Digital pulse timing with semiconductor gamma-ray detectors using a wavelet transform technique

Obtaining precise timing information from semiconductor gamma-ray detectors is of great interest for a variety of applications such as high-resolution positron emission tomography. However, pulse timing with these detectors through the common constant-fraction discrimination (CFD) method is strongly affected by the time-walk error that results from the inherent variations in the shape of the detectors' pulses. This paper reports on the use of the wavelet transform for minimizing the time-walk error in digital CFD pulse timing with semiconductor gamma-ray detectors. The details of the method are described, and the experimental results with a 1 mm thick CdTe detector are shown. It is demonstrated that, by using the Haar wavelet transform of the digitized preamplifier pulses, the original tailed time spectrum of the detector with a time resolution of 8.22 ± 0.12 ns at full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) in the energy range of 300-550 keV improves to a symmetric time spectrum with a time resolution of 3.39 ± 0.02 ns (FWHM).

Optimizing timing performance of CdTe detectors for PET

Despite several attractive properties, the poor timing performance of compound semiconductor detectors such as CdTe and CdZnTe has hindered their use in commercial PET imaging systems. The standard method of pulse timing with such detectors is to employ a constant-fraction discriminator at the output of a timing filter which is fed by the pulses from a charge-sensitive preamplifier. The method has led to a time resolution of about 10 ns at full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) with 1 mm thick CdTe detectors. This paper presents a detailed investigation on the parameters limiting the timing performance of Ohmic contact planar CdTe detectors with the standard pulse timing method. The jitter and time-walk errors are studied through simulation and experimental measurements and it is revealed that the best timing results obtained with the standard timing method suffer from a significant loss of coincidence events (~50%). In order to improve the performance of the detectors with full detection efficiency, a new digital pulse timing method based on a simple pattern recognition technique was developed. A time resolution of 3.29  ±  0.10 ns (FWHM) in the energy range of 300-650 keV was achieved with an Ohmic contact planar CdTe detector (5  ×  5  ×  1 mm³). The digital pulse processing method was also used to correct for the charge-trapping effect and an improvement in the energy resolution from 4.83  ±  0.66% to 2.780  ±  0.002% (FWHM) at 511 keV was achieved. Further improvement of time resolution through a moderate cooling of the detector and the application of the method to other detector structures are also discussed.

Compton spectroscopy for rotation-mode computed tomography

In computed tomography (CT) systems, it is desirable to know the X-ray energy spectra for various applications, including medical CT imaging, and diagnostic field and heavy ion therapy. However, because of the restricted space, the only practical solution is to use Compton spectroscopy, where the incident spectrum is inferred from the scattered spectrum. The geometry of the scatterer and its position within the CT can affect the spectrum of the secondary beam, making it difficult to determine the primary spectrum during operation of the CT system. A modified Compton spectrometer is described that allows measurement of the X-ray energy spectra during operation, and most importantly, in rotation mode. The geometry of the scatterer was optimized to reduce the energy broadening of the secondary beam. The performance of the system was evaluated by comparing the reconstructed exposure to that measured directly using an ion chamber.

A digital method for separation and reconstruction of pile-up events in germanium detectors

The problem of pulse pile-up is very often encountered in precise measurements of γ-rays using germanium detectors. The standard method of treating the pile-up events is to identify and reject them using an appropriate electronic system. Digital acquisition techniques now allow the recording of waveforms of pile-up events that can be analyzed and the contributing single pulses recovered, rather than simply tolerating the losses associated with pile-up. In this paper, a method for the off-line digital processing of pile-up events from germanium detectors is demonstrated. The method is based on an appropriate fitting of the detector signals, shaped with a suitable digital pulse shaper. It is shown that the method is able to recover the pile-up events with good accuracy even when the constituent signals are in close proximity. The method is very useful for γ-ray spectroscopy in nuclear physics experiments, where the low intensity signals can be lost due to the pile-up in a high-rate environment.

A fast response and gamma-insensitive neutron detector based on parallel-plate avalanche counter

The use of the parallel-plate avalanche counter for slow-neutron counting is described. The choice of a suitable neutron converter is discussed on the basis of Monte Carlo simulation, and some experimental results are shown. Excellent gamma-insensitivity, high rate capability, possibility of construction in large sensitive area and low production cost are among the promising features of this neutron detector.

An ultra fast, radiation-resistant fast neutron detector

This paper describes a study on 14-MeV neutron detection based on the combination of a parallel plate avalanche chamber with a sheet of polypropylene as fast neutron-to-charged-particle converter. By employing a carefully shielded chamber, neutron-induced charged particles background from the chamber body was successfully reduced to <6 x 10(-5) count per incident neutron. Fast signals, with approximately 7 ns pulse width were observed. The obtained detection efficiency is 0.15%.

Fast response neutron emission monitor for fusion reactor using stilbene scintillator and Flash-ADC

The stilbene neutron detector which has been used for neutron emission profile monitoring in JT-60U has been improved, to respond to the requirement to observe the high-frequency phenomena in megahertz region such as toroidicity-induced Alfvén Eigen mode in burning plasma as well as the spatial profile and the energy spectrum. This high-frequency phenomenon is of great interest and one of the key issues in plasma physics in recent years. To achieve a fast response in the stilbene detector, a Flash-ADC is applied and the wave form of the anode signal stored directly, and neutron/gamma discrimination was carried out via software with a new scheme for data acquisition mode to extend the count rate limit to MHz region from 1.3 x 10(5) neutron/s in the past, and confirmed the adequacy of the method.

[Acute isolated ventral dislocation of the head of the fibula]

We present the case of a 19-year-old soccer player who had sustained a valgus, external rotation trauma to the flexed knee with traumatic anterolateral dislocation of the proximal tibiofibular joint and concomitant partial peroneal nerve palsy, which went away within a few days. We discuss the clinical features and treatment by temporary screw fixation of the proximal tibiofibular joint, as well as the results in the literature where predominantly conservative treatment is reported.