Real-Time Signal Processing for Mitigating SiPM Dark Noise Effects in a Scintillating Neutron Detector

K. Pritchard; J. P. Chabot; R. Robucci; F. S. Choa; A. Osovizky; J. Ziegler; E. Binkley; P. Tsai; N. Hadad; M. Jackson; C. Hurlbut; G. M. Baltic; C. F. Majkrzak; N. C. Maliszewskyj

doi:10.1109/TNS.2021.3091008

Real-Time Signal Processing for Mitigating SiPM Dark Noise Effects in a Scintillating Neutron Detector

K. Pritchard, J. P. Chabot, R. Robucci, F. S. Choa, A. Osovizky, J. Ziegler, E. Binkley, P. Tsai, N. Hadad, M. Jackson, C. Hurlbut, G. M. Baltic, C. F. Majkrzak, N. C. Maliszewskyj

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

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

A 6LiF:ZnS(Ag)-based cold neutron detector with wavelength shifting (WLS) fibers and Silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) photodetector was developed at the NIST Center for Neutron Research. For neutron scattering applications at the NCNR, detector false positives severely diminish the quality of very faint neutron scatter patterns. Thermal noise generated by the SiPM significantly increases the likelihood of false positives by the detector/discriminator. This article describes and evaluates a digital real-time algorithm implemented on a field programmable gate array (FPGA) which quickly differentiates SiPM thermal noise and noise pulse pile-up from neutron signals. The algorithm reduces deadtime spent on examining noise pulses as well as reduces the number of false positives.

Original language	English
Article number	9460998
Pages (from-to)	1519-1527
Number of pages	9
Journal	IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science
Volume	68
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/TNS.2021.3091008
State	Published - 1 Jul 2021
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Dark noise
LiF:ZnS
neutron detector
real-time
scintillator
silicon photomultiplier (SiPM)
WLS fiber

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Nuclear Energy and Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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10.1109/TNS.2021.3091008

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Pritchard, K., Chabot, J. P., Robucci, R., Choa, F. S., Osovizky, A., Ziegler, J., Binkley, E., Tsai, P., Hadad, N., Jackson, M., Hurlbut, C., Baltic, G. M., Majkrzak, C. F., & Maliszewskyj, N. C. (2021). Real-Time Signal Processing for Mitigating SiPM Dark Noise Effects in a Scintillating Neutron Detector. IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, 68(7), 1519-1527. Article 9460998. https://doi.org/10.1109/TNS.2021.3091008

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title = "Real-Time Signal Processing for Mitigating SiPM Dark Noise Effects in a Scintillating Neutron Detector",

abstract = "A 6LiF:ZnS(Ag)-based cold neutron detector with wavelength shifting (WLS) fibers and Silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) photodetector was developed at the NIST Center for Neutron Research. For neutron scattering applications at the NCNR, detector false positives severely diminish the quality of very faint neutron scatter patterns. Thermal noise generated by the SiPM significantly increases the likelihood of false positives by the detector/discriminator. This article describes and evaluates a digital real-time algorithm implemented on a field programmable gate array (FPGA) which quickly differentiates SiPM thermal noise and noise pulse pile-up from neutron signals. The algorithm reduces deadtime spent on examining noise pulses as well as reduces the number of false positives.",

keywords = "Dark noise, LiF:ZnS, neutron detector, real-time, scintillator, silicon photomultiplier (SiPM), WLS fiber",

author = "K. Pritchard and Chabot, {J. P.} and R. Robucci and Choa, {F. S.} and A. Osovizky and J. Ziegler and E. Binkley and P. Tsai and N. Hadad and M. Jackson and C. Hurlbut and Baltic, {G. M.} and Majkrzak, {C. F.} and Maliszewskyj, {N. C.}",

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year = "2021",

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doi = "10.1109/TNS.2021.3091008",

language = "English",

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Pritchard, K, Chabot, JP, Robucci, R, Choa, FS, Osovizky, A, Ziegler, J, Binkley, E, Tsai, P, Hadad, N, Jackson, M, Hurlbut, C, Baltic, GM, Majkrzak, CF & Maliszewskyj, NC 2021, 'Real-Time Signal Processing for Mitigating SiPM Dark Noise Effects in a Scintillating Neutron Detector', IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, vol. 68, no. 7, 9460998, pp. 1519-1527. https://doi.org/10.1109/TNS.2021.3091008

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T1 - Real-Time Signal Processing for Mitigating SiPM Dark Noise Effects in a Scintillating Neutron Detector

AU - Pritchard, K.

AU - Chabot, J. P.

AU - Robucci, R.

AU - Choa, F. S.

AU - Osovizky, A.

AU - Ziegler, J.

AU - Binkley, E.

AU - Tsai, P.

AU - Hadad, N.

AU - Jackson, M.

AU - Hurlbut, C.

AU - Baltic, G. M.

AU - Majkrzak, C. F.

AU - Maliszewskyj, N. C.

PY - 2021/7/1

Y1 - 2021/7/1

N2 - A 6LiF:ZnS(Ag)-based cold neutron detector with wavelength shifting (WLS) fibers and Silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) photodetector was developed at the NIST Center for Neutron Research. For neutron scattering applications at the NCNR, detector false positives severely diminish the quality of very faint neutron scatter patterns. Thermal noise generated by the SiPM significantly increases the likelihood of false positives by the detector/discriminator. This article describes and evaluates a digital real-time algorithm implemented on a field programmable gate array (FPGA) which quickly differentiates SiPM thermal noise and noise pulse pile-up from neutron signals. The algorithm reduces deadtime spent on examining noise pulses as well as reduces the number of false positives.

AB - A 6LiF:ZnS(Ag)-based cold neutron detector with wavelength shifting (WLS) fibers and Silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) photodetector was developed at the NIST Center for Neutron Research. For neutron scattering applications at the NCNR, detector false positives severely diminish the quality of very faint neutron scatter patterns. Thermal noise generated by the SiPM significantly increases the likelihood of false positives by the detector/discriminator. This article describes and evaluates a digital real-time algorithm implemented on a field programmable gate array (FPGA) which quickly differentiates SiPM thermal noise and noise pulse pile-up from neutron signals. The algorithm reduces deadtime spent on examining noise pulses as well as reduces the number of false positives.

KW - Dark noise

KW - LiF:ZnS

KW - neutron detector

KW - real-time

KW - scintillator

KW - silicon photomultiplier (SiPM)

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M1 - 9460998

ER -

Real-Time Signal Processing for Mitigating SiPM Dark Noise Effects in a Scintillating Neutron Detector

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