Project Title:
Determination of the Microstructure Distribution of Aerogels in Cherenkov Detectors
08.19-9500
911792
Determination of the Microstructure Distribution of Aerogels in Cherenkov Detectors
Using High-Resolution Spectroscopy
Aerodyne Research, Inc.
45 Manning Road
Billerica
MA
01821
Michael L.
Burns
508-663-9500
GSFC
NAS5-31945
171
08.19-9500
911792
Abstract:
Determination of the Microstructure Distribution of Aerogels in Cherenkov Detectors
Using High-Resolution Spectroscopy
Through the novel applications of tunable diode laser spectroscopy, the microstructure
size distribution of an aerogel that is being used as a threshold medium for a Cherenkov
detector will be determined. Cherenkov detectors will be used in the Large Isotope
Spectrometer for Astromag (LISA). The yield of Cherenkov photons due to traversal
of a relativistic particle through the aerogel is affected by the optical dispersion
and absorption length of the aerogel. The microstructure size distribution characterizes
the nonuniformities in the aerogel that will affect Cherenkov photocounts. The project's
objectives are to perform an experiment that demonstrates the line broadening of
a gas perfused in an aerogel and to extract information about the microstructure
size distribution from line measurements. Anticipated results are the realization
of a spectrometer that measures the absorption line shape of a gas and the development
and verification of an inversion algorithm for inverting absorption line shape measurements
to find the microstructure size distribution of an aerogel sample. Expected benefits
are a simple means of measuring the microstructure size distribution of aerogel in
a Cherenkov detector that affects the yield of Cherenkov photocounts.
Applications exist as a process control instrument for testing aerogels to be used
in Cherenkov detectors.
aerogels, Cherenkov detectors, microstructures size distribution, tunable diode laser,
spectroscopy