[en] An ionization detector electrode and signal subtraction apparatus and method provide at least one first conductive trace formed onto the first surface of an ionization detector. The first surface opposes a second surface of the ionization detector. At least one second conductive trace is also formed on the first surface of the ionization detector in a substantially interlaced and symmetrical pattern with the at least one first conductive trace. Both of the traces are held at a voltage potential of a first polarity type. By forming the traces in a substantially interlaced and symmetric pattern, signals generated by a charge carrier are substantially of equal strength with respect to both of the traces. The only significant difference in measured signal strength occurs when the charge carrier moves to within close proximity of the traces and is received at the collecting trace. The measured signals are then subtracted and compared to quantitatively measure the magnitude of the charge and to determine the position at which the charge carrier originated within the ionization detector. 9 figs

[en] Using ¹⁴C-spiked pyrolytic graphite-coated quartz crucibles for the growth of nine ultra-pure germanium single crystals, we have determined the carbon content and distribution in these crystals. Using autoradiography, we observe a rapidly decreasing carbon cluster concentration in successively grown crystals. Nuclear radiation detectors made from the crystals measure the betas from the internally decaying ¹⁴C nuclei with close to 100% efficiency. An average value for the total carbon concentration [¹⁴C + ¹²C] is approx. 2 x 10¹⁴ cm^-3, a value substantially larger than expected from earlier metallurgical studies. Contrary to the most recent measurement, we find the shape of the beta spectrum to agree very well with the statistical shape predicted for allowed transitions

[en] Noise in CdZnTe devices with different electrode configurations was investigated. Measurements on devices with guard-ring electrode structures showed that surface leakage current does not produce any significant noise. The parallel white noise component of the devices appeared to be generated by the bulk current alone, even though the surface current was substantially higher. This implies that reducing the surface leakage current of a CdZnTe detector may not necessarily result in a significant improvement in noise performance. The noise generated by the bulk current is also observed to be below full shot noise. This partial suppression of shot noise may be the result of Coulomb interaction between carriers or carrier trapping. Devices with coplanar strip electrodes were observed to produce a 1/f noise term at the preamplifier output. Higher levels of this 1/f noise were observed with decreasing gap widths between electrodes. The level of this 1/f noise appeared to be independent of bias voltage and leakage current but was substantially reduced after certain surface treatments

[en] The advantages of spectrally resolved gamma-ray imaging have previously been demonstrated for the detection of fissile materials. However, previous results have been obtained with the relatively poor spectral resolution provided by scintillator-based detectors. In this paper we present a new class of coded aperture imager based on a position-sensitive germanium detector. The use of this detector type provides a factor of 40 improvement in energy resolution which improves the quality of the images obtained while reducing the integration time required. Tight spectral cuts on known emission lines allow deeper penetration into highly attenuating objects. In addition, advanced analysis techniques can provide information on overlying material though the application of spatially resolved gamma-gauging. We describe the imager, present simulations of its capabilities and the first characterizations of a prototype detector

No abstract available

[en] We have constructed a nanoplasmonic molecular ruler, which can perform label-free and real-time monitoring of DNA length changes and perform DNA footprinting. The ruler was created by tethering double-stranded DNA to single Au nanoparticles. The scattering spectra of Au-DNA nanoconjugates showed red-shifted peak plasmon resonance wavelength dependent on DNA length, which can be measured with sub-nanometer axial resolution, averaging ∼1.24 nm peak wavelength shift per DNA base pair. The spectra of individual Au-DNA nanoconjugates in the presence of nuclease showed a time-resolved dependence on the reaction dynamics, allowing quantitative, kinetic and real-time measurement of nuclease activity. The ruler was further developed into a new DNA footprinting platform. We showed the specific binding of a protein to DNA and the accurate mapping of its footprint. This work promises a very fast and convenient platform for mapping DNA-protein interactions, for nuclease activity monitoring, and for other DNA size-based methods

[en] Construction and performance of a monolithic quad-pixel Ge detector for fluorescence x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) at synchrotron radiation sources are described. The detector semiconductor element has an active surface area of 4.0 cm² which is electrically separated into four 1.0 cm² pixels, with little interfacial dead volume. Spatial response of the array shows that cross-talk between adjacent pixels is < 10% for 5.9 keV photons that fall within 0.5 mm of the pixel boundaries. The detector electronics system uses pre-amplifiers built at LBNL with commercial Tennelec Model TC 244 amplifiers. Using an ⁵⁵Fe test source (MnK_α, 5.9 keV), energy resolution of better than 200 eV is achieved with a 4 μsec peaking time. At 0.5 μsec peaking time, pulse pileup results in a 75% throughput efficiency for an incoming count rate of 100 kHz. Initial XAS fluoresncece measurements at the beamline 4 wiggler end stations at SSRL show that the detector system has several advantages over commercial x-ray spectrometers for low-concentration counting

[en] A 3D numerical study on surface plasmon resonance is presented for a multilayer Au/dielectric/Au nanocrescent structure adhered to a dielectric cylinder. Investigations are carried out on the structure’s coupling modes, local field enhancement (LFE) and plasmon tuning capability. The cavity coupling via the cylinder is found to be dominant in tuning the plasmon wavelength. This provides the possibility of tailoring the device’s plasmon band by adjusting the cylinder’s size and material. By using a cylinder with higher permittivity, the plasmon peak significantly shifts to the near- or mid-infrared regime without increasing the size of the crescents, thus increase of radiation loss can be fully avoided. Extra crescent layers can also be added to the structure to induce intra-particle couplings among Au crescents and enlarge the areas of the hot-spots, without shifting the plasmon band. The LFE of the multiple-layer structure is shown to be dramatically increased through the intra-particle coupling among the Au crescents, compared with a single layer Au nanocrescent structure. Further increase of LFE can be achieved by substituting semiconductors for the dielectrics in the structure due to the charge transport at metal–semiconductor interfaces. (paper)

[en] We present a systematic numerical study of plasmon resonance of the nanocrescent. We show that by varying the nanocrescent geometry, the plasmon resonance peak can be tuned into the near-infrared and local field enhancement can be increased significantly, with maximum enhancement of the electric field amplitude of approximately 100 for realistic geometric parameters. Because of its wide tunability, high local field enhancement, and geometry which utilizes both sharp features and intra-particle coupling, the nanocrescent is a structure well suited for in vivo cellular imaging as well as in vitro diagnostic applications

[en] The construction and performance characteristics of a monolithic quad-pixel Ge detector designed specifically for fluorescence x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) at synchrotron radiation sources is described. The detector semiconductor element has an active surface area of 4.0 cm² that is electrically separated into four 1.0 cm² pixels, with little interfacial dead volume. The spatial response of the array demonstrates that cross-talk between adjacent pixels is less than 10% for 5.9-keV photons that fall within 0.5 mm of the pixel boundaries. The detector electronics system utilizes preamplifiers built at LBNL with commercial Tennelec Model TC 244 amplifiers. Employing an ⁵⁵Fe test source (Mn K_α, 5.9 keV), energy resolution of better than 200 eV is achieved with a 4 msec peaking time. At 0.5 msec peaking time, pulse pileup results in a 75% throughput efficiency for an incoming count rate of 100 kHz. Initial XAS fluorescence measurements at the beamline 4 wiggler end stations at SSRL show that the detector system has several advantages over commercially available x-ray spectrometers for low-concentration counting applications. copyright 1996 American Institute of Physics