A segmented conical electric lens for optimization of the beam spot of the low-energy muon facility at PSI: a Geant4 simulation analysis

The low-energy muon facility at PSI provides nearly fully polarized positive muons with tunable energies in the ke V range to carry out muon spin rotation(LE-μSR)experiments with nanometer depth resolution on thin films,heterostructures, and near-surface regions. The low-energy muon beam is focused and transported to the sample by electrostatic lenses. In order to achieve a minimum beam spot size at the sample position and to enable the steering of the beam in the horizontal and vertical direction, a special electrostatic device has been implemented close to the sample position. It consists of a cylinder at ground potential followed by four conically shaped electrodes,which can be operated at different electric potential. In LE-μSR experiments, an electric field at the sample along the beam direction can be applied to accelerate/decelerate muons to different energies(0.5–30 keV). Additionally, a horizontal or vertical magnetic field can be superimposed for transverse or longitudinal field μSR experiments. The focusing properties of the conical lens in the presence of these additional electric and magnetic fields have been investigated and optimized by Geant4 simulations. Some experimental tests were also performed and show that the simulation well describes the experimental setup.

Beamline design for multipurpose muon beams at CSNS EMuS

A new muon beam facility,called the Experimental Muon Source(EMuS),was proposed for construction at the China Spallation Neutron Source(CSNS).The design of the complex muon beamlines for the EMuS baseline scheme,which is based on superconducting solenoids,superferric dipoles and room-temperature magnets,is presented herein.Various muon beams,including surface muons,decay muons and low energy muons,have been developed for multipurpose applications.The optics design and simulation results of the trunk beamline and branch beamlines are presented.With a proton beam power of 25 kW at a standalone target station that consists of a conical graphite target and high-field superconducting solenoids,the muon beam intensity in the trunk beamline varies from 10^(7)/s for surface muons to 10^(10)/s for high-momentum decay muons.And at the endstations,these values vary from 10^(5)/s for surface muons to 10^(8)/s for decay muons.

Simulation and experimental comparison of the performance of four-corner-readout plastic scintillator muon-detector system

Cosmic-ray muons are highly penetrating background-radiation particles found in natural environments.In this study,we develop and test a plastic scintillator muon detector based on machine-learning algorithms.The detector underwent muon position-resolution tests at the Institute of Modern Physics in Lanzhou using a multiwire drift chamber(MWDC)experimental platform.In the simulation,the same structural and performance parameters were maintained to ensure the reliability of the simulation results.The Gaussian process regression(GPR)algorithm was used as the position-reconstruction algorithm owing to its optimal performance.The results of the Time Difference of Arrival algorithm were incorporated as one of the features of the GPR model to reconstruct the muon hit positions.The accuracy of the position reconstruction was evaluated by comparing the experimental results with Geant4 simulation results.In the simulation,large-area plastic scintillator detectors achieved a position resolution better than 20 mm.In the experimental-platform tests,the position resolutions of the test detectors were 27.9 mm.We also analyzed factors affecting the position resolution,including the critical angle of the total internal reflection of the photomultiplier tubes and distribution of muons in the MWDC.Simulations were performed to image both large objects and objects with different atomic numbers.The results showed that the system could image high-and low-Z materials in the constructed model and distinguish objects with significant density differences.This study demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed system,thereby providing a new detector system for muon-imaging applications.

BESⅢ MUON气体监测器数据获取系统

为系统研究BESⅢ MUON气体监测器在55Fe 5.9keV X射线辐照时的性能,基于CAMAC总线技术以LabVIEW搭建并编译坪曲线数据获取系统和全能光电峰幅度谱数据获取系统。为减少运行时测试系统电子学开支,优化系统,基于研华PCI-1716L采集卡搭建了数据采集系统,结合LabVIEW和ROOT编译了性能稳定、数据分析精确的取数软件。

BESⅢ Muon鉴别器前端电子学读出系统

本文介绍了BESⅢ Muon前端电子学读出系统的结构,详细说明了依据菊花链方式的前端板和基于USB的读出板的设计和实现方法。该系统中较多地采用了FPGA技术,极大地降低了系统的复杂程度和建造成本。文章最后介绍了系统的自检方式,并给出了该系统在北京高能物理研究所谱仪大厅内的宇宙线测试结果,论证了系统的可靠性。

BESⅢMuon鉴别器电子学系统的VME控制/扇出插件的设计和测试

本文介绍了BESIII Muon鉴别器读出电子学系统的VME控制/扇出插件的设计,其中包括插件的功能和结构,插件上FPGA逻辑的设计等。插件在制作和调试完成后,进行了相关功能和稳定性的测试。

BESⅢ MUON气体监测器的研制与安装测试

研制计数管监测器,通过监测55Fe 5.9keV X射线光电峰,实时监测BESⅢMUON探测器的气体配比。经过系列实验研究了计数管的各种性能,明确其工作模式为有限正比模式;选取最佳工作高压保证监测器可以长期稳定运行。基于LabVIEW和ROOT编译了集成的PCI数据获取系统,实时在线显示监测结果。根据电子学信号特点,合理安装监测器高压、气体、电子学,减小测试系统开支。完成安装调试后进行长时间监测,并报告了初步的测试结果。

羊八井Muon望远镜中基于FPGA的方向测量电路

方向测量电路在羊八井Muon望远镜中用于测定Muon粒子的入射方向。该望远镜由上下相隔一定距离两层6×4排列的塑料闪烁体探测器阵列构成,能探测77个Muon粒子的入射方向及各个方向入射粒子计数率。能监测记录到高计数率、窄脉宽的输入信号以及极短的死时间是Muon望远镜对方向探测电路的要求。借助资源丰富、高速的FPGA,在单个芯片上实现了Muon望远镜方向探测电路所要求的全部功能。此外由于FPGA提供在线编程,使得对系统的功能修改或升级非常方便。低功耗是基于FPGA的方向测量电路的另一大优势。

BESⅢMUON探测器建造和质量控制数据库

介绍了BESIII Muon探测器在建造过程中的质量控制数据库。基于MySQL+PHP+A- pache组合开发的数据库可以实现Muon探测器从单元制造测试到整体安装检验的全程资料和数据的即时更新、查询与显示等功能。此数据库尝试将数据库和网络的优点应用到探测器建造过程的质量跟踪与控制环节,不仅有利于质量的保证和效率的提高,而且为探测器的维护提供透明的技术支持平台。

Experimental validation of material discrimination ability of muon scattering tomography at the TUMUTY facility

Muon scattering tomography is believed to be a promising technique for cargo container inspection, owing to the ability of natural muons to penetrate into dense materials and the absence of artificial radiation. In this work, the material discrimination ability of muon scattering tomography is evaluated based on experiments at the Tsinghua University cosmic ray muon tomography facility,with four materials: flour(as drugs substitute), aluminum,steel, and lead. The features of the different materials could be discriminated with cluster analysis and classifiers based on support vector machine. The overall discrimination precisions for these four materials could reach 70, 95, and 99% with 1-, 5-, and 10-min-long measurement,respectively.

BESⅢ Muon电子学VME控制扇出插件的优化设计

主要阐述BESⅢ Muon电子学VME控制扇出插件的优化设计,主要内容包括对VME控制扇出插件控制芯片FPGA的固件进行优化,并且设计了相关实验来对优化方案进行测试。

A modified multi-group model of angular and momentum distribution of cosmic ray muons for thickness measurement and material discrimination of slabs

Muon tomography is a capable imaging technique to measure the geometry of high-Z objects. However,most existed algorithms used in muon tomography have obscured the effects of angular distribution and momentum spectra of cosmic ray muons and reduced the spatial resolution. We present a modified multi-group model that takes into account these effects and calibrates the model by the material of lead. Performance tests establish that the model is capable of measuring the thickness of a Pb slab and identifying the material of an unknown slab on a reasonable exposure timescale, in both cases of complete and incomplete angular data. Results show that the modified multi-group model is helpful for improvements in image resolution in real applications.

BESⅢ Muon前端电子学数据链过流保护系统设计

论文介绍了BESⅢ Muon前端电子学数据链过流保护系统的设计,其主要功能是监控数据链供电,防止数据链受大电流损伤。文章主要阐述了过流保护系统的软硬件设计,同时给出了过流保护系统原型机各项基本指标的测试结果。

Imaging internal density structure of the Laoheishan volcanic cone with cosmic ray muon radiography

Muon radiography is a promising technique for imaging the internal density structures of targets such as tunnels,pyramids,and volcanoes up to a scale of a few hundred meters by measuring the flux attenuation of cosmic ray muons after they have traveled through these targets.In this study,we conducted experimental muon radiography of one of the volcanoes in the Wudalianchi area in Northeast China to image its internal density structure.The muon detector used in this study was composed of plastic scintillators and silicon photomultipliers.After approximately one and a half months of observing the crater and conduit of the Laoheishan volcano cone in Wudalianchi from September 23^(rd) to November 10^(th) 2019,more than 3 million muon tracks fulfilling the data selection criteria were collected.Based on the muon samples and high-resolution topography obtained through aerial photogrammetry using an unmanned aerial vehicle,a density image of the Laoheishan volcano cone was constructed.The results obtained in this experiment demonstrate the feasibility of using a radiography technique based on plastic scintillator detectors.To obtain the density distribution,we performed a detailed background analysis and found that low-energy charged particles dominated the background noise.Relatively higher densities were found near the surface of the volcanic cone,whereas relatively lower densities were found near the center of the volcanic cone.The experiment in this study is the first volcano muon tomography study performed in China.Our work provides an important reference for future research.

A possible scheme for the surface muon beamline at CSNS

An experimental muon source is planned for the China Spallation Neutron Source.A simplified beamline with a limited number of magnets is achieved using a FODO lattice for implementation in a future preliminary stage.The yield of the muon delivered to the experimental sample is slightly larger than 10^5 μ^+/s within the FWHM beam spot(-φ30 mm)from a thick muon target.In addition,the beam polarization is 92%and the contamination that is mainly formed by positrons is approximately a fraction of 1%.

Simulation and Design of Tentative Muon Source Based on CSNS

This paper presents a conceptual design for the first tentative surface muon source based on the proton beam provided by China Spallation Neutron Source （CSNS）. We have calcu- lated the optimal parameters of solid muon target, in which the method of Monte Carlo simula- tion is used to obtain the optimal muon beam parameters, such as beam fiuence rate, momentum spread and phase space distribution. A simple muon transport beamline system was also designed, which could transport the muons emitted from the muon target into the experimental area, where positrons from muon decay in a test sample are detected by a spectrometer. The beam optics of this new beam line is also described.

Hybrid model for muon tomography and quantitative analysis of image quality

Muon tomography is a novel method for the non-destructive imaging of materials based on muon rays,which are highly penetrating in natural background radiation.Currently,the most commonly used imaging methods include muon radiography and muon tomography.A previously studied method known as coinciding muon trajectory density tomography,which utilizes muonic secondary particles,is proposed to image low and medium atomic number(Z)materials.However,scattering tomography is mostly used to image high-Z materials,and coinciding muon trajectory density tomography exhibits a hollow phenomenon in the imaging results owing to the self-absorption effect.To address the shortcomings of the individual imaging methods,hybrid model tomography combining scattering tomography and coinciding muon trajectory density tomography is proposed and verified.In addition,the peak signal-to-noise ratio was introduced to quantitatively analyze the image quality.Different imaging models were simulated using the Geant4 toolkit to confirm the advantages of this innovative method.The simulation results showed that hybrid model tomography can image centimeter-scale materials with low,medium,and high Z simultaneously.For high-Z materials with similar atomic numbers,this method can clearly distinguish those with apparent differences in density.According to the peak signal-to-noise ratio of the analysis,the reconstructed image quality of the new method was significantly higher than that of the individual imaging methods.This study provides a reliable approach to the compatibility of scattering tomography and coinciding muon trajectory density tomography.

Impact of Low-Energy Ion Beam Implantation on the Expression of Ty1-copia-like Retrotransposons in Wheat(Triticum aestivum)

Retrotransposon-like elements are major constituents of most eukaryotic genomes. For example, they account for roughly 90% of the wheat （Triticum aestivum） genome, Previous study on a wheat strain treated by low-energy N^＋ ions indicated the variations in AFLP （Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism ） markers, One such variation was caused by the re-activation of Tyl-copia-like retrotransposons, implying that the mutagenic effects of lowenergy ions might work through elevated activation of retrotransposons, In this paper an expression profile of Tyl-copia-like retrotransposons in wheat treated by low-energy N^＋ ions is reported, The reverse transcriptase （RT） domains of these retrotransposons were amplified by reverse-transcriptional polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR） and sequentially cloned, 42 and 65 clones were obtained from the treated （CL） and control materials （CK）, respectively, Sequence analysis of each clone was performed by software. Phylogeny and classification were calculated responding to the sequences of the RT domains. All the results show that there is much difference in the RT domain between the control sample and the treated sample, Especially, the RT domains from the treated group encode significantly more functional ORF （open reading frames） than those from the control sample, This observation suggests that the treated sample has higher activation of retrotransposons, possibly as a consequence of low-energy ion beam irradiation, It also suggests that retrotransposons in the two groups impact the host gene expression in two different ways and carry out different functions in wheat cells.

Damage of low-energy ion irradiation on copper nanowire:molecular dynamics simulation

Physical and chemical phenomena of low-energy ion irradiation on solid surfaces have been studied systematically for many years, due to the wide applications in surface modification, ion implantation and thin-film growth. Recently the bombardment of nano-scale materials with low-energy ions gained much attention. Comared to bulk materials, nano-scale materials show different physical and chemical properties. In this article, we employed molecular dynamics simulations to study the damage caused by low-energy ion irradiation on copper nanowires. By simulating the ion bombardment of 5 different incident energies, namely, 1 keV, 2 keV, 3 keV, 4 keV and 5 keV, we found that the sputtering yield of the incident ion is linearly proportional to the energies of incident ions. Low-energy impacts mainly induce surface damage to the nanowires, and only a few bulk defects were observed. Surface vacancies and adatoms accumulated to form defect clusters on the surface, and their distribution are related to the type of crystal plane, e.g. surface vacancies prefer to stay on （100） plane, while adatoms prefer （110） plane. These results reveal that the size effect will influence the interaction between low-energy ion and nanowire.

The Coulomb effect on a low-energy structure in above-threshold ionization spectra induced by mid-infrared laser pulses

We investigate the low-energy structure （LES） in the above-threshold ionization spectrum at a mid-infrared laser wavelength with a semiclassical model. Using a softened Coulomb potential （CP） and changing the softening parameter, we show that though the very low-energy structure （VLES） and high low-energy structure （HLES） are both due to the interaction between the ionic CP and the electron, the two structures have different physical mechanisms： the VLES can be attributed to the electron-ion Coulomb interaction at a rather small distance and the HLES is more likely to be ascribed to the electron-ion Coulomb interaction at a large distance.