Sun Zaijing, Divakar Nangeelil Krishnakumar, Searcy Haven
Department of Health Physics and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA.
HardwareX. 2024 Feb 2;17:e00513. doi: 10.1016/j.ohx.2024.e00513. eCollection 2024 Mar.
Despite being widely used for high-resolution spectral analysis and quantifying low activity in natural samples, the operations and data analysis of High Purity Germanium (HPGe) gamma-ray detectors are seldom fully automated due to the excessive costs associated with commercially available automatic sample changing systems. This paper introduces the design and implementation of a cost-effective, customized remote gamma-ray spectra collection system centered around the HPGe detector coupled to a cosmic-ray veto background reduction device. The HPGe detector system, equipped with a Lynx DSA, is seamlessly integrated with an economically viable automatic sample changer. This sample vial changer is controlled by a high-torque NEMA 34 stepper servo motor from Vention. Web control of the rotary actuator is facilitated through a CAD-based programming tool. The remote-controlled sample pick-and-place procedure is executed using a robotic arm (Trossen Robotics, Viper X 250). The DYNAMIXEL servomotors of the robotic arm are programmed using Python software supported by the Robotic Operating System. Beyond its technical construction, this system is uniquely fashioned for academic research, providing invaluable hands-on experience in gamma spectrometry to both junior researchers and students.
尽管高纯锗（HPGe）伽马射线探测器在高分辨率光谱分析和量化天然样品中的低活度方面得到了广泛应用，但由于市售自动样品更换系统成本过高，其操作和数据分析很少能完全自动化。本文介绍了一种经济高效、定制化的远程伽马射线光谱采集系统的设计与实现，该系统以HPGe探测器为核心，并与宇宙射线 veto 背景降低装置相结合。配备 Lynx DSA 的 HPGe 探测器系统与经济可行的自动样品更换器无缝集成。这个样品瓶更换器由 Vention 的高扭矩 NEMA 34 步进伺服电机控制。通过基于 CAD 的编程工具实现对旋转执行器的网络控制。使用机器人手臂（Trossen Robotics，Viper X 250）执行远程控制的样品拾取和放置程序。机器人手臂的 DYNAMIXEL 伺服电机使用由机器人操作系统支持的 Python 软件进行编程。除了其技术构造外，该系统专为学术研究量身打造，为初级研究人员和学生提供了在伽马能谱分析方面宝贵的实践经验。
