A compact high-energy particle detector for low-cost deep space missions

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dc.contributor.advisorGinsberg, Samuelen_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorBuffler, Andyen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorKemp, Dayne Hiltonen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2016-06-21T09:19:59Z
dc.date.available2016-06-21T09:19:59Z
dc.date.issued2015en_ZA
dc.description.abstractOver the last few decades particle physics has led to many new discoveries, laying the foundation for modern science. However, there are still many unanswered questions which the next generation of particle detectors could address, potentially expanding our knowledge and understanding of the Universe. Owing to recent technological advancements, electronic sensors are now able to acquire measurements previously unobtainable, creating opportunities for new deep-space high-energy particle missions. Consequently, a new compact instrument was developed capable of detecting gamma rays, neutrons and charged particles. This instrument combines the latest in FPGA System-on-Chip technology as the central processor and a 3x3 array of silicon photomultipliers coupled with an organic plastic scintillator as the detector. Using modern digital pulse shape discrimination and signal processing techniques, the scintillator and photomultiplier combination has been shown to accurately discriminate between the di_erent particle types and provide information such as total energy and incident direction. The instrument demonstrated the ability to capture 30,000 particle events per second across 9 channels - around 15 times that of the U.S. based CLAS detector. Furthermore, the input signals are simultaneously sampled at a maximum rate of 5 GSPS across all channels with 14-bit resolution. Future developments will include FPGA-implemented digital signal processing as well as hardware design for small satellite based deep-space missions that can overcome radiation vulnerability.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationKemp, D. H. (2015). <i>A compact high-energy particle detector for low-cost deep space missions</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Department of Electrical Engineering. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/20046en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationKemp, Dayne Hilton. <i>"A compact high-energy particle detector for low-cost deep space missions."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Department of Electrical Engineering, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/20046en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationKemp, D. 2015. A compact high-energy particle detector for low-cost deep space missions. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Kemp, Dayne Hilton AB - Over the last few decades particle physics has led to many new discoveries, laying the foundation for modern science. However, there are still many unanswered questions which the next generation of particle detectors could address, potentially expanding our knowledge and understanding of the Universe. Owing to recent technological advancements, electronic sensors are now able to acquire measurements previously unobtainable, creating opportunities for new deep-space high-energy particle missions. Consequently, a new compact instrument was developed capable of detecting gamma rays, neutrons and charged particles. This instrument combines the latest in FPGA System-on-Chip technology as the central processor and a 3x3 array of silicon photomultipliers coupled with an organic plastic scintillator as the detector. Using modern digital pulse shape discrimination and signal processing techniques, the scintillator and photomultiplier combination has been shown to accurately discriminate between the di_erent particle types and provide information such as total energy and incident direction. The instrument demonstrated the ability to capture 30,000 particle events per second across 9 channels - around 15 times that of the U.S. based CLAS detector. Furthermore, the input signals are simultaneously sampled at a maximum rate of 5 GSPS across all channels with 14-bit resolution. Future developments will include FPGA-implemented digital signal processing as well as hardware design for small satellite based deep-space missions that can overcome radiation vulnerability. DA - 2015 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2015 T1 - A compact high-energy particle detector for low-cost deep space missions TI - A compact high-energy particle detector for low-cost deep space missions UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/20046 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/20046
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationKemp DH. A compact high-energy particle detector for low-cost deep space missions. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Department of Electrical Engineering, 2015 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/20046en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Electrical Engineeringen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherElectrical Engineeringen_ZA
dc.titleA compact high-energy particle detector for low-cost deep space missionsen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMSc (Eng)en_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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