In the field of physical chemistry, the relatively recently developed technique of velocity-map imaging has allowed chemical dynamics to be explored with a greater depth than could be previously achieved using other methods. Capturing the scattering image associated with the products resulting from fragmentation of a molecule allows the dissociative pathways and energy landscape to be investigated. In the study of particle physics, the neutron has become an irreplaceable spectroscopic tool due to the unique nature of the interaction with certain materials. Neutron spectroscopy is a non-destructive imaging technique that allows a number of properties to be discerned, including chemical identification, strain tensor measurements and the identification of beneath the sample surface using radiography and tomography. In both of these areas, as well as a multitude of other disciplines, a flight tube is used to separate particles, distinguishing them based upon their mass in the former case and their energy in the latter. The experiments can be vastly enhanced by the ability to record both the position and arrival time of the particle of interest. This thesis describes several new developments made in instrumentation for experiments involving time-of-flight particle imaging. The first development described is the construction of a new velocity-map imaging instrument that utilises electron ionisation to perform both steps of molecular fragmentation and ionisation. Data from CO2 is presented as an example of the ability of the instrument, and a preliminary analysis of the images is performed. The second presented project is the design of a time-resolved and position-resolved detector developed for ion imaging experiments. The hardware, software and firmware are described and presented alongside data from a variety of the experiments showcasing the breadth of investigations that are possible using the sensor. Finally, the modifications made to the detector to allow time-resolved neutron imaging are detailed, with an in-depth description of the various proof-of-concept experiments carried out as part of the development process.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:711772 |
| Date | January 2016 |
| Creators | Lee, Jason W. L. |
| Contributors | Vallance, Claire |
| Publisher | University of Oxford |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:195be057-7ce0-4a15-b639-b08892fde312 |
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