Objective
This 4-year project proposes a breakthrough in particle detectors by developing a highly granular calorimeter with high-resolution timing information, thus providing precise information of the space-time development of electromagnetic and hadronic showers.
The objective of this project is to develop a completely new imaging calorimeter that uses light encoding methods, and thus simultaneously records:
- the total energy deposited in the calorimeter cells with a time tag in the 10 picosecond (ps) range;
- the high-precision spatial distribution of the energy deposition in the calorimetric volume both for low energy (photo-electric and Compton) and high energy (shower components);
- the time structure of the signals corresponding to the different components of the shower.
The key point in this novel approach is to introduce light production, collection and detection techniques that are now accessible due to spectacular technological advancements in this field, in which the PI is directly involved. Examples are:
- new crystal production technologies (micro-pulling-down (μ-PD,) ceramics, nano-crystals);
- photonic crystals, plasmonic resonances and nano-optics;
- single-photon-counting silicon photomultipliers, both digital(d-SiPM) and analogue (a-SiPM).
The use of precise time information in the tens of picosecond range in calorimetric techniques will have a large impact on different applications in many domains:
- High Energy Physic (HEP), in particular at new high energy and high collision rate colliders;
- Medical imaging in Time of Flight Positron Emission Tomography (TOF-PET);
- Spectrometry of low energy γ- quanta;
- Homeland security: crystals of higher sensitivity always be in demand;
- Space applications.
Fields of science
- natural sciencesphysical sciencestheoretical physicsparticle physicsparticle accelerator
- engineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materialsnanocrystals
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrymetalloids
- engineering and technologymedical engineeringdiagnostic imaging
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringceramics
Call for proposal
ERC-2013-ADG
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
ERC-AG - ERC Advanced GrantHost institution
1211 GENEVE 23
Switzerland