Algorithms for distinguishing radiation sources for two-layer Timepix3 detectors

Abstract

This thesis addresses the problem of distinguishing radiation sources using a two-layer Timepix3 detector setup. Each Timepix3 detector records particle hits on a 256×256- pixel grid with fine time resolution, and the two-layer configuration enables identification of coincident single-particle traces across both layers. We propose and implement a system for processing ROOT files containing identified coincident traces and estimating the direction of flight of charged particles based on the positions and geometry of these traces. We develop algorithms for particle direction estimation from a single radiation source and extend them to distinguish between two or more sources. The implemented methods are evaluated on experimental data from measurements of beams of particles of different types at known angles. The results demonstrate that the proposed algorithms can effectively estimate the direction to unknown radiation sources under varying condi- tions of particle type, trajectory angle, energy, and noise, and can classify particles by their source of origin for a fixed particle type and energy.