Investigation of GEM-Micromegas detector on X-ray beam of synchrotron radiation

To reduce the discharge of the standard bulk Micromegas and GEM detectors, a GEM-Micromegas detector was developed at the Institute of High Energy Physics. Taking into account the advantages of the two detectors, one GEM foil was set as a preamplifier on the mesh of Micromegas in the structure and the GEM preamplification decreased the working voltage of Micromegas to significantly reduce the effect of the discharge. At the same gain, the spark probability of the GEM-Micromegas detector can be reduced to a factor 0.01 compared to the standard Micromegas detector, and an even higher gain could be obtained. This paper describes the performance of the X-ray beam detector that was studied at 1W2B Laboratory of Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility. Finally, the result of the energy resolution under various X-ray energies was given in different working gases. This indicates that the GEM-Micromegas detector has an energy response capability in an energy range from 6 keV to 20 keV and it could work better than the standard bulk-Micromegas.     

利用Garfield程序模拟Micromegas探测器增益和位置分辨特性

利用Garfield气体探测器模拟程序模拟了不同条件下Micromegas探测器的增益和位置分辨特性. 通过对模拟结果的分析, 得出提高探测器位置分辨和增益的有效途径. 该工作不仅可以优化气体探测器结构设计, 缩短实验周期, 而且还能极大程度的节约经费.     

Micromegas prototypes with thermo-bond film separators

In this paper we report the results of Micromegas prototypes constructed by attaching micromesh to an anode using thermo-bond films. The excellent metal attaching ability and good dielectical property of this kind of film make it a promising material to be used as avalanche gap spacers. Several prototypes are successfully made. The electron transmission properties are first studied and then the gas gain is measured in argon-isobutane mixtures. The maximum gain of more than 104 is easily obtained. The energy resolutions for 55Fe 5.9 keV Kα ray can be better than 20% over one magnitude in gain for different operational gas mixtures and the best energy resolution of 13.7% (FWHM) can be achieved with the gas mixture of 94% argon concentration. The preliminary test results of the prototypes with sensitive area of 45 mm×45 mm without internal support show good uniformity across the sensitive area.     

Micromegas prototypes with thermo-bond film separators

In this paper we report the results of Micromegas prototypes constructed by attaching micromesh to an anode using thermo-bond films. The excellent metal attaching ability and good dielectical property of this kind of film make it a promising material to be used as avalanche gap spacers. Several prototypes are successfully made. The electron transmission properties are first studied and then the gas gain is measured in argon-isobutane mixtures. The maximum gain of more than 10⁴ is easily obtained. The energy resolutions for ⁵⁵Fe 5.9 keV K_α ray can be better than 20% over one magnitude in gain for different operational gas mixtures and the best energy resolution of 13.7% (FWHM) can be achieved with the gas mixture of 94% argon concentration. The preliminary test results of the prototypes with sensitive area of 45 mm×45 mm without internal support show good uniformity across the sensitive area.     

A hybrid structure gaseous detector for ion backflow suppression

A new concept for a hybrid structure gaseous detector module with ion backflow suppression for the time projection chamber in a future circular collider is presented.It is a hybrid structure cascaded Gas Electron Multiplier(GEM) with a Micromegas detector.Both Micromegas and GEM have the capability to naturally reduce most of the ions produced in the amplification region.The GEM also acts as the preamplifer device and increases gas gain together with the Micromegas.Feasibility tests of the hybrid detector are performed using an ~(55)Fe X-ray source.The energy resolution is better than 27% for 5.9 keV X-rays.It is demonstrated that a backflow ratio better than 0.2% can be reached in the hybrid readout structure at a gain of 5000.     

3D simulation of micromegas detector performance

Micromegas (MICRO MEsh GAseous Structure) is a position-sensitive gaseous detector. It is widely used in particle physics. We present the results of full 3D Monte Carlo simulations of Micromegas performance, taking into account all the processes from the primary ionization, the elctron collection efficiency,and the gain to the signal formation. The simulation results are in good agreement with experimental data.     

3D simulation of micromegas detector performance

Micromegas （MICRO MEsh GAseous Structure） is a position-sensitive gaseous detector. It is widely used in particle physics. We present the results of full 3D Monte Carlo simulations of Micromegas performance, taking into account all the processes from the primary ionization, the elctron collection efficiency, and the gain to the signal formation. The simulation results are in good agreement with experimental data.     

高通量下GEM探测器高压供电模式研究

GEM探测器的供电一般采用电阻链分压供电模式和多路分立供电模式,在低通量X射线下测量时区别不大,但是在高通量X射线时,电阻链分压供电模式会带来饱和效应引起工作电压的变化,造成探测器工作不稳定。本研究在高通量X 射线照射下,研究了有效面积为100 mm100 mm三层级联GEM探测器的有效增益(稳定性) 与不同高压供电模式的关系。通过测量不同分压电阻值(1, 2, 5 到30 MΩ)的实验研究,发现随着X 射线通量的增加,在电阻链分压供电模式下,出现了GEM探测器感应电极的读出电流饱和趋势,分析了可能导致饱和效应出现的原因。结果表明,当入射X射线在探测器上的有效吸收剂量不断增加时,电阻链供电模式需要调整分压单元电阻值,或者采用多路分立供电模式,从而避免因饱和效应引起的GEM探测器有效增益的变化,实现探测器稳定的工作状态。There are two methods of the HV power supply for the GEM detector. One is a HV channel divided by the resistive chain and the other is the several separate HV channels. In the smaller dose rate of X-ray, all of the methods are similar. When the dose rate increases, the resistive chain-dividing mode has more obvious saturation effect and the working voltage of the GEM detector is unstable. In the paper, a GEM detector with an effective area of 100 mm100 mm has been studied in the high dose rate using X-tube. The unit values in the divider resistance chain are set to 1, 2, 5 and 30 MΩ respectively in the test. With the resistive chain-dividing mode, the readout current of the GEM detector’s anode tends to saturate when the dose rate of X-ray increases,and the reasons of the saturation effect are analyzed. The results indicate that the effective absorbed dose of X-ray by the triple GEMs detector reaches to the pecific value and the divider resistance needs to re-select, even the several separate HV channels mode should be considered. It will keep the constant of the working voltage of the GEM detector without the saturation effect and gain variation and the performance of GEM detector is stable.     

基于阻性阳极读出方法的气体电子倍增器二维成像性能

新型微结构气体探测器,如气体电子倍增器(gas electron multiplier,GEM)等,具有非常好的位置分辨率潜力(σ100μm),但是需要匹配大规模高密度的读出电子学,给探测器的建设、造价、功耗、空间利用等带来极大压力.阻性阳极读出方法可以在保持较高位置分辨率的前提下,大幅节省电子学.基于厚膜电阻工艺,一种新的阻性单元阵列结构被成功开发和应用于三级级联GEM探测器的读出阳极.该阻性阳极包括6×6个6 mm×6 mm的基本阻性单元,仅需匹配49路读出电子学.~(55)Fe放射源(5.9 keV)和X光机(8 keV)实验的结果显示探测器的位置分辨率(σ)可好于80μm,位置非线性好于1.5%.同时,探测器还获得了很好的实物成像效果.探测器的优良性能表明这种阻性阳极读出方法适用于大面积二维成像气体探测器的读出,并可用于其他探测器的读出.     

Micromegas探测器计数曲线、增益以及能量分辨特性的研究

介绍了自行研制的Micromegas探测器的基本结构和工作原理. 在不同工作气体(Ar和CO₂)配比条件下,利用⁵⁵Fe放射源对该探测器的能量分辨、计数曲线和气体增益等特性进行了较为详尽的测试. 对相关结果进行了讨论. 关键词： Micromegas探测器 计数曲线 能量分辨率 增益     

高增益型气体电子倍增微网结构探测器的性能研究

随着微结构气体探测器的不断发展, 不同的探测需求相继提出.为了实现气体探测器在高增益和低打火率的条件下长时间稳定工作, 结合气体电子倍增器(GEM)与微网结构气体探测器(MicroMegas)的探测优势, 成功研制出一种基于GEM作为预放大的MicroMegas探测器, 详细介绍了探测器结构和工作原理, 并利用⁵⁵Fe放射源对探测器增益、打火率、能量分辨和工作稳定性等性能进行了实验测量. 分析结果显示GEM-MicroMegas探测器可以连续工作30 h 以上, 探测器增益可以超过10⁶, 相对于无GEM膜的MicroMegas探测器, 相同增益下打火率可以降低近100倍. 关键词： 微网结构气体探测器 能量分辨率 增益 打火率     

Study of a sealed high gas pressure THGEM detector and response of alpha particle spectra

A sealed high gas pressure detector working in pure argon is assembled.It consists of a 5 cm x 5 cm PCB THGEM(THick Gaseous Electron Multiplier).The detector structure and experimental setup are described.The performance under high pressure(2 atm) is examined,selecting optimal voltages for the ionization region and induction region.The dependence of the shape of alpha particle spectra measured with relative gas gain on gas pressure(1.3-2.0 atm) has been studied.Eight data sets of relative gas gain versus working voltage of THGEM,expressed by weighting field E/P,are normalized,consistent with theory.The results show that the air tightness of the chamber is good,measured by a sensitive barometer and checked with gas gain.The experimental results are compared with Monte Carlo simulation of energy deposition without gas gain involved.     

Influence of working gas properties on MWPC anode wire modulation effect

For MWPCs used for X-ray position detection, simulation studies of the anode wire modulation effect of the detector were carried out using the Garfield program. Different gas mixtures were used as the working gas in the simulation, so as to obtain the influence of the X-ray cross section and electron diffusion coefficient of the working gases on the anode wire modulation effect of an MWPC with anode wire spacing of 2 mm. Results show that, though a working gas with higher X-ray cross section implies a larger average drift distance for the ionized electrons, such gas mixtures are of little use in improving the anode wire modulation effect of MWPCs. It is found that the transverse electron diffusion coefficient is the determining factor for the extent of the anode wire modulation effect in the detector.     

Performance of a tubular solid oxide fuel cell with model kerosene reformate gas

A performance of an anode-supported tubular Ni–8YSZ/Ni–ScSZ/ScSZ/GDC/LSC cell was investigated at 650–750 °C by feeding model kerosene reformate gas (H₂, H₂O, CO, CO₂, and CH₄) to a Ni–8YSZ/Ni–ScSZ anode. Variations of gas composition were observed not only between inlet and outlet of anode to estimate the degree of internal reforming, but also during current input by online quadrupole mass spectrometry and Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry.The electrochemical performance of the cell was independent of reforming temperature of kerosene, i.e. gas composition (in particular CH₄ concentration) at moderate anode gas flow rates. At open-circuit states, 10% or less methane in the kerosene-reformed gas was readily converted by steam or CO₂ over the Ni–8YSZ/Ni–ScSZ electrode so that gas compositions could almost follow the thermodynamic equilibrium at 650–750 °C. This suggests that the internal reforming should proceed almost completely over the Ni anode. Consumption of H₂ and CO and production of CO₂ were observed during current input. I–V characteristics remained constant at 650 °C as long as anodic W/F was more than 0.2 kg mmol^− 1 s. It was demonstrated that a catalytic activity of an anode electrode for hydrocarbons will be important for SOFCs with liquid fuels such as kerosene in order not to deteriorate cell performance.     

基于复合结构的气体电子倍增器增益模拟和实验研究

气体电子倍增器(GEM)作为高性能的微结构气体探测器在高能物理相关领域内得到了广泛的研究和应用.其中增益是GEM探测器基本性能研究中的一个重要参数,该值的精确测量至关重要.增益的测量一般采用电流测量或者能谱测量方法,但均存在精度较低或者过程繁琐的问题,且无法精确测量低增益值.针对GEM探测器增益的精确测量,本文提出了一种由GEM探测器与微网结构气体探测器(MM)级联构成的复合结构探测器(GEM-MM).利用GEM-MM结构以相对方法实现GEM增益的精确测量.该方法既可以省去传统方法中复杂的电子学标定过程,同时不需要进行原初电离电子数的估算,保证了增益的精确测量,并且可以实现GEM低增益的测量.基于GEM-MM测量GEM增益的原理,本文首先对GEM-MM电荷输运过程进行了模拟研究,优化了合适的工作电压.比较了三种不同类型和配比工作气体下GEM增益模拟结果,并在Ar/iC_4H_(10)(95/5)气体中测量了单层GEM在3—24范围内的有效增益.不同Penning系数下GEM增益的模拟结果表明,Penning系数为0.32时GEM增益的模拟结果与实验测量结果符合得很好.由此可以确定一个大气压下的Ar/iC_4H_(10)(95/5)气体中,Penning系数为0.32±0.01.     

一种新型的束流剖面探测系统

介绍了一种以微通道板和电阻阳极所构成的位置灵敏探测器为基础、用于兰州重离子加速器束流诊断的新型剩余气体电离束流剖面探测系统.描述了其工作原理、系统结构及初步实验结果,证明利用剩余气体电离束流剖面探测系统进行非拦截束流诊断的方法是可行的.     

Dynamics of the Current Distribution in a Discharge of the PF-3 Plasma Focus Facility

In this paper, results are presented from studies of the dynamics of the plasma-current sheath and current distribution in the PF-3 facility, one of the largest plasma focus machines in the world. The experiments were done at input energy of $W = 290 hbox{kJ}$ and discharge current of $I sim 2 hbox{MA}$, with the chamber being stationary filled with the working gas. The current sheath parameters were measured with absolutely calibrated magnetic probes installed at different distances from the system axis and at different heights above the anode plane. The possibility is demonstrated of the formation of closed current loops due to the development of shunting breakdowns in the insulator region. The maximum residual plasma density at which the electrode gap remains magnetically self-insulated is estimated.      

Design and performance of a 2-D multi-wire position sensitive X-ray detector

A 2-D multi-wire position sensitive detector for X-ray diffraction and small angle X-ray scattering studies is described. The detector has an active area of 100 mm × 100 mm and consists of an anode plane with 10 μm SS wires at 3 mm spacing and a pair of orthogonal cathode readout planes with 25 μm SS wires placed at 1.5 mm spacing. The position information is obtained using charge division method and recorded using a laboratory built data acquisition system. The resolution and gas gain was measured for 5.9 keV X-rays (⁵⁵Fe-source) as a function of the anode wire voltage and gas pressure. It was observed that the proportional region of the PSD at 100 kPa pressure extended up to a high voltage value of around 1.5 kV and it shifted to high values up to 2 kV for gas pressure of 300 kPa. The energy resolution improved from 18% (FWHM) to 12% with increase in pressure. The spatial resolution of the PSD also showed improvement, with a value of 1.2 mm × 1.4 mm at 300 kPa gas pressure. A maximum gain of 5 × 10⁴ is obtained.     

电荷云尺寸对紫外光子计数成像探测器性能的影响

微通道板出射电荷云尺寸与微通道板增益、微通道板输出面和楔条形阳极间距离以及阳极加速电压等因素有关.到达阳极的电荷云尺寸对紫外光子计数探测器的成像性能有重要影响.本文研究了电荷云尺寸对紫外光子计数成像系统成像性能的影响,论述了调制畸变和"S"畸变两种图像畸变及其产生的原因,采用蒙特卡洛方法模拟了不同尺寸的电荷云对阳极解码的影响.实验测试了微通道板和阳极间距离、微通道板增益以及阳极加速电压对紫外光子计数成像系统成像性能的影响,并给出了实际解决调制畸变和"S"畸变的有效方法. 关键词： 光子计数成像 楔条形阳极 微通道板 阳极探测器     

RETGEM探测器的初步测试

研制了一种新型的带有阻抗性电极的TGEM——RETGEM(Thick GEM with Resistive Electrodes)探测器, 阻抗性电极可以有效地保护探测器和前端电子学免于偶尔放电的损伤。 对RETGEM探测器进行了初步测试, 其中包括计数率、能量分辨、增益以及打火率。 结果表明, 探测器达到了设计的基本要求。 In this study we present preliminary results from a new detector: a thick gaseous electron multiplier(GEM) with resistive electrodes. The resistive electrodes protect the detector and the front end electronics from damage by occasional discharges. In different gas mixtures, we test Thick GEM with Resistive Electrodes(RETGEM) detector for the first time, including counting rate, energy resolution, effective gain, and discharge probability. The results can satisfy the basic demand of RETGEM detector design.