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Scientific Papers
Educational kits contain the same products and technologies developed by CAEN for the major experiments worldwide.
This section is dedicated to a collection of scientific papers developed by Academic World using CAEN Educational kits or some subparts.
Overview
Published Papers
Characterization of SiPMs
Silicon photomultipliers, thanks to their excellent performance, robustness and relatively simple use, are the
photon-detectors of choice for many present and future applications. This paper gives an overview of methods to
characterise SiPMs. The different SiPM parameters are introduced and generic setups for their determination
presented. Finally, ways to extract the parameters from the measurements are discussed and the results shown. If
a parameter can be obtained from different measurements, the results are compared and recommendations given,
which is considered to be the most reliable. The characterisation of SiPMs, in particular for high light
intensities and in high radiation fields, is presently a field of intensive research with many open questions
and problems which will be discussed.
Training Future Engineers to Be Ghostbusters: Hunting for the Spectral Environmental Radioactivity
Although environmental radioactivity is all around us, the collective public imagination often associates a
negative feeling to this natural phenomenon. To increase the familiarity with this phenomenon we have designed,
implemented, and tested an interdisciplinary educational activity for pre-collegiate students in which nuclear
engineering and computer science are ancillary to the comprehension of basic physics concepts. Teaching and
training experiences are performed by using a 4″ x 4″ NaI(Tl) detector for in-situ and laboratory gamma-ray
spectroscopy measurements. Students are asked to directly assemble the experimental setup and to manage the
data-taking with a dedicated Android app, which exploits a client-server system that is based on the Bluetooth
communication protocol. The acquired {\gamma}-ray spectra and the experimental results are analyzed using a
multiple-platform software environment and they are finally shared on an open access Web-GIS service […].
Supporting information to the basic physics concepts provided in this article can be found at this http URL.
The EasyPET: A novel concept for an educational cost-effective positron emission 2D scanner
The easyPET concept proposed here, protected under a patent by the University of Aveiro, aims to realize a
simple and affordable small dimension Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner. This innovative system is
based on a single pair of detectors and a rotating mechanism with two degrees of freedom reproducing the
functionalities of an entire PET ring. A 2D imaging prototype has been designed, commissioned and engineered,
targeted to high level education for physics, engineering and nuclear medicine students. In this paper the
performance of the prototype is reported, with a focus on the imaging capability and on the measurement of the
uncertainty in the reconstruction of the source position. In addition, a detailed analysis is dedicated to the
slice sensitivity and in particular to the effect of the energy threshold on the coincidence event selection.
An EDUGATE simulation toolkit based on the educational easyPET
EasyPET is a new concept of a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner using an innovative acquisition method
based on two rotation axes for the movement of detector pairs. Due to its simplicity, it is suitable for
education purposes, to teach students about the PET technology and its basic concepts, from the radiation
detecting and analogue pulse analysis to the coincidence sorting and image reconstruction. The concept allows
achieving high and uniform position resolution over the whole field of view(FoV), by eliminating parallax errors
due to the depth of interaction (DoI), which are typical of ring-based PET systems, so quality images are
obtained even without state-of- the-art image reconstruction algorithms. The technology developed at the
University of Aveiro with a patent-pending, is licensed to CAEN S.p.A, and included in the educational catalogue
of the company. In this work, a simulation toolkit based in the Edugate platform was developed to simulate the
EasyPET system.
CAEN Educational: Nuclear and Particle Physics Experiments
CAEN S.p.A., an important industrial spin-off of the INFN (National Institute for Nuclear Physics), is pleased
to present its new activities in the educational field. CAEN brings the experience acquired in almost 40 years
of collaboration with the High Energy & Nuclear Physics community into the university educational
laboratories by providing modern physics experiments based on the latest technologies and instrumentation. CAEN
has realized different modular Educational Kits, all based on Silicon Photo multipliers (SiPM) state of-the-art
light sensors with single photon sensitivity and unprecedented photon number resolving capability. They have
proven to be suitable for anincreasing number of applications in science and industry. The main goal is to
inspire students andguide them towards the analysis and comprehension of different physics phenomena with a
series of experiments based on state-of-the art technologies, instruments and methods.
Characterization Measurements Methodology and Instrumental Set-Up Optimization for New SiPM
Detectors-Part I: Electrical Tests
A comprehensive and in-depth characterization procedure for obtaining very accurate measurements on silicon
photomultiplier (SiPM) detectors is described here. A large amount of electro-optical tests are
systematically carried out in terms of the most significant SiPM performance parameters; in particular, an
accurate estimation of the photon detection efficiency is achieved, based on the single-photon counting
technique, with substraction of the dark noise contribution and avoiding the additional noise sources of
crosstalk and after pulsing. Some recently produced detectors are analyzed and their relevant
electro-optical parameters are evaluated in order to confirm the effectiveness and efficacy of the adopted
characterization procedure in assessing the overall SiPM performance. The repeatibility of measurements is
carefully verified. All evaluated parameter trends are proved to be compatible with the physics theory of
the SiPM device.
Characterization Measurements Methodology and Instrumental Set-Up Optimization for New SiPM
Detectors-Part II: Optical Tests
A comprehensive and in-depth characterization procedure for obtaining very accurate measurements on silicon
photomultiplier detectors (SiPMs) is here described. A large amount of optical tests are systematically
carried out and discussed in terms of the most important SiPM performance parameters; in particular, an
accurate estimation of the photon detection efficiency in the 350-900-nm wavelength spectral range and in
steps of 10 nm is achieved, based on the single-photon counting technique, with substraction of the dark
noise contribution and avoiding the additional noise sources of crosstalk and afterpulsing. Some recently
produced detectors are analyzed and their relevant electro-optical parameters are evaluated in order to
demonstrate the effectiveness and efficacy of the adopted characterization procedure and data-handling
protocols in assessing the overall SiPM performance, regardless of the specific device tested. Tests
repeatibility is carefully verified and all the evaluated parameter trends are proved to be compatible with
the physics theory of the SiPM device.
Reconstruction of the statistics of photons by a pulsed LED using a Silicon Photomultiplier based
set-up
Silicon Photomultipliers are a new class of light sensitive detectors with single photon sensitivity and
unprecedented photon number resolving capability. These properties open up the possibility to verify the
statistics of the emitted light analysing the data collected by the sensor. In this paper, a procedure based
on a Multi-Gaussian Fit of the spectrum and a model accounting for detector related effects is proposed and
qualified using a LED illuminating a Silicon Photomultiplier.
Development of a Silicon Photomultiplier toolkit for science and education
Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPM) are a new class of photon sensors with single photon detection capability
and high photon detection efficiency. They have been proved to be suitable for an increasing number of
applications in science and industry. Nowadays, different companies are investing increasing efforts in SiPM
detector performances and high quality mass production, such to make them a natural choice for an always
wider field of applications. In this scenario, a flexible and easy-to-use system that allows the measurement
of the main SiPM characteristics has become an important platform to exploit SiPMs in different
applications. This system can also be used to setup a series of experiments aimed to train physics and
engineering undergraduate and master students in detector measurements and statistics analysis.
Silicon Photomultipliers for Medical Imaging and Dosimetry-an Overview
Silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) are an enabling solid-state technology for low light sensing, with single
photon sensitivity and photon number resolving capability. They feature an extremely high internal gain at
the 106 level, comparable to photomultiplier tubes (PMTs), with the advantage of low operating voltage (~50
V compared to ~1000 V for PMT) and low energy consumption. The solid-state technology makes SiPMs compact,
insensitive to magnetic fields and with an extreme flexibility in the design to cope with different
applications. The fast development of the multiplication avalanche opens up the possibility to achieve time
resolution at the 30 ps level. Dynamic range is however limited compared to PMT and the dark count rate
relatively high, yet today at the level of 50 kHz/mm2 at room temperature. Interfaced with
scintillation material, SiPMs provide a powerful platform for medical imaging applications (in positron
emission tomography/computed tomography and in positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance), for X-ray
quality control as well as for novel compact radiation protection instruments. This article gives an
overview of SiPMs for medical imaging and dosimetry. In addition, a learning and training program targeted
to graduate students is described.
easyPET: a novel concept for an affordable tomographic system
The easyPET concept described here aims to reduce complexity and cost of preclinical Positron Emission
Tomography (PET) scanners. The system, original in its principle and realisation, is based on a single pair
of detectors and a rotating mechanism with two degrees of freedom reproducing the functionalities of an
entire PET ring. The characterisation of a 2D imaging prototype, realised to assess the easyPET concept, is
presented in this paper. In particular, a spatial resolution of 1±0.1 mm and a sensitivity of 0.1% with an
energy threshold of 80 keV have been measured. These encouraging results, compared to the performances of
commercial preclinical PET, motivate the feasibility study of a 3D system.
Application of SiPM for Modern Nuclear Physics Practical Workshop
Silicon PhotoMultipliers (SiPM) are state of the art light detectors with very high single photon
sensitivity and photon number resolving capability, representing a breakthrough in several fundamental and
applied Science domains. So, introduction of SiPM in to the education is important process increasing the
number of specialists involved in the SiPM development and application. As a result of collaborative efforts
between industry and academic institutions modular set of instruments based on SiPM light sensors has been
developed by CAEN s.p.a. It is developed for educational purposes mainly and allows performing a series of
experiments including photon detection, gamma spectrometry, cosmic ray observation and beta and gamma ray
absorption. In addition, an educational experiments based on a SiPM set-up guides students towards a
comprehensive knowledge of SiPM technology while experiencing the quantum nature of light and exploring the
statistical properties of the light pulses emitted by a LED. The toolbox is actually an open platform in
continuous evolution thanks to the contribution of the research community and cooperation with high schools.
Thesis
Radiographie terrestre avec les rayons cosmiques
Quel est le taux de rayons cosmiques en fonction de l’altitude et de la profondeur géologique ? Théorie et
mesures
La physique et l’astronomie en particulier sont des sciences qui me passionnent depuis quelques années et je
compte poursuivre mes études dans ce domaine. Le travail de maturité est une occasion d’approfondir un sujet
qui me captive vraiment et qui peut m’être utile dans le futur. Lorsqu’on nous a présenté les différentes
formes de travail de maturité, je me suis interrogé sur la façon dont je souhaitais conduire mon projet :
effectuer un travail de recherche en répondant à une problématique mais également mener un travail
d’expérimentation me semblait intéressant. J’ai eu par conséquent l’idée de combiner la pratique et la
théorie, en réalisant des mesures tout en répondant à une problématique.
Models
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