Lab Setup

• LeCroy WaveRunner 2Ghz Oscilloscope: Expensive scope that allows you to insert a USB stick and collect events when the trigger level is met. The data is saved into CSV files and can be processed from a directory. 

• (Left): Light tight box that allows you to isolate gamma, alpha, beta radiation without disruption from outside light. Cables coming from the box include output cable (to the scope), power cable connected to 27V power supply (potential needed for SiPMs), and 3.3V-5 V cable needed to power the board that the SiPMs are installed on.

• SiPM array (silicon photo-multiplier). The scintillator crystal is placed atop the array with a radiation source placed directly above that. The whole experiment is then placed in a light-tight box (pictured above). There are two types of SiPMs we are currently testing; the SensL SiPMs requiring 27 V potential and the Hammamatsu SiPMs requiring 54 V potential. The trade-off is that in flight, the SensL's will consume less power but will produce more noise than the Hammamtsu's. They are arranged in an array because the experiment is set up to be a double scatter where the angle of the incident radiation can be determined. 

• Example of how the double-scatter experiment can be set up. Changing the alignment of the detectors, and the position of the source changes the data we see. 

•  The second option for digitizing data. The DRS4 chip with evaluation board being fed into the laptop in the background. Data is saved in XML format and can be saved on a USB drive as well.

• Double scatter instrument connected to DRS.

• The big picture, my lab setup.