Periodic Reporting for period 2 - PAN (Development of a demonstrator for the Penetrating Particle Analyser (PAN) technology)
Berichtszeitraum: 2021-01-01 bis 2023-12-31
The goal of the project is to build a demonstrator ("mini.PAN") for the Penetrating Particle Analyser (PAN), an innovative energetic particle detection technology to precisely measure and monitor the flux and composition of highly penetrating particles (>~100 MeV/n) in deep space.
The application of PAN is broad and multidisciplinary, covering cosmic ray physics, solar physics, space weather and space travel. PAN will fill an observation gap of galactic cosmic rays in the 100 MeV/n - GeV/n region.
It will provide precise information of the spectrum, composition and timing of energetic particle originated from the Sun, which is essential for studying the physical process of solar activities, in particular the rare but violent solar events that produce intensive flux of energetic particles.
The precise measurement and monitoring of the penetrating particles is also a unique contribution to space weather studies, in particular to the development of predictive space weather models. As indicated by the terminology, penetrating particles cannot be shielded effectively.
PAN can monitor the flux and composition of these particles precisely and continuously, thus providing real-time radiation hazard warning and long term radiation health risk for human space travelers.
Once developed, PAN can become a standard device for deep space human bases and for deep space exploration and commercial spacecrafts, or as part of a space weather advance warning system permanently deployed in space. It can also be implemented on science missions to perform ground-breaking measurements for cosmic-ray physics, solar physics, planetary science and space radiation dosimetry.
During the 4 years of the project, the mini.PAN elements have been designed, produced and tested individually, in laboratory but also during various beam tests. During last year of the project, the mini.PAN demonstrator has been fully assembled and tested in its complete configuration at various beam tests. In addition to these activities, vibration tests have been successfully conducted on the various elements of mini.PAN.
The mini.PAN demonstrator has successfully demonstrated that the PAN instrument is a valid concept, and further developments are ongoing.
The application of PAN is broad and multidisciplinary, covering cosmic ray physics, solar physics, space weather and space travel. PAN will fill an observation gap of galactic cosmic rays in the 100 MeV/n - GeV/n region.
It will provide precise information of the spectrum, composition and timing of energetic particle originated from the Sun, which is essential for studying the physical process of solar activities, in particular the rare but violent solar events that produce intensive flux of energetic particles.
The precise measurement and monitoring of the penetrating particles is also a unique contribution to space weather studies, in particular to the development of predictive space weather models. As indicated by the terminology, penetrating particles cannot be shielded effectively.
PAN can monitor the flux and composition of these particles precisely and continuously, thus providing real-time radiation hazard warning and long term radiation health risk for human space travelers.
Once developed, PAN can become a standard device for deep space human bases and for deep space exploration and commercial spacecrafts, or as part of a space weather advance warning system permanently deployed in space. It can also be implemented on science missions to perform ground-breaking measurements for cosmic-ray physics, solar physics, planetary science and space radiation dosimetry.
During the 4 years of the project, the mini.PAN elements have been designed, produced and tested individually, in laboratory but also during various beam tests. During last year of the project, the mini.PAN demonstrator has been fully assembled and tested in its complete configuration at various beam tests. In addition to these activities, vibration tests have been successfully conducted on the various elements of mini.PAN.
The mini.PAN demonstrator has successfully demonstrated that the PAN instrument is a valid concept, and further developments are ongoing.
After completing magnet studies, 5 magnet sectors were ordered from Vacuumschmelze (Hanau, D). Upon reception, the integrated field and multipoles were measured using the stretched wire technique at CERN's Magnetic Measurements Lab. Field components along x and y axes met specifications for all sectors. A 3D mapping of one magnet showed good agreement with simulations. One sector was vibrated and passed the test. 2 magnets were integrated into mini.PAN.
Once silicon strip detector specifications were defined, an order was placed. All sensors were delivered by November 2020. Mechanical sensors supported development of detector assembly on the front-end board, wire bonding, and preliminary vibration tests. Front-end boards were designed, produced, and tested — first in the lab with radioactive sources, then with particle beams at CERN (Geneva, CH). The boards were integrated into 3 tracker modules, each with 2 X- and 1 Y-sensor. The best 6 X- and 3 Y-sensors were integrated into mini.PAN. Detectors showed excellent performance, achieving 6 µm spatial resolution, further improved by combining measurements with the Pixel detector.
Pixel detector activities aimed to develop modules with four Timepix3 assemblies in a 2×2 configuration. A prototype PCB was tested with 4 naked Timepix3 ASICs and a quad bump-bonded to a 300 µm silicon sensor. The setup was tested in beams at the Nuclear Physics Institute in Řež (CZ), DCPT (Aarhus, DK), and CERN. Further studies addressed low-power modes and temperature dependence of energy measurement. After validating readout and electronics, final modules for mini.PAN were designed and calibrated. 2 modules with 2 readout systems were integrated into mini.PAN.
The TOF component identification involved simulations to define scintillator type and geometry. Various SiPM models were studied and tested with radioactive sources and lasers. Final components — scintillators, SiPMs, and ASICs — were selected and ordered. TOF mechanics, SiPM boards, and adapter boards were produced. TOF modules and prototypes were tested with particle beams at CERN. 2 modules were integrated into mini.PAN.
Data handling uses 4 GPIO board developed at the University of Geneva to read tracker and TOF modules via adapter boards. The Data Handling Unit (DHU) reads the GPIO boards, and uses a Katherine interface to read the Pixel detector. The DHU, a compact computer, is not integrated into the instrument.
Thanks to mini.PAN’s modular design, qualification tests (e.g. vibration) can be performed on individual detector modules. Most elements rely on technologies already used in space instruments. Mini.PAN was progressively integrated: tracker modules with magnet boxes, then Pixel modules, and finally TOF modules. The instrument was tested with particle beams at CERN and CNAO (Pavia, IT). It achieved a spatial resolution of 3.7 µm. Ion beam tests confirmed charge separation up to Z = 22. Kinetic energy resolution matches simulations: 0.18 for 400 MeV protons and 0.13 for 120 MeV electrons. Vibration tests at SERMS labs (Terni, IT) were successful for all modules and a mechanical simulator.
At the beginning of the project, a logo and website were created (http://www.pan-space.eu(öffnet in neuem Fenster)). PAN has been presented at various conferences and workshops.
In December 2023, a proposal based on the mini.PAN/Pix.PAN concept was submitted to ESA’s “Small Missions for Exploration – Destination the Moon” call. It was selected for a pre-Phase A study starting in December 2024. The concept is also under consideration for SWORD, an ESA space weather mission to monitor Earth’s radiation belts, which is currently under pre-Phase A study.
Data relevant to mini.PAN performance — including beam test data and calibrations — are openly available via the YARETA FAIR repository (https://yareta.unige.ch/(öffnet in neuem Fenster)) with metadata describing beam type, energy, detector setup, and data content.
Once silicon strip detector specifications were defined, an order was placed. All sensors were delivered by November 2020. Mechanical sensors supported development of detector assembly on the front-end board, wire bonding, and preliminary vibration tests. Front-end boards were designed, produced, and tested — first in the lab with radioactive sources, then with particle beams at CERN (Geneva, CH). The boards were integrated into 3 tracker modules, each with 2 X- and 1 Y-sensor. The best 6 X- and 3 Y-sensors were integrated into mini.PAN. Detectors showed excellent performance, achieving 6 µm spatial resolution, further improved by combining measurements with the Pixel detector.
Pixel detector activities aimed to develop modules with four Timepix3 assemblies in a 2×2 configuration. A prototype PCB was tested with 4 naked Timepix3 ASICs and a quad bump-bonded to a 300 µm silicon sensor. The setup was tested in beams at the Nuclear Physics Institute in Řež (CZ), DCPT (Aarhus, DK), and CERN. Further studies addressed low-power modes and temperature dependence of energy measurement. After validating readout and electronics, final modules for mini.PAN were designed and calibrated. 2 modules with 2 readout systems were integrated into mini.PAN.
The TOF component identification involved simulations to define scintillator type and geometry. Various SiPM models were studied and tested with radioactive sources and lasers. Final components — scintillators, SiPMs, and ASICs — were selected and ordered. TOF mechanics, SiPM boards, and adapter boards were produced. TOF modules and prototypes were tested with particle beams at CERN. 2 modules were integrated into mini.PAN.
Data handling uses 4 GPIO board developed at the University of Geneva to read tracker and TOF modules via adapter boards. The Data Handling Unit (DHU) reads the GPIO boards, and uses a Katherine interface to read the Pixel detector. The DHU, a compact computer, is not integrated into the instrument.
Thanks to mini.PAN’s modular design, qualification tests (e.g. vibration) can be performed on individual detector modules. Most elements rely on technologies already used in space instruments. Mini.PAN was progressively integrated: tracker modules with magnet boxes, then Pixel modules, and finally TOF modules. The instrument was tested with particle beams at CERN and CNAO (Pavia, IT). It achieved a spatial resolution of 3.7 µm. Ion beam tests confirmed charge separation up to Z = 22. Kinetic energy resolution matches simulations: 0.18 for 400 MeV protons and 0.13 for 120 MeV electrons. Vibration tests at SERMS labs (Terni, IT) were successful for all modules and a mechanical simulator.
At the beginning of the project, a logo and website were created (http://www.pan-space.eu(öffnet in neuem Fenster)). PAN has been presented at various conferences and workshops.
In December 2023, a proposal based on the mini.PAN/Pix.PAN concept was submitted to ESA’s “Small Missions for Exploration – Destination the Moon” call. It was selected for a pre-Phase A study starting in December 2024. The concept is also under consideration for SWORD, an ESA space weather mission to monitor Earth’s radiation belts, which is currently under pre-Phase A study.
Data relevant to mini.PAN performance — including beam test data and calibrations — are openly available via the YARETA FAIR repository (https://yareta.unige.ch/(öffnet in neuem Fenster)) with metadata describing beam type, energy, detector setup, and data content.
Expected Impact 1: Scientific and technological contributions to the foundation of a new future technology.
PAN aims to develop a new kind of energetic particle detection technology for a broad range of deep space applications. In cosmic ray physics, it allows to perform, for the first time, precise flux and composition measurements of GCRs in the range of 100 MeV/n – 5 GeV/n in deep space.
Expected Impact 2: Potential for future social or economic impact or market creation.
The PAN technology will be of great interest to space instrumentation industries, specifically those providing instrumentation for space weather monitoring and for radiation monitoring, in particular for future deep space travel.
Since today’s social and economic activities rely more and more on global and local networks, which can be interrupted by extreme space weather events, the contribution of the PAN technology to space weather forecasting can potentially have important social and economic impacts.
Expected Impact 3: Building leading research and innovation capacity across Europe by involvement of key actors that can make a difference in the future, for example excellent young researchers, ambitious high- tech SMEs or first-time participants to FET under Horizon 2020.
PAN aims to develop a new kind of energetic particle detection technology for a broad range of deep space applications. In cosmic ray physics, it allows to perform, for the first time, precise flux and composition measurements of GCRs in the range of 100 MeV/n – 5 GeV/n in deep space.
Expected Impact 2: Potential for future social or economic impact or market creation.
The PAN technology will be of great interest to space instrumentation industries, specifically those providing instrumentation for space weather monitoring and for radiation monitoring, in particular for future deep space travel.
Since today’s social and economic activities rely more and more on global and local networks, which can be interrupted by extreme space weather events, the contribution of the PAN technology to space weather forecasting can potentially have important social and economic impacts.
Expected Impact 3: Building leading research and innovation capacity across Europe by involvement of key actors that can make a difference in the future, for example excellent young researchers, ambitious high- tech SMEs or first-time participants to FET under Horizon 2020.