SH2306
EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUES FOR
NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE PHYSICS
(Experimentell
teknik fšr kŠrn- och partikelfysik)
[8 ECTS credits for Master
students in Physics and Engineering Physics (Teknisk fysik civilingenjšr)]
The course is also given as an introductory graduate course [FSH3306, Detection techniques for Nuclear and Particle Physics 8 credits]
Course coordinator:
Bo CEDERWALL
Professor of Experimental Nuclear Physics
Department of Physics, Royal
Institute of Technology (KTH)
Roslagstullsbacken 21, S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
(AlbaNova Centre for Physics, Astronomy and
Biotechnology)
email: cederwall
@
nuclear.kth.se
Ionizing radiation is the
only observable in processes that occur on a scale that is either too brief or
too small to be observed directly. Originally developed for atomic, nuclear and
elementary particle physics, radiation detectors are now applied in many
diverse areas of science, engineering and everyday life. Progress in science is
driven by the interplay of theory and experiment as well as by breakthroughs in
instrumentation. Understanding basic radiation detector principles is therefore
extremely useful for both scientists and engineers.
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INTERACTIONS OF |
DETECTORS |
EXPERIMENTS |
APPLICATIONS |
The course covers selected topics on
basic radiation detection techniques for nuclear and particle physics with applications.
The course is intended for students that have finished their 2-3 first years of
basic education in physics or engineering physics or have started their
graduate studies.
The course language is English.
Lectures are held in the seminar room, Nuclear Physics, KTH
(C3:3031), AlbaNova Campus,
according to the following
Syllabus
á
Overview of Radiation Detectors of
Nuclear and Particle Physics
á
The interaction of electromagnetic
and particle radiation with matter
á
Energy Loss Mechanisms and Spectrum Formation
á
Basic principles of Detectors for
Ionizing Radiation
á
Semiconductor Detectors (and ionization chambers)
á
Scintillation detectors, Photomultipliers and Photodiodes
á
Gaseous Detectors
á
Position Sensitive Detectors
á
Detectors for Weakly Ionizing Radiation
á
Monte Carlo Simulations of Detector Systems
á
Signal Formation, Electronic noise and Optimization of
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
á
Pulse Processing Electronics, Amplification, Pulse Shaping
and Digitization
á
Timing and lifetime measurements
á
Development of a Detector System Concept
á
Applications of Nuclear and
Particle Physics
Learning objectives
á The course aims to provide
the students with an understanding of basic radiation detection techniques for
nuclear and particle physics and their applications in other fields of science,
medicine and industry. After completion of the course the student shall be able
to:
á Describe the basic
interaction mechanisms relevant for radiation detectors and explain their
importance for detecting various types of ionizing radiation at different
energies.
á Describe the properties of
the most common types of detector materials, the working principles behind
detectors based on these materials and their characteristic properties with
respect to energy resolution, efficiency etc.
á Apply the knowledge about
radiation interactions and detector principles to choose the most suitable type
of detector for a given detection task.
á Select the appropriate
electronics building blocks needed for a certain detector system and explain
their function.
á Describe common sources of
noise in radiation detection, their origin and how they can be minimized.
á Explain the limiting factors
to the energy and time resolution of a detector system.
á Design a radiation detection
system, including its basic electronics building blocks, and use it in the
laboratory.
á
Compile information from own work and from the scientific literature
into a written report and an oral presentation.
The course covers 4 main parts:
1) The interaction of electromagnetic and particle
radiation with matter. In this part basic physics is treated. In order to
understand how detectors work such knowledge is necessary. In practice one
wants a detector to do a certain "job". It might mean that one has to
select (from the market) or even to construct a detector for a specific purpose.
Therefore we learn about cross sections of different interactions, range of
particles, mean free path, absorption of radiation in matter, radiation damage,
radiation safety etc.
2) Basic detector principles. Detector properties are
covered as well as statistical processes in detectors. Different types of
detector materials (gas, scintillation detectors, semi-conductors, photo and
electron multipliers) are discussed. Systems of detectors working together for
improved resolution. One laboratory exercise is included: Each student will be
asked to study one detector and to present the results for the other students.
3) Basic electronics. Pulse electronics; preamplifiers,
linear amplifiers, shaping of pulses, analysis of pulses, discriminators. Electronics for logical decisions. Data collection.
4) Applications for Medicine, Industry and other Fields. Examples of Applications
include Positron Emission Tomography in Medical Imaging, trace element analysis
by PIXE and neutron activation, monitoring of radioactive substances in the
environment and for public safety, detection of contraband.
Project work: An extended laboration or other project work is performed in groups of
2 or 3 students. Each project will contain an exercise on Monte-Carlo
simulations.
Examples
of lab projects (to be revised).
Before starting a lab project, you MUST read the provided radiation
protection information.
Examination will be done by oral and written student presentations
of the project work and a written examination.
Grades are determined based on the result of the written examination weighted
by the result of the oral and written presentations of the project work (0,+1, or -1 grade unit).
Grading scheme for the written examination:
E: At least 50% correct answers.
D: At least 60% correct answers.
C: At least 70% correct answers.
B: At least 80% correct answers.
A: At least 90% correct answers.
Fx: 40 – 49% correct answers
The project report is be
expected to be approximately 10 pages (depending on the content) + figures
Guidelines
for writing a project report:
American Institute of
Physics Style Manual
Oral
examination of project work
The oral examination
consists of a 15-20 minute presentation from each group
followed by 10 minutes of questions and discussion. The questioning is lead by
the
opponent group (see lab project instructions above!) which
has prepared 4 questions
on the report that they have been given to examine. The presentation shall
include a
brief demonstration of the GEANT4 simulation performed in the project.
SUGGESTED
COURSE LITERATURE:
Glenn F. Knoll, Radiation Detection and Measurement, 3rd ed.
(Wiley, 2000)
W.R. Leo, Techniques for
Nuclear and Particle Physics Experiments, Second Revised Edition (Springer Verlag, 1994).
H. Spieler,
Semiconductor Detector Systems, (Oxford University Press, 2008).
CONTACT:
Bo Cederwall
