The work performed in the project was multidimensional and split in five Work Packages (WPs):
WP1 Core research:
At the project start, a working environment for the Marie Curie Fellow (MCF) was set up at the host. A fully functional Scalable Readout System (SRS) with the VMM front-end chip (called SRS VMM in the following) for own R&D was purchased. A dedicated working group in the worldwide RD51 collaboration on SRS VMM R&D with monthly meetings was set up as a platform for remote collaborative work in particular with the previous MCF group at CERN. An interactive Discord channel is used for exchange and community support in times of the pandemic. The MCF maintained his leading role in the developments and set up his own group at the host with several students. Within the first months of the project, the SRS VMM left the R&D phase and the first production batch could be delivered to the most active developers. The main technical work performed or supervised by the MCF were: Improvement of the readout rate (Master thesis), development of a production quality assurance (AQ) and characterisation tool for VMM front-end boards (Master thesis), evaluation of the noise level of VMM front-end boards (Master thesis), VMM front-end detector integration and cooling (Master thesis), applications at gaseous detectors (support of a PhD student), setup and improvement of the SRS backend power crate for large system (MCF), organisation of the first production batches (MCF with CERN group and SRS Technology). At the host, the MCF triggered two projects applying SRS VMM. Nationally, he assisted six projects or research groups. On an international level, seven groups were supported.
WP2 Soft skills:
Training and primary experience equipped the MCF with key skills relevant for a career in science.
- He was fully integrated in the host's lecturing program in five courses, partially as lecturer. Those experiences allowed to learn the different formats, in digital and remote ways, and train the university teaching skills.
- He engaged in the academic self-administration and community shaping as member of seven local and national committees. The memberships allowed deep and usually hidden insights into the research system and enabled novel networks.
- He supervised four master students and successfully guided them to completing their degree in physics and perform their research projects within the context of the MCF action.
- He was involved in five third-party funding applications as main driver or principal investigator. The application for an ERC Starting Grant is envisioned for autumn.
WP3 Secondment:
Due to the pandemic, the secondment with SRS Technology in Switzerland could not be performed in person. Instead, the work and cooperation was coordinated and performed remotely. The first production batches of the SRS VMM hardware were organised and made available to the community. A master student developed a system to evaluate and characterise the quality of the SRS VMM front-end boards, which had impact on the SRS Technology production process.
WP4 Dissemination:
The work was presented on 13 conferences e.g. TIPP2020, IEEE NSS/MIC 2020, TWEPP2021, Pisa Meeting 2022.
One publication in a peer-review journal was published, another two are under review and a third one is in preparation. Three master theses were completed, a fourth will be submitted. The MCF contributed to a white paper on the US Snowmass process.
WP5 Outreach:
The main activity was to motivate and supervise young researchers to guide them through first scientific research. Due to the pandemic, public events, activities at schools and excursions to research facilities were cancelled.
