Edward Lawrence Reber

Using the Cockroft-Walton voltage multiplier with small photomultipliers

A variation of the basic Cockroft-Walton (C-W) voltage multiplier circuit design may be used to generate multiple voltages at sufficient currents to drive the dynodes of a photomultiplier tube. In a battery-operated handheld device, the current draw on the batteries must be kept to a minimum. Several other parameters must be considered carefully during the design as well. Components must be chosen based on size restrictions, expected load current, expected output voltage range, and the maximum allowable ripple in the output voltage. A prototype surface mount C-W board was designed and tested to power two photomultipliers. The whole system, including the detectors, draws less than 15 mA of supply current with the outputs at 1000 Vdc.

Using the Cockroft-Walton voltage multiplier design in handheld devices

A variation of the basic Cockroft-Walton (C-W) Voltage Multiplier circuit design may be used to generate multiple voltages at sufficient currents to drive the dynodes of a photomultiplier tube. In a battery-operated handheld device, the current draw on the batteries must be kept to a minimum. Several other parameters must be considered carefully during the design as well. Components must be chosen based on size restrictions, expected load current, expected output voltage range, and the maximum allowable ripple in the output voltage. A prototype surface mount C-W board was designed and tested to power two photomultipliers. The whole system, including the detectors, draws less than 15 mA of supply current with the outputs at 1000 VDC.

Observation of a vh{sub 11/2} pair alignment in neutron-rich {sup 118}Pd

The yrast band was significantly extended to 14{sup +} and the {gamma} band to 5{sup +} in neutron-rich {sup 118}Pd by measuring the {gamma}-{gamma}-{gamma} coincidences emitted from the spontaneous fission of {sup 252}Cf with Gammasphere. The first band crossing was observed in the yrast band in {sup 118}Pd at a frequency of {Dirac_h}{omega}{approx}0.36 MeV at the starting point of the backbending, which is similar to that found in {sup 112-116}Pd. The first bandbending in the yrast cascade in {sup 118}Pd is interpreted to be built on a two h{sub 11/2} neutron configuration based on its similarity to the yrast bands in even-even {sup 112-116}Pd. Our result indicates {sup 118}Pd still maintains a prolate shape. The quasineutron Routhian calculations indicate a lower crossing frequency for the h{sub 11/2} level.

Development of a handheld device for simultaneous monitoring of fast neutrons and gamma rays

Currently at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, a handheld device is being developed to measure fast neutrons and gamma rays using a single detector. The handheld detection system presented uses a single 12.7 mm (diameter) by 12.7 mm (length) liquid scintillator detector (BC501). The detection system can be made small and light. A small and light device can be used in several applications such as customs inspection, border security, and environmental radiation monitoring. The use of only one detector requires that the neutrons and gamma rays be distinguished by the shape of their pulses in the detector. Two methods of pulse shape discrimination (PSD) are presented: charge integration and zero crossing. Figures of merit were calculated for both methods for a threshold energy range of 50-600 keVee. Results show that the zero crossing method gives much better PSD for 100 keVee and lower, whereas the charge integration method leads. to better separation above 100 keVee. However, the neutrons and gamma rays are totally separated for energies of 100 keVee and above in both techniques. We are currently designing a miniaturized electronic system to be incorporated into the handheld device.

Handheld device for simultaneous monitoring of fast neutrons and gamma rays

Currently at the INEEL, a handheld device is being developed to measure fast neutrons and gamma rays using a single detector instead of a previous two detector system. The handheld detection system presented here uses a single 1/2 inch (diameter) by 1/2 inch (long) liquid scintillator detector (BC501). This means the detection system can be made smaller, lighter, less expensive, and is expected to be more sensitive than the original system. A smaller and lighter device makes it possible to be used in several applications such as customs inspection, border security, environmental radiation monitoring, and so on. The use of only one detector requires that the neutrons and gamma rays be distinguished by the shape of their pulses in the detector. Two methods of pulse shape discrimination (PSD) are: presented here, charge integration and crossover timing. Figures of merit were calculated for both methods for a threshold energy range of 50 to 600 keV. Results show that the crossover method gives much better PSD for electron energy of 100 keV and lower, whereas the charge integration method leads to better separation above 100 keV. However, the neutrons and gamma rays are totally separated for energies of 100 keV and above in both techniques. We are currently designing a miniaturized electronic system to be incorporated in the handheld device.

Report on a field-portable VME-based distributed data acquisition system

A development effort was started two years ago to develop a portable data acquisition system which could be used for performing arms control verification and environmental monitoring measurements with complex multi-detector systems in the field. A field portable data acquisition system has been developed around a VMEbus based micro-processor and standard TCP/IP network protocols. The hardware consists of a compact VME crate and a single CAMAC crate containing the signal processing electronics. The component processes of the data acquisition system transfer control and event data over a set of TCP/IP socket connections. The use of network sockets for the interprocess communications allows the data acquisition system to be operated transparently on one workstation or on a number of workstations distributed around a local network.