Performance of a MICROMEGAS-based TPC in a high-energy neutron beam

L. Snyder; B. Manning; N. S. Bowden; J. Bundgaard; R. J. Casperson; D. A. Cebra; T. Classen; D. L. Duke; J. Gearhart; U. Greife; C. Hagmann; M. Heffner; D. Hensle; D. Higgins; D. Isenhower; J. King; J. L. Klay; V. Geppert-Kleinrath; W. Loveland; J. A. Magee; M. P. Mendenhall; S. Sangiorgio; B. Seilhan; K. T. Schmitt; F. Tovesson; R. S. Towell; N. Walsh; S. Watson; L. Yao; W. Younes

doi:10.1016/j.nima.2017.10.028

Performance of a MICROMEGAS-based TPC in a high-energy neutron beam

L. Snyder, B. Manning, N. S. Bowden, J. Bundgaard, R. J. Casperson, D. A. Cebra, T. Classen, D. L. Duke, J. Gearhart, U. Greife, C. Hagmann, M. Heffner, D. Hensle, D. Higgins, D. Isenhower, J. King, J. L. Klay, V. Geppert-Kleinrath, W. Loveland, J. A. MageeM. P. Mendenhall, S. Sangiorgio, B. Seilhan, K. T. Schmitt, F. Tovesson, R. S. Towell, N. Walsh, S. Watson, L. Yao, W. Younes

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

The MICROMEGAS (MICRO-MEsh GAseous Structure) charge amplification structure has found wide use in many detection applications, especially as a gain stage for the charge readout of Time Projection Chambers (TPCs). Here we report on the behavior of a MICROMEGAS TPC when operated in a high-energy (up to 800MeV) neutron beam. It is found that neutron-induced reactions can cause discharges in some drift gas mixtures that are stable in the absence of the neutron beam. The discharges result from recoil ions close to the MICROMEGAS that deposit high specific ionization density and have a limited diffusion time. For a binary drift gas, increasing the percentage of the molecular component (quench gas) relative to the noble component and operating at lower pressures generally improves stability.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1-8
Number of pages	8
Journal	Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Volume	881
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2017.10.028
State	Published - Feb 11 2018
Externally published	Yes

Funding

The neutron beam for this work was provided by LANSCE, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC, under contract DE-AC52–06NA25396 . This work performed under the auspices of the U.S Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under contract DE-AC52–07NA27344. This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, Stewardship Science Academic Alliances Program , under Award Number DE-NA0002921 . LLNL-JRNL-722401.

Funders	Funder number
U.S Department of Energy
U.S. Department of Energy	DE-AC52–06NA25396
National Nuclear Security Administration	DE-NA0002921
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory	DE-AC52–07NA27344

Keywords

MICROMEGAS
Neutron beam
TPC
Time Projection Chamber

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10.1016/j.nima.2017.10.028

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Snyder, L., Manning, B., Bowden, N. S., Bundgaard, J., Casperson, R. J., Cebra, D. A., Classen, T., Duke, D. L., Gearhart, J., Greife, U., Hagmann, C., Heffner, M., Hensle, D., Higgins, D., Isenhower, D., King, J., Klay, J. L., Geppert-Kleinrath, V., Loveland, W., ... Younes, W. (2018). Performance of a MICROMEGAS-based TPC in a high-energy neutron beam. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 881, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2017.10.028

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title = "Performance of a MICROMEGAS-based TPC in a high-energy neutron beam",

abstract = "The MICROMEGAS (MICRO-MEsh GAseous Structure) charge amplification structure has found wide use in many detection applications, especially as a gain stage for the charge readout of Time Projection Chambers (TPCs). Here we report on the behavior of a MICROMEGAS TPC when operated in a high-energy (up to 800MeV) neutron beam. It is found that neutron-induced reactions can cause discharges in some drift gas mixtures that are stable in the absence of the neutron beam. The discharges result from recoil ions close to the MICROMEGAS that deposit high specific ionization density and have a limited diffusion time. For a binary drift gas, increasing the percentage of the molecular component (quench gas) relative to the noble component and operating at lower pressures generally improves stability.",

keywords = "MICROMEGAS, Neutron beam, TPC, Time Projection Chamber",

author = "L. Snyder and B. Manning and Bowden, {N. S.} and J. Bundgaard and Casperson, {R. J.} and Cebra, {D. A.} and T. Classen and Duke, {D. L.} and J. Gearhart and U. Greife and C. Hagmann and M. Heffner and D. Hensle and D. Higgins and D. Isenhower and J. King and Klay, {J. L.} and V. Geppert-Kleinrath and W. Loveland and Magee, {J. A.} and Mendenhall, {M. P.} and S. Sangiorgio and B. Seilhan and Schmitt, {K. T.} and F. Tovesson and Towell, {R. S.} and N. Walsh and S. Watson and L. Yao and W. Younes",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2017 Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2018",

month = feb,

day = "11",

doi = "10.1016/j.nima.2017.10.028",

language = "English",

volume = "881",

pages = "1--8",

journal = "Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment",

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Snyder, L, Manning, B, Bowden, NS, Bundgaard, J, Casperson, RJ, Cebra, DA, Classen, T, Duke, DL, Gearhart, J, Greife, U, Hagmann, C, Heffner, M, Hensle, D, Higgins, D, Isenhower, D, King, J, Klay, JL, Geppert-Kleinrath, V, Loveland, W, Magee, JA, Mendenhall, MP, Sangiorgio, S, Seilhan, B, Schmitt, KT, Tovesson, F, Towell, RS, Walsh, N, Watson, S, Yao, L & Younes, W 2018, 'Performance of a MICROMEGAS-based TPC in a high-energy neutron beam', Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, vol. 881, pp. 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2017.10.028

TY - JOUR

T1 - Performance of a MICROMEGAS-based TPC in a high-energy neutron beam

AU - Snyder, L.

AU - Manning, B.

AU - Bowden, N. S.

AU - Bundgaard, J.

AU - Casperson, R. J.

AU - Cebra, D. A.

AU - Classen, T.

AU - Duke, D. L.

AU - Gearhart, J.

AU - Greife, U.

AU - Hagmann, C.

AU - Heffner, M.

AU - Hensle, D.

AU - Higgins, D.

AU - Isenhower, D.

AU - King, J.

AU - Klay, J. L.

AU - Geppert-Kleinrath, V.

AU - Loveland, W.

AU - Magee, J. A.

AU - Mendenhall, M. P.

AU - Sangiorgio, S.

AU - Seilhan, B.

AU - Schmitt, K. T.

AU - Tovesson, F.

AU - Towell, R. S.

AU - Walsh, N.

AU - Watson, S.

AU - Yao, L.

AU - Younes, W.

PY - 2018/2/11

Y1 - 2018/2/11

N2 - The MICROMEGAS (MICRO-MEsh GAseous Structure) charge amplification structure has found wide use in many detection applications, especially as a gain stage for the charge readout of Time Projection Chambers (TPCs). Here we report on the behavior of a MICROMEGAS TPC when operated in a high-energy (up to 800MeV) neutron beam. It is found that neutron-induced reactions can cause discharges in some drift gas mixtures that are stable in the absence of the neutron beam. The discharges result from recoil ions close to the MICROMEGAS that deposit high specific ionization density and have a limited diffusion time. For a binary drift gas, increasing the percentage of the molecular component (quench gas) relative to the noble component and operating at lower pressures generally improves stability.

AB - The MICROMEGAS (MICRO-MEsh GAseous Structure) charge amplification structure has found wide use in many detection applications, especially as a gain stage for the charge readout of Time Projection Chambers (TPCs). Here we report on the behavior of a MICROMEGAS TPC when operated in a high-energy (up to 800MeV) neutron beam. It is found that neutron-induced reactions can cause discharges in some drift gas mixtures that are stable in the absence of the neutron beam. The discharges result from recoil ions close to the MICROMEGAS that deposit high specific ionization density and have a limited diffusion time. For a binary drift gas, increasing the percentage of the molecular component (quench gas) relative to the noble component and operating at lower pressures generally improves stability.

KW - MICROMEGAS

KW - Neutron beam

KW - TPC

KW - Time Projection Chamber

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U2 - 10.1016/j.nima.2017.10.028

DO - 10.1016/j.nima.2017.10.028

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85034063812

SN - 0168-9002

VL - 881

SP - 1

EP - 8

JO - Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

JF - Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

ER -

Performance of a MICROMEGAS-based TPC in a high-energy neutron beam

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Keywords

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