Radiation Detection Materials and Devices

Radiation Detection Materials and Devices

StephenPayne-LLNL

Dr. Stephen Payne

Ph.D.Physical Chemistry, Princeton University1983
M.Sc.Physical Chemistry, Princeton University1979
B.A.Physical Chemistry, State University of New York – Binghamton1978

Research Interests

Radiation detectors – scintillators, semiconductors, gamma, and neutron. Lasers materials, optics, basic physics and chemistry.

Topics of inquiry for students that are interested in working with the Payne Group are divided into two broad categories: devices and material science. The research in device development involves integrating novel radiation detector materials with suitable electronics to develop a device that could be used in a radiation detection scenario. The materials science effort in the Payne Group centers on the discovery of new materials that may have the properties that may allow them to be used as nuclear detectors.

 Device Research:

  1. SrI2 (Eu) Gamma Detector: This project mainly involves the development of the software and hardware of the high-spectral-resolution device, especially the optimization of the isotope ID algorithm and the signal processing.
  2. Garnet Gamma Detector: This project is concerned with the hardware and software of a unique device comprised of 1024 individual garnet pixels read-out on a photodiode array.  The device has the highest resolution achieved thus far for an oxide scintillator, and does both spectroscopy and directionality.
  3. High-energy neutron detector development (based on organic materials), including hardware, software, algorithms, and optics.  If interested, the student can also work on chemical synthesis, but not necessary.
  4. Semiconductor gamma detector device development, including fabrication and testing, with an emphasis on optimizing the performance of the contacts and electrode geometry to achieve superior resolution and longevity, especially for TlBr and CZT.

Materials Science research:

  1. Development of the chemistry of polymer scintillators, potentially for both neutron and gamma detection.
  2. Growth of novel single crystals from solution for gamma and neutron detection
  3. Development of new transparent ceramic scintillators