Funama Fumiaki, Chong Su-Ann, Loyd Matthew, Gofron Kazimierz J, Zhang Yuxuan, Kuhn Stephen J, Zhang Chen, Fitzsimmons Michael R, Khaplanov Anton, Vacaliuc Bogdan, Crow Lowell, Li Fankang
Neutron Technologies Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, USA.
Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, USA.
Rev Sci Instrum. 2024 Mar 1;95(3). doi: 10.1063/5.0189920.
A scintillator-based Timepix3 (TPX3) detector was developed to resolve the high-frequency modulation of a neutron beam in both spatial and temporal domains, as required for neutron spin-echo experiments. In this system, light from a scintillator is manipulated with an optical lens and is intensified using an image intensifier, making it detectable with the TPX3 chip. Two different scintillators, namely, 6LiF:ZnS(Ag) and 6LiI:Eu, were investigated to achieve the high resolution needed for spin-echo modulated small-angle neutron scattering (SEMSANS) and modulation of intensity with zero effort (MIEZE). The methodology for conducting event-mode analysis is described, including the optimization of clustering parameters for both scintillators. The detector with both scintillators was characterized with respect to detection efficiency, spatial resolution, count rate, uniformity, and γ-sensitivity. The 6LiF:ZnS(Ag) scintillator-based detector achieved a spatial resolution of 200 μm and a count rate capability of 1.1 × 105 cps, while the 6LiI:Eu scintillator-based detector demonstrated a spatial resolution of 250 μm and a count rate capability exceeding 2.9 × 105 cps. Furthermore, high-frequency intensity modulations in both spatial and temporal domains were successfully observed, confirming the suitability of this detector for SEMSANS and MIEZE techniques, respectively.
为了满足中子自旋回波实验的要求，开发了一种基于闪烁体的Timepix3（TPX3）探测器，用于在空间和时间域中解析中子束的高频调制。在该系统中，来自闪烁体的光通过光学透镜进行处理，并使用图像增强器进行增强，使其能够被TPX3芯片检测到。研究了两种不同的闪烁体，即6LiF:ZnS(Ag)和6LiI:Eu，以实现自旋回波调制小角中子散射（SEMSANS）和零功强度调制（MIEZE）所需的高分辨率。描述了进行事件模式分析的方法，包括两种闪烁体聚类参数的优化。对带有两种闪烁体的探测器进行了检测效率、空间分辨率、计数率、均匀性和γ灵敏度等方面的表征。基于6LiF:ZnS(Ag)闪烁体的探测器实现了200μm的空间分辨率和1.1×105 cps的计数率能力，而基于6LiI:Eu闪烁体的探测器展示了250μm的空间分辨率和超过2.9×105 cps的计数率能力。此外，成功观察到了空间和时间域中的高频强度调制，分别证实了该探测器适用于SEMSANS和MIEZE技术。
