Search

The DAMA project develops and uses new/improved low background scintillation detectors to investigate the Dark Matter (DM) particle component(s) in the galactic halo and rare processes deep underground at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS) of the I.N.F.N.. Here some highlights of DAMA/LIBRA (Large sodium Iodide Bulk for Rare processes) as a unique apparatus in direct DM investigation for its full sensitive mass, target material, intrinsic radio-purity, methodological approach and all the controls performed on the experimental parameters are outlined. The DAMA/LIBRA-phase1 and the former DAMA/NaI data (cumulative exposure 1.33 ton × yr, corresponding to 14 annual cycles) have reached a model-independent evidence at 9.3 σ C.L. for the presence of DM particles in the galactic halo exploiting the DM annual modulation signature with highly radio-pure NaI(Tl) target. Some of the perspectives of the presently running DAMA/LIBRA-phase2 are summarised and the powerful tools offered by a model independent strategy of DM investigation are pointed out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article overviews the performance of the Horizon-10T (H10T) detector system in Physics Run 1. The upgraded H10T detector system consists of ten charged particle detection points, separated by distances from a hundred meters up to 1.3 kilometer and is able to detect disks in primary particle energy ranges of 1016-1019 eV and zenith angles from 0° to 85° with a few ns precision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Total cross section for the double neutral pion photoproduction off the proton is presented in the incident photon energy range of 0.58 to 1.15 GeV. The data were accumulated in the years 2009-2010, recorded by a 4π EM calorimeter at ELPH, named FOREST. The number of recorded events obtained during this period is 1.6x109 for a hydrogen target. Two neutral pions are reconstructed via detecting their decay products, four gammas (2π° → 4γ). Compared to the previous results obtained by other groups, our data are in good agreement with theirs within error bars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In particle therapy, it is important to monitor the Bragg-peak position. It was simulated by GEANT4 Monte Carlo Simulation Code that the distribution of secondary generated gamma rays on the carbon beam therapy and the proton beam therapy. This simulation shows that gamma rays whose energy is 10 MeV or more are intensively generated at the Bragg-peak position. We are developing the system to monitor the Braggpeak position which can measure pair production events occurred in the detector by gamma rays from irradiation points. The momentum direction of the gamma ray can be determined by measuring passing points and energy of e+ and e- generated by pair production. This system has 5 parts. The first is the conversion part. This part consists of several layers. Each layer is composed of a La-GPS ((Gd0.75La0.24Ce0.01)2Si2O7) scintillator plate and wavelength-shifting fibre (WLSF) sheets. The scintillator plate is sandwiched between sheets, where the directions of the sheets are in orthogonally x and y directions. In this part, gamma rays are converted to e+ e- pairs and the position where the conversion occured is determined. The second is the tracking part. This part consists of 2 layers of scintillating fibre tracker. Each layer has 6 scintillating fibre sheets for x, x', u, u', v, and v'. The third is the energy measurement part. It measures the energy of e+ and e- by scintillator array and Silicon Photomultipliers. The fourth is the veto counter for bremsstrahlung gamma rays from e+ and e-. The fifth is the beam monitor. By experiment, the number of photoelectrons of La-GPS with a WLSF (B-3(300)MJ, Kuraray) sheet and scintillating fibre (SCSF-78, Kuraray) when charged particle passed was measured as 9.7 and 7.6 respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing PET (Positron Emission Tomography) systems make clear images in demonstration (measuring small PET reagent in pure water), however images in real diagnosis become unclear. The authors suspected that this problem was caused by Compton scattering in a detector. When PET systems observe plural photomultiplier tube outputs, an original emission point is regarded as centroid of the outputs. However, even if plural emission in Compton scattering occur, these systems calculate original point in the same way as single emission. Therefore, the authors considered that rejecting Compton scattering events makes PET systems much better, and made prototype counter. Main components of the prototype counter are plate-like high-growth-rate (HGR) La-GPS scintillators and wavelength shifting fibers (WLSF). HGR crystals grow 10 times as fast as a mono-crystal (a normal mono-crystal grows at 2 - 3 mm an hour). Thus, it includes microbubble and its transparency get worth. Consequently, HGR crystals usually are not used in radiation measuring instruments. However, this time they are used on the purpose. Because of their low transparency, scintillation lights come out right above and right under of emission position. Therefore, Compton scattering events is rejected easily. The prototype detector has an effective area of 300 by 300 square mm. The detector consists of 24 layers. One layer consists of HGR La-GPS scintillator of 1 mm thickness. Top and bottom surface of scintillator were covered by dual sheets of WLSF with a diameter of 0.2 mm. Sheets of WLSF on top and bottom of the scintillator make a right angle with each other, and measure X- and Y-components. Z-component is measured by difference of WLSF outputs between top and bottom. If plural layers output signals, this counter regards the event as Compton scattering event, and reject the event. Even if only a layer output signals, the event is rejected when number output signals from WLSF is more than 1.5 times of single emission. Material cost of this system is, 0.2M$ for HGR La-GPS, 0.03M$ for WLSF, 0.03M$ for 600 units of 6 by 6 mm SiPM's, 0.12M$ for 12000 units of 1 by 1 mm SiPM's, and 0.09M$ for 1800 channel of signal readout circuits. Considering total cost, price of this PET will be set 1M$ or less. This idea was confirmed with numerical simulation and experimentation. In experimentation, position resolution in photoelectric absorption was 0.2 mm, and minimum distance that this detector could recognize plural emission in Compton scattering was 1 mm. In parallel, three kinds of model were made: a prototype detector, all the signals readout method, and resistance delay method. Simulation setting was 2 MBq/L in normal tissue and 10 MBq/L in cancer. As a result of simulation, a prototype detector identified 3 mm cancer, however the others made unclear image and was not able to identified cancer. That is to say, the prototype detector is able to reject Compton scattering events and inexpensive. Therefore, whole-body PET system with this detector must diagnose cancer with a diameter of 3 mm or more and be priced 1M$ or less. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we present the prompt photofission neutron detection performance of undoped CaF2 scintillator using Threshold Activation Detection (TAD). The study is carried out in the frame of C-BORD Horizon 2020 project, during which an efficient toolbox for high volume freight non-intrusive inspection (NII) is under development. Technologies for radiation monitoring are the part of the project. Particularly, detection of various radiological threats on country borders plays an important significant role in Homeland Security applications. Detection of illegal transfer of Special Nuclear Material (SNM) - 235U, 233U and 239Pu - is particular due to the potential use for production of nuclear weapon as well as radiological dispersal device (RDD) - known also as a "dirty bomb". This technique relies on activation of 19F nuclei in the scintillator medium by fast neutrons and registration of high-energy β particles and γ-rays from the decay of reaction products. The radiation from SNM is detected after irradiation in order to avoid detector blinding. Despite the low 19F(n,α)16N or 19F(n,p)19O reaction cross-section, the method could be a good solution for detection of shielded nuclear material. Results obtained with the CaF2 detector were compared with the previous study done for BaF2 and 3He detector. These experimental results were obtained using 252Cf source and 9 MeV Varian Linatron M9 linear accelerator (LINAC). Finally, performance of the prompt neutron detection system based on CaF2 will be validated at Rotterdam Seaport during field trails in 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AREVA Mines and the Nuclear Measurement Laboratory of CEA Cadarache are collaborating to improve the sensitivity and precision of uranium concentration measurement by means of gamma ray logging. The determination of uranium concentration in boreholes is performed with the Natural Gamma Ray Sonde (NGRS) based on a NaI(Tl) scintillation detector. The total gamma count rate is converted into uranium concentration using a calibration coefficient measured in concrete blocks with known uranium concentration in the AREVA Mines calibration facility located in Bessines, France. Until now, to take into account gamma attenuation in a variety of boreholes diameters, tubing materials, diameters and thicknesses, filling fluid densities and compositions, a semi-empirical formula was used to correct the calibration coefficient measured in Bessines facility. In this work, we propose to use Monte Carlo simulations to improve gamma attenuation corrections. To this purpose, the NGRS probe and the calibration measurements in the standard concrete blocks have been modeled with MCNP computer code. The calibration coefficient determined by simulation, 5.3 s-1.ppmU-1 ± 10%, is in good agreement with the one measured in Bessines, 5.2 s-1.ppmU-1. Based on the validated MCNP model, several parametric studies have been performed. For instance, the rock density and chemical composition proved to have a limited impact on the calibration coefficient. However, gamma self-absorption in uranium leads to a nonlinear relationship between count rate and uranium concentration beyond approximately 1% of uranium weight fraction, the underestimation of the uranium content reaching more than a factor 2.5 for a 50 % uranium weight fraction. Next steps will concern parametric studies with different tubing materials, diameters and thicknesses, as well as different borehole filling fluids representative of real measurement conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A portable phoswich detector capable of differentiating between fast neutrons and thermal neutrons, and photons was developed. The detector design is based on the use of two solid-state scintillators with dissimilar scintillation time properties coupled with a single optical sensor: a 6Li loaded glass and EJ-299-33A plastic. The on-the-fly digital pulse shape discrimination and the wavelet treatment of measured waveforms were employed in the data analysis. The instrument enabled neutron spectrum evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The DESCANT array (Deuterated Scintillator Array for Neutron Tagging) consists of up to 70 detectors, each filled with approximately 2 liters of deuterated benzene. This scintillator material offers pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) capabilities to distinguish between neutrons and γ-rays interacting with the scintillator material. In addition, the anisotropic nature of n--d scattering allows for the determination of the neutron energy spectrum directly from the pulse height spectrum, complementing the traditional time-of-flight (ToF) information. DESCANT can be coupled either to the TIGRESS (TRIUMF-ISAC Gamma-Ray Escape Suppressed Spectrometer) γ-ray spectrometer [1] located in the ISAC-II [2] hall of TRIUMF for in-beam experiments, or to the GRIFFIN (Gamma-Ray Infrastructure For Fundamental Investigations of Nuclei) γ-ray spectrometer [3] located in the ISAC-I hall of TRIUMF for decay spectroscopy experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the PF1B cold neutron beam line at the Institut Laue Langevin, the EXILL array consisting of EXOGAM, GASP and ILL-Clover detectors was used to perform (n,γ) measurements at very high coincidence rates. About ten different reactions were measured in autumn 2012 using a highly collimated cold neutron beam. In spring 2013, the EXOGAM array was combined with 16 LaBr3(Ce) scintillators in the EXILL&FATIMA campaign for the measurement of lifetimes using the generalised centroid difference method. We report on the properties of the set-ups and present first results from both campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel method for direct electronic "fast-timing" lifetime measurements of nuclear excited states via γ-γ coincidences using an array equipped with N very fast high-resolution LaBr3(Ce) scintillator detectors is presented. The generalized centroid difference method provides two independent "start" and "stop" time spectra obtained without any correction by a superposition of the N(N - 1)/2 calibrated γ-γ time difference spectra of the N detector fast-timing system. The two fast-timing array time spectra correspond to a forward and reverse gating of a specific γ-γ cascade and the centroid difference as the time shift between the centroids of the two time spectra provides a picosecond-sensitive mirror-symmetric observable of the set-up. The energy dependent mean prompt response difference between the start and stop events is calibrated and used as a single correction for lifetime determination. These combined fast-timing array mean γ-γ zero-time responses can be determined for 40 keV < Eγ < 1.4 MeV with a precision better than 10 ps using a 152Eu γ-ray source. The new method is described with examples of (n,γ) and (n,f,γ) experiments performed at the intense cold-neutron beam facility PF1B of the Institut Laue-Langevin in Grenoble, France, using 16 LaBr3(Ce) detectors within the EXILL&FATIMA campaign in 2013. The results are discussed with respect to possible systematic errors induced by background contributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents idea and an exemplary application of gamma-absorption in the measurement of gas bubbles transportation in a gas-liquid mixture flow through a horizontal pipeline. In the tests on laboratory installation two 241Am radioactive sources and probes with NaI(Tl) scintillation crystals have been used. For analysis of electrical signals obtained from detectors the modified conditional averaging of the absolute value of delayed signal (CAAV) is proposed. The proposed method is based on the quotient of classical cross-correlation (CCF) and CAAV. Results of the time delay estimation and gas-phase velocity measurements are compared with one obtained using CCF. The combined uncertainties of the mean velocity of air bubbles evaluation in the presented experiment did not exceed 2.1% (CCF) and 1.7% (CCF/CAAV), which is a satisfactory result in industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed a technique for thermal neutron detection not making use of ³He, also suitable for online real time monitoring of CASTOR spent fuel containers. As a neutron converter we used 6LiF, being the neutron capture cross section of 6Li very well known and with only an alpha and a triton in the exit channel. We can deposit thin layers of converter onto several different substrates, to be placed on top of solid state detectors or scintillators capable of efficiently detecting the decay products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NOvA is an off-axis long baseline neutrino experiment searching for νμ → νe oscillations using an upgraded NuMI neutrino beam from Fermilab, Batavia, IL. The main physics goal is a measurement of the CP violation and establishing the neutrino masses hierarchy. A large 14 kton Far detector, comprised of liquid scintillator contained in extruded PVC cells, will also provide an opportunity for other non-accelerator physics searches. While civil construction at the far detector is underway, a smaller prototype near detector has been assembled at Fermilab and is being studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NOvA is an off-axis long baseline neutrino experiment searching for νμ → νe oscillations using an upgraded NuMI neutrino beam from Fermilab, Batavia, IL. The main physics goal is a measurement of the CP violation and establishing the neutrino masses hierarchy. A large 14 kton Far detector, comprised of liquid scintillator contained in extruded PVC cells, will also provide an opportunity for other non-accelerator physics searches. While civil construction at the far detector is underway, a smaller prototype near detector has been assembled at Fermilab and is being studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measurement of neutron-capture cross sections of many actinides is complicated by the difficulty in separating capture γ-rays from the large fission-fragment prompt γ-ray background. For example, current estimates of the capture cross section of 233 U show large discrepancies, with differences of more than 20%. To improve the accuracy of data, a new experimental set-up for the simultaneous measurement of the neutron-induced capture and fission cross sections was designed, assembled and optimized. The measurements will be performed at the GEel LINear Accelerator (GELINA) neutron time-of-flight facility in Belgium, where neutron cross sections can be measured over a wide energy range with high energy resolution. The fission detector consists of a dedicated multi-plate high-efficiency ionization chamber (IC). The γ-rays produced in capture reaction are detected by an array of C6D6 scintillators. Fission γ-rays are distinguished from capture γ-rays by the anticoincidence signals from the IC and the C6D6 detectors. For the undetected fission events a correction has to be applied based on the efficiency of the IC that should be high and known with a high accuracy. The performance of the IC during dedicated test experiments is presented, focusing on the determination of the detection efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment to search for double beta processes in 106Cd by using cadmium tungstate crystal scintillator enriched in 106Cd (106CdWO4) in coincidence with the four crystals HPGe detector GeMulti is in progress at the STELLA facility of the Gran Sasso underground laboratory of INFN (Italy). The 106CdWO4 scintillator is viewed by a low-background photomultiplier tube through a lead tungstate crystal light-guide produced from deeply purified archaeological lead to suppress γ quanta from the photomultiplier tube. Here we report the first results of the experiment after 3233 hours of the data taking. A few new improved limits on double beta processes in 106Cd are obtained, in particular T1/22νεβ+ 20 ≥ 8.4 x 10 yr at 90% C.L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New results of calculation of quenching factors for ions in scintillators in semi-empirical approach described in [1] are presented. In particular, they give additional arguments in favour of hypothesis that quenching factors for different particles can be described with the same Birks factor kB, if all the data were collected in the same conditions and processed in the same way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium tungstate crystal scintillators enriched in 116Cd to 82% (116CdWO4, total mass of ≈1.2 kg) are used to search for 2ß decay of 116Cd deep underground at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory of the INFN (Italy). The radioactive contamination of the 116CdWO4 crystals has been studied carefully to reconstruct the background of the detector. The measured half-life of 116Cd relatively to 2ν2ß decay is T1/22ν2ß = [2.8 ± 0.05(stat.) ± 0.4(syst.)] x 1019 yr, in agreement with the results of previous experiments. The obtained limit on the 0ν2ß decay of 116Cd (considering the data of the last 8696 h run with an advanced background 0.12(2) counts/yr/kg/keV in the energy interval 2.7-2.9 MeV) is T1/2 ≥ 1.0x1023 yr at 90% C.L. The sensitivity of the experiment to the 0?2ß process is lim T1/2 = 3x1023 yr at 90% C.L. over 5 years of the measurements and it can be advanced (by further reduction of the background by a factor 3-30) to the level of lim T1/2 = (0.5-1.5)x1024 yr for the same period of the data taking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite that it is widely used as a scintillator at room temperature, the hygroscopicity of NaI complicates its handling and limits its application for many purposes, for example as a cryogenic detector. To overcome this problem we study coating materials that can act as humidity barriers, in particular parylene, a polymer that can be deposited in very radiopure, thin and conformal layers. In this work, several NaI(Tl) samples coated with 2-5 µm parylene-C were tested at low temperature. Luminescence spectra under X-ray excitation are presented at several temperatures as well as the light output vs temperature at 1.5-300 K. Several thermoluminescence peaks were observed at around 60, 95 and 150 K during warm up to room temperature. The mechanical resistance of the coating under thermal cycles was also investigated, and we observed a degradation of the optical appearance and the light output after cooling down to about 100 mK, which compromises the reusability of the samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiopure ZnWO4 crystal scintillators with mass (0.1-0.7 kg) have been developed and put in measurement in the Gran Sasso National Laboratories of the INFN to search for rare processes. The radioactive contamination of the crystals have been estimated and the double beta decay of zinc and tungsten isotopes was searched for, reaching a sensitivity at the level of 1018 - 1021 yr; in addition a new half-life limit on alpha transition of 183W to the metastable excited level of 179Hf has also been obtained. The achieved radiopurity of the ZnWO4 crystals make them very promising detectors for ßß decay investigations while their anisotropic features make them very interesting detectors to investigate dark matter particles directionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new setup consisting of four 5" by 5" NaI scintillators and an array of particle detectors is being developed. Proton-gamma-gamma coincidences will be measured using the 12C(p; p')12C reaction at 10.5 MeV energy. The new setup will be used for the measurement of the electromagnetic decay rate of the Hoyle state via two E2 transitions. We report the initial experimental results for singles gamma and gamma-proton coincidences through inelastic scattering of protons on a 12C target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A down-scattered neutron detector operating in the multichannel counting mode was developed for areal density (ρR) measurement. Equipped with a newly developed 6Li glass scintillator (APLF80), the detector was tested in a fusion experiment at the GEKKO XII facility, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan. For a low-ρR fusion shot, the detector clearly discriminated the γ-rays, primary neutrons, γ-rays produced via (n,γ) reactions from the target chamber, and neutrons scattered by the target chamber. Furthermore, the observed signal was in good agreement with predictions made by Monte Carlo simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microwave radiation from extensive air showers is expected to provide a new technique to observe UHECR. We insatlled and operate radio telescopes in Osaka and at Telescope Array site in Utah, USA. In Osaka, we are coincidentally operating two Ku band radio telescopes with an air shower array which consists of nine plastic scintillators with about 10m separation. In Utah, we installed two telescopes just beside the Black Rock Mesa fluorescence detector (FD) station of the Telescope Array experiment, and we operated the radio telescopes coincidentally with FD event triggers. We report the experimental setups and the results of these measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New technique of EAS investigations based on the measurements of local muon density spectra (LMDS) is developed. Application of this method to investigations of inclined EAS allows exploration of CR energy interval from 1015 to 1019 eV by means of a relatively small detector with area ~100m² due to very strong dependence of EAS muon density on zenith angle. During 2002-2007, long-term NEVOD- DECOR experiment (about 20,000 h live time) was conducted, and more than two million muon bundles in zenith angle interval 30-88 degrees were registered. Comparison of experimental data with results of CORSIKA-based simulations showed that the new method is sensitive to all main peculiarities of CR energy spectrum: the knee, increase of the energy spectrum slope with energy, the second knee. But the observed progressive excess of muon bundles with the increase of primary CR energy in comparison with simulations (even for pure iron composition) can indicate the appearance of new processes of muon generation. In this case, for correct investigations of EAS, the experimental arrays must be supplemented by detectors which can measure or evaluate the energy of muons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Large Hadron Collider forward (v = LHCf) experiment has successfully finished the first phase of data taking at LHC √s = 0.9 and 7 TeV proton-proton collisions in 2010. As current status, we concentrate on analyzing the obtained data. As the first result, the energy spectra of photon measured by LHCf during = 7 TeV p-p collision has been published recently. Also the study of the upgraded version of LHCf detector for future = 14 TeV run scenario is developed with the GSO scintillator. Another possible plan of p-A(nuclear) collision in LHC is also studied. In this paper, as the current status of the experiment, analyses, and works for foreseen detector upgrade are summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-lying states in 208Pb nucleus were populated via inelastic scattering of a 17O beam at bombarding energy of 20 MeV/u. Their subsequent gamma decay was measured with the detector system AGATA Demonstrator based on HPGe detectors, coupled to an array of large volume LaBr3:Ce scintillators. Preliminary results in comparison with (γ, γ') data, for states in the 5-8 MeV energy interval, seem to indicate that in that region the states belong to two different groups one with a isoscalar character and the other with a isovector nature. This is similar to what was observed in other stable nuclei with (α,α'γ) experiments. The multipolarity of the observed gamma transitions is determined with remarkable sensitivity thanks to angular distribution measurements. Data aiming at studying the neutron decay of the Giant Quadrupole Resonance in the 208Pb by the high resolution measurement of the following gamma decay are also presented in their preliminary form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We are developing thin tile scintillator detectors with silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) readout for use in a multi-layer fast-neutron tracker. The tracker is based on interleaved Timepix and plastic scintillator layers. The thin 15 x 15 x 2 mm plastic scintillators require suitable optical readout in order to detect and measure the energy lost by energetic protons that have been recoiled by fast neutrons. Our first prototype used dual SiPMs, coupled to opposite edges of the scintillator tile using light-guides. An alternative readout geometry was designed in an effort to increase the fraction of scintillation light detected by the SiPMs. The new prototype uses a larger SiPM array to cover the entire top face of the tile. This paper details the comparative performance of the two prototype designs. A deuterium-tritium (DT) fast-neutron source was used to compare the relative light collection efficiency of the two designs. A collimated UV light source was scanned across the detector face to map the uniformity. The new prototype was found to have 9.5 times better light collection efficiency over the original design. Both prototypes exhibit spatial non-uniformity in their response. Methods of correcting this non-uniformity are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification methods for photons, neutrons and heavy ions by using scintillator and semiconductor detectors are discussed by stressing the advantages of signal digitization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For efficient beta detection in a mixed beta gamma field, Monte Carlo simulation models have been built to optimize the thickness of a plastic scintillator, used in a whole body monitor. The simulation has been performed using the MCNP/X code for different thicknesses of plastic scintillator from 150 μm to 600μm. The relationship between the thickness of the scintillator and the efficiency of the detector has been analyzed. For 150 μm thickness, an experimental investigation has been conducted with different beta sources at different positions on the scintillator and the counting efficiency of the unit has been measured. Evaluated data along with experimental ones have been discussed. A thickness of 300 μm to 500 μm has been found to be the optimum thickness for high efficiency beta detection in the presence of low energy gamma-rays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital Light Processing (DLP) 3D printing technique can be a powerful tool to fabricate plastic scintillator with a geometrically desired shape in innovatively fast time. Plastic scintillator with the size of 30 mm × 30 mm × 10 mm was fabricated by using the plastic resin and the DLP 3D printer (ASIGA, Pico2HD). The characteristics of decay time, energy resolution, intrinsic detection efficiency were analyzed and compared between the fabricated 3D printing plastic scintillator and a commercial plastic scintillator BC408 (Saint-Gobain Crystal). Decay time profile of the tested plastic scintillators was measured for 137Cs Compton maximum electron 477 keV by using a modified time correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) setup. The time profile was fitted by reconvolution function, and each decay time component and contribution was analyzed. For energy resolution of plastic scintillator, the Gaussian spectrum for 137Cs Compton maximum electron 477 keV was selectively measured by using the γ-γ coincidence experimental setup. As a result, it was confirmed that the 3D printing plastic scintillator showed average decay time 15.6 ns and energy resolution 15.4%. These characteristics demonstrates the feasibility of 3D printing plastic scintillator as a radiation detector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the performances of Li-based compounds used as scintillating bolometer for rare decay studies such as double-beta decay and direct dark matter investigations. The compounds are tested in a dilution refrigerator installed in the underground laboratory of Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (Italy). Low temperature scintillating properties are investigated by means of different radioactive sources, and the radio-purity level for internal contaminations are estimated for possible employment for next generation experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results on the cross-section of dp-elastic scattering reaction obtained at 880 MeV at internal target of Nuclotron are presented. The measurements have been performed using CH2 and C targets and kinematic coincidence of signals from scintillation counters. The cross-section data are compared with theoretical predictions and results of previous experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the highlights of the 3rd International Workshop on Radiopure Scintillators held at the Institute for Nuclear Research in Kyiv, Ukraine on September 17-20, 2013. Some of the topics discussed include radiopure scintillators in nuclear and astroparticle physics, crystal growing, input material selection, and development of new scintillating materials. Also mentioned are the 70th anniversary of Professor Yuri Zdesenko and the event's goal.