A Scintillator Attenuation Spectrometer For Intense Gamma-Rays

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel compact gamma-ray spectrometer combining scintillators and attenuation principles, demonstrating high sensitivity and resolution for intense gamma-ray detection in laser experiments.

Contribution

The paper presents the design, development, and successful testing of a new scintillator attenuation spectrometer (SAS) for high-energy gamma-ray measurements.

Findings

Successfully tested in laser experiments at LANL and LLE.

Demonstrated high resolution and sensitivity for gamma-ray detection.

Suitable for high repetition rate laser applications.

Abstract

A new type of compact high resolution high sensitivity gamma ray spectrometer for short pulse intense 250 keV to 50 MeV gamma rays has been developed by combining the principles of scintillators and attenuation spectrometers. The first prototype of this scintillator attenuation spectrometer or SAS was tested successfully in Trident laser experiments at LANL. Later versions have been used extensively in the Texas Petawatt laser experiments in Austin TX, and more recently in OMEGAEP laser experiments at LLE, Rochester, NY. The SAS is particularly useful for high repetition rate laser applications. Here we give a concise description of the design principles, capabilities and sample preliminary results of the SAS.