The goal in medical x-ray imaging is to obtain the image quality requiredfor a given detection task, while ensuring that the patient dose is kept as lowas reasonably achievable. The two most common strategies for dose reductionare: optimizing incident x-ray beams and utilizing energy informationof transmitted beams with new detector techniques (spectral imaging). Inthis thesis, dose optimization schemes were investigated in two x-ray imagingsystems: digital mammography and computed tomography (CT). In digital mammography, the usefulness of anti-scatter grids was investigatedas a function of breast thickness with varying geometries and experimentalconditions. The general conclusion is that keeping the grid is optimalfor breasts thicker than 5 cm, whereas the dose can be reduced without a gridfor thinner breasts. A photon-counting silicon-strip detector developed for spectral mammographywas characterized using synchrotron radiation. Energy resolution, ΔE/Ein, was measured to vary between 0.11-0.23 in the energy range 15-40 keV, which is better than the energy resolution of 0.12-0.35 measured inthe state-of-the-art photon-counting mammography system. Pulse pileup hasshown little effect on energy resolution. In CT, the performance of a segmented silicon-strip detector developedfor spectral CT was evaluated and a theoretical comparison was made withthe state-of-the-art CT detector for some clinically relevant imaging tasks.The results indicate that the proposed photon-counting silicon CT detector issuperior to the state-of-the-art CT detector, especially for high-contrast andhigh-resolution imaging tasks. The beam quality was optimized for the proposed photon-counting spectralCT detector in two head imaging cases: non-enhanced imaging and Kedgeimaging. For non-enhanced imaging, a 120-kVp spectrum filtered by 2half value layer (HVL) copper (Z = 29) provides the best performance. Wheniodine is used in K-edge imaging, the optimal filter is 2 HVL iodine (Z = 53)and the optimal kVps are 60-75 kVp. In the case of gadolinium imaging, theradiation dose can be minimized at 120 kVp filtered by 2 HVL thulium (Z =69). / <p>QC 20160401</p>

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Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:52:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:00:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / O presente trabalho descreve uma nova metodologia desenvolvida para modelar o comportamento da atividade em sistema de coincidência 4&#960;(PC)&#946;-&#947;. As eficiências para elétrons no detector proporcional (PC) e para radiação gama no detector de NaI(Tl) foram calculadas utilizando o programa de Monte Carlo MCNP4C. Outro código de Monte Carlo foi desenvolvido para seguir o caminho no esquema de desintegração desde o estado inicial do radionuclídeo precursor, até o estado fundamental do núcleo filho. Cada etapa do esquema de desintegração é selecionada por meio de números aleatórios levando em conta as probabilidades de cada ramo &#946;- ou captura eletrônica, as probabilidades de transição e os coeficientes de conversão interna. Uma vez que o estado final tenha sido atingido é verificado se houve detecção de eventos beta, captura eletrônica ou transições gama, e os eventos para os três espectros, beta, gama e coincidência são contabilizados. A variação da eficiência beta pode ser feita através da simulação de corte na energia detectada ou pela utilização de absorvedores (Collodion). Foram escolhidos para a simulação os radionuclídeos 134Cs, 72Ga que se desintegram por transição &#946;-, 133Ba que se desintegra por captura eletrônica e 35S que é um emissor beta puro. Para este último foi simulando o Método do Traçador. As curvas de extrapolação obtidas por Monte Carlo foram ajustadas pelo Método dos Mínimos Quadrados com os pontos experimentais e comparados com os resultados obtidos pelo Método da Extrapolação Linear. / Tese (Doutoramento) / IPEN/T / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP

Cintiladores inorgânicos com tempo de decaimento de luminescência rápido, densidade alta e boa produção de luz têm sido objeto de estudos para aplicações em física nuclear, física de energias altas, tomografia nuclear e outros campos da ciência e da engenharia. Cristais de cintilação baseados em iodeto de césio (Csl) são materiais que apresentam higroscopia relativamente baixa, número atômico alto, fácil manuseio e custo baixo, características que favorecem o seu uso como detectores de radiação. Neste trabalho descreve-se a obtenção de cristais Csl puro, Csl:Br e Csl:Pb, utilizando-se a técnica de Bridgman. A concentração do elemento dopante bromo (Br) foi estudada no intervalo de 1,5x10-1 M a 10-2 M e o elemento chumbo (Pb) no intervalo de 10-2 M a 5x10-4 M. Para avaliar os cintiladores desenvolvidos foram efetuadas medidas sistemáticas de emissão de luminescência e tempo de decaimento de luminescência para a radiação gama, ensaios de transmitância óptica, ensaios de microdureza Vickers, determinações da distribuição dos dopantes ao longo dos cristais crescidos e análise da resposta dos cristais à radiação gama no intervalo de energia de 350 keV a 1330 keV e partículas alfa provenientes de fonte de 241Am com energia de 5,54 MeV. Os resultados obtidos de tempo de decaimento de luminescência para os cristais CsI:Br e CsI:Pb, no intervalo de 13 ns a 19 ns, mostraram-se promissores para medidas de alta energia. O estudo de microdureza mostrou um aumento significativo em função da concentração dos elementos dopantes, quando comparado ao cristal Csl puro, melhorando desta forma a resistência mecânica dos cristais crescidos. A validade de utilização desses cristais como sensores de radiação para medidas de radiação gama e partículas alfa, pode ser demonstrada pelos resultados da resposta à radiação. / Inorganic scintillators with fast luminescence decay time, high density and high light output have been the object of studies for application in nuclear physics, high energy physics, nuclear tomography and other fields of science and engineering. Scintillation crystals based on cesium iodide (CsI) are matters with relatively low higroscopy, high atomic number, easy handling and low cost, characteristics that favor their use as radiation detectors. In this work, the growth of pure CsI crystals, CsI:Br and CsI:Pb, using the Bridgman technique, is described. The concentration of the bromine doping element (Br) was studied in the range of 1,5x10-1 M to 10-2 M and the lead (Pb) in the range of 10-2 M to 5x10-4 M. To evaluate the scintillators developed, systematic measurements were carried out for luminescence emission and luminescence decay time for gamma radiation, optical transmittance assays, Vickers micro-hardness assays, determination of the doping elements distribution along the grown crystals and analysis of crystals response to the gamma radiation in the energy range of 350 keV to 1330 keV and alpha particles from a 241Am source, with energy of 5.54 MeV. It was obtained 13 ns to 19 ns for luminescence decay time for CsI:Br and CsI:Pb crystals. These results were very promising. The results obtained for micro-hardness showed a significant increase in function of the doping elements concentration, when compared to the pure CsI crystal, increasing consequently the mechanical resistance of the grown crystals. The validity of using these crystals as radiation sensors may be seen from the results of their response to gamma radiation and alpha particles.

En 2011, le LHC a fourni près de 5 fb−1 de données aux expériences. Ces données ont été utilisées pour comprendre plus avant les détecteurs, leurs performances et effectuer des analyses de physique. Cette thèse est organisée en cinq chapitres. Le premier est une introduction théorique au Modèle Standard et à une de ses extensions possible : la TechniCouleur. Le deuxième chapitre donne un bref aperçu de l'accélérateur LHC et de l'expérience ATLAS. Dans le troisième chapitre, l'un des principaux sous-système de l'expérience ATLAS est présenté : le calorimètre à argon liquide. L'algorithme de contrôle de l'acquisition et de la qualité des données que j'ai développé au cours de ma thèse est également présenté. Le quatrième chapitre présente une étude des performances de la reconstruction des jets basée sur l'ensemble des données acquises en 2010. Cette étude a montré qu'en 2010, la résolution en énergie des jets dans le Monte-Carlo a été sous-estimée d'un facteur relatif d'environ 10% par rapport aux données. Cette étude a été ensuite reconduite pour évaluer l'impact de la réduction de la HV dans des zones du calorimètre sur la résolution en énergie des jets. Cet impact a été jugée négligeable. Pour des jets produits avec une rapidité |y| < 0.8, l'augmentation de la résolution en énergie due à la réduction de la HV, est évaluée à moins de 3 % pour un jet de pT = 30 GeV jet, et moins de 0,1 % pour un jet de pT = 500 GeV. Enfin, le dernier chapitre de cette thèse présente une étude de l'état final Wgamma. La contribution des différents processus du MS participant à cet état final a été estimée à partir du Monte Carlo et des données. Une recherche de résonances étroites a ensuite été effectuée en utilisant la distribution M(W,gamma) dans un intervalle [220,440] GeV, mais aucun écart significatif des prédictions du MS n'a été observé. Cette étude a permis de fixer des limites sur la production de particules TC correspondant à M(a_{T}) > 265 GeV ou M(\rho_{T}) > 243 GeV. / In 2011 the LHC has provided almost 5 fb-1 of data to the experiments. These data have been used to perform a deep commissioning of the detectors, understand the performances of the detector and perform physics analysis. This thesis is organized in five chapter. The first one is a theoretical introduction to the Standard Model and to one of its possible extension: the TechniColor. The second chapter gives a brief overview of the LHC and the ATLAS experiments. In the third chapter one of the key subsystem of the ATLAS experiment is presented: the LAr calorimeters. The monitoring of the data acquisition developed during my thesis is also presented in this chapter. The fourth chapter presents a study of the jet performances based on the data set acquired in 2010. This study has shown that in 2010, the Monte Carlo was underestimating the jet energy resolution by a relative factor of about $10\%$. This study was refocused to evaluate the impact of the reduced LAr HV area on the jet energy resolution. The impact of the HV reduced region was found to be negligible. For jets produced with a rapidity |y|<0.8, the increase of energy resolution due to the HV reduction, is evaluated at less than 3% for a pT=30 GeV jet, and less than 0.1% for a pT=500 GeV jet. Finally the last chapter of this thesis present a study of the Wgamma final state. The standard model backgrounds contributing to this final state were estimated from Monte Carlo and from data. A search for narrow resonances was then conducted using the M(Wgamma) distribution in a range [220,440] GeV, but no significant deviation from the SM was observed. This study has allowed to set limits on the production of TC particles corresponding to M(a_{T}) > 265 GeV or M(\rho_{T}) > 243 GeV.

Cintiladores inorgânicos com tempo de decaimento de luminescência rápido, densidade alta e boa produção de luz têm sido objeto de estudos para aplicações em física nuclear, física de energias altas, tomografia nuclear e outros campos da ciência e da engenharia. Cristais de cintilação baseados em iodeto de césio (Csl) são materiais que apresentam higroscopia relativamente baixa, número atômico alto, fácil manuseio e custo baixo, características que favorecem o seu uso como detectores de radiação. Neste trabalho descreve-se a obtenção de cristais Csl puro, Csl:Br e Csl:Pb, utilizando-se a técnica de Bridgman. A concentração do elemento dopante bromo (Br) foi estudada no intervalo de 1,5x10-1 M a 10-2 M e o elemento chumbo (Pb) no intervalo de 10-2 M a 5x10-4 M. Para avaliar os cintiladores desenvolvidos foram efetuadas medidas sistemáticas de emissão de luminescência e tempo de decaimento de luminescência para a radiação gama, ensaios de transmitância óptica, ensaios de microdureza Vickers, determinações da distribuição dos dopantes ao longo dos cristais crescidos e análise da resposta dos cristais à radiação gama no intervalo de energia de 350 keV a 1330 keV e partículas alfa provenientes de fonte de 241Am com energia de 5,54 MeV. Os resultados obtidos de tempo de decaimento de luminescência para os cristais CsI:Br e CsI:Pb, no intervalo de 13 ns a 19 ns, mostraram-se promissores para medidas de alta energia. O estudo de microdureza mostrou um aumento significativo em função da concentração dos elementos dopantes, quando comparado ao cristal Csl puro, melhorando desta forma a resistência mecânica dos cristais crescidos. A validade de utilização desses cristais como sensores de radiação para medidas de radiação gama e partículas alfa, pode ser demonstrada pelos resultados da resposta à radiação. / Inorganic scintillators with fast luminescence decay time, high density and high light output have been the object of studies for application in nuclear physics, high energy physics, nuclear tomography and other fields of science and engineering. Scintillation crystals based on cesium iodide (CsI) are matters with relatively low higroscopy, high atomic number, easy handling and low cost, characteristics that favor their use as radiation detectors. In this work, the growth of pure CsI crystals, CsI:Br and CsI:Pb, using the Bridgman technique, is described. The concentration of the bromine doping element (Br) was studied in the range of 1,5x10-1 M to 10-2 M and the lead (Pb) in the range of 10-2 M to 5x10-4 M. To evaluate the scintillators developed, systematic measurements were carried out for luminescence emission and luminescence decay time for gamma radiation, optical transmittance assays, Vickers micro-hardness assays, determination of the doping elements distribution along the grown crystals and analysis of crystals response to the gamma radiation in the energy range of 350 keV to 1330 keV and alpha particles from a 241Am source, with energy of 5.54 MeV. It was obtained 13 ns to 19 ns for luminescence decay time for CsI:Br and CsI:Pb crystals. These results were very promising. The results obtained for micro-hardness showed a significant increase in function of the doping elements concentration, when compared to the pure CsI crystal, increasing consequently the mechanical resistance of the grown crystals. The validity of using these crystals as radiation sensors may be seen from the results of their response to gamma radiation and alpha particles.

Energy resolution characteristics of silicon surface barrier detector signals amplified by different preamplifiers and spectroscopic amplifiers have been studied. The characterization has been done using alpha particles from an 241Am source and spontaneous fission fragments from two Cf sources. The alpha and spontaneous fission activities of the sources have been measured and the isotopic compositions, ages, and initial activities of the two Cf sources have been calculated using the results from the activity measurements. 82.3% and 82.5% of the spontaneous fission activity of the two sources is found to originate from 252Cf. Heavy ion detection properties of two Si detector setups have been determined by measuring spontaneous fission fragments from one of the Cf sources in coincidence. The mass distribution of fission fragments is derived from the pulse spectra of the coincidence measurements. The conditions for future time resolution measurements have been established. Inquiries on commercially available ultra-thin Si detectors have been made. The purpose is to upgrade detector telescopes to lower the energy threshold of ΔE-ΔE-E identification of particles from neutroninduced nuclear reactions. Three manufacturers of Si detectors with thickness 20-25 µm and active area around 450 mm2 have been listed together with properties of the three offered detectors.

No description available.

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