arXiv subjects

Hanno Perrey

Publications and source records attributed to Hanno Perrey.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Constellation: The Autonomous Control and Data Acquisition System for Dynamic Experimental Setups

The operation of instruments and detectors in laboratory or beamline environments presents a complex challenge, requiring stable operation of multiple concurrent devices, often controlled by separate hardware and software solutions. These environments frequently undergo modifications, such as the inclusion of different auxiliary devices depending on the experiment or facility, adding further complexity. The successful management of such dynamic configurations demands a flexible and robust system capable of controlling data acquisition, monitoring experimental setups, enabling seamless reconfiguration, and integrating new devices with limited effort. This paper presents Constellation, a flexible and network-distributed control and data acquisition software framework tailored to laboratory and beamline environments, that addresses the limitations of existing solutions. The framework is designed with a focus on extensibility, providing a streamlined interface for instrument integration. It supports efficient system setup via network discovery mechanisms, promotes stability through autonomous operational features, and provides comprehensive documentation and supporting tools for operators and application developers such as controllers and logging interfaces. At the core of the architectural design is the autonomy of the individual components, called satellites, which can make independent decisions about their operation and communicate these decisions to other components. This paper introduces the design principles and framework architecture of Constellation, presents the available graphical user interfaces, shares insights from initial successful deployments, and provides an outlook on future developments and applications.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2021

Evaluation of the in-situ Performance of Neutron Detectors based on EJ-426 Scintillator Screens for Spent Fuel Characterization

The reliable detection of neutrons in a harsh gamma-ray environment is an important aspect of establishing non-destructive methods for the characterization of spent nuclear fuel. In this study, we present results from extended in-situ monitoring of detector systems consisting of commercially available components: EJ-426, a $^6$Li-enriched solid-state scintillator material sensitive to thermal neutrons, and two different types of Hamamatsu photomultiplier tubes (PMT). Over the period of eight months, these detectors were operated in close vicinity to spent nuclear fuel stored at the interim storage facility CLAB, Oskarshamn, Sweden. At the measurement position the detectors were continuously exposed to an estimated neutron flux of approx. 280 n/s $\cdot$ cm$^2$ and a gamma-ray dose rate of approx. 6 Sv/h. Using offline software algorithms, neutron pulses were identified in the data. Over the entire investigated dose range of up to 35 kGr, the detector systems were functioning and were delivering detectable neutron signals. Their performance as measured by the number of identified neutrons degrades down to about 30% of the initial value. Investigations of the irradiated components suggest that this degradation is a result of reduced optical transparency of the involved materials as well as a reduction of PMT gain due to the continuous high currents. Increasing the gain of the PMT through step-ups of the applied high voltage allowed to partially compensate for this loss in detection sensitivity. The integrated neutron fluence during the measurement was experimentally verified to be in the order of $5 \cdot 10^9$ n/cm$^2$. The results were interpreted with the help of MCNP6.2 simulations of the setup and the neutron flux.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2020

EUTelescope: A modular reconstruction framework for beam telescope data

EUTelescope is a modular, comprehensive software framework for the reconstruction of particle trajectories recorded with beam telescopes. Its modularity allows for a flexible usage of processors each fulfilling separate tasks of the reconstruction chain such as clustering, alignment and track fitting. %The reconstruction chain is directed via XML steering files. The framework facilitates the usage of any position sensitive device for both the beam telescope sensors as well as the device under test and supports a wide range of geometric arrangements of the sensors. In this work, the functionality of the EUTelescope framework as released in v2.2 and its underlying dependencies are discussed. Various use cases with emphasis on the General Broken Lines advanced track fitting methods give examples of the work flow and capabilities of the framework.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2017

A comparison of untagged gamma-ray and tagged-neutron yields from 241AmBe and 238PuBe sources

Untagged gamma-ray and tagged-neutron yields from 241AmBe and 238PuBe mixed-field sources have been measured. Gamma-ray spectroscopy measurements from 1 - 5 MeV were performed in an open environment using a CeBr3 detector and the same experimental conditions for both sources. The shapes of the distributions are very similar and agree well with previous data. Tagged-neutron measurements from 2 - 6 MeV were performed in a shielded environment using a NE-213 liquid-scintillator detector for the neutrons and a YAP(Ce) detector to tag the 4.44 MeV gamma-rays associated with the de-excitation of the first excited state of 12C. Again, the same experimental conditions were used for both sources. The shapes of these distributions are also very similar and agree well with previous data, each other, and the ISO recommendation. Our 238PuBe source provides approximately 2.6 times more 4.44 MeV gamma-rays and 2.4 times more neutrons over the tagged-neutron energy range, the latter in reasonable agreement with the original full-spectrum source-calibration measurements performed at the time of their acquisition.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2016

Tagging fast neutrons from a 252Cf fission-fragment source

Coincidence and time-of-flight measurement techniques are employed to tag fission neutrons emitted from a 252Cf source sealed on one side with a very thin layer of Au. The source is positioned within a gaseous 4He scintillator detector. Together with alpha particles, both light and heavy fission fragments pass through the thin layer of Au and are detected. The fragments enable the corresponding fission neutrons, which are detected in a NE-213 liquid-scintillator detector, to be tagged. The resulting continuous polychromatic beam of tagged neutrons has an energy dependence that agrees qualitatively with expectations. We anticipate that this technique will provide a cost-effective means for the characterization of neutron-detector efficiency in the energy range 1 - 6 MeV.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2012

Study of radiation damage induced by 12 keV X-rays in MOS structures built on high resistivity n-type silicon

Imaging experiments at the European X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) require silicon pixel sensors with extraordinary performance specifications: Doses of up to 1 GGy of 12 keV photons, up to 10^5 12 keV photons per pixel of 200 \mum \times 200 \mum arriving within less than 100 fs, and a time interval between XFEL pulses of 220 ns. To address these challenges, in particular the question of radiation damage, the properties of the SiO_2 layer and of the Si-SiO_2 interface using MOS capacitors manufactured on high resistivity n-type silicon irradiated to X-ray doses between 10 kGy and 1 GGy, have been studied. Measurements of Capacitance/Conductance-Voltage (C/G-V) at different frequencies, as well as Thermal Dielectric Relaxation Current (TDRC) have been performed. The data can be described by a radiation dependent oxide charge density and three dominant radiation-induced interface states with Gaussian-like energy distributions in the silicon band gap. It is found that the densities of the fixed oxide charges and of the three interface states increase up to dose values of approximately 10 MGy and then saturate or even decrease. The shapes and the frequency dependences of the C/G-V measurements can be quantitatively described by a simple model using the parameters extracted from the TDRC measurements.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2011

Study of X-ray Radiation Damage in Silicon Sensors

The European X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) will deliver 30,000 fully coherent, high brilliance X-ray pulses per second each with a duration below 100 fs. This will allow the recording of diffraction patterns of single complex molecules and the study of ultra-fast processes. Silicon pixel sensors will be used to record the diffraction images. In 3 years of operation the sensors will be exposed to doses of up to 1 GGy of 12 keV X-rays. At this X-ray energy no bulk damage in silicon is expected. However fixed oxide charges in the insulating layer covering the silicon and interface traps at the Si-SiO2 interface will be introduced by the irradiation and build up over time. We have investigated the microscopic defects in test structures and the macroscopic electrical properties of segmented detectors as a function of the X-ray dose. From the test structures we determine the oxide charge density and the densities of interface traps as a function of dose. We find that both saturate (and even decrease) for doses between 10 and 100 MGy. For segmented sensors the defects introduced by the X-rays increase the full depletion voltage, the surface leakage current and the inter-pixel capacitance. We observe that an electron accumulation layer forms at the Si-SiO2 interface. Its width increases with dose and decreases with applied bias voltage. Using TCAD simulations with the dose dependent parameters obtained from the test structures, we are able to reproduce the observed results. This allows us to optimize the sensor design for the XFEL requirements.

physics.ins-det↗