Demonstration of Gd-GEM detector design for neutron macromolecular crystallography applications

Pfeiffer D., Brunbauer F., Cristiglio V., Hall-Wilton R., Lupberger M., Markó M., ...Daha Fazla

Journal of Instrumentation, cilt.18, sa.4, 2023 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 18 Sayı: 4
  • Basım Tarihi: 2023
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1088/1748-0221/18/04/p04023
  • Dergi Adı: Journal of Instrumentation
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Compendex, Index Islamicus, INSPEC
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Micropattern gaseous detectors (MSGC, GEM, THGEM, RETHGEM, MHSP, MICROPIC, MICROMEGAS, InGrid, etc), Neutron detectors (cold, thermal, fast neutrons)
  • Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi Adresli: Hayır

Özet

The European Spallation Source (ESS) in Lund, Sweden will become the world's most powerful thermal neutron source. The Macromolecular Diffractometer (NMX) at the ESS requires three 51.2 × 51.2 cm2 detectors with reasonable detection efficiency, sub-mm spatial resolution, a narrow point-spread function (PSF), and good time resolution. This work presents measurements with the improved version of the NMX detector prototype consisting of a Triple-GEM (Gas Electron Multiplier) detector with a natural Gd converter and a low material budget readout. The detector was successfully tested at the neutron reactor of the Budapest Neutron Centre (BNC) and the D16 instrument at the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) in Grenoble. The measurements with Cadmium and Gadolinium masks in Budapest demonstrate that the point-spread function of the detector lacks long tails that could impede the measurement of diffraction spot intensities. On the D16 instrument at ILL, diffraction spots from Triose phosphate isomerase w/ 2-phosphoglycolate (PGA) inhibitor were measured both in the MILAND Helium-3 detector and the Gd-GEM. The comparison between the two detectors shows a similar point-spread function in both detectors, and the expected efficiency ratio compared to the Helium-3 detector. Both measurements together thus give good indications that the Gd-GEM detector fits the requirements for the NMX instrument at ESS.