATRAM), we demonstrate the unique capabilities of Timepix-based miniaturized radiation detectors for particle separation. We present the incident proton energy spectrum in the geographic location of SAA obtained by using Bayesian unfolding of the stopping power spectrum measured with a single-layer Timepix. We assess the measurement stability and the resiliency of the detector to the space environment, thereby demonstrating that even though degradation is observed, data quality has not been affected significantly over more than 10 years. Based on the SATRAM heritage and the capabilities of the latest-generation Timepix series chips, we discuss their applicability for use in a compact magnetic spectrometer for a deep space mission or in the Jupiter radiation belts, as well as their capability for use as single-layer X- and <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi>γ</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>-ray polarimeters. The latter was supported by the measurement of the polarization of scattered radiation in a laboratory experiment, where a modulation of 80% was found. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:09:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a8ac6859894a4ad19229ba064f98975b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2410-390X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:09:28Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Instruments |
| spelling | doaj.art-a8ac6859894a4ad19229ba064f98975b2024-03-27T13:47:24ZengMDPI AGInstruments2410-390X2024-02-01811710.3390/instruments8010017Results and Perspectives of Timepix Detectors in Space—From Radiation Monitoring in Low Earth Orbit to Astroparticle PhysicsBenedikt Bergmann0Stefan Gohl1Declan Garvey2Jindřich Jelínek3Petr Smolyanskiy4Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Czech Technical University in Prague, 11000 Prague, Czech RepublicInstitute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Czech Technical University in Prague, 11000 Prague, Czech RepublicInstitute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Czech Technical University in Prague, 11000 Prague, Czech RepublicInstitute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Czech Technical University in Prague, 11000 Prague, Czech RepublicInstitute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Czech Technical University in Prague, 11000 Prague, Czech RepublicIn space application, hybrid pixel detectors of the Timepix family have been considered mainly for the measurement of radiation levels and dosimetry in low earth orbits. Using the example of the Space Application of Timepix Radiation Monitor (SATRAM), we demonstrate the unique capabilities of Timepix-based miniaturized radiation detectors for particle separation. We present the incident proton energy spectrum in the geographic location of SAA obtained by using Bayesian unfolding of the stopping power spectrum measured with a single-layer Timepix. We assess the measurement stability and the resiliency of the detector to the space environment, thereby demonstrating that even though degradation is observed, data quality has not been affected significantly over more than 10 years. Based on the SATRAM heritage and the capabilities of the latest-generation Timepix series chips, we discuss their applicability for use in a compact magnetic spectrometer for a deep space mission or in the Jupiter radiation belts, as well as their capability for use as single-layer X- and <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi>γ</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>-ray polarimeters. The latter was supported by the measurement of the polarization of scattered radiation in a laboratory experiment, where a modulation of 80% was found.https://www.mdpi.com/2410-390X/8/1/17space weatherscatter polarimeterhybrid pixel detectorsTimepixdE/dX spectrometerlow earth orbit |
| spellingShingle | Benedikt Bergmann Stefan Gohl Declan Garvey Jindřich Jelínek Petr Smolyanskiy Results and Perspectives of Timepix Detectors in Space—From Radiation Monitoring in Low Earth Orbit to Astroparticle Physics Instruments space weather scatter polarimeter hybrid pixel detectors Timepix dE/dX spectrometer low earth orbit |
| title | Results and Perspectives of Timepix Detectors in Space—From Radiation Monitoring in Low Earth Orbit to Astroparticle Physics |
| title_full | Results and Perspectives of Timepix Detectors in Space—From Radiation Monitoring in Low Earth Orbit to Astroparticle Physics |
| title_fullStr | Results and Perspectives of Timepix Detectors in Space—From Radiation Monitoring in Low Earth Orbit to Astroparticle Physics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Results and Perspectives of Timepix Detectors in Space—From Radiation Monitoring in Low Earth Orbit to Astroparticle Physics |
| title_short | Results and Perspectives of Timepix Detectors in Space—From Radiation Monitoring in Low Earth Orbit to Astroparticle Physics |
| title_sort | results and perspectives of timepix detectors in space from radiation monitoring in low earth orbit to astroparticle physics |
| topic | space weather scatter polarimeter hybrid pixel detectors Timepix dE/dX spectrometer low earth orbit |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2410-390X/8/1/17 |
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