Search

This study explores the dynamics of charge transport within a cryogenic P-type Ge particle detector, fabricated from a crystal cultivated at the University of South Dakota. By subjecting the detector to cryogenic temperatures and an Am-241 source, we observe evolving charge dynamics and the emergence of cluster dipole states, leading to the impact ionization process at 40 mK. Our analysis focuses on crucial parameters: the zero-field cross-section of cluster dipole states and the binding energy of these states. For the Ge detector in our investigation, the zero-field cross-section of cluster dipole states is determined to be 8.45 × 10−11 ± 4.22 × 10−12 cm2. Examination of the binding energy associated with cluster dipole states, formed by charge trapping onto dipole states during the freeze-out process, reveals a value of 0.034 ± 0.0017 meV. These findings shed light on the intricate charge states influenced by the interplay of temperature and electric field, with potential implications for the sensitivity in detecting low-mass dark matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The results of a follow-up experiment investigating a novel method for sub-milimetre range verification (RV) in proton therapy (PT) are presented. Approach. The method consists of implanting a hadron tumour marker (HTM) near the planned treatment volume, and measuring the γ -ray signals emitted as a result of activation by the proton beam. These signals are highly correlated with the energy of the beam impinging on the HTM and can provide an absolute measurement of the range of the beam relative to the position of the HTM, which is independent of any uncertainties in beam delivery. Main results. Three candidate HTM materials were identified and combined into a single composite HTM, which makes use of the strongest reaction in each material. The setup of the previous experiment was improved on by using high-purity germanium detectors to measure the γ -ray signal with a higher resolution than was previously achieved. A PMMA phantom was also used to simulate the γ -ray background from tissue activation. HTM RV using the data collected in this study yielded range measurements whose average deviation from the expected value was 0.13(22)mm. Significance. Range uncertainty in PT limits the prescribed treatment plan for cancer patients with large safety margins and constrains the direction of the proton beam in relation to any organ at risk. The sub-milimetre range uncertainty achieved in this study using HTM RV, if implemented clinically, would allow for a reduction in the size of safety margins, increasing the therapeutic window for PT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore the possibility to use advanced germanium (Ge) detectors as a low-energy solar neutrino observatory by means of neutrino-nucleus elastic scattering. A Ge detector utilizing internal charge amplification for the charge carriers created by the ionization of impurities is a novel technology with experimental sensitivity for detecting low-energy solar neutrinos. Ge internal charge amplification (GeICA) detectors will amplify the charge carriers induced by neutrino interacting with Ge atoms through the emission of phonons. It is those phonons that will create charge carriers through the ionization of impurities to achieve an extremely low energy threshold of ∼0.01 eV. We demonstrate the phonon absorption, excitation, and ionization probability of impurities in a Ge detector with impurity levels of 3 × 1010 cm−3, 9 × 1010 cm−3, and 2 × 1011 cm−3. We present the sensitivity of such a Ge experiment for detecting solar neutrinos in the low-energy region. We show that, if GeICA technology becomes available, then a new opportunity arises to observe pp and 7Be solar neutrinos. Such a novel detector with only 1 kg of high-purity Ge will give ∼10 events per year for pp neutrinos and ∼5 events per year for 7Be neutrinos with a detection energy threshold of 0.01 eV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-charge pumps are the main candidates for quantum-based standards of the unit ampere because they can generate accurate and quantized electric currents. In order to approach the metrological requirements in terms of both accuracy and speed of operation, in the past decade there has been a focus on semiconductor-based devices. The use of a variety of semiconductor materials enables the universality of charge pump devices to be tested, a highly desirable demonstration for metrology, with GaAs and Si pumps at the forefront of these tests. Here, we show that pumping can be achieved in a yet unexplored semiconductor, i.e. germanium. We realise a single-hole pump with a tunable-barrier quantum dot electrostatically defined at a Ge/SiGe heterostructure interface. We observe quantized current plateaux by driving the system with a single sinusoidal drive up to a frequency of 100 MHz. The operation of the prototype was affected by accidental formation of multiple dots, probably due to disorder potential, and random charge fluctuations. We suggest straightforward refinements of the fabrication process to improve pump characteristics in future experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Double-beta processes in 184Os and 192Os were searched for over 15 851 h at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS) of the I.N.F.N. by using a 118 g ultra-pure osmium sample installed on the endcap of a 112 cm3 ultra-low-background broad-energy germanium detector. New limits on double-electron capture and electron capture with positron emission in 184Os were set at the level of lim T1/2 ∼ 1016–1017 years. In particular the 2ν2K and 2νKL decays of 184Os to the ground state of 184W are restricted as T1/2 ⩾ 3.0 × 1016 years and T1/2 ⩾ 2.0 × 1016 years, respectively. A lower limit on the half-life for the double-beta decay of 192Os to the first excited level of 192Pt was set as lim T1/2 = 2.0 × 1020 years at 90% confidence level [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The balloon-borne Compton Spectrometer and Imager (COSI) had a successful 46-day flight in 2016. The instrument is sensitive to photons in the energy range 0.2–5 MeV. Compton telescopes have the advantage of a unique imaging response and provide the possibility of strong background suppression. With its high-purity germanium detectors, COSI can precisely map γ-ray line emission. The strongest persistent and diffuse γ-ray line signal is the 511 keV emission line from the annihilation of electrons with positrons from the direction of the Galactic center. While many sources have been proposed to explain the amount of positrons, , the true contributions remain unsolved. In this study, we aim at imaging the 511 keV sky with COSI and pursue a full-forward modeling approach, using a simulated and binned imaging response. For the strong instrumental background, we describe an empirical approach to take the balloon environment into account. We perform two alternative methods to describe the signal: Richardson–Lucy deconvolution, an iterative method toward the maximum likelihood solution, and model fitting with predefined emission templates. Consistently with both methods, we find a 511 keV bulge signal with a flux between 0.9 and , confirming earlier measurements, and also indications of more extended emission. The upper limit we find for the 511 keV disk, , is consistent with previous detections. For large-scale emission with weak gradients, coded aperture mask instruments suffer from their inability to distinguish isotropic emission from instrumental background, while Compton telescopes provide a clear imaging response, independent of the true emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Positron emission tomography (PET) has been used for dose verification in charged particle therapy. The causes of washout of positron emitters by physiological functions should be clarified for accurate dose verification. In this study, we visualized the distribution of irradiated radioactive beams, 11C and 15O beams, in the rabbit whole-body using our original depth-of-interaction (DOI)-PET prototype to add basic data for biological washout effect correction. Time activity curves of the irradiated field and organs were measured immediately after the irradiations. All data were corrected for physical decay before further analysis. We also collected expired gas of the rabbit during beam irradiation and the energy spectrum was measured with a germanium detector. Irradiated radioactive beams into the brain were distributed to the whole body due to the biological washout process, and the implanted 11C and 15O ions were concentrated in the regions which had high blood volume. The 11C-labelled 11CO2 was detected in expired gas under the 11C beam irradiation, while no significant signal was detected under the 15O beam irradiation as a form of C15O2. Results suggested that the implanted 11C ions form molecules that diffuse out to the whole body by undergoing perfusion, then, they are incorporated into the blood-gas exchange in the respiratory system. This study provides basic data for modelling of the biological washout effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the fact that the fast-neutron experimental cross-section data of hafnium which is an important structural material of fusion reactor are few and there are the great differences in their evaluation values, several activation cross sections of (n, 2n), (n, p), (n, a) and (n, n′) reactions on hafnium isotopes have been investigated by neutrons generated from the T(d, n)4He reaction at the K-400 Neutron Generator at China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP). The gamma activities of the product nuclei were measured by a high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometer with a coaxial high-purity germanium detector. The 93Nb(n, 2n)92mNb reaction was used as neutron fluence standard, these experimental cross sections of the 174Hf(n, 2n)173Hf, 176Hf(n, 2n)175Hf, 178Hf(n, α)175m+gYb, 178Hf(n, p)178gLu, 178Hf(n, p)178mLu, 180Hf(n, 2n)179m2Hf, 180Hf(n, α)177m+gYb and 180Hf(n, n′)180mHf reactions were obtained in the neutron energy range of 13.5–14.8 MeV. These measured cross sections were discussed and compared with some previous experimental results from the literature and with the evaluation data from ENDF/B-VIII.0, CENDL-3.1, JEFF-3.3 and the theoretical results by using the computer code system Talys-1.9. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the activation technique, the cross section for the reaction 64Zn(n,2n) 63Zn was measured from 12.5 to 14.5 MeV in 250 keV energy steps to resolve inconsistencies in the existing database, which are reflected in the up to 40% difference between recent evaluations at 15 MeV for this important cross section. The 669.62 and 962.06 keV γ rays from the decay of 63Zn were recorded with a high-purity germanium detector. The monitor reactions 197Au(n,2n) 196Au and 27Al(n,α) 24 Nawere used for the neutron fluence determination from the ²H(d,n)³ He reaction. The ENDF VII.1 evaluation was found to be in good agreement with the present data, which in turn agree very well with the recent data set of Mannhart and Schmidt (2007 Neutronenphysik Report PTB-N-53). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New experimental cross-section data for the 180W(n,2n)179mW, 186W(n,2n)185mW and 186W(n,p)186Ta reactions at the neutron energies of 13.5 and 14.4 MeV are obtained by the activation technique. The neutron beams are produced by means of the 3H(d,n)4He reaction. The gamma activities of the product nuclei are measured by a high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometer with a coaxial high-purity germanium detector. The neutron fluence is determined using the monitor reaction 93Nb(n,2n)92mNb. The results in the current work are discussed and compared with the measurement results found in the literature. It is shown that these higher accuracy experimental cross-section data around the neutron energy of 14 MeV agree with some previous experimental values from the literature within experimental uncertainties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The locations of sodium (Na) storage and its exchange mechanisms in the body are not well known. Understanding tissue Na storage and exchange is important for understanding the impact of Na intake, absorption, and retention on human health, especially on the risk of developing chronic diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the application of a deuterium–deuterium (DD) neutron generator-based IVNAA system in Na nutrition studies. Approach: The right legs of two live pigs, one on a low Na diet and one on a high Na diet, both for 14 d, were irradiated inside a customized irradiation cave for 10 min (45 mSv dose to the leg) and then measured with a 100% efficient high purity germanium detector (HPGe). The spectra were analyzed to obtain the net Na counts at different time points. Bone Na concentrations were calculated using the calibration created with Na bone phantoms. Main results: The results show that the difference in bone Na to calcium between the pigs on high versus low Na diets was 466  ±  137 ppm. The estimated bone Na to calcium concentrations were 1166  ±  80 and 1631  ±  111 ppm for low and high Na diet pigs, respectively. Analysis also shows rapid exchange of Na in the leg during the first 2 h measurements, while the exchange was minimal at the second and third 2 h measurements, taken 7 and 21 h post irradiation. The exchange decay time of Na in the leg was 51 min for the first measurement, and there was no significant change of Na activities between 2–21 h. Significance: With these results, we conclude there is a non or low exchangeable compartment (likely to be bone) for Na storage and that DD neutron generator-based IVNAA is a useful method for determining tissue Na distribution in nutrition studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Partial cross section measurements were carried out on 136Xe at Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory (TUNL) using 5 MeV monoenergetic neutrons. These results are important for estimating potential neutron-induced backgrounds in the nEXO and KamLAND2-Zen neutrinoless double-β decay searches that use highly enriched 136Xe. Pulsed neutron beams were produced via the 2H(d, n)3He reaction and the deexcitation γ-rays from 136Xe were observed with two 60% relative efficiency HPGe detectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct measurements of small nuclear reaction cross sections require a low background in the signal region of interest to achieve the necessary sensitivity. We describe two complementary detector setups that have been used for studies of reactions with solid targets at the Laboratory for Underground Nuclear Astrophysics (LUNA): a high-purity germanium detector and a bismuth germanate (BGO) detector. We present the effect of a customised lead shielding on the measured background spectra in the two detector setups at LUNA. We developed a model to describe the contributions of environmental and intrinsic backgrounds in the BGO detector measurements. Furthermore we present an upgrade of the data acquisition system for our BGO detector, which allows us to exploit the features of the segmented detector and overcome some of the limitations encountered in previous experiments. We conclude with a discussion on the improved sensitivity of the presented setups, and the benefits for ongoing and possible future measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of 77,79,85,85mKr and 77Br via the reaction Se() was investigated between and 15 MeV using the activation technique. The irradiation of natural selenium targets on aluminum backings was conducted at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) in Braunschweig, Germany. The spectroscopic analysis of the reaction products was performed using a high-purity germanium detector located at PTB and a low energy photon spectrometer detector at the Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany. Thick-target yields were determined. The corresponding energy-dependent production cross sections of 77,79,85,85mKr and 77Br were calculated from the thick-target yields. Good agreement between experimental data and theoretical predictions using the TALYS-1.6 code was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recently developed portable, on-line capability for γ-ray and conversion-electron spectroscopy, HIGH-TATRA is demonstrated with its application to the study of 183Hg 183Au at ISOLDE. Key details of the low-energy level scheme of the neutron-deficient nuclide 183Au populated in this decay are presented. A broad energy germanium detector is employed to achieve this (the first-ever use of such a device in decay-scheme spectroscopy), by way of a combination of high-gain γ-ray singles spectroscopy and γ–γ coincidence spectroscopy. Further, by combining the γ-ray detectors with a liquid-nitrogen-cooled Si(Li) detector operated under high vacuum, conversion-electron singles and e–γ coincidences are obtained. These data lead to the determination of transition multipolarities and the location of a highly converted (E0 + M1 + E2) transition in the 183Au decay scheme, suggesting a possible new shape coexisting structure in this nucleus. Identification of new intruder and normal states fixes their relative energies in 183Au for the first time. New systematic features in the odd-Au isotopes are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two neutrino double beta decay of to excited states of has been studied using data from Phase I of the GERDA experiment. An array composed of up to 14 germanium detectors including detectors that have been isotopically enriched in was deployed in liquid argon. The analysis of various possible transitions to excited final states is based on coincidence events between pairs of detectors where a de-excitation γ ray is detected in one detector and the two electrons in the other. No signal has been observed and an event counting profile likelihood analysis has been used to determine Frequentist 90% C.L. bounds for three transitions: yr, yr and yr. These bounds are more than two orders of magnitude larger than those reported previously. Bayesian 90% credibility bounds were extracted and used to exclude several models for the transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-performance Ge-on-SOI p–i–n waveguide photodetectors with different sizes were fabricated. The performances, in terms of dark-current, photo current responsivity and 3-dB bandwidth, were well studied. A responsivity of 0.842 A/W at 1550 nm and dark current of 70 nA was measured from this detector at -1 V. The detector with a size of 4 μm×10 μm demonstrated an optical band width of 19 GHz at -5 V for 1550 nm. Both the experimental results and the finite-difference time domain simulation show that, when the device size is above a certain threshold, the absorption is not sensitively dependent on such designing parameters as the width and length of the photodetector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]