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The Ma_MISS miniaturized spectrometer is integrated within the Drilling System of the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin Rover for Mars exploration. Here we focus on the on ground calibration campaign to obtain radiometric and linearity calibrations of the Ma_MISS instrument, while the first paper dealt with the spectral calibration [De Angelis et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 93, 123704 (2022)]. The experimental setup used to carry out radiometric calibration is described, as are the methods used for data processing and key parameter retrieval. In particular, the Spectrometer Transfer Function (Responsivity), Signal-to-Noise Ratio, and detector linearity are determined. In a third paper [De Sanctis et al., Planet. Sci. J. 3, 142 (2022)], validation of the Ma_MISS calibration results through spectral measurements performed on rock and synthetic targets during the radiometric calibration campaign is described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ma_MISS spectrometer is integrated within the drilling system of the Rosalind Franklin ExoMars rover. This paper reports the on-ground calibration campaign performed on the spectrometer. Here, we focus on the spectral calibration of the instrument. The experimental setup used to carry out calibration is described, and the methods used for data processing and key parameters retrieval are explained. In particular, the spectral parameters such as (i) pixel central wavelengths, (ii) spectral response function, (iii) spectral resolution, (iv) sampling, and (v) range are determined. In a follow-up paper, the linearity and radiometric calibrations are described, while in De Sanctis et al. [Planet. Sci. J. 3, 142 (2022)], the validation of spectral measurements performed on synthetic and natural rock targets is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we describe a technique using a crystal spectrometer, a silicon-diode detector, and a filtered photoconductive detector to monitor photon energies in the L-shell (0.9–1 keV) and K-shell regimes for nickel and copper hybrid X-pinch x-ray sources. The detectors, system cabling, and an 8 GHz digital oscilloscope in combination enable time resolution better than 200 ps for photoconductive detectors and 700 ps for silicon-diode detectors of the K- and L-shell radiation signals, respectively. We substantially improve the relative timing of signals obtained using the oscilloscope by using an x-ray streak camera with a crystal spectrometer to monitor the L-shell line spectra and, separately, the K-shell line spectra relative to the continuum burst to better than 17 ps time resolution. This combination of instruments enabled and validated a new method by which plasma conditions in nickel and copper X-pinches can be assessed immediately before and after the ∼30 ps continuum x-ray burst produced by 370 kA hybrid X-pinches. In general, the method described here can be applied to observe otherwise highly filter-absorbed radiation in the presence of a broad spectrum of higher energy radiation by combining x-ray crystals and detectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a newly developed crossed beam experimental setup that utilizes the velocity map imaging (VMI) technique to simultaneously measure both the kinetic energy and emission angle of electrons emitted from atoms or molecules upon ion collision. The projectile ion beam with keV to MeV kinetic energy orthogonally crosses the neutral target beam produced by an effusion cell. The emitted electrons are extracted and analyzed by a multi-electrode VMI spectrometer. By monitoring the target density, the projectile ion beam intensity, and the beams' overlap, we are able to measure absolute differential cross sections for collision-induced electron emission from molecules. The characterization of the setup and the methodology will be presented as well as first results for electron emission from uracil upon 0.98 MeV/u 12C4+ collision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent progress at the National Ignition Facility (NIF), with neutron yields of order 1 × 1017, places new constraints on diagnostics used to characterize implosion performance. The Magnetic Recoil neutron Spectrometer (MRS), which is routinely used to measure yield, ion temperature (Tion), and down-scatter ratio (dsr), has been adapted to allow measurements of dsr up to 5 × 1017, and yield and Tion up to 2 × 1018 in the near term with new data processing techniques and conversion foil solutions. This paper presents a solution for extending MRS operation up to a yield of 2 × 1019 (60 MJ) by moving the spectrometer outside of the NIF shield wall. This will not only enhance the upper yield limit by 10× but also improve signal-to-background by 5×. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advances in far-infrared detector technology have led to increases in raw sensitivity of more than an order of magnitude over previous state-of-the-art detectors. With such sensitivity, photon noise becomes the dominant noise component, even when using cryogenically cooled optics, unless a method of restricting the spectral bandpass is employed. The leading instrument concept features reflecting diffraction gratings, which post-disperse the light that has been modulated by a polarizing Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) onto a detector array, thereby reducing the photon noise on each detector. This paper discusses the development of a cryogenic (4 K) diffraction grating spectrometer that operates over the wavelength range of 285 to 500 μm and was used to post-disperse the output from a room-temperature polarizing FTS. Measurements of the grating spectral response and diffraction efficiency are presented as a function of both wavelength and polarization to characterize the instrumental performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CHESS, chopper spectrometer examining small samples, is a planned direct geometry neutron chopper spectrometer designed to detect and analyze weak signals intrinsic to small cross sections (e.g., small mass, small magnetic moments, or neutron absorbing materials) in powders, liquids, and crystals. CHESS is optimized to enable transformative investigations of quantum materials, spin liquids, thermoelectrics, battery materials, and liquids. The broad dynamic range of the instrument is also well suited to study relaxation processes and excitations in soft and biological matter. The 15 Hz repetition rate of the Second Target Station at the Spallation Neutron Source enables the use of multiple incident energies within a single source pulse, greatly expanding the information gained in a single measurement. Furthermore, the high flux grants an enhanced capability for polarization analysis. This enables the separation of nuclear from magnetic scattering or coherent from incoherent scattering in hydrogenous materials over a large range of energy and momentum transfer. This paper presents optimizations and technical solutions to address the key requirements envisioned in the science case and the anticipated uses of this instrument. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Visible and near Infrared Hyperspectral Imager (VIHI) is the VIS-IR spectrometer with imaging capabilities aboard the ESA BepiColombo mission to Mercury. In this second paper, we report the instrument spectral characterization derived by the calibration campaign carried out before spacecraft integration. Complementary measurements concerning radiometric and linearity responses, as well as geometric performances, are described in Paper I [G. Filacchione et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 88, 094502 (2017)].We have verified the VIHI spectral range, spectral dispersion, spectral response function, and spectral uniformity along the whole slit. Instrumental defects and optical aberrations due to smiling and keystone effects have been evaluated, and they are lower than the design requirement (<1/3 pixel). The instrumental response is uniform along the whole slit, while spectral dispersion is well represented by a second order curve, rather than to be constant along the spectral dimension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a bipolar charge plasma spectrometer based on the double-channel electrostatic analyzer for simultaneously measuring thermal ions and electrons with a 2π hemispherical field-of-view. Both ions and electrons within the wide field-of-view enter the spectrometer, pass through the variable geometric factor channel, and are then separated by the double-channel electric fields. Two microchannel plates are accommodated at the exit of the analyzer for ion and electron detection. The main performance of the spectrometer has been obtained from on-ground calibration. With the electrostatic deflectors and the cylindrically symmetric structure, the spectrometer provides simultaneous measurements of thermal ion and electron velocity distributions with a shared field-of-view of 360° (azimuth angle) by 90° (elevation angle) and a broad energy range for both ions and electrons. The ion analyzer constant and the electron analyzer constant are 11.1 and 9.7, respectively. The detecting energy range of 33.3–44.4 keV for ions and 29.1–38.8 keV for electrons can be obtained by using the sweeping electrostatic analyzer voltage range of 3–4000 V. The ion and electron energy resolutions are 9.6% and 6.1%, respectively. The variable geometric factor function provides a large geometric factor adjusting range for both ion and electron measurements by two orders of magnitude, which fulfills the requirements of a large dynamic flux range for simultaneous measurements of space thermal plasma in the solar wind and magnetosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Erratum: "Vector network analyzer ferromagnetic resonance spectrometer with field differential detection" [Rev. Sci. Instrum. The original paper has an error in Eq. (4),[1] whose correct form is as follows: HT ht (1) The inverse of this equation given as Eq. (A1) is correct, and all the subsequent equations, such as Eqs. Therefore, this error does not affect any other equations and conclusions of the original paper. [Extracted from the article]

This paper describes design, development, and implementation of a multi-channel magnetic electron spectrometer for the application in laser–plasma interaction experiments carried out at the Prague Asterix Laser System. Modular design of the spectrometer allows the setup in variable configurations to evaluate the angular distribution of hot electron emission. The angular array configuration of the electron spectrometers consists of 16 channels mounted around the target. The modules incorporate a plastic electron collimator designed to suppress the secondary radiation by absorbing the wide angle scattered electrons and photons inside the collimator. The compact model of the spectrometer measures electron energies in the range from 50 keV to 1.5MeV using ferrite magnets and from 250 keV to 5MeV using stronger neodymium magnets. An extended model of the spectrometer increases the measured energy range up to 21MeV or 35MeV using ferrite or neodymium magnets, respectively. Position to energy calibration was obtained using the particle tracking simulations. The experimental results show the measured angularly resolved electron energy distribution functions from interaction with solid targets. The angular distribution of hot electron temperature, the total flux, and the maximum electron energy show a directional dependence. The measured values of these quantities increase toward the target normal. For a copper target, the average amount of measured electron flux is 1.36 × 1011, which corresponds to the total charge of about 21 nC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread diffusion of low-cost but high-performance hardware is enhancing the realization of scientific equipment with features at the research laboratory level. In this paper, we demonstrate hardware implementation of a surface plasmon resonance compact device with high accuracy and measurement times appropriate for many applications. Image acquisition is realized by a Raspberry Pi single board computer with a camera module, and a Python code is used to process data. A flexible optical setup can work in two different configurations, namely, the inspection mode and angle resolved measurement mode. The inspection mode is used to precisely locate the light-emitting diode interrogation beam on the sample, avoiding uneven or faulty regions. The measurement mode allows us to monitor in real time the position of the minimum reflectivity with subpixel resolution. Performance tests show a resolution in the bulk refractive index of 4.9 × 10−6 refractive index units for 10 s acquisition time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the calibration of Fuji BAS-TR image plate (IP) response to high energy carbon ions of different charge states by employing an intense laser-driven ion source, which allowed access to carbon energies up to 270 MeV. The calibration method consists of employing a Thomson parabola spectrometer to separate and spectrally resolve different ion species, and a slotted CR-39 solid state detector overlayed onto an image plate for an absolute calibration of the IP signal. An empirical response function was obtained which can be reasonably extrapolated to higher ion energies. The experimental data also show that the IP response is independent of ion charge states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a demand for water vapor or moisture measurement in gas mixture at trace level from industries like combustion studies, semiconductor industry, environmental studies, cryogenic services, etc. There are few principles, direct or indirect, to measure moisture—each having individual limitations. Among all, the chilled mirror hygrometer is very accurate but response time is poor; therefore, it is suitable for calibration purposes not for online measurement. An instrument based on near-infrared absorption spectroscopy has been developed and discussed in this article. In this instrument, the laser is modulated with both sinusoidal and slower linear scan, split into two beams: an intense one is passed only through air and the other one through air and the absorption cell of 50 cm length. The balanced detection technique is adopted between the two beams called the reference and the measurement channels, respectively, and the difference signal between the two undergoes the 2-f lock-in detection. This method is good for elimination of moisture present in air and any common-mode noise present in both the channels and as well determines the splitting ratio keeping the absorption cell in vacuum. This method also eliminates the 1-f component present in the signal, which causes asymmetry in the two wings of the 2-f absorption spectra. For computation of absorption spectra, it is found that the Hitran database is sufficient to predict for air as the base gas but Exomol should be used in the cases where helium is the base gas. Simulation and experiment both were performed at different concentration and pressures and the results are found in good agreement for the central spectrum with little difference in wings' peak. The sensitivity of this instrument achieved at 100 mb pressure in the absorption cell for helium as the base gas with refresh rate of 625 Hz is ∼17 ppmv and ∼4 ppmv for direct and 2-f measurement, respectively. The applicability of the instrument for air as the base gas is also shown in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new type of high intensity and high resolution time-of-flight near backscattering neutron spectrometer is presented which is capable of an energy resolution of 4.0 μeV with a data collection rate an order of magnitude larger than current near backscattering spectrometers capable of this resolution. This design challenges two accepted norms of high resolution indirect neutron spectrometers: it uses large mosaic pyrolytic graphite (002) crystals instead of nearly perfect silicon (111) crystals to select the final neutron energy, and it operates well away from the normal backscattering condition 2φ ≈ 180° instead using 2φ = 160°. This paper describes the methodology behind this spectrometer along with ray-tracing simulations of the instrument using the McStas program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prompt gamma neutron activation analysis (PGNAA) technology is an online nondestructive material analysis technology widely used in industries. In order to achieve real-time measurements, the gamma ray count rate should reach 400 kcps. Due to the limitation of the detector's decay time, the signal output from the detector is heavily piled up. Meanwhile, the industrial site has a temperature fluctuation of 0-50 °C, causing the peak drift in the energy spectrum. This paper presents a readout electronic system specified for PGNAA and proposes series of algorithms that are dedicated for the gamma-ray spectrometric system. The system can achieve a count rate of 400 kcps, and it overcomes poor resolution, spectral distortion, and peak position shift, which are caused by pulse pileups and temperature fluctuations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have built a laboratory spectrometer for X-ray emission spectroscopy. The instrument is employed in catalysis research. The key component is a von Hamos full cylinder optic with Highly Annealed Pyrolytic Graphite (HAPG) as a dispersive element. With this very efficient optic, the spectrometer subtends an effective solid angle of detection of around 1 msr, allowing for the analysis of dilute samples. The resolving power of the spectrometer is approximately E/ΔE = 4000, with an energy range of ∼2.3 keV–10 keV. The instrument and its characteristics are described herein. Further, a comparison with a prototype spectrometer, based on the same principle, shows the substantial improvement in the spectral resolution and energy range for the present setup. The paper concludes with a discussion of sample handling. A compilation of HAPG fundamentals and related publications are given in a brief Appendix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An infrared multi-channel Thomson scattering diagnostic system is designed from the viewpoint of development of the proposed system on the Joint Texas Experimental Tokamak (J-TEXT). A 3 J/50 Hz Nd:YAG laser, which is injected vertically into plasma in the direction from top to bottom, serves as the power source of the system. The scattering light is then collected horizontally and is transmitted to an interference-filter avalanche photodiode based polychromater for spectrum analysis. The system covers the half plasma cross section, providing 14 spatial points with 2 cm resolution. The proposed system can thus satisfy the requirements of the J-TEXT at present and in the near future. A detailed description of the system design is presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the design and operation of the Northeast Normal University Laboratory Goniospectrometer System for performing multi-angular reflected and polarized measurements under controlled illumination conditions is described. A semi-automatic arm, which is carried on a rotated circular ring, enables the acquisition of a large number of measurements of surface Bidirectional Reflectance Factor (BRF) over the full hemisphere. In addition, a set of polarizing optics enables the linear polarization over the spectrum from 350 nm to 2300 nm. Because of the stable measurement condition in the laboratory, the BRF and linear polarization has an average uncertainty of 1% and less than 5% depending on the sample property, respectively. The polarimetric accuracy of the instrument is below 0.01 in the form of the absolute value of degree of linear polarization, which is established by measuring a Spectralon plane. This paper also presents the reflectance and polarization of snow, soil, sand, and ice measured during 2010-2013 in order to illustrate its stability and accuracy. These measurement results are useful to understand the scattering property of natural surfaces on Earth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a vector network analyzer ferromagnetic resonance (VNA-FMR) spectrometer with field differential detection. This technique differentiates the S-parameter by applying a small binary modulation field in addition to the DC bias field to the sample. By setting the modulation frequency sufficiently high, slow sensitivity fluctuations of the VNA, i.e., low-frequency components of the trace noise, which limit the signal-to-noise ratio of the conventional VNA-FMR spectrometer, can be effectively removed, resulting in a very clean FMR signal. This paper presents the details of the hardware implementation and measurement sequence as well as the data processing and analysis algorithms tailored for the FMR spectrum obtained with this technique. Because the VNA measures a complex S-parameter, it is possible to estimate the Gilbert damping parameter from the slope of the phase variation of the S-parameter with respect to the bias field. We show that this algorithm is more robust against noise than the conventional algorithm based on the linewidth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A revised scientific instrument to measure simultaneously kinetic temperatures of different atoms from their optical emission profile is reported. Emission lines are simultaneously detected using one single scanning Fabry-Perot-interferometer (FPI) for a combined spectroscopic setup to acquire different emission lines simultaneously. The setup consists in a commercial Czerny-Turner spectrometer configuration which is combined with a scanning Fabry-Perot interferometer. The fast image acquisition mode of an intensified charge coupled device camera allows the detection of a wavelength interval of interest continuously while acquiring the highly resolved line during the scan of the FPI ramp. Results using this new setup are presented for the simultaneous detection of atomic nitrogen and oxygen in a high enthalpy air plasma flow as used for atmospheric re-entry research and their respective kinetic temperatures derived from the measured line profiles. The paper presents the experimental setup, the calibration procedure, and an exemplary result. The determined temperatures are different, a finding that has been published so far as due to a drawback of the experimental setup of sequential measurements, and which has now to be investigated in more detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, basic principles of the design and implementation of a portable, multi-functional scientific instrument, operating from a robotic reconnaissance mobile platform are discussed. The current version of the instrument includes a multi-gas laser sensor, multi-functional spectrometer, isotopes identifier, cameras, and rangefinder. An additional set of sensors monitors temperature, pressure, humidity, and background radiation. All components are installed on a mini-robotic platform, which provides data acquisition, processing, and transmittance. The design focuses on the development of calibration-free, reliable, low power-consumption devices. To create a highly survivable, accurate, and reliable instrument, a concept of an inhomogeneous sensory network has been developed. Such a network combines non-identical sensors and provides cross-use of information received from different sensors to describe environmental conditions, to choose appropriate algorithms of data processing, and to achieve high accuracy gas-concentration measurements. The system uses the same lasers to operate different optical devices such as sensors, rangefinders, spectrometers, and isotopes identifiers. Among the innovative elements described in this paper, are a calibration-free, laser multi-gas sensor with range-finding option; a high signal/noise ratio transmittance spectrometer; a single-frequency laser with nano-selector; and low repetition-rate femtosecond fiber lasers operating in near- and middle- infrared spectral ranges. New detailed analyses of absorption spectroscopy theoretical approximations made it possible to achieve high-accuracy gas-concentration measurements with miniature optical sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A free standing transmission grating based imaging spectrometer in the extreme ultraviolet range has been developed for the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX). The spectrometer operates in a survey mode covering the approximate spectral range from 30 to 700 Å and has a resolving capability of δλ/λ on the order of 3%. Initial results from space resolved impurity measurements from NSTX are described in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the common measurement and control system of a scanning grating spectrometer, the use of an analog lock-in amplifier requires complex circuitry and sophisticated debugging, whereas the use of a digital lock-in amplifier places a high demand on the calculation capability and storage space. In this paper, a simplified digital lock-in amplifier based on averaging the absolute values within a complete period is presented and applied to a scanning grating spectrometer. The simplified digital lock-in amplifier was implemented on a low-cost microcontroller without multipliers, and got rid of the reference signal and specific configuration of the sampling frequency. Two positive zerocrossing detections were used to lock the phase of the measured signal. However, measurement method errors were introduced by the following factors: frequency fluctuation, sampling interval, and integer restriction of the sampling number. The theoretical calculation and experimental results of the signalto-noise ratio of the proposed measurement method were 2055 and 2403, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce a new method to calibrate the absolute sensitivity of a soft X-ray streak camera (SXRSC). The calibrations are done in the static mode by using a small laser-produced X-ray source. A calibrated X-ray CCD is used as a secondary standard detector to monitor the X-ray source intensity. In addition, two sets of holographic flat-field grating spectrometers are chosen as the spectral discrimination systems of the SXRSC and the X-ray CCD. The absolute sensitivity of the SXRSC is obtained by comparing the signal counts of the SXRSC to the output counts of the X-ray CCD. Results show that the calibrated spectrum covers the range from 200 eV to 1040 eV. The change of the absolute sensitivity in the vicinity of the K-edge of the carbon can also be clearly seen. The experimental values agree with the calculated values to within 29% error. Compared with previous calibration methods, the proposed method has several advantages: a wide spectral range, high accuracy, and simple data processing. Our calibration results can be used to make quantitative X-ray flux measurements in laser fusion research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a novel method for evaluating signal intensities in incoherent Thomson scattering diagnostics. A double-pass Thomson scattering system, where a laser passes through the plasma twice, generates two scattering pulses from the plasma. Evaluations of the signal intensities in the spectrometer are sometimes difficult due to noise and stray light. We apply the singular value decomposition method to Thomson scattering data with strong noise components. Results show that the average accuracy of the measured electron temperature (Te) is superior to that of temperature obtained using a low-pass filter (<20 MHz) or without any filters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L3-HAPLS (High-repetition-rate Advanced Petawatt Laser System) at ELI (Extreme Light Infrastructure) Beamlines currently delivers 0.45 PW pulses (12 J in 27 fs) at 3.3 Hz repetition rate. A fresh target surface for every shot was placed at the laser focus using an in-house tape target system designed to withstand large laser intensities and energies. It has been tested for different material thicknesses (25 and 7.6 µm), while L3-HAPLS delivered laser shots for energies ranging from 1 to 12 J. A technical description of the tape target system is given. The device can be used in diverse geometries needed for laser–matter interaction studies by providing an ≈300° free angle of view on the target in the equatorial plane. We show experimental data demonstrating the shot-to-shot stability of the device. An x-ray crystal spherical spectrometer was set up to measure the Kα yield stability, while a GHz H-field probe was used to check the shot-to-shot electromagnetic pulse generation. Finally, we discuss short and mid-term future improvements of the tape target system for efficient user operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel miniature spectrometer is described which employs an integrated-optic acousto-optic tunable filter (IAOTF) as the monochromatic wavelength selective element. The performance of the system is highlighted by measuring the absorption spectra of two samples in the region of 1400 to 1600 nm. In the experiment, a light emitting diode (LED) centered at a wavelength of 1530 nm, is used as the light source arm spectral filtering is achieved using an IAOTF that is tunable over more than 260 nm. The device exhibits a FWHM resolution of 1.2 nm, measures 25 × 3 × 1 mm³, weighs under 1 g and requires less than 70 mW of rf drive power. This miniature spectrometer offers several attractive design features that have utilities in a variety of applications, particularly for portable analysis and operation in harsh environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper describes the principle of operation, design special features, and parameters of an inverted time-of-flight spectrometer. The spectrometer is designed in such way that its deflecting plates, drift tube, and primary measuring system are at high potential with respect to the ground potential, whereas plasma is formed near grounded electrodes. This type of configuration greatly extends the application range of the device, making it possible to measure the mass-to-charge composition of plasma with wide range of parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent availability of large volume cerium bromide crystals raises the possibility of substantially improving gamma-ray spectrometer limiting flux sensitivities over current systems based on the lanthanum tri-halides, e.g., lanthanum bromide and lanthanum chloride, especially for remote sensing, low-level counting applications or any type of measurement characterized by poor signal to noise ratios. The Russian Space Research Institute has developed and manufactured a highly sensitive gamma-ray spectrometer for remote sensing observations of the planet Mercury from the Mercury Polar Orbiter (MPO), which forms part of ESA's BepiColombo mission. The Flight Model (FM) gamma-ray spectrometer is based on a 3-in. single crystal of LaBr3(Ce3+) produced in a separate crystal development programme specifically for this mission. During the spectrometers development, manufacturing, and qualification phases, large crystals of CeBr3 became available in a subsequent phase of the same crystal development programme. Consequently, the Flight Spare Model (FSM) gamma-ray spectrometer was retrofitted with a 3-in. CeBr3 crystal and qualified for space. Except for the crystals, the two systems are essentially identical. In this paper, we report on a comparative assessment of the two systems, in terms of their respective spectral properties, as well as their suitability for use in planetary mission with respect to radiation tolerance and their propensity for activation. We also contrast their performance with a Ge detector representative of that flown on MESSENGER and show that: (a) both LaBr3(Ce3+) and CeBr3 provide superior detection systems over HPGe in the context of minimally resourced spacecraft and (b) CeBr3 is a more attractive system than LaBr3(Ce3+) in terms of sensitivities at lower gamma fluxes. Based on the tests, the FM has now been replaced by the FSM on the BepiColombo spacecraft. Thus, CeBr3 now forms the central gamma-ray detection element on the MPO spacecraft. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single monochromator array spectroradiometers are convenient instruments for measuring spectral quantities in the UV-Vis-NIR range. They monitor the sensor array signal based on the same integration time for all wavelengths. However, the signal-to-noise ratio may be too low to provide useful readings at weaker signal wavelengths. The so-called "bracketing" technique overcomes this drawback by performing successive retrievals using different integration times, thereby ensuring that sufficiently high signal-to-noise ratio signals are recorded and non-relevant and low ratio signals are ignored. This paper proposes the use of an automated bracketing method based on the currently used array spectroradiometer noise models and analysis of retrieved spectra. Integration time at each array pixel fits spectral signal distribution with respect to a user-defined accuracy criterion and relevance constraints for the spectroradiometer used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The setup and first results from commissioning of a fast online photon energy spectrometer for the vacuum ultraviolet free electron laser at Hamburg (FLASH) at DESY are presented. With the use of the latest advances in detector development, the presented spectrometer reaches readout frequencies up to 1 MHz. In this paper, we demonstrate the ability to record online photon energy spectra on a shot-to-shot base in the multi-bunch mode of FLASH. Clearly resolved shifts in the mean wavelength over the pulse train as well as shot-to-shot wavelength fluctuations arising from the statistical nature of the photon generating self-amplified spontaneous emission process have been observed. In addition to an online tool for beam calibration and photon diagnostics, the spectrometer enables the determination and selection of spectral data taken with a transparent experiment up front over the photon energy of every shot. This leads to higher spectral resolutions without the loss of efficiency or photon flux by using single-bunch mode or monochromators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-radioactive electron sources are of great interest in any application requiring the emission of electrons at atmospheric pressure, as they offer better control over emission parameters than radioactive electron sources and are not subject to legal restrictions. Recently, we published a simple electron source consisting only of a vacuum housing, a filament, and a single control grid. In this paper, we present improved control electronics that utilize this control grid in order to focus and defocus the electron beam, thus pulsing the electron emission at atmospheric pressure. This allows short emission pulses and excellent stability of the emitted electron current due to continuous control, both during pulsed and continuous operations. As an application example, this electron source is coupled to an ion mobility spectrometer. Here, the pulsed electron source allows experiments on gas phase ion chemistry (e.g., ion generation and recombination kinetics) and can even remove the need for a traditional ion shutter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planar microresonators provide a large boost of sensitivity for small samples. They can be manufactured lithographically to a wide range of target parameters. The coupler between the resonator and the microwave feedline can be integrated into this design. To optimize the coupling and to compensate manufacturing tolerances, it is sometimes desirable to have a tuning element available that can be adjusted when the resonator is connected to the spectrometer. This paper presents a simple design that allows one to bring undercoupled resonators into the condition for critical coupling. In addition, it also reduces radiation losses and thereby increases the quality factor and the sensitivity of the resonator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present the results obtained from the data analysis of neutron spectra measured with a NE213 liquid scintillator at JET. We calculated the neutron response matrix of the instrument combining MCNPX simulations, a generic proton light output function measured with another detector and the fit of data from ohmic pulses. For the analysis, we selected a set of pulses with neutral beam injection heating (NBI) only and we applied a forward fitting procedure of modeled spectral components to extract the fraction of thermal neutron emission. The results showed the same trend of the ones obtained with the dedicated spectrometer TOFOR, even though the values from the NE213 analysis were systematically higher. This discrepancy is probably due to the different lines of sight of the two spectrometers (tangential for the NE213, vertical for TOFOR). The uncertainties on the thermal fraction estimates were from 4 to 7 times higher than the ones from the TOFOR analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper the use of the Cramer–Rao lower bound (CRLB) to aid in the design of diagnostic systems dealing with complex spectra is discussed. Specifically it is discussed how a priori knowledge, used to improve the estimation, can be included in the CRLB analysis. This provides improved predictions for the spectrometer characteristics that will lead to an optimal system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory recently commissioned a new shallow underground laboratory, located at a depth of approximately 30 meters-water-equivalent. This new addition to the small class of radiation measurement laboratories located at modest underground depths houses the latest generation of custom-made, high-efficiency, low-background gamma-ray spectrometers and gas proportional counters. This paper describes the unique capabilities present in the shallow underground laboratory; these include large-scale ultra-pure materials production and a suite of radiation detection systems. Reported data characterize the degree of background reduction achieved through a combination of underground location, graded shielding, and rejection of cosmic-ray events. We conclude by presenting measurement targets and future opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A complete in-vacuum curved-crystal x-ray emission spectrometer in Johansson geometry has been constructed for a 2-6 keV energy range with sub natural line-width energy resolution. The spectrometer is designed to measure x-ray emission induced by photon and charged particle impact on solid and gaseous targets. It works with a relatively large x-ray source placed inside the Rowland circle and employs position sensitive detection of diffracted x-rays. Its compact modular design enables fast and easy installation at a synchrotron or particle accelerator beamline. The paper presents main characteristics of the spectrometer and illustrates its capabilities by showing few selected experimental examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first neutron spectrometer of ASDEX Upgrade (AUG) was installed in November 2008. It is a compact neutron spectrometer (CNS) based on a BC501A liquid scintillating detector, which can simultaneously measure 2.45-MeV and 14-MeV neutrons emitted from deuterium (D) plasmas and γ radiation. The scintillating detector is coupled to a digital pulse shape discrimination data acquisition (DPSD) system capable of count rates up to 106 s-1. The DPSD system can operate in acquisition and processing mode. With the latter n-γ discrimination is performed off-line based on the two-gate method. The paper describes the tests of the CNS and its installation at AUG. The neutron emission from the D plasma measured during a discharge with high auxiliary heating power was used to validate the CNS performance. The study of the optimal settings for the DPSD data processing to maximize the n-γ discrimination capability of the CNS is reported. The CNS measured both 2.45-MeV and 14-MeV neutrons emitted in AUG D plasmas with a maximum count rate of 5.4 ×105 s-1 (>10 times higher than similar spectrometers previously achieved) with an efficiency of 9.3 × 10-10 events per AUG neutron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) is a powerful technique for studying electronic excitations in correlated electron systems. Current RIXS spectrometers measure the changes in energy and momentum of the photons scattered by the sample. A powerful extension of the RIXS technique is the measurement of the polarization state of the scattered photons which contains information about the symmetry of the excitations. This long-desired addition has been elusive because of significant technical challenges. This paper reports the development of a new diffraction-based polarization analyzer which discriminates between linear polarization components of the scattered photons. The double concave surface of the polarization analyzer was designed as a good compromise between energy resolution and throughput. Such a device was fabricated using highly oriented pyrolytic graphite for measurements at the Cu K-edge incident energy. Preliminary measurements on a CuGeO3 sample are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we present a portable quantum cascade laser (QCL) based infrared magnetospectrometer covering the spectral range from 5 to 120 μm. The variation of the excitation wavelength is enabled by an easy change of the QCL plug-in modules, while the use of any other external source is also possible. The performance of the setup is illustrated via cyclotron-resonance studies under pulsed magnetic fields up to 60 T. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonlinear dielectric spectroscopy of micro-organism is carried out by applying a moderate electrical field to an aqueous sample through two metal electrodes. Several ad hoc nonlinear spectrometers were proposed in the literature. However, these designs barely compensated the nonlinear distortion derived from the electrode-electrolyte interfaces (EEI). Moreover, the contribution of the suspension is masked by the effect of the nonlinearity introduced by the electrode contacts. Conversely, the nonlinear capability of a commercial tetrapolar analyzer has not been fully investigated. In this paper a new nonlinear tetrapolar spectrometer is proposed based on a commercial linear apparatus and ad hoc control and signal processing software. The system was evaluated with discrete electronic phantoms and showed that it can measure nonlinear properties of aqueous suspension independently of the presence of EEI (ANOVA test, p>0.001). It was also tested with real aqueous samples. The harmonics observed in the current that circulates through the sample reveals useful information about the transfer function of the sample. The total harmonic distortion was computed for linear mediums. Values lower than -60 dB suggest that the system has enough capability to perform nonlinear microbiological analysis. Design specifications, sources of interference, and equipment’s limitations are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burning plasma experiments such as ITER and DEMO require diagnostics capable of withstanding the harsh environment generated by the intense neutron flux and to maintain stable operating conditions for times longer than present day systems. For these reasons, advanced control and monitoring (CM) systems will be necessary for the reliable operation of diagnostics. This paper describes the CM system of the upgraded magnetic proton recoil neutron spectrometer installed at the Joint European Torus focusing in particular on a technique for the stabilization of the gain of the photomultipliers coupled to the neutron detectors. The results presented here show that this technique provides good results over long time scales. The technique is of general interest for all diagnostics that employ scintillators coupled to photomultiplier tubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a Fourier transform (FT) spectrometer designed to operate down to 60 nm (20 eV) on a synchrotron radiation beamline for high resolution absorption spectrometry. As far as we know, such an instrument is not available below 140 nm mainly because manufacturing accurate and efficient beam splitters remains a major problem at these wavelengths, especially if a wide bandwidth operation is desired. In order to overcome this difficulty, we developed an interferometer based on wave front division instead of amplitude division. It relies on a modified Fresnel bimirror configuration that requires only flat mirrors. The instrument provides path difference scanning through the translation of one reflector. During the scanning, the moving reflector is controlled by an optical system that keeps its direction constant within a tolerable value and provides an accurate interferometric measurement of the path difference variation. Therefore, a regular interferogram sampling is obtained, producing a nominal spectral impulse response and an accurate spectral calibration. The first results presented in this paper show a measured spectral resolution of δσ=0.33 cm-1 (interval between spectral samples). This was obtained with a sampling interval of 29 nm (path difference) and 512 K samples from a one-sided interferogram using a cosine FT. Such a sampling interval should allow the recording of large bandwidth spectra down to λ=58 nm with an ultimate resolving power of 500 000 at this wavelength. In order to check the instrument performances, we first recorded an interferogram from a He–Ne stabilized laser. This provided the actual spectral impulse function, which was found to be fully satisfactory. The determination of the impulse response distortion and of the noise on the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) spectral range provided accurate information in the sampling error profile over a typical scan. Finally, the instrument has been moved to the SU5 undulator-based synchrotron radiation beamline (Super-ACO facility, LURE, Orsay, France). A high resolution spectrum of O2 (the Schumann–Runge absorption bands, 185–200 nm) was computed from recorded interferograms using the beamline monochromator at the zeroth order to feed the instrument with an 11% relative bandwidth “white” beam (2003). These UV measurements are very close to those found in the literature, showing nominal performances of the FT spectrometer that should translate into an unprecedented resolving power at shortest VUV wavelengths. A recent upgrade (2007) and future developments will be discussed in light of the current installation of the upgraded FT spectrometer as a permanent endstation for ultrahigh resolution absorption spectrometry on the VUV beamline DESIRS at SOLEIL, the new French third generation synchrotron facility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method to generate modeled neutron spectra from bulk and fast ion distributions simulated by TRANSP has been developed. In this paper, modeled data generated from fuel ion distrubutions modeled with TRANSP is compared to measured data from two neutron spectrometers with different lines of sight; TOFOR with a radial one and the MPRu with a tangential one. The information obtained from the analysis of the measured neutron spectra such as the relative intensity of the emission from different ion populations places additional constraints on the simulation and can be used to adjust the parameters of the simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We measured the absolute response of image plate (Fuji BAS SR2040) for electrons at energies between 100 keV and 4 MeV using an electron spectrometer. The electron source was produced from a short pulse laser irradiated on solid density targets. This paper presents the calibration results of image plate photon stimulated luminescence per electron at this energy range. The Monte Carlo radiation transport code MCNPX results are also presented for three representative incident angles onto the image plates and corresponding electron energy depositions at these angles. These provide a complete set of tools that allows extraction of our absolute calibration to other spectrometer setting at this electron energy range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An x-ray imaging crystal spectrometer was designed for the Hanbit magnetic mirror device to observe spectra of heliumlike neon at 13.4474 Å. The spectrometer consists of a spherically bent mica crystal and an x-ray sensitive vacuum charge coupled device camera. This spectrometer can provide spatially resolved spectra, making it possible to obtain profiles of the ion charge state distribution from line ratios and profiles of the plasma rotation velocity from Doppler shift measurements. The paper describes measurements of spectral resolution of this instrument for low x-ray energies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a homemade high-resolution orthogonal-injection time-of-flight (O-TOF) mass spectrometer combing a heated capillary inlet. The O-TOF uses a heated capillary tube combined with a radio-frequency only quadrupole (rf-only quadrupole) as an interface to help the ion transmission from the atmospheric pressure to the low-pressure regions. The principle, configuration of the O-TOF, and the performance of the instrument are introduced in this paper. With electrospray ion source, the performances of the mass resolution, the sensitivity, the mass range, and the mass accuracy are described. We also include our results obtained by coupling atmospheric pressure matrix-assisted laser deporption ionization with this instrument. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Rosetta mission on its way to comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko will remain for more than a year in the close vicinity (1 km) of the comet. The two ROSINA mass spectrometers on board Rosetta are designed to analyze the neutral and ionized volatile components of the cometary coma. However, the relative velocity between the comet and the spacecraft will be minimal and also the velocity of the outgassing particles is below 1 km/s. This combination leads to very low ion energies in the surrounding plasma of the comet, typically below 20 eV. Additionally, the spacecraft may charge up to a few volts in this environment. In order to simulate such plasma and to calibrate the mass spectrometers, a source for ions with very low energies had to be developed for the use in the laboratory together with the different gases expected at the comet. In this paper we present the design of this ion source and we discuss the physical parameters of the ion beam like sensitivity, energy distribution, and beam shape. Finally, we show the first ion measurements that have been performed together with one of the two mass spectrometers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We show that in spatially resolved reflectance anisotropy (RA) spectrometers, off-axis optical rays introduce a spurious signal component that cannot be addressed by optical alignment. Such a component is associated with the difference between the reflectivities s and p of the sample and depends, in a complex manner, on the incidence position of the incident light on the surface of the sample. We report a data-reduction procedure to easily identify and remove spurious RA signals associated with the off-axis optical rays, based on the singular value decomposition analysis of spatially resolved RA spectra. We validated this approach by developing a spatially resolved RA spectrometer based on an 8 × 8 multi-anode photomultiplier (PMT). The PMT allowed the use of phase-sensitive detection techniques to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio, which is essential for the evaluation of the proposed data reduction procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]