Projects / Programmes
Counter of Čerenkov photons with aerogel radiator
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 1.02.06 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Physics |
Experimental physics of elementary particles |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| P210 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Elementary particle physics, quantum field theory |
| P211 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
High energy interactions, cosmic rays |
| P180 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Metrology, physical instrumentation |
| P220 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Nuclear physics |
Čerenkov radiation detector, silica aerogel, Strontium 90 concentration, radionuclids
Researchers (1)
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
16354 |
PhD Rok Pestotnik |
Physics |
Head |
2002 - 2004 |
705 |
Organisations (1)
| no. |
Code |
Research organisation |
City |
Registration number |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
0106 |
Jožef Stefan Institute |
Ljubljana |
5051606000 |
90,753 |
Abstract
Cherenkov radiation caused by fast charged particles in a transparent medium is the basis for different methods of particle identifiaction. Up to the present, gaseous and solid (or liquid) radiators have been used as sources of Cherenkov radiation. The threshold for photon emission of pions is above 2.5 GeV/c in gases and below 0.2 GeV/c in solids (or liquids). The intermediate uncovered gap is essential for the investigation of rare B meson decays, which are the research subject of many experiments, some in progress, others in preparation. A solution to the problem is offered by silica aerogels, a porous material with refractive index between 1.005 and 1.06. The results obtained in two particle physics experiments, HERMES and BELLE indicate that it would be meaningful to use such a radiator also in Cherenkov detectors with thin radiators without focusing systems of mirrors (so called proximity focusing RICH).The advantage of such detectors is their compactness, which is especially important for experiments at the high energy colliders. By making use of improved aerogels, recently developed multianode photomultiplier tubes and additional lens systems for elimination of the inefficiency due to the PMT inactive surface, we propose to develop a method for detection of Cherenkov photons.A possible application of the Cherenkov photon detector could be for detection of beta particles. Of special interest is the detection of the highly radiotoxic isotope Sr-90 in the environment. A choice of aerogel with suitable refractive index allows one to select the threshold energy of beta electrons, which would radiate Cherenkov photons. Thus one may separate the contributions of different radioactive isotopes, in particular the rather energetic ones from Sr-90 daughter isotope Y-90. By modeling the physical processes produced by beta electrons and the gamma and cosmic ray backgrounds, we intend to optimize the detector parameters to allow for quick measurements of low activities of the isotope Sr-90 in environmental samples.
