Thermal pathways in ultra-high resolution gamma-ray detector materials for nuclear material detection [10U08UDzink]

用于核材料检测的超高分辨率伽马射线探测器材料的热通路 [10U08UDzink]

• 批准号: 0813777
• 负责人: Barry Zink
• 金额: $ 11.9万
• 依托单位: University of Denver
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2008-07-01 至 2011-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0813777&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Thermal; pathways; ultra; resolution; gamma; Thermal; pathways; ultra; resolution; gamma

The illicit trafficking and production of special nuclear materials (SNM) is a paramount global concern. Currently, scintillator detectors are used to determine whether SNM are present in incoming vehicles or cargo at border crossings. These detectors are cost effective and fast, but have a relatively poor spectral energy resolution. As a result, they cannot discriminate dangerous materials such as highly-enriched uranium (HEU) from common and innocuous background radiation. Even high purity germanium detectors, the current state of the art for gamma-ray detection, often do not have good enough resolution to clearly separate HEU emissions from background. Cryogenic microcalorimeters are a new class of detectors that provide resolution capable of separating these lines from any interference. The overall goal of this project is to provide the knowledge necessary to make these microcalorimeters an efficient and field usable instrument that will help solve real-world nuclear security and forensics problems. Specifically, we will design and implement measurements on the thermal properties of these low-temperature detectors that will enable faster, more efficient, array-compatible sensors with extremely high spectral resolution. These experiments will be designed and implemented by a team that includes a postdoctoral scholar, graduate and undergraduate student researchers, who will also work collaboratively with scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology and Los Alamos National Lab. The broader impacts of the project encompass education and technical training of post-graduate, graduate, and undergraduate students, and strengthening partnerships between the University of Denver, NIST and LANL. In addition, much of our work focuses on development and implementation of novel measurement techniques to probe thermal properties of detectors and their micromachined constituent materials. Many of these new techniques will be useful for a broad range of future experiments, and their development provides opportunities for students to learn techniques relevant to high-tech industry such as silicon micromachining and circuit design and characterization.

特殊核材料（SNM）的非法贩运和生产是全球最重要的关注点。 当前，闪烁体检测器用于确定在过境点处的传入车辆或货物中是否存在SNM。 这些探测器具有成本效益且快速，但光谱能量分辨率相对较差。 结果，他们无法区分危险材料，例如高度增益的铀（HEU）与共同和无害的背景辐射。 即使是高纯净锗探测器，即当前用于伽马射线检测的技术状态，通常也没有足够的分辨率来清楚地将HEU排放量与背景区分开。 低温微钙化器是一类新的检测器，可提供能够将这些线与任何干扰分开的分辨率。 该项目的总体目标是提供必要的知识，以使这些微钙化器成为有效且可用的可用工具，以帮助解决现实世界中的核安全和法医问题。 具体而言，我们将设计和实施对这些低温检测器的热性能的测量结果，这些探测器将使具有极高光谱分辨率的更快，更有效，与阵列兼容的传感器能​​够更快，更有效，与阵列兼容。 这些实验将由一个团队设计和实施，其中包括一名博士后学者，研究生和本科生研究人员，他们还将与国家标准与技术研究所以及洛斯阿拉莫斯国家实验室的科学家合作。 该项目的更广泛影响包括对研究生，研究生和本科生的教育和技术培训，并加强了丹佛大学，NIST和LANL之间的合作伙伴关系。 此外，我们的大部分工作都集中在开发和实施新型测量技术以探测检测器及其微机组成材料的热性能。 这些新技术中的许多将对许多未来的实验有用，它们的开发为学生提供了与高科技行业相关的技术（例如硅微加工，电路设计和表征）的机会。