Our experiments require customized detectors and readout electronics that is often not commercially available. Moreover, the characteristics of the detectors need to be determined prior to running any experiments.
Detectors
We investigate the response of fast photon sensors like Micro-Channel-Plate(MCP)-PMTs to achieve a very precise time pick-off. Usually, we want to achieve a timing resolution much better than 100 ps for few or even single photon signals. Such a performance is needed, among other purposes, for start counters, Time-of-Flight systems for particle identification, or Ring Imaging Cherenkov counters.
Cherenkov light is produced when charges particles exceed the speed of light in medium. This effect can be used to measure the velocity of a particle. In modern detector systems, so-called Ring Imaging Cherenkov (RICH) counters are used where the resulting pattern can be used to determine the angle at which the photons were emitted. For this, very sensitive photon sensors are needed to be able to detect individual photons.
Another application of the Cherenkov effect is fast particle detection for start counters or Time-of-Flight systems. Unlike scintillation light, Cherenkov light is emitted instantaneously thus improving the timinng precision.
Scintillation counter allow the detection and measurement of ionizing radiation. We are especially interested in the application of scintillation counters to the detection of fast neutrons. This can either be achieved by scattering of the neutrons on nuclei within the scintillator material (mainly plastic scintillators) or by capturing neutrons using dopants with large cross sections for these reactions (Li-glass).
Most of our detectors will be used in harsh radiation environments. To estimate their tolerance to ionizing radiation, we use specially designed transistors, so called RADFETs, to measure the radiation dose during operation of our detectors or in special test experiments where we irradiate our devices to measure their degradation with accumulated dose.