Improved direct detection of low-energy ions using a multipixel photon counter coupled with a novel scintillator

All rights reserved.Recently, we described a direct low-energy ion detector for time-of-flight applications based on a single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) array optically coupled to an LYSO (cerium-doped lutetium yttrium orthosilicate) scintillator. Here, we present a greatly improved version of th...

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Main Authors: Winter, B, King, S, Brouard, M, Vallance, C
Format: Journal article
Published: Elsevier 2016
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author Winter, B
King, S
Brouard, M
Vallance, C
author_facet Winter, B
King, S
Brouard, M
Vallance, C
author_sort Winter, B
collection OXFORD
description All rights reserved.Recently, we described a direct low-energy ion detector for time-of-flight applications based on a single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) array optically coupled to an LYSO (cerium-doped lutetium yttrium orthosilicate) scintillator. Here, we present a greatly improved version of the detector, developed through testing of a number of different scintillator and phosphor materials in combination with a commercially available SPAD array. The various scintillator materials have been characterized in terms of the achievable detection sensitivity and time response when used in conjunction with the SPAD array. Organic para-polyphenylene dyes, a relatively new class of scintillator for particle detection, were found to exhibit markedly improved performance relative to well-established scintillators such as LYSO crystal scintillators and P47 phosphors, both in terms of brightness and time response. The optimized detector has a time resolution of ∼2 ns, an improvement of more than an order of magnitude over the original version, at the same time as achieving a five- to ten-fold improvement in detection sensitivity. Our approach points the way towards the development of a generic silicon-based ion detector technology to complement or replace the microchannel-plate (MCP) ion detectors in widespread use at present. Such a detector would remove the need for high voltages and high vacuum, and at the same time greatly reduce detector cost relative to MCP-based detectors.
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spelling oxford-uuid:6cf78ace-ecce-43a9-9975-3b1330b9133c2022-03-26T19:14:41ZImproved direct detection of low-energy ions using a multipixel photon counter coupled with a novel scintillatorJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:6cf78ace-ecce-43a9-9975-3b1330b9133cSymplectic Elements at OxfordElsevier2016Winter, BKing, SBrouard, MVallance, CAll rights reserved.Recently, we described a direct low-energy ion detector for time-of-flight applications based on a single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) array optically coupled to an LYSO (cerium-doped lutetium yttrium orthosilicate) scintillator. Here, we present a greatly improved version of the detector, developed through testing of a number of different scintillator and phosphor materials in combination with a commercially available SPAD array. The various scintillator materials have been characterized in terms of the achievable detection sensitivity and time response when used in conjunction with the SPAD array. Organic para-polyphenylene dyes, a relatively new class of scintillator for particle detection, were found to exhibit markedly improved performance relative to well-established scintillators such as LYSO crystal scintillators and P47 phosphors, both in terms of brightness and time response. The optimized detector has a time resolution of ∼2 ns, an improvement of more than an order of magnitude over the original version, at the same time as achieving a five- to ten-fold improvement in detection sensitivity. Our approach points the way towards the development of a generic silicon-based ion detector technology to complement or replace the microchannel-plate (MCP) ion detectors in widespread use at present. Such a detector would remove the need for high voltages and high vacuum, and at the same time greatly reduce detector cost relative to MCP-based detectors.
spellingShingle Winter, B
King, S
Brouard, M
Vallance, C
Improved direct detection of low-energy ions using a multipixel photon counter coupled with a novel scintillator
title Improved direct detection of low-energy ions using a multipixel photon counter coupled with a novel scintillator
title_full Improved direct detection of low-energy ions using a multipixel photon counter coupled with a novel scintillator
title_fullStr Improved direct detection of low-energy ions using a multipixel photon counter coupled with a novel scintillator
title_full_unstemmed Improved direct detection of low-energy ions using a multipixel photon counter coupled with a novel scintillator
title_short Improved direct detection of low-energy ions using a multipixel photon counter coupled with a novel scintillator
title_sort improved direct detection of low energy ions using a multipixel photon counter coupled with a novel scintillator
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AT vallancec improveddirectdetectionoflowenergyionsusingamultipixelphotoncountercoupledwithanovelscintillator