C. L. Woody

A study on the properties of lead tungstate crystals

Abstract This report summarizes the results of a study on the properties of five large and five small size lead tungstate (PbWO 4 ) crystals. Data are presented on the longitudinal optical transmittance and light attenuation length, light yield and response uniformity, emission spectra and decay time. The radiation resistance of large crystals and possible curing with optical bleaching are discussed. The result of an in depth materials study, including trace impurities analysis, are also presented. The general conclusion from this investigation is that further research and development is needed to develop fast, radiation-hard PbWO 4 crystals for the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC.

Measurement of the absorption length and absolute quantum efficiency of TMAE and TEA from threshold to 120 nm

Several existing and planned high energy physics experiments incorporate detectors which use either TMAE (tetrakis-dimethylaminoethylene) or TEA (triethylamine) as their photosensitive agent. Understanding the operation of these devices requires knowledge of the absolute photoionization quantum efficiencies and absorption lengths of TMAE and TEA. In an experiment performed at the National Synchrotron Light source at Brookhaven National Laboratory, we have measured these parameters from 120 nm to 280 nm. The quantum efficiencies were normalized to the known photoionization yields of benzene and cis-2-butene. The results of these measurements and details of the experiment are presented in this paper.

Small animal simultaneous PET/MRI: initial experiences in a 9.4 T microMRI

We developed a non-magnetic positron-emission tomography (PET) device based on the rat conscious animal PET that operates in a small-animal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner, thereby enabling us to carry out simultaneous PET/MRI studies. The PET detector comprises 12 detector blocks, each being a 4 × 8 array of lutetium oxyorthosilicate crystals (2.22 × 2.22 × 5 mm(3)) coupled to a matching non-magnetic avalanche photodiode array. The detector blocks, housed in a plastic case, form a 38 mm inner diameter ring with an 18 mm axial extent. Custom-built MRI coils fit inside the positron-emission tomography (PET) device, operating in transceiver mode. The PET insert is integrated with a Bruker 9.4 T 210 mm clear-bore diameter MRI scanner. We acquired simultaneous PET/MR images of phantoms, of in vivo rat brain, and of cardiac-gated mouse heart using [(11)C]raclopride and 2-deoxy-2-[(18)F]fluoro-D-glucose PET radiotracers. There was minor interference between the PET electronics and the MRI during simultaneous operation, and small effects on the signal-to-noise ratio in the MR images in the presence of the PET, but no noticeable visual artifacts. Gradient echo and high-duty-cycle spin echo radio frequency (RF) pulses resulted in a 7% and a 28% loss in PET counts, respectively, due to high PET counts during the RF pulses that had to be gated out. The calibration of the activity concentration of PET data during MR pulsing is reproducible within less than 6%. Our initial results demonstrate the feasibility of performing simultaneous PET and MRI studies in adult rats and mice using the same PET insert in a small-bore 9.4 T MRI.

A search for glueballs and a study of doouble pomeron exchange at the CERN intersecting storage rings

We present results from a study of centrally produced mesons in 3 × 106 events with two small-angle protons at the CERN Intersecting Storage Rings. A high-statistics sample of exclusive pp → ppπ+π− events at √s = 63 GeV has been obtained, where the reaction mechanism is dominated by double pomeron exchange. Scalar or tensor glueballs may be produced by this process. The π+π− mass spectrum has a distinctive structure, and analysis shows that the data are dominantly S-wave up to 1600 MeV. The behaviour of the D-wave provides evidence for a 2++ resonance (M = 1480 ± 50 MeV, Γ = 150 ± 50 MeV) in addition to the f(1270). We also show data on exclusive K+K−, pp, and π+π−π+π− production, and on the analogous reaction αα → ααπ+π− at √s = 126 GeV. Flavour independence is suggested by the observation of approximately equal numbers of K+K− and π+π− pairs for mass above 1 GeV. The mass spectra are also apparently independent of √s (45, 63, 126 GeV) and incident particle type (p, α).

Lead fluoride: An ultra-compact Cherenkov radiator for em calorimetry

We have tested the material PbF2 and found that it is a Cherenkov radiator suitable for electromagnetic calorimetry. It has a density of 7.77 g/cm3, a radiation length of 0.93 cm, a refractive index of 1.8, and an optical cutoff at about 280 nm. An electromagnetic shower is 15% shorter longitudinally, and its apparent lateral extent has a 13 smaller radius in PbF2 than in BGO. We have measured 1300 photoelectrons per GeV of deposited energy and have set an upper limit on the energy resolution of 5.1%/√E. The first measurements show PbF2 to be much more radiation resistant than lead glass; also, when damaged, it almost fully recovers after a short exposure to UV light.

Proton and pion production relative to the reaction plane in Au + Au collisions at 11A GeV/c

Results are presented of an analysis of proton and charged pion azimuthal distributions measured with respect to the reaction plane in Au + Au collisions at a beam momentum of about 11A GeV/c. The azimuthal anisotropy is studied as a function of particle rapidity and transverse momentum for different centralities of the collisions. The triple differential (in rapidity, transverse momentum, and azimuthal angle) distributions are reconstructed. A comparison of the results with a previous analysis of charged-particle and transverse energy flow as well as with model predictions are presented. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}

Proton and pion production in Au+Au collisions at 10.8A GeV/c

We present proton and pion tranverse momentum spectra and rapidity distributions for Au+Au collisions at 10.8A GeV/c. The proton spectra exhibit collective transverse flow effects. Evidence of the influence of the Coulomb interaction from the fireball is found in the pion transverse momentum spectra. The data are compared with the predictions of the RQMD event generator.

Further results on cerium fluoride crystals

Abstract A systematic investigation of the properties of cerium fluoride monocrystals has been performed by the “Crystal Clear” collaboration in view of a p

Readout techniques and radiation damage of undoped cesium iodide

Several readout techniques for undoped CsI have been studied which utilize the fast scintillation component for speed and the high photon yield for good energy resolution. Quantum yields have been measured for samples up to 30 cm in length using photomultiplier tubes, wavelength shifters, and silicon photodiodes. A study has also been made of the scintillation properties of undoped CsI. It is found that the light output and decay time of the 310-nm fast component increases and the emission spectrum shifts to longer wavelengths at lower temperatures. The effects on the optical transmission and scintillation light output due to radiation damage from /sup 60/Co gamma rays have been measured for doses up to approximately 10/sup 6/ rad. It is found that the radiation resistance of undoped CsI is substantially higher than has been reported for thallium-doped CsI. >

Digital Coincidence Processing for the RatCAP Conscious Rat Brain PET Scanner

The RatCAP has been designed and constructed to image the awake rat brain. In order to maximize system performance, offline digital coincidence data processing algorithms including offset delay correction and prompt and delayed coincidence detection have been developed and validated. With offset delay correction using a singular value decomposition (SVD) technique, overall time resolution was improved from 32.6 to 17.6 ns FWHM. The experimental results confirm that the ratio of prompts to randoms was improved because a narrower timing window could be used. 18F-fluoride rat bone scan data were reconstructed using our fully 3-D ML-EM algorithm with a highly accurate detector response model created from Monte Carlo simulation.