Data Processing Engine (DPE): Data Analysis Tool for Particle Tracking and Mixed Radiation Field Characterization with Pixel Detectors Timepix

Hybrid semiconductor pixelated detectors from the Timepix family are advanced detectors for online particle tracking, offering energy measurement and precise time stamping capabilities for particles of various types and energies. This inherent capability makes them highly suitable for various applications, including imaging, medical fields such as radiotherapy and particle therapy, space-based applications aboard satellites and the International Space Station, and industrial applications. The data generated by these detectors is complex, necessitating the development and deployment of various analytical techniques to extract essential information. For this purpose, and to aid the Timepix user community, it was designed and developed the "Data Processing Engine" (DPE) as an advanced tool for data processing designed explicitly for Timepix detectors. The functionality of the DPE is structured into three distinct processing levels: i) Pre-processing: This phase involves clusterization and the application of necessary calibrations and corrections. ii) Processing: This stage includes particle classification, employing machine learning algorithms, and the recognition of radiation fields. iii) Post-processing: Involves various analyses, such as directional analysis, coincidence analysis, frame analysis, Compton directional analysis, and the generation of physics products, are performed. The core of the DPE is supported by an extensive experimental database containing calibrations and referential radiation fields of typical environments, including protons, ions, electrons, gamma rays and X-rays, as well as thermal and fast neutrons. To enhance accessibility, the DPE is implemented into various user interface platforms such as a command-line tool, an application programming interface, and as a graphical user interface in the form of a web portal.Comment: 9 pages, proceedings IWORI

Real-time in-vivo μ-imaging with Medipix2

Abstract An X-ray micro-radiographic system based on the Medipix2 semiconductor pixel detector for dynamic high spatial resolution and for high contrast imaging has been developed. Our system is based on a micro-focus and nano-focus X-ray tube and the hybrid single-photon counting silicon pixel detector Medipix2 (matrix 256×256 sq. pixels of 55 μm pitch). This compact table-top system stands promising as a new tool in the field of small animal imaging as well as in the in-vivo observation of dynamic processes inside living organisms. The main advantages of these Medipix2 pixel detectors include: high sensitivity to low-energy X-ray photons; position sensitive and noiseless single-photon detection with preselected photon energies; single-quantum counting in each pixel performed by digital counter (therefore there is no dark current); digital integration (providing unlimited dynamic range and absolute linearity in device response to number of photons, high sensitivity and high contrast); real-time digital information, high-speed digital communication and data transfer. We improve the picture quality with the help of statistical data analysis and extended the calibration of individual pixels response. 2D and 3D radiographic images of samples demonstrate the potential and applicability of our system for precise in-vivo X-ray high-resolution dynamic diagnostic and biological studies. Obtained results are shown on small animal and organic samples

Silicon Carbide Timepix3 detector for quantum-imaging detection and spectral tracking of charged particles in wide range of energy and field-of-view

The hybrid architecture of the Timepix (TPX) family of detectors enables the use of different semiconductor sensors, most commonly silicon (Si), as well as high-density materials such as Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) or Gallium Arsenide (GaAs). For this purpose, we explore the potential of a silicon carbide (SiC) sensor bump-bonded on a Timepix3 detector as a radiation imaging and particle tracking detector. SiC stands as a radiation-hard material also with the ability to operate at elevated temperatures up to several hundreds of degrees Celsius. As a result, this sensor material is more suitable for radiation harsh environments compared to conventional e.g., Si sensors. In this work, we evaluate the response for precise radiation spectrometry and high-resolution particle tracking of newly developed SiC Timepix3 detector which is built and operated as a compact radiation camera MiniPIX-Timepix3 with integrated readout electronics. Calibration measurements were conducted with mono-energetic proton beams with energies of 13, 22, and 31 MeV at the U-120M cyclotron at the Nuclear Physics Institute Czech Academy of Science (NPI CAS), Prague, as well as 100 and 226 MeV at the Proton Therapy Center Czech (PTC) in Prague. High-resolution pattern recognition analysis and single-particle spectral tracking are used for detailed inspection and understanding of the sensor response. Results include distributions of deposited energy and linear energy transfer (LET) spectra. The spatial uniformity of the pixelated detector response is examined in terms of homogeneously distributed deposited energy.Comment: 9 pages, proceedings iWoRi

Overview on Measured Properties of VTT's Edgeless Detectors and their use in High Energy Physics

During the past five years VTT has actively developed fabrication processes for the state-of-the-art edgeless strip and pixel detectors with a negligible dead region at the edges. The article summarizes the measured properties of VTT's edgeless detectors and gives references to the relevant journal papers. The measured properties include leakage current, breakdown voltage and capacitance dependences on the detector thickness and polarity. Earlier X-ray tube and radiation source characterization results are revised and new ones are introduced to reveal a pixel response as a function of bias voltage and pixel location in the detector's pixel matrix. Part of the article concentrates on alpha particle characterization of the detectors, especially to the pixel response properties at the edge regions of the detector. The article shows that the edgeless detectors are not losing charge collections efficiency at the edge and the spectroscopic response is comparable to the inner regions of the detector. In addition, the distortion of the electric field at the edge of the detector is almost independent on the applied reverse bias voltage

Dual energy CT inspection of a carbon fibre reinforced plastic composite combined with metal components

This work is focused on the inspection of carbon fibre reinforced plastic composites (CFRP) combined with metal components. It is well known that the high absorption of metallic parts degrades the quality of radiographic measurements (contrast) and causes typical metal artefacts in X-ray computed tomography (CT) reconstruction. It will be shown that these problems can be successfully solved utilizing the dual energy CT method (DECT), which is typically used for the material decomposition of complex objects. In other words, DECT can help differentiate object components with a similar overall attenuation or visualise low attenuation components that are next to high attenuation ones. The application of DECT to analyse honeycomb sandwich panels and CFRP parts joined with metal fasteners will be presented in the article

Flexibilni multiparametricka aparatura na bazi VME pro koincidencni spektroskopii a sledovani parametru detektoru.

The methodology of Coincidence Instrumental Activation Analysis (CIAA) based on a three-parameter gamma-gamma coincidence spectrometer with two-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors is presented. A flexible coincidence system was built on standard NIM spectrometric modules connected to VME or CAMAC data acquisition system. The detailed arrangement of the system optimized for maximum energy resolution, maximum data throughput (dead time correction, pile-up rejection) and maximum flexibility is described. The usage of different data acquisition platforms is discussed (VME bus with several different controllers, CAMAC bus). Also the description of developed software for reading and basic processing of measured data is included. The possibilities of off-line data evaluation are discussed. The system was tested to comform with criteria of the CIAA method. Several results of measurements using this method are presented as well. The flexibility of the system is demonstrated on its capability to measure the time characteristics of different detectors.Available from STL Prague, CZ / NTK - National Technical LibrarySIGLECZCzech Republi