Digital Timing Electronics

Nuclear Physics experiments, such as neutron time-of-flight, require timing as a crucial element. However, coincidence timing for scintillators and HPGe detectors with standard, constant-fraction discriminator timing have timing uncertainties that are too large for precise imaging. In other applications, active neutron interrogation systems currently have a spatial resolution of a few feet when a few inches is required to identify the threat level of explosives or large tumors. Neither the replication of analog techniques in digital form nor the use of textbook regression models reduces the timing uncertainty well enough. This project will apply technology developed in the extraction of energy information form gridless HPXe detectors to the timing of HPGe and NaI detectors. Empirical enhancements that lead to a factor-of-three improvement in HPXe gamma-ray energy resolution will be extended to timing. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: In addition to the nuclear physics application, significantly improved scintillators and HPGe timing would enable the neutron interrogation of shipping containers and tumors with advanced imaging, reducing the minimum amount of explosives from 100 pounds to 1 kilogram and tumors down to a few inches in diameter.