Abstract: A detector configuration that combines a plurality of elongated semiconductor photo-multiplier sensor strips coupled to a scintillator crystal block with a differential readout that will enhance the time resolution. This is permitted due to a reduction of electronic noise due to reduced cross talk and noise in the ground. In addition, the dead area is minimized and thus the efficiency of the photodetector is enhanced.

Abstract: A compact radio-frequency quadrupole ‘RFQ’ accelerator for accelerating charged particles, the RFQ accelerator comprising: a bunching section configured to have a narrow radio-frequency ‘rf’ acceptance such that only a portion of a particle beam incident on the bunching section is captured, and wherein the bunching section bunches the portion of the particle beam; an accelerating section for accelerating the bunched portion of the particle beam to an output energy; and, a means for supplying radio-frequency power.

Abstract: A portable radiation detection device with a detector unit comprising a scintillator with an array of avalanche photo-diodes allows to reliably detect incident ionizing radiation or radiation contamination in the presence of intense magnetic fields of 0.1 Tesla and above.

Abstract: A composite material comprising molybdenum carbide, graphite and carbon fibers combines a very high thermal conductivity with a low coefficient of thermal extension, high service temperature, good mechanical properties and high electrical conductivity. These materials may be obtained from high-temperature sintering of variable proportions of molybdenum powders and ceramic materials such as graphite, carbon fibers, silicon, silicon carbide, or tungsten.

Abstract: An electron filtering layer placed on a photocathode of a UV light detector allows to selectively filter out electrons generated from a photoconversion of long wavelengths. The filter may be tuned by selecting the material and the thickness of the electron filtering layer. By means of the filtering layer, background noise due to visible parts of the spectrum may be efficiently suppressed. Applications of the invention include a solar-blind flame and/or smoke detector.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) for quenching at least part (110) of a superconductor in a superconducting state in reply to a quench signal to initiate a transition from the superconducting state into a normal-conducting state comprises: means (120) for providing an alternating (AC) current of a predetermined strength and/or predetermined frequency to the at least part (110) of the superconductor, wherein the means (120) for providing the AC current comprises a control terminal (130) configured to receive the quench signal. The means (120) for providing the AC current is configured to be activated in response of receiving the quench signal at the control terminal (130) so that the AC current flows through the at least part (110) of the superconductor, wherein the predetermined strength and/or the predetermined frequency is selected such that the transition from the superconducting state into a normal-conducting state is triggered.

Abstract: A detector configuration that combines a plurality of elongated semiconductor photo-multiplier sensor strips coupled to a scintillator crystal block with a differential readout that will enhance the time resolution. This is permitted due to a reduction of electronic noise due to reduced cross talk and noise in the ground. In addition, the dead area is minimized and thus the efficiency of the photodetector is enhanced.

Abstract: A detector-readout interface for an avalanche particle detector comprises a resistive layer formed at a bottom side of a gas chamber and a dielectric layer formed under said resistive layer and is adapted for capacitive coupling to an external readout board. This provides a modular detector configuration in which the readout card and detector core can be combined freely and interchangeably. The readout board can even be removed or replaced without switching off the detector. At the same time, the configuration provides an effective protection against sparks and discharges, and in particular obliviates the need for additional protecting circuits. The configuration may be employed in any avalanche particle detector, such as the MicroMegas or GEM detectors.

Abstract: A pump (10) for circulating a cryogenic coolant, comprising: a cylinder housing (14); a piston (16) received in said cylinder housing (14) for reciprocating in said cylinder housing (14) between a first death center position (18) and a second death center position (20), said first death center position (18) and said second death center position (20) defining a compression chamber (22) therebetween; an outlet (34) for said compression chamber (22); and an inlet (36) formed in a wall (24) of said cylinder housing (14) at a position between said first death center position (18) and said second death center position (20); wherein said inlet (36) is adapted to establish a fluid connection between said compression chamber (22) and a coolant reservoir (40; 76).

Abstract: The present invention discloses a microfabricated scintillation detector, comprising a channel structure (26) for containing a liquid scintillator material therein and flowing said liquid scintillator material therethrough. The channel structure (26) comprises first and second sets (30, 36) of adjacent channel portions (32, 38) arranged in first and second layers (34, 40) and in fluid communication with each other. The second set (36) of adjacent channel portions (38) is directed at right angles with respect to the first set (30) of adjacent channel portions (32). The first and second layers (34, 40) are stacked on top of each other with a separation layer (42) in between, integrally connecting said first and second layers (34, 40). The channel structure (26) simultaneously forms a light guiding structure for guiding scintillation light (52) towards a longitudinal end of the corresponding channel portion (32, 38).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pixel detector (10), comprising a semiconductor sensor layer (12), in which charges can be generated upon interaction with particles to be detected. The semiconductor layer defines an X-Y-plane and has a thickness extending in Z-direction. The detector further comprises a read-out electronics layer (14) connected to said semiconductor layer (12), said read-out electronics layer (14) comprising an array of read-out circuits (20) for detecting signals indicative of charges generated in a corresponding volume of said semiconductor sensor layer (12). The neighbouring read-out circuits (20) are connected by a relative timing circuit configured to determine time difference information between signals detected at said neighbouring read-out circuits (20).

Abstract: A radio frequency load (100) for absorbing a radio frequency wave having a frequency in a predetermined frequency band and a wavelength ? comprises a waveguide (110;210) with a portion having an opening (112) for said radio frequency wave. In addition, the radio frequency load (100) comprises at least one metal rod (120) provided in said waveguide (110; 210), said at least one metal rod (120) having a length of one-half of said wavelength ? to damp said radio frequency wave.

Abstract: In an integrated two-phase accumulator controlled loop cooling system, the pumped refrigerant is employed to cool the supply of refrigerant in the accumulator vessel. No external cooling of the accumulator vessel is required, and a standard heater in the accumulator is sufficient to regulate the boiling pressure. This allows to provide a cooling system in which sub-cooling in the pump is guaranteed by the laws of nature, and which is hence more reliable, structurally simpler, better to control and cheaper.

Abstract: A system and method are described for positioning and fixing a number of objects relative to each other. Each lamella in a stack have a number of pockets for receiving the objects. At least some of the pockets are dimensioned so as to loosely receive the corresponding object without applying a substantive clamping force. The relative position of at least some of the pockets in one subset of lamellae as oriented in the stack deviate from the relative positions of the same pockets in another subset of the lamellae such that the clamping force is generated between the objects and the stack of lamellae when the objects are simultaneously inserted in the corresponding pockets all lamellae of the stack.

Abstract: A readout board for use in a micropattern gas detector comprises a plurality of detector pads arranged into a plurality of consecutive layers that are separated by dielectric spacer material. An electron cloud hitting the front side of the readout board will induce a charge on one of the detector pads of the uppermost layer. By capacitive coupling, the signal will propagate downwards through the consecutive layers until it reaches the bottom layer, from which the charges are read out and analyzed. The position of the impact can be determined by comparing the charges that have spread to neighboring readout pads. Since only the bottommost layer of the readout pads needs to be connected to readout electronics, incident particles can be localized at high precision despite the relatively large size of the readout pads in the bottom layer. The invention is effective both in a gas electron multiplier (GEM) and in a MicroMegas detector.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a mounting mechanism such as a drift tube mounting mechanism for mounting a drift tube provided in a drift tube accelerator vessel 10 via an elongate holding element 14. The mounting mechanism comprises a biasing mechanism comprising one or more disc spring members 46 for axially biasing the elongate holding element 14 with respect to the vessel towards a mounting position. The mounting mechanism further comprises a screw 58 having a head portion 60 and a shaft portion, said shaft portion comprising a threaded portion 64 for screwing into the elongate holding element 14. The mounting mechanism further comprises a bushing 66 comprising a sleeve portion 68 receiving at least a part of the screw shaft and separating the one or more disc spring members 46 from said screw shaft portion. The screw head portion 60 is configured to receive the axial biasing force generated by the one or more disc spring members 46.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved method for fabricating the amplification gap of an avalanche particle detector in which two parallel electrodes are spaced apart by dielectric spacer elements. A foil including a bulk layer made of dielectric material sandwiched by two mutually parallel metallic electrodes is provided, and holes are formed in one of the metallic layers by means of photolithography. The amplification gap is then formed in the bulk layer by means of carefully controlled etching of the bulk material through the holes formed in one of the metallic layers. The invention not only provides a simplified fabrication process, but also results in a detector with enhanced spatial and energy resolution.

Abstract: A readout board for use in a micropattern gas detector comprises a plurality of detector pads arranged into a plurality of consecutive layers that are separated by dielectric spacer material. An electron cloud hitting the front side of the readout board will induce a charge on one of the detector pads of the uppermost layer. By capacitive coupling, the signal will propagate downwards through the consecutive layers until it reaches the bottom layer, from which the charges are read out and analyzed. The position of the impact can be determined by comparing the charges that have spread to neighboring readout pads. Since only the bottommost layer of the readout pads needs to be connected to readout electronics, incident particles can be localized at high precision despite the relatively large size of the readout pads in the bottom layer. The invention is effective both in a gas electron multiplier (GEM) and in a MicroMegas detector.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for measuring the dose, the dose rate and/or the composition of radiation is disclosed. In the method, a detector means is exposed to a radiation environment, the detector means comprising an array of radiation sensing detector elements. The detector means is switched in a sensitive state for the duration of a sensitive time period, and during said sensitive time period, an interaction pattern generated by individual radiation quanta interacting with one or more of the detector elements is recorded. The duration of the sensitive time period can be precisely adapted to the intensity of the radiation that has to be recorded. The interaction pattern is analyzed to distinguish individual radiation quanta received during the sensitive time period, and a radiation category is assigned to each of the distinguished radiation quanta based on its corresponding interaction pattern.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for measuring the dose, the dose rate and/or the composition of radiation is disclosed. In the method, a detector means is exposed to a radiation environment, the detector means comprising an array of radiation sensing detector elements. The detector means is switched in a sensitive state for the duration of a sensitive time period, and during said sensitive time period, an interaction pattern generated by individual radiation quanta interacting with one or more of the detector elements is recorded. The duration of the sensitive time period can be precisely adapted to the intensity of the radiation that has to be recorded. The interaction pattern is analyzed to distinguish individual radiation quanta received during the sensitive time period, and a radiation category is assigned to each of the distinguished radiation quanta based on its corresponding interaction pattern.