Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes

Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes
Learning Objectives Understand the basic operation of CROP scintillation counters and photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) and their use in measuring cosmic ray air showers Understand how light is generated in a scintillator Understand how light is transmitted to a PMT Understand how a PMT generates an electric signal Be able to hook up a scintillation counter to its high voltage and an oscilloscope for viewing signals Be able to identify light leaks in a scintillation counter Be able to observe scintillation counter signals using an oscilloscope and identify cosmic ray muons Be able to discuss scintillation counter performance in terms of gain, efficiency and attenuation length

Outline Introduction Light Generation in Scintillators
CROP Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes Outline Introduction Light Generation in Scintillators Light Collection Optical Interfaces and Connections Photodetectors and photomultiplier tubes Performance and Exercises References

Introduction Scintillation counters are multi-purpose particle detectors used in many experimental physics applications Used for charged particle detection (positive or negative), but also neutral particles (photons, neutrons), although light-generation mechanisms are different for charged and neutral particles Basic sequence -- light generation by particle passing through scintillator material, light collection, photodetector turns light into electric signal Scintillation Counter Properties Fast time response -- light generated almost immediately after particle passes through scintillator, photodetectors give fast electric signal Can count number of particles using pulse height. The larger the signal size, the greater the number of particles Position information Based on size of active scintillator material

Photomultiplier tube (PM or PMT) generates electric signal
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes Basic principles of operation Passage of charged particle generates light in scintillator Charged particle Light guide transmits light to photodetector Photomultiplier tube (PM or PMT) generates electric signal

Introduction Examples from High Energy Physics experiments
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes Introduction Examples from High Energy Physics experiments at particle accelerators Hodoscope -- an array of several counters covering a large area Veto counters -- for particles you don’t want to measure Calorimetry -- measuring a particle’s total energy Triggering -- a fast signal which indicates an interesting event to record Examples from cosmic ray experiments CASA KASCADE

Scintillation counters in High-Energy Physics Experiments
Fermilab, Batavia, Illinois Protons Anti-protons CERN, Geneva, Switzerland

Scintillation counter hodoscope
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes Scintillation counter hodoscope Photomultiplier tube Scintillator wedge Foil wrapping Counters arranged as pizza slices

Chicago Air Shower Array (CASA) Dugway Proving Grounds, Utah
University of Chicago and University of Utah collaboration to study extended cosmic ray air showers 1089 boxes in a rectangular grid, 15 meter spacing, each with 4 scintillator planes and 4 photomultplier tubes 1 low voltage and 1 high voltage supply 1 electronics card for data triggering and data acquisition CASA collected data in the 1990’s and is now complete CROP will use retired scintillation counters recovered from CASA

Contents of a CASA detector station
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes Contents of a CASA detector station Weatherproof box top Electronics card 4 scintillators and PMTs Box bottom

The KASCADE experiment
in Karlsruhe, Germany KASCADE = KArlsruhe Shower Core and Array DEtector 252 detector stations Rectangular grid with 13 m spacing Array of 200 x 200 m2

The KASCADE experiment

Introduction Other uses of scintillation counters -- biological research, medical applications (PET scans) Use of scintillation counters in CROP Several counters firing at once indicates extended air shower -- on one school or inter-school Pulse heights related to number of particles in shower and energy of primary cosmic ray Relative arrival times related to primary cosmic ray incident direction

(Positron Emission Tomography)
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes PET Scans (Positron Emission Tomography) 3-D image Scintillating crystal detector and photomultiplier Cross Section

Shower front Shower core hard muons EM shower

Schematic of typical CROP high-school set up
(Not to scale) Inventory of equipment at school 4 weather-proof enclosures for detectors 4 cosmic-ray detectors (acrylic scintillator tiles and photomultiplier tubes) GPS receiver Power supply for detectors (not shown) Personal computer for data acquisition, monitoring, and data analysis with connection to Internet Triggering and data-acquisition electronics card connected to PC Software for PC Cables from rooftop detectors and GPS to PC

2. Light generation in scintillators
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes 2. Light generation in scintillators Different scintillator materials Plastic scintillator -- good for large areas Sodium Iodide (NaI) BGO (Bi4Ge2O12) Lead Tungstate (PbWO4) Focus on plastic scintillator Composition Polystyrene or acrylic (plexiglass, CHCN) Doped with small admixture of a fluor Fluor is organic macro-molecule like POPOP: 1,4-Bis-[2-(5-phenyloxazolyl)]-benzene C24H16N2O2 Light generated by fluorescence process One of the energy loss mechanisms when charged particles pass through matter Similar to television screen or computer monitor Quantum mechanical process Light (photons) emitted isotropically Emission spectrum from typical scintillator Relation to visible light spectrum Inorganic crystals

2. Light generation in scintillators
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes 2. Light generation in scintillators Different scintillator materials Plastic scintillator -- good for large areas Sodium Iodide (NaI) BGO (Bi4Ge2O12) Lead Tungstate (PbWO4) Focus on plastic scintillator Composition Polystyrene or acrylic (plexiglass, CHCN) Doped with small admixture of a fluor Fluor is organic macro-molecule like POPOP: 1,4-Bis-[2-(5-phenyloxazolyl)]-benzene C24H16N2O2 Light generated by fluorescence process One of the energy loss mechanisms when charged particles pass through matter Similar to television screen or computer monitor Quantum mechanical process Light (photons) emitted isotropically (That is, “in all directions” along the particle’s path in the scintillator material) Emission spectrum from typical scintillator Relation to visible light spectrum Inorganic crystals

Television Cathode Ray Tube
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes Television Cathode Ray Tube

Energy absorption and emission diagram
Electrons excited to higher energy levels when a charged particle passes, absorbing part of its energy Electron ground state Electrons drop back to ground state, emitting fluorescence or scintillation light

Typical plastic scintillator emission spectrum
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes Typical plastic scintillator emission spectrum Wavelength of emitted light 1 nm = 1 nanometer = 1  10-9 meter For reference, 1 nm = 10 Angstroms, where 1 Angstrom is approximate size of an atom Maximum emission at about 425 nm

Review of (commonly used) prefixes
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes Review of (commonly used) prefixes 1012 tera (trillion) 109 giga (billion, “10 Gigabyte hard drive”) 106 mega (million, “128 Megabytes of RAM”) 103 kilo (thousand, 1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds) 10– 2 centi (hundredth, 1 in. = 2.54 cm) 10– 3 milli (thousandth, “50 mV per division”) 10– 6 micro (millionth) 10– 9 nano (billionth, “nanosecond”) 10– 12 pico (trillionth) 10– 15 femto

The wavelengths of visible light
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes The wavelengths of visible light 400 nm 700 nm Wavelength in nanometers (nm)  101 103 1011 nm = 100 m

 Wavelength in nanometers (nm)

   = c Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes
Electromagnetic waves (visible light, radio waves, etc.) are characterized by a wavelength (Greek lambda,  ) and a frequency (Greek nu,  ). They are related by the simple formula    = c c = the speed of light in a vacuum = 186,000 miles/sec = 3  108 meters/second Examples: 1. Blue light  = 425 nm = 425  10-9 m Blue light frequency  = c /  = 7  1014 cycles per second (1 cycle per second = 1 hertz, hz) 2. Omaha NPR radio station, “91.5 on your FM dial” “91.5” means a frequency of 91.5 Megahertz (Mhz) Wavelength of the radio waves is  = c /  = 3.3 meters

3. Light Collection Purpose -- Direct as much generated light as possible to the photodetector Need for making counters light tight Light transmission within scintillator Reflections from surfaces, total internal reflection Transmission through surfaces Critical angle Importance of smooth polished surfaces Use of reflective coverings (foil, white paint, white paper, black paper) Multiple bounces (many!) Ray-tracing simulation programs Attenuation of light in scintillator

Light transmission within scintillator
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes Light transmission within scintillator Charged particle passes through here Scintillator Light rays Photomultiplier tubes

Reflection and transmission at surfaces
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes Reflection and transmission at surfaces Air Scintillator material Light totally internally reflected for incident angle greater than critical which depends on optical properties of scintillator and air Scintillator Air Refraction (i.e. transmission) outside scintillator for incident angle less than critical

3. Light Collection Different light collection schemes
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes 3. Light Collection Different light collection schemes Different types of plastic light guides Air light guides (KASCADE) CASA scheme Not optimal, PMT glued onto surface Wavelength-shifting side bars Embedded wavelength-shifting optical fibers Connected to clear optical fibers Can transport light over long distance Other fiber optics applications Laproscopic surgery Telecommunications

Light collection in the KASCADE experiment
Electron and photon detector Photomultiplier 33 kg of liquid scintillator Argon-filled space (better light transmission than air) Light emitted from scintillator is guided by conical reflecting surfaces to photomultiplier tube above

Light collection in the KASCADE experiment
Muon detector Wavelength-shifting bars around perimeter of planes guide light to photomultiplier tubes 4 plastic scintillator planes

The CROP team at the Chicago Air Shower
Array (CASA) site, September 30, 1999 U.S. Army Photo

Laproscopic surgery Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes
Optical fibers transmit image to surgeon Less intrusive technique

Optical Fibers Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes
Fiber core and cladding optimized to prevent leakage of light out of the fiber 95% transmission over 1 km If this were true for ocean water, you could clearly see ocean bottom Transmission modes within optical fibers

What’s wrong with this picture?
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes What’s wrong with this picture?

Several scintillators tied together optically with optical fibers
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes Several scintillators tied together optically with optical fibers To photo-detector Wavelength-shifting optical fiber Scintillator planes

Advantages and limitations of each type of light read-out scheme
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes Advantages and limitations of each type of light read-out scheme Definition of efficiency of light collection Number of photons arriving at the photo-detector Number of photons generated by charged particle About 10% for light guide attached to side A few percent for CASA counters

Discuss possible alternate light read-out schemes
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes Discuss possible alternate light read-out schemes for CASA/CROP detectors PMT “Air” light guide Reflective cone Light Scintillator Charged particle Scintillator More PMTs Advantages and disadvantages?

Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes Discuss possible alternate light read-out schemes for CASA/CROP detectors One or more PMTs Scintillator One or more clear plastic light guides attached to the sides Advantages and disadvantages?

Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes Discuss possible alternate light read-out schemes for CASA/CROP detectors PMT Scintillator Wavelength-shifting sidebar Advantages and disadvantages?

Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes Discuss possible alternate light read-out schemes for CASA/CROP detectors Splice to clear optical fibers Remote PMT Scintillator Wavelength-shifting fibers embedded in groves in scintillator Scintillator End view Advantages and disadvantages?

Attenuation Length Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes
Observation: the light collection efficiency may depend on the place where the particle passes through the scintillator Particle passing far from PMT Particle passing near to PMT PMT Scintillator Distance x Light guide “Pulse height” far “Pulse height” near Pulse heights measured in millivolts (mV) on oscilloscope Typically, the pulse height as a function of distance x away from the near end of the scintillator is described by the function The distance L is called the “attenuation length” of this detector. L is the distance a particle needs to be away from the PMT end of the scintillator to yield a pulse height which is 1/e = 1/2.718 = 37% of the pulse height for a particle passing through at x = 0. A typical attentuation length for the scintillator above is L = 1.0 meter. The attenuation length is a combination of two ingredients: The absorption of light in the scintillator material itself as light propagates toward the PMT 2. The geometric effect of light traveling to the PMT from where it is generated

Attenuation Length in CROP Detectors
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes Attenuation Length in CROP Detectors Expect largest signal pulse height for particle passing close to PMT. PMT Scintillator Expect smaller signal pulse height for particle passing through corner. The signal attenuation is approximately 50% for corner particles compared to particles passing near the PMT.

4. Optical Interfaces and Connections
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes 4. Optical Interfaces and Connections Purpose -- transmit light with high efficiency, sometimes provide mechanical stability of detector as well (should decouple the two tasks if possible) Interface between scintillator material and Light guide Optical fiber Wavelength-shifting bar Interface between light guide or fiber and photodetector Commonly used Optical cements and epoxies Optical grease Air gap

5. Photodetectors and Photomultiplier Tubes
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes 5. Photodetectors and Photomultiplier Tubes Purpose -- transform light into electric signal for further processing of particle information Examples Photomultiplier tube (CROP focus) Photodiode Charged-coupled device Avalanche photodiode (APD) Visible Light Photon Counter (cryogenics) Photomultiplier tube details Entrance window Must be transparent for light wavelengths which need to enter tube Common: glass Fused silicate -- transmits ultraviolet as well

Schematic drawing of a photomultiplier tube
CROP Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes Schematic drawing of a photomultiplier tube (from scintillator) Photocathode Photons eject electrons via photoelectric effect Each incident electron ejects about 4 new electrons at each dynode stage Vacuum inside tube An applied voltage difference between dynodes makes electrons accelerate from stage to stage “Multiplied” signal comes out here

Definition of Photomultiplier Tube Gain
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes Definition of Photomultiplier Tube Gain  = average number of electrons generated at each dynode stage Typically,  = 4 , but this depends on dynode material and the voltage difference between dynodes n = number of multiplication stages Photomultiplier tube gain =  n For n = 10 stages and  = 4 , gain = 410 = 1  107 This means that one electron emitted from the photocathode (these are called “photoelectrons”) yields 1  107 electrons at the signal output

Different types of dynode chain geometries
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes Different types of dynode chain geometries Incoming light

The Photocathode Incoming photons expel electrons from the metallic
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes The Photocathode Incoming photons expel electrons from the metallic surface of the photocathode via the photoelectric effect. The effect was discovered by Heinrich Hertz in 1887 and explained by Albert Einstein in 1905. According to Einstein's theory, light is composed of discrete particles of energy, or quanta, called PHOTONS. When photons with enough energy strike the photocathode, they liberate electrons that have a kinetic energy equal to the energy of the photons less the “work function” (the energy required to free the electrons from a particular material). Einstein received the Nobel Prize for his 1905 paper explaining the photoelectric effect. What were the other two famous Einstein papers from 1905?

The Photocathode Incoming photons expel electrons from the metallic
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes The Photocathode Incoming photons expel electrons from the metallic surface of the photocathode via the photoelectric effect. The effect was discovered by Heinrich Hertz in 1887 and explained by Albert Einstein in 1905. According to Einstein's theory, light is composed of discrete particles of energy, or quanta, called PHOTONS. When photons with enough energy strike the photocathode, they liberate electrons that have a kinetic energy equal to the energy of the photons less the “work function” (the energy required to free the electrons from a particular material). Einstein received the Nobel Prize for his 1905 paper explaining the photoelectric effect. What were the other two famous Einstein papers from 1905? Theory of special relativity Explanation of Brownian motion

The Photocathode Photocathode composition
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes The Photocathode Photocathode composition Semiconductor material made of antimony (Sb) and one or more alkalai metals (Cs, Na, K) Thin, so ejected electrons can escape Definition of photocathode quantum efficiency, h(l) Number of photoelectrons released h(l) = Number of incident photons (l) on cathode Typical photocathode quantum efficiency is % Photocathode response spectrum Need for matching scintillator light output spectrum with photocathode response spectrum

Typical photocathode response curve
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes Typical photocathode response curve 200 nm Wavelength of light 700 nm 1 nm = 1 nanometer = 1  10-9 meter Note: Quantum efficiency > 20% in range nm Peak response for light wavelengths near 400 nm

High voltage applied to dynodes creates electric fields
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes The dynode chain High voltage applied to dynodes creates electric fields which guide electrons from stage to stage Process of secondary emission yields more electrons at each stage This is the “multiplication” in “photomultiplier” Process is similar to photoelectric effect, with incident photon replaced by incident electron Composition of dynodes Ag - Mg Cu - Be Deposited in thin layer on Cs - Sb conducting support Sensitivity to earth’s magnetic field Earth’s magnetic field is typically Gauss Trajectories of charged particles moving in a magnetic field will curve, depending on field orientation Can cause photoelectrons and secondary-emitted electrons not to reach next stage First few stages, when there are few electrons, most vulnerable Use of magnetic shields Should extend shield beyond front of tube

The phototube base and high voltage supply
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes The phototube base and high voltage supply Purpose -- provide an electric field between photocathode and first dynode successive dynodes to accelerate electrons from stage to stage About 100 V voltage difference needed between stages Chain of resistors forms voltage divider to split up high voltage into small steps Capacitors store readily-available charge for electron multiplication Typical base draws milliamperes of current

The electric field between successive dynodes A simplified view Represents a dynode - 100 Volts Electric field between plates + Represents the next dynode An electron (negative charge) released from the negative plate will be accelerated toward the positive plate

Typical phototube base schematic
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes Typical phototube base schematic Output signal to oscilloscope Photocathode Dynodes Tube body Ground High voltage supply Positive Current flows through resistor chain for voltage division Capacitors (which store charge) needed for final stages when there are many electrons Output signal flows out of tube

A simple voltage divider
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes A simple voltage divider Greek omega for resistance unit, Ohms Current, I (amperes) 4 W = R1 Battery Vbatt = 9 Volts a + - Voltmeter here 2 W = R 2 b Measured with voltmeter between points (a) and (b) You have “divided” the 9 Volt battery: 3 Volts and 6 Volts are now accessible with this circuit.

Vacuum inside tube body
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes Vacuum inside tube body Purpose -- minimize collisions of electrons with gas molecules during transit Requires strong tube body Pins for electrical connections pierce through glass at bottom of tube (leak-tight) Damage to tube by helium or hydrogen “Small” gas molecules can leak into tube, even through glass

Variation of PMT gain with high voltage
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes Variation of PMT gain with high voltage Increasing high voltage increases electron transmission efficiency from stage to stage Especially important in first 1-2 dynodes Increasing high voltage increases kinetic energy of electrons impacting dynodes Increases amplification factor d

Oscilloscope traces from scintillation counters
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes Oscilloscope traces from scintillation counters Plastic scintillator 5000 nsec / division (Longer time scale for fluorescence to occur) Inorganic crystal, NaI 10 nsec / division

Close-up of photoelectron trajectories to first dynode
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes Close-up of photoelectron trajectories to first dynode

References 1. Introduction to Experimental Particle Physics by
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes References 1. Introduction to Experimental Particle Physics by Richard Fernow, Cambridge University Press, 1986, ISBN (paperback), Chapter 7, pages (includes exercises) 2. Photomultiplier Manual, Technical Series PT-61, 1970, RCA Corporation 3. Techniques for Nuclear and Particle Physics by W. R. Leo, Springer-Verlag, Germany, 1994, ISBN , Chapters 7-9, pages 4. Radiation Detection and Measurement, 3rd Edition, by Glenn F.Knoll, Wiley 2000, ISBN , Chapters 8-10, pages

Light transmission through entrance wnidow
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes Light transmission through entrance wnidow Different window materials Percent of light which passes Wavelength of light 200 nm 700 nm Observe: 20% transmission typical for 400 nm light Fused silica extends transmission into lower wavelengths Less than 400 nm is ultraviolet light

6. Performance and exercises
CROP Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes 6. Performance and exercises Signal shape, pulse height and duration Pulse height distributions Linearity Attenuation length Oscilloscope examples and exercises with changing high voltage, radioactive source, attenuation length

Development Questions
Scintillation Counters and Photomultiplier Tubes Development Questions Request permission to use figures now Specific figures or general release? What format to aim for this summer? Powerpoint presentation (with embedded figures?) Accompanying text Accessibility on the web, with “more detail here” links Curriculum & Instruction check for level-appropriateness Format for field-testing in schools

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