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.

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: The readout electrode assembly of an avalanche particle detector can be effectively protected against sparks and discharges by means of a plurality of resistor pads formed in a dielectric cover layer above the readout pads. The resistor pads may either be connected directly to the readout pads, or may be coupled capacitively by means of a charge spreading pad embedded into the dielectric cover layer and spatially separated from the readout pads. The charge spreading pad allows the distribution of charges to neighboring readout pads, and may hence increase the spatial resolution of the detector device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a target for isotope production, that comprises a porous, nanostructured material with structure elements having in at least one dimension an average size of 700 run or less, preferably 500 nm or less and most preferably 150 nm or less, said nanostructured material comprising one Of Al2O3, Y2O3 and ZrO2.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus comprising an enclosure (10) suitable for forming a vacuum therein and means for at least partially suppressing the multipacting effect when a RF or microwave electromagnetic field is generated in said vacuum. In the apparatus, the means for at least partially suppressing the multipacting effect comprises means (12) for passively generating a locally varying magnetic field (16) in the vicinity of at least a portion of the inner surface of said enclosure.

Abstract: Evacuated solar panel (1) comprises a frame (2) carrying spacers (3,4) crossing one another and one or two transparent walls (10, 10a) connected to said frame (2) and defining with said frame (2) an evacuated closed chamber (11). The chamber (11) contains the longitudinal and transverse spacers (3,4) and an absorber (14) comprising a plurality of absorbing panels (14a, 14b) each connected to a cooling pipe (15) welded to the frame (2) at both extremities. The longitudinal spacers (3) are in contact with the transparent wall (10) to support it against the ambient pressure, while the transverse spacers (4) support the longitudinal sides of the frame (2) against the ambient pressure and are not in contact with the transparent wall (10), so allowing the absorbers (14a, 14b) to cover the whole length of the panel (1) without interruptions.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing a gas electron multiplier. One method comprises a step of preparing a blank sheet comprised of an insulating sheet with first and second metal layers on its surface, a first metal layer hole forming step in which the first metal layer is patterned by means of photolithography, such as to form holes through the first metal layer, an insulating sheet hole forming step, in which the holes formed in the first metal layer are extended through the insulating layer by etching from the first surface side only, and a second metal layer hole forming step, in which the holes are extended through the second metal layer. Alternatively, the second metal layer hole forming step is performed by electrochemical etching, such that the first metal layer remains unaffected during etching of the second metal layer.

Abstract: In a flat panel solar collector adapted to be evacuable and vacuum-tight, at least one absorber is provided. At least one conduit is provided which is at least partially thermally associated with the at least one absorber. A holding structure is provided comprising a perimetric frame. At least one first transparent wall is provided, the first transparent wall and the holding structure having a overlapping area. At least one side of the first transparent wall comprises at least partially at said overlapping area a metal coating forming at least one metallized area on the transparent wall. A first soft metal ribbon is provided sealing the junction between the first transparent wall and the holding structure and which is soldered to the holding structure and to the metallized area of the first transparent wall.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus for use in medical imaging including a readout circuit having an input for receiving a detection signal corresponding to a photon hitting a radiation detector, wherein the readout circuit is adapted to output, in response to receiving said detection signal, a pulse signal having a leading edge encoding a time-stamp of said photon and a width encoding the energy of said photon. A method of reading out detection signals from a radiation detector of a medical imaging apparatus is also provided.

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: The present invention relates to an apparatus for use in medical imaging and a medical imaging method. The apparatus comprises nuclear medicine imaging means including detector means for detecting radiation as emitted upon decay of a radiopharmaceutical injected into a living object's body as well as means for generating a nuclear medicine image of said living object based on the detected radiation. The apparatus further comprises ultrasonography imaging means for also generating an ultrasonography image of the same living object.

Abstract: A magnetic calibration device comprises a mount supporting a magnetic sensor card being detachably attached and comprising at least one magnetic sensor to be calibrated and connected to a first analog electronic circuit with a current source and a first analog to digital converter. A coil card is further detachably attached and comprises three coils arranged substantially orthogonal to each other and connected to a second analog electronic circuit with a second analog to digital converter. A connection such as a cable or a wireless link provides a supply voltage to the first and second analog electronic circuits, respectively, and guides digital signals from the first and second analog to digital converters, respectively, to at least one processing unit. A magnet generates a substantially homogeneous and constant calibration magnetic field, and a rotator rotates said cards in said calibration magnetic field around two substantially orthogonal axes.

Abstract: The invention refers to a sample device to be inserted inside an external tube, having a substantially circular cross-section, and carrying a substantially circular plate as part of a turntable to be rotated within the external tube around two substantially orthogonal axes. Two substantially coaxial tubes, with the turntable being supported by the outer tube, and two meshing gears, with the first gear being connected to the inner tube and the second gear being connected to the turntable, and/or a special cable guide being connected with its first end with the turntable and its second end, being substantially perpendicular to the first end, with the supporting means, with the inner tube, the outer tube and/or the cable guide being connected with a driving unit, are provided for maximizing the surface of the plate to be rotated within the external tube.

Abstract: In a flat Panel solar collector adapted to be evacuable and vacuum-tight, at least one absorber is provided. At least one conduit is provided which is at least Partially thermally associated with the at least one absorber. A holding structure is provided comprising a perimetric frame. At least one first transparent wall is provided, the first transparent wall and the holding structure having a overlapping area. At least one side of the first transparent wall comprises at least partially at said overlapping area a metal coating forming at least one metallized area on the transparent wall. A first soft metal ribbon is provided sealing the junction between the first transparent wall and the holding structure and which is soldered to the holding structure and to the metallized area of the first transparent wall.

Abstract: A diaphragm system to center and hold at least one inner body within an outer body, which inner body and outer body extend in a first direction, has a plurality of washers positioned between an inner surface of the outer body and has a recess or aperture for receiving each of the inner bodies. The washers have an outer circumference provided with a surface contact portion for engaging an inner surface of the outer body, and each of the recesses has a surface contact portion for engaging an outer surface of the inner body with the contact portion for engaging the outer body and the contact portion for engaging each of the inner bodies having an angular extent up to 180°. The washers are mounted at different angular orientations perpendicular to the first direction regarding their contact portions, so that pressure is applied uniformly around each of the inner bodies.

Abstract: A bath composition for the electropolishing of a metal surface made of nonalloyed titanium is disclosed. The bath composition may comprise sulfuric acid of 2 to 40% by volume, hydrofluoric acid of 10 to 18% by volume and acetic acid of 42 to 62% by volume.